Wedding Dresses 101 - To Train Or Not To Train?

If you are planning a wedding ala the late Princess Diana Spencer then a train is definitely part and parcel of your wedding gown. But if your wedding is not as grand or as formal then you might reconsider attaching a train to your gown.

Although it is not a part of the wedding dress, the train nevertheless is part of the decision making when choosing the bridal dress. Aside from personal preferences, the type of your wedding should determine the need for one.

Just like Princess Diana, you can opt for a cathedral length train but make sure you are going to be married in a big church or venue with enough space to allow you the chance to display it properly. If you are having an outdoor venue such as a beach then this would probably be out of place and impractical.

A wedding dress with a train can seem so whimsical and grand but if you prefer comfort than style and pomp then it is best tow walk down the aisle without something that would only hinder you and would restrict your movement.

The length of the train is measured from your waist to the entire length at the back of your gown. Depending on the length of you choose, it can still be an option even for short dresses.

If you want one but do not want to be restricted with a long one then opt for the sweeping or the brush option. This is a short style which merely brushes the floor so you can feel elegant but comfortable at the same time.

If you want to go an extra inch then choose a Chapel length which is more common today. This style extends only about four feet from the bride's waistline so not so much cloth to carry at your back.

For brides who want a longer style but not the Cathedral length, choose the Semi-Cathedral length. This can be an option for a semi-formal wedding.

And finally, the Cathedral length train which can make you feel like a princess straight from the pages of a fairytale book. With more than seven feet of clothing dropping from your waistline, this is indeed a heavy weight. However, you can choose lighter fabric and a removable train so that you can just take it off during the reception.

Find more advice on wedding planning and wedding etiquette. In addition you can get more information on mother of the groom dresses.

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Tips for the Trousseau

By: Jimmy Cox

Probably there are few other words in the language which awaken such delighted response in feminine hearts as "trousseau". It announces, first of all, that a young woman is preparing for marriage. It implies that she will have the loveliest underthings as well as outer costumes that she has ever had and that she can possibly afford.

It means, too, that she will have the joy of shopping, not only for herself but for her new home - and everyone knows what shopping means to a woman! While in an older age the bride's dowry was the most important aspect of her preparation for her new life, in our modern life the trousseau has largely supplanted the dowry.

Clothing, exclusive of bridal attire, which should be included in a trousseau:
Fur coat (optional) or a little fur jacket, stole, skins, etc.
Cloth coat - dressy
Cloth coat - sports
Raincoat and umbrella
Going-away suit - traditionally any color except black; it can be tailored or dressy
Daytime suit - dressmaker type, tailored or sports 4 to 6 blouses - tailored or soft and feminine, or sport, depending upon the type of suits
1 or 2 sweater sets
Good skirt or more everyday skirts (many girls like to wear them around the house instead of house dresses)
4 to 6 aprons
1 black cocktail dress for hotel dinner-dancing on honeymoon
1 daytime dress for luncheons and sightseeing
1 pair of slacks
Swim suits or ski clothes as needed
1 short evening dress or more if the honeymoon plans include many evening parties, such as shipboard cruise
1 formal evening dress if your plans provide an occasion for it

Shoes to match costumes: in addition -
1 pair white mules for bridal negligee and nightie
1 pair mules to match tailored robes
Dozen pairs of stockings - colors to harmonize with costumes (but remember the economy of buying several pairs of one color to match, as runs occur!)
Pairs of evening stockings
Walking shoes or loafers, depending upon plans
Swim shoes if, for instance, you are planning a seashore honeymoon

Gloves, hats and bags according to taste and needs of honeymoon
Jewelry
Jewel case
Cosmetics
1 dozen white linen handkerchiefs
3 or 4 scarves, including 1 filmy evening scarf
1 evening wrap for summer
1 evening coat (if your wardrobe does not include a fur coat or jacket; or in addition to, if the budget permits)

General points a bride should keep in mind concerning her trousseau clothes:
Unity of color: if she selects one basic color such as navy, grey or brown, she will find that her clothes can be worn together with harmony and that the same accessories will augment more than one costume. Simplicity of design will lend itself to more versatility and adaptability than over-elaborate or fussy clothes, and may be worn for more occasions.

The best quality will in the end be the most economical because of longer wear. Also the best quality clothes are usually cut so well that they retain style long beyond less expensive selections. If the budget will not permit the best quality in all clothes, cut down elsewhere but buy the very best coats and suits you can possibly afford.

Buy attractive, gay accessories - hats, gloves, jewelry, scarves, belts. These will change the appearance of your basic suits and dresses and create the effect that your wardrobe includes many more costumes than it actually does.

Further to give your wardrobe versatility and variety, use mix and match separates. Select styles that not only are suitable for your height, weight and proportions, and colors that complement your own coloring, but are those in which you feel happy and comfortable.

If you feel best in tweeds and knitted suits and dresses, stress these in your wardrobe, providing other clothes only for those occasions demanding them. If you prefer softer, more feminine fashions, have more dresses and fewer suits. In any event, and above all, keep the informal sports items such as slacks, pedal pushers, jeans and shorts in their place - active sports, lounging, housework or outdoor work.

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Dressing Up in a Wedding Dress

By: Search Product

As soon as you get engaged, you're suddenly expected to understand the world of bridal fashion and the myriad terms and rules it involves. In reality, many brides don't know what the different gown options are, and what they mean in terms of fit, flexibility in design and price. Here are some things you should know that will make the wedding dress shopping experience easier.

Made-to-measure. If you want something unique, a made-to-measure gown is the way to go. As the name suggests, this type of gown is made from scratch to your specifications. You will have the flexibility to design your own gown, or have a sample made to fit your exact measurements.

You will have a new pattern made for your measurements. This is sometimes the only way to go if your proportions are very different to a standard size - if you are much shorter than average, taller than average, or have really long or short legs for example.

A made-to-measure gown requires anything from four to eight fittings, depending on the dressmaker. You will need at least a measurement fitting; a toile fitting, where a mock-up version of your gown is created from a calico fabric; a first fitting, where you will be fitted into your gown and have the seams and hem pinned; and a final fitting, where you will try on your finished gown to make sure it fits perfectly. Any hand beading or embroidery is usually done just before the final fitting.

A made-to-measure gown is the most expensive option, as it requires the most amount of work.

Made-to-order. A made-to-order gown is when you choose a gown from a range of samples and pick the fabric and colour to have it made in your size. Not all designers offer this option, which is less expensive than a made-to-measure gown.

You will often still have a degree of flexibility in the design of the gown, depending on the dressmaker. You can alter the design of the gown as long as it doesn't change the pattern. As soon as the pattern is altered, the gown becomes a made-to-measure design. Design features you can usually change are beading, fabric, colour, train length, neckline, fullness and straps.

Made-to-order gowns require between two and four fittings. The fittings process should happen as close to the wedding as possible - usually about a month out.

Ready-to-wear. For the low-maintenance bride, a ready-to-wear dress, otherwise known as off-the-rack, is probably the best option.

This type of dress will save you money because you won't be charged as much for labour or fittings. The only downside is that you can't alter the design.

If you find the gown of your dreams off-the-rack but it doesn't fit perfectly, don't stress. Just take it to a reputable dressmaker to have it altered. Some designers provide an in-house alterations service for their clients.

Take your new bridal vocab out for a spin when you go gown shopping. Not only will it impress your friends but it will let the designer know you've done your research.

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