Yes, I have called this chapter: The Dress And Other Outfits. Because, let’s be honest, the bride’s dress is one of the most talked about things at a wedding. It is also usually the most expensive. Wichita Falls Wedding Photography. The dress sets the tone and is very important. Don’t stress though, you will find the perfect dress for you and your personality. As will the groom and the rest of the bridal party.
What every little girl dreams about: her wedding dress. Wedding dresses tend to bring out the girly side of even the most tomboyish women. There is just something about the wedding dress that is iconic. There is a lot of pressure to get it right however. This can feel overwhelming. The best thing to remember is that it is your wedding dress, it doesn’t matter if anyone else likes it or not. This is easier said than done and I was worried whether people would like my dress or not. In the end I made the right decision but it can be nerve-racking wondering what people’s reactions will be, especially your fiancé’s reaction. My now husband is notoriously fussy and when we looked at some wedding dresses together we both hated all of them. Luckily I was fussy too but when my husband said before our wedding that he hoped the dress was strapless and showed off my shoulders I did have a moment of panic. Thankfully he loved it on the day.
When choosing a dress go with your instincts. If a dress really grabs you and makes you emotional it is the right one. My dress made my mum, dad and brother cry. That is when I knew I had to buy it. When you start trying on wedding dresses that is when you realise that you are going to be a bride. It was the first time it hit me: ‘I’m getting married’. It is a wonderful moment. Made even better when you buy your dress with your mother and/or bridesmaids.
Your wedding dress will probably be the most expensive item of clothing in your wardrobe. Well, unless you are very lucky. My wedding dress is one of the most expensive things I own. Your wedding dress is also significant as it symbolises a new phase in your life but if you just remember two things when you are buying your wedding dress you can’t go wrong. 1) Make sure it suits you, your personality and your body shape. 2) Make sure you love it. Done. The wedding dress which is ‘The One’ is the one you are happiest in.
Deciding On Your Style
You will have a style in mind but be open to different dresses. When I saw my wedding dress on the hanger I liked it enough to try it on but I never thought it would be ‘The One’. But when I tried it on everything slotted into place. I think this is the thing with most wedding dresses: you have to see them on, not on the hanger.
When deciding on the style of your wedding dress keep the venue and the season in mind. Even though I said that: do not be scared to buy an extravagant wedding dress. This is your wedding and your day. There are not many opportunities in life to dress up and even less to wear a beautiful, expensive dress with a train or one that billows. You don’t have to get married in Westminster Cathedral to wear a dress worthy of a bride. Weather is something you can factor in. You might want to have a summery dress for hot weather or add a fake fur stole in winter. Good fabrics for a winter wedding are velvets, brocades and satins. A crepe dress works well in hot weather as would a light and floaty dress. For a casual day time wedding a suit can look truly beautiful and classy. You could jazz it up with heels, a hat and a beaded top if you wanted.
Another thing to keep in mind is that guests will spend a lot of time looking at the back of your dress. You might want to make sure that it is not too plain and has some detail. A lot of wedding dresses tend to be quite plain and then be extravagant at the back. You can do this in a number of ways. One way is with a train. There are a number of options for a train. The bridal train can look absolutely stunning and make you feel incredibly special. If you are getting married in a church you can have a long train but if you are getting married in a register office you might want a shorter one.
These are your train options:
Sweep: this is the shortest option. It just brushes the floor.
Chapel: 1-1.5 metres from the hemline.
Cathedral: 2.75 metres from the waist.
Royal Cathedral: extends 2.74 metres from the waist. Can go up to 7.62 metres.
Your seamstress will be able to put a button on your wedding dress or a hook so you can turn your train into a bustle. This is a good option, especially for when you are dancing. People tend to stand on trains and dealing with one all day may be too much. Most wedding dresses also have a hook of fabric underneath the skirt of the dress which you can loop around your dress. I had a train on my wedding dress and I loved it. It made me feel amazing and it looked great in pictures. I had a thread hook put half way up my dress and a button put near the bottom. This made it into a bustle and looked great. It gave the dress a completely different look and it also had a fabric hook on the underside of the skirt. Unfortunately the dress seemed to keep unhooking when I buttoned it and I gathered the skirt and carried it in the crook of my elbow. I liked how it felt doing this and it looked good in the pictures. It feels very grand and is show-stopping. You could also put the hook near the waist so the train will look sleeker when it is up. This ruined the line of the front of my dress so I had the hook half way up. It is a good idea to take a bridesmaid to your last fitting as it can be hard to figure out how to put the train up. I didn't and it took two guests quite a while to figure out how to do it.
If you are having a train your dress really should be floor length. You could go for a mullet look of course, but those are hard to pull off. Wedding dresses can be any length, most are floor length but do whatever you want. Do keep your height and the shoes you will be wearing in mind though. You don’t want to look squat on your wedding day.
Floor length is standard but there is a trend for 1950s style wedding dresses which are knee length. Here are your length options:
Full Length: self-explanatory but the tip of your shoes should be visible and the dress should not be too long in the back that it can be stood on. You should be able to dance in a full length wedding dress without tripping over.
Mullet: shorter in the front and longer in the back. Can actually look very nice. Perfect for showing off your shoes.
Mid-length: otherwise known as knee length. Covers the knees.
Mini: a brave look for a wedding dress. Above the knee or shorter. The new mother-in-law probably won’t be a fan.
Ballerina: Usually a fuller skirt that stops just above the ankles.
Tea-length: calf-length. Can be very flattering, depending on height and heel height.
Neckline
When thinking about necklines it helps if you keep your bust size in mind. I didn’t go for a strapless wedding dress as I would have spent the rest of the day worried I would fall out of it. This probably would not have happened with a well-made dress but to look beautiful on your wedding dress you have to be comfortable. Here are your neckline options:
Halter: Has a strap that goes around the neck. It is sexy and revealing but don’t let that put you off, it can look absolutely stunning on a wedding dress. It is backless or has a keyhole back and is very comfortable. Works on women of all sizes. You will need a strapless bra to wear underneath.
Scoop: Is a rounded neckline. Like a scoop.
Strapless: a very popular choice of wedding dress. Possibly the most popular choice but I am only going on observation. This is when the neck and shoulders are completely bare. Will have a corset-like bodice or a fitted bustier.
Sweetheart: This looks like a heart. It is off-the-shoulder and dips in the middle to make a heart-shape. Looks very beautiful and glamorous.
V-Neck: Is in the shape of a V and goes down into a deep point.
One Shoulder: This is an asymmetrical look. One arm and shoulder is bare and the other has one strap or a sleeve. Can look elegant and dramatic.
Boat Neck: This look is high in the front and back and follows the line of the collar bone straight across. It looks a bit like a boat and will usually skim both shoulder blades.
Jewel: Looks like a necklace around the collar bone. It has a small curve at the base of the neck.
Silhouette
The best way to get a flattering dress is to get one with a silhouette that looks good on you. Here are the options:
A-Line: this flares from either the bust or the waist. It looks like the letter ‘A’ which is why it is so called. The A-Line silhouette suits pretty much everyone and is also sometimes called the princess line.
Empire: great for pregnant brides. The bodice is cropped and the waist ends below the bust line. This silhouette is very elongating and flattering. Works well if you are self-conscious about your waist and have big breasts. Can be sleeveless or short sleeved.
Slip: this is basically a long tank top. Perfect for beach or casual weddings. May be backless or cut on the bias. It is not usually embellished and looks very elegant.
Ball Gown: a ball gown will have a fitted corset and a full skirt. This is the classic princess/fairy tale wedding dress style. The waist can be nipped in at your natural waist or at your hips. Whatever is most flattering. The ball gown silhouette tends to touch the floor and really suits brides with small waists.
Mermaid: This is a figure hugging dress that flares below the knee. It looks like a mermaid’s tail, hence the name. It is also called a fish tail. It shows off curves well
but can be hard to walk in. Although it can make you feel very elegant and ladylike as you have to take small steps.
Trumpet: The trumpet silhouette is different from the mermaid as the skirt gradually flares about mid-thigh. It has a close-fitting bodice.
Sheath: a sheath dress drops to the floor in one narrow, unbroken line. It is close fitting. This is a popular choice with slim brides and it tends to look like an evening gown. Great for a 1920s look.
Vintage Dresses
Vintage means clothes made between 1920s and 1970s. Anything before that is antique.
Sleeves
Most wedding dresses are strapless and they are the most popular style in the United Kingdom. There were only a minimal amount of other options until Catherine Middleton became the Duchess of Cambridge in a Grace Kelly style, long-sleeved lace wedding dress in 2011. It is an elegant look which can look old fashioned but can also look beautiful and sexy. The variety of wedding dresses which now have sleeves has grown but can still be a little sparse. If you want to buy a wedding dress with long sleeves it is possible though, thanks to Kate.
Here are the sleeve options:
Three-Quarters: this is flattering and ends just after the elbow. Perfect if you want to hid your upper arms but also want to show some skin.
Cap: a cap sleeve barely covers the shoulders. It is short and fitted. It can look beautiful but doesn’t suit everyone.
Balloon: Wide and puffy sleeve which is wrist-length. Is quite dated now but it may be your dream dress and if so, then you can make it work for you. A pouf sleeve is the one on Princess Diana’s Elizabeth Emanuel designed iconic wedding dress, which at the time of writing is to be given to her son Prince Harry for his 30th birthday. What will he do with it I wonder? The pouf sleeve is different from the balloon sleeve as it is short and gathered and sometimes worn off-the-shoulder. It is a hard look to carry off.
Bat Wing: very dramatic. Think Morticia Addams in The Addams Family. Has a wide armhole and then it extends out from the waist and is tight at the wrist. Makes you look like a bat, hence the name.
T-Shirt: Longer than a cap sleeve and generally more loose unless fitted.
Juliet: Is a long sleeve which has a little pouf at the shoulder and then the rest is tapered. Quite an old-fashioned, Shakespearean look.
Fitted: generally long and fitted.
Bell: Think bell-bottom trousers. Narrow at the top and then flares at the bottom. A bit 1970s but can be beautiful and flattering.
Where To Shop
Let’s get the bad news out of the way first: some bridal stores will charge you just to make an appointment and try on dresses. This can be up to £50 and you will only get it back if you buy a dress. This will obviously add up if you go to a number of stores and, to be honest, I would not pay to try on some dresses. Some bridal boutiques will supply champagne while you try on dresses, so it might be worth it if you and your bridal posse can drink your money back in champagne. I only half jest. If you can’t hold your booze however, hold back or you could end up making an expensive drunk purchase. Buying the wrong dress in an alcoholic haze is not the best way to buy the perfect wedding dress.
First, where to go. Bridal stores and boutiques are always a good bet but you usually have to make an appointment. These can be found easily with a quick internet search. You have also probably spotted some where you live. Couture and designer. Sigh, if only. If you have this type of budget, go for it.
Sample sales are a great place to pick up a wedding dress. Pretty much all of the big -and small- designers do them. Stores also do sample sales. You could buy an amazing wedding dress at a discount of 25-50 per cent. Sample sale dresses are dresses which have been ordered and then cancelled or dresses that have been tried on. Some may have defects or have to be dry-cleaned but you could get your dream dress at half the price. The internet is always a good place to find things and wedding dresses are no exception. This is an area where you must be careful as you won’t be able to try on the dress and if you buy one online and it does not fit or is not what you expected you might not be able to take it back. While buying one online can work I would go to the store and try it on. Or at least make sure you could get alterations done. There are always a good number of wedding dresses on eBay. You could pick up a bargain there but do be careful. Check the sellers feedback and postage costs. Ask them any questions at all, especially if there are any stains or marks on the dress. Paying via PayPal is also a good idea as then you will have buyer protection if anything goes wrong.
If you are creatively inclined you could also make your own dress. Don’t do this unless you have the talent and skill to pull it off. Wedding shows and fairs will also have wedding dresses galore. They will usually charge you to attend but it can be worth it as there will be a lot of suppliers there and ideas. A lot of designers and bridal stores will be out in force at wedding shows.
Another option is to rent your dress. Anyone who has seen Don’t Tell The Bride has probably watched in horror as the groom has had a bespoke suit made for him and his best men while renting the wedding dress for the poor bride. While renting wedding dresses is popular in America, rental stores are few and far between in the UK. Although some bridal stores will allow you to rent dresses if you ask them. It makes sense to rent a dress you are only going to wear once. My wedding dress just sits in my wardrobe. Although I do bring it out and look at it quite a lot. I don’t think I could ever part with it. Maybe one day I will have a daughter.
Think of your budget first and be honest with the salespeople about how much money you have. Being prepared to negotiate also helps.
You can bring along pictures from magazines or some pictures on your iPad to give the salesperson an idea of what you want. You could also bring some fabric swatches too. It will help if you have a general idea of what you want in mind. Your Pinterest account may really come into its own at this point.
If you can don’t buy the dress immediately. An impulse purchase is not a good idea when buying a wedding dress. Ask the shop if they could put the dress aside for twenty-four hours and then go back and make sure it is still the one you want. Also be careful of going wedding dress shopping with too many people. They may all have different opinions which might confuse you and make things worse. Of course, they could also all fall in love with the same dress so, makeup your own mind but make sure you take people that you trust. Don’t be swayed by other people’s opinions. You are the one who has to wear the dress and look at pictures of it for the rest of your life.
Wear appropriate underwear when wedding dress shopping. A white or nude strapless bra, big pants (for modesty!) and some tights or leggings (also for modesty) are all good ideas. You will be changing in front of a completely stranger who will probably have to help you into the dress, as well as your friends or family. You might want to make sure the pants are seam-free and bring a pair of heels. Make sure the heels are comfortable and that you can walk in them.
The salespeople might use some bridal lingo. If you don’t know what something means, ask. People who work outside the wedding industry won’t know what certain things mean. Me included.
Many bridal stores will not allow you to take pictures of the dress for ‘copyright reasons’. This is very annoying but they will allow you to take pictures if you purchase the dress, assuming it then has to be made. When I bought my dress I picked one and then it was made from scratch to my exact measurements. I could ask for changes and alterations. It took three months to finish and after it was I then had two fittings, the last one being two weeks before the wedding.
There are three ways in which you buy a wedding dress:
Bespoke: this is what I did. You make an appointment with the bridal store and try on their sample dresses. After you have chosen one your measurements will be taken and any other notes on changes you want to be made to the dress like adding sleeves or making the dress shorter. This will all be sent off to the designer and then the dress will be made. It will take about three months to make the dress and you will have to pay a deposit. You will then get the dress and any alterations will be noted and it will be sent to a seamstress to be fitted to your exact measurements. You should get at least two fittings. I had to pay an extra £200 on top of the price of my dress for the fittings. In hindsight, this was a bit much and I don’t think I should have been charged the extra money. So watch out for hidden costs.
Off-the-peg: you go to the bridal store and choose a dress which is closest to your measurements and then the dress is altered to your exact size. This is a smart and economical option and if my mother and brother had not paid for my dress this is what I would have done.
Handmade: it makes no sense but this can actually be the cheapest option. If you go down this route then have a clear vision of what you want. There is nothing to try on and you will have to have a lot of confidence in your vision. Work with your dressmaker and know what fabric you want, how you want your dress to look on: the silhouette, length, bodice…make sure you know exactly what you want and allow plenty of time for any changes you might want made.
Second hand: when you buy a second hand wedding dress it has probably been worn for less than twelve hours and dry-cleaned afterwards. It makes sense, taking this into consideration, to buy a second hand wedding dress. If your budget is tight and you don’t mind wearing a dress that has been worn before, go for it. There are a number of sites that sell second hand wedding dresses. Check out the following: sellmyweddingdress.co.uk, preloved.co.uk, bride2bride.co.uk, stillwhite.co.uk and eBay. The sites above sell beautiful designer wedding dresses from designers like Vera Wang (sigh), Caroline Castigliano, Pronovias and Brown’s Brides. If you buy from eBay be very wary, ask to see the original receipt, get lots of pictures and check out the feedback of the seller. If they do not have lots of positive feedback: avoid.
On the subject of second hand wedding dresses, Charity shops are also a good bet. They always tend to have one or two wedding dresses which will obviously only have been worn once. If you can afford to get it dry cleaned before the big day, even better. If you do get it from a charity shop then make sure you check the dress thoroughly. Check under the armpits and also check for rips and stains. You probably won’t be able to return it. To make things easier Oxfam, Red Cross and Barnardo’s not only sell second hand dresses but have specialist bridal stores and all of their dresses in store are also listed on their websites. Not all of the dresses are second hand. Some generous designers donate brand new wedding dresses to the store so you really could pick up a bargain while making a difference.
With second hand dresses always factor in dry cleaning costs, alteration costs and delivery charges, all of which can mount up. Try to get an inclusive price.
The High Street: Monsoon, Topshop, H&M, Coast, Ghost and Phase Eight offer some truly beautiful wedding dresses. Their ranges are quite small but they are a lot cheaper than other routes. Monsoon had a very beautiful wedding dress for £200 when I was looking for one. This may be a less unique option however, there might be a lot of other brides buying the same dress as you. This might not matter
too much as a lot of white wedding dresses look very similar, you could also style them a completely different way.
Many high street stores also sell beautiful white, bridal-looking dresses that are not wedding dresses but are just as beautiful. Try Next, Lipsy, John Lewis, House of Fraser, French Connection, Reiss, Ted Baker, BHS, Oh My Love, Mango, Zara, Jaeger, Marks And Spencer and L.K Bennett.
If you are pregnant then have your final dress fitting as close to your wedding day as you can get. Some bridal ranges do offer maternity wedding dresses and maternity stores also have evening wear which could be perfect for your wedding dress. An empire line and flowing fabric is the best idea. Although you probably won’t show until you are past your first trimester, you might bloat up as this is a common side effect of the first three months of pregnancy. On the other hand, I once saw an episode of Don’t Tell The Bride where the bride was heavily pregnant and wore a tight-fitting off-the-shoulder dress, she looked beautiful and stunning. Her bump was out there and proud. I was really struck at how amazing she looked, so do what is right for you. Just make sure there is some stretch in the fabric!
When you buy your wedding dress do not even entertain the idea of vanity sizing. Buy the biggest size and then have your dress fitted. The best way to do this is to choose it according to your biggest measurement: hips, waist, bust etc. The dress will then be fitted in the other areas. Getting married is very stressful and brides tend to lose or gain ten to fifteen pounds. Buying a smaller dress with the intention to exercise and diet into it is also not a very good idea. It is a gamble and you could end up putting your body under too much stress. Many people get ill on their wedding day or miss it altogether, you don’t want this to be you because you over-exercised or weren't eating enough. Know your body and how it reacts to stress. This will be an indicator of what size you should buy in case of any eventualities.
When you try on the wedding dresses make sure you can sit down, walk, move around a bit and lift your arms. You are not just going to be standing still all day like a Barbie doll, make sure you can hug your new husband on your wedding day and then dance the night away.
My wedding dress was a kick-walk dress. You had to kick it out and then step. This sounds hard and like you would be walking funny but there is an art to it so you don’t look silly! When actress Jennifer Lawrence took a tumble when going to collect her Oscar for Best Actress it was because she was wearing a kick-walk dress but forgot to kick. So keep that in mind. Jennifer Lawrence carried if off, I don’t think I could have. (Note: kick-walk dress is not a real term. I made it up but you get the idea)
Watch out for hidden charges when you buy your wedding dress. Ask if there are any additional fees, ask how much fittings cost. Before you pay the deposit find out what happens if you cancel the dress. Do you have to pick it up or will they post it to you? If they post it then how much do they charge? What happens if it goes missing? Get everything in writing and have a good read of their cancellation policy.
Watch out for the salesperson trying to push you to buy a tiara and a veil at the same time as the dress. If you don’t know how you are wearing your hair then the veil might not work. If you are anything like me you will also probably be hungry and have been in the store for hours. The store will probably put a veil and tiara on you when you are trying on dresses. They won’t put the veil and tiara on every dress, sometimes just the most expensive ones. If you try on one and want to see the full get up then ask them. On the other hand, if you truly fall in love with the veil and tiara then go ahead and buy them. Just make sure it is not an impulse purchase as they are generally very expensive, especially when bought from a bridal store.
On the day of your wedding make sure you wear a strapless dress all day if your dress is strapless. You don’t want red marks on your shoulder. Also make sure you wear something loose fitting and that won’t ruin your makeup or hair when you have to get changed, like a loose shirt or a strapless dress. Giving your engagement ring a clean is also a good idea. Use an old toothbrush and some washing up liquid and it will look sparkly again in no time at all. Another good tip is to go to the bathroom before you step into your dress. Going to the bathroom in your wedding dress probably won’t be easy.
Talking about stepping into a dress: this is the best way to get into your dress. Step into it and pull it up. Then have your bridesmaids do it up at the back and make sure everything looks good. Have your trusty bridesmaids or your makeup artist/hair stylist pin your tiara and veil into place too.
Bolero, Cover up, cape, cloaks, muffs, shawls, shrug.
There are a number of bridal cover up options. Bridal sections of department stores are a good place to start. Debenhams and John Lewis have some good options. Phase Eight has some beautiful bridal wear and Berketex Brides also have some good stuff but can be pricey. They are in House of Fraser and Debenhams. They also have a few standalone stores.
White Or Not?
Not all wedding dresses have to be white and if you have been married before you might not feel like it is appropriate. (Although if Kim Kardashian can wear white on her third wedding day then you can too). White dresses were made popular by Queen Victoria in the nineteenth century as it was the colour debutantes wore at their coming out ball. White is the most popular and traditional choice but you could also get married in ivory. A trend for colourful dresses has gained momentum. In Eastern cultures brides tend to wear red wedding dresses. Pink wedding dresses have been particularly popular in the past few years. Gwen Stefani started the trend when she married Gavin Rossdale in a white and pink John Galliano dress which looked like it was dip-dyed. Kaley Cuoco from The Big Bang Theory got married in an off-the-shoulder bubblegum pink wedding dress. Dita Von Teese got married in a purple dress and Sarah Jessica Parker, AKA Carrie in Sex And The City got married in a black wedding dress. It was very unique but Jessica-Parker later said that she regretted marrying in black so keep in mind that a spontaneous bold choice might carry some weight in the future.
Wedding dresses were white because the bride was supposed to be a virgin but, let’s face it, most of us don’t marry the first man that we meet and then don’t sleep with him until after the wedding. So wear white or don’t, just remember that it is your choice and no one else's.
Many Shades of White
If you are having a white dress then it may not seem as simple as you think it is as there are many variations of white. Some will be more flattering than others. Natural white tends to be found in natural fibre, stark white tends to be found in polyester, ivory is a cream shade of white and champagne is off-white and tends to have a soft yellow undertone.
Fittings
If you can get alterations included in the price of your dress then well done. I ended up paying £200 in alteration fees for my dress which was made to measure. In hindsight, paying an extra £200 on top of paying for a bespoke dress to be made for me was actually quite steep. (Or should I say my parents who kindly paid for my dress, thanks Mum and Dad!)
Renting Your Dress
It makes sense to rent a dress that you will only wear once. Many women balk at this though. Either they want to keep their wedding dress for a possible future daughter or just for the sentimentality of it.
There is a growing trend for brides to wear two wedding dresses. An elaborate one for the ceremony and then one that is more practical. You can do this if you want but if you buy a dress that is good enough then you won’t need to. You could change your accessories from day to night or hoik your train up. Leaving is another matter however, arriving at your first night hotel wearing your wedding dress will feel great but unless you have a car it is going to be a pain to transport back home. Ditto if you are going on your honeymoon straight away. Get changed just before you head off and give your wedding dress to a trusted member of the wedding party.
Caring For Your Dress After The Wedding
Get it dry cleaned. Even if you are lucky and nothing gets spilt all over it, it will still need freshened up. If it is long, even more so.
A word on dry cleaning
It is very expensive to dry clean a wedding dress. Basically people will just mark everything up because of the sentimental value. Expect to be quoted at least £160 for the dress and £40 plus for the veil. Insane. One dry cleaner even tried to charge me £50 for a box to put it in. Make sure you are not being manipulated due to the sentimental value of your wedding dress. It does not cost £300 to clean a veil and wedding dress and quoting that price is ridiculous. The dry cleaner next to that particular store quoted me £75. Quite a price difference.
Some stains won’t show up straight away so you might want to wait until you take your dress to the dry cleaners. When you do take the dress make sure you, or the member of the wedding party who does it for you, points out all of the areas that need attention. Make sure you use a cleaner which specialises in dry cleaning wedding dresses. You don’t want to take a risk with something so special and expensive. Ask for recommendations and using a search engine to make sure there are not people giving them negative feedback online is a very good idea. Make sure you inspect the dress carefully, check that the marks and stains are gone but also make sure that no damage has been done. You should specify how you want the dress packed with the cleaner. They will charge you more if you want it boxed but as long as they are not trying to charge you £50 for a piece of cardboard that is fine. The best way to store your wedding dress is wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and then stored in an acid-free box. Don’t put anything metal, like your veil if it has a metal clip, in with the dress as it may rust and stain the dress. Make sure the box lets some air in because natural fibres need to be able to breath. If you do not want to store your dress in a box then wrap it in clean white sheets, preferably muslin, in a place that is dry and dark. Check your wedding dress at least every six months to make sure there are no marks or mould setting in. If you store it in your attic it might get too hot and the basement might be too damp. If you have ever lost anything to damp or mould in one of your rooms then do not store your dress there.
What To Do With Your Dress After The Wedding
A couple of years ago there was an awful trend going around where women trashed their wedding dresses. I always hated this as I thought it was incredibly wasteful. I could maybe understand it after a bad divorce but a wedding dress should be a symbol of a beautiful day and all of the love that happened on that day.
If you decide you don’t want to keep your dress then there are a number of things you can do. You could have it restyled or dyed into a completely new dress, you could sell it on a number of sites like sellmyweddingdress.co.uk, preloved.co.uk, bride2bride.co.uk, stillwhite.co.uk and eBay. Or you could donate it to charity. The charity option will make you feel good and you will make another woman very happy indeed. Good if you don’t need the extra money.
Here is my wedding diary entry on buying my wedding dress:
So I’ve done it. I have bought the dress. Or more accurately, my family bought the dress for me. For which I am eternally grateful as it really helps with the wedding budget.
I live in London and my mother lives in Scotland so I was really panicking about wedding dress shopping. It was something I only wanted to do with my mother but was worried about the logistics. Because of work I only manage to see my family twice a year at most, which is quite painful, about as painful as buying your wedding dress without your mother.
Thankfully fate smiled upon us over New Year and on the 2nd of January we managed to find some wedding dress shops that were open.
The problem is I hate most wedding dresses. They are too blingy or too lacy and grown up. Out of all of the dresses in the first store I hated them all and in the second I liked five, three of which turned out to be bridesmaids’ dresses (but were white. Really?!). I decided I didn’t want an off-the-shoulder dress as at least 80% of wedding dresses I see are off-the-shoulder and although I love that look, I wanted to be different. I am also ‘curvy’ on top and didn’t want to pull my wedding dress up all day, or worry about popping out.
Even though I have been engaged for a while now nothing prepared me for seeing myself in my wedding dress, that is the moment you finally realise that you are getting married. “You’re getting married”, the store-women said. Yes. Yes, I am, I thought. I was so overwhelmed and my mother was welling up. The women in the bridal store also put a tiara and a veil on me to see what it looked like. I never thought I wanted a veil or a tiara but they looked great on and really suited me. I am still not sure what I am doing with my hair for the big day but now I have some ideas.
Both my mother and I loved the first wedding dress I tried on. I tried on the other four and then went back to the first. We called my father and brother to the store and even my father was speechless and had a tear in his eye. Not what you would expect from my dad, he’s never quiet. Even my brother, who is very manly, said it was beautiful.
My fiancé was in the vicinity when I bought the dress and I even asked him if he wanted to come and see it. He is very picky and was initially upset when he found out he couldn’t see the dress before because of superstition and tradition. He is superstitious so decided against it in the end, although I did catch his face in the mirror when I was in one of the dresses I didn’t buy: it was a beautiful moment seeing his smile.
When you go shopping for your wedding dress all of your preconceptions go out of the window. I thought I didn’t want lace but my dress has lace. I thought I didn’t want a train, but my dress has one. There is even a subtle, elegant amount of bling. I knew I wanted a white dress, I love the pink dress trend but it’s not for me. When I saw the dress I bought on the hanger I didn’t think much of it but something about it grabbed me and I think this is key, you have to try the dress on to make a proper decision.
The other advice I got about buying a wedding dress was to buy a dress that you can wear again, therefore making it more economical. I didn’t do that either. I bought a wedding dress with a wow factor, it can’t be mistaken for anything else.
I thought buying my wedding dress would be much harder, but actually I bought the first wedding dress I tried on. It is being made now and will be ready in three months. Then I will have two fittings. All I have to buy now is the shoes and bouquet. I am so excited. I can’t wait until my fiancé sees the dress and we are married. After I bought the dress I said to my fiancé, ‘I hope you like it.’ and my entire family said ‘You will’ to him in unison. Let’s hope.
The dress was more expensive than I was going to get but every time I look at the pictures my mother took of me in my dress I am overwhelmingly happy.
TK Maxx
TK Maxx is great. Okay everything is last season but that doesn’t matter. Fashion and trends change but when something looks good, it looks good. I got my wedding shoes from TK Maxx. They were from Guess and down from hundreds of pounds. I also got a bridal bag from TK Maxx for just £7. They really do have some great finds so have a rummage in the run up to your wedding and see what you can find.
TK Maxx also do wedding dresses. They are last season but, who cares? There will not be a huge range of sizing but you could find a really beautiful dress at a heavy discount.
Underwear
Many brides still wear garters due to the tradition. They hold up your stockings and make for saucy photo opportunities. If you are wearing a streamline dress then make sure the garter doesn’t ruin your silhouette.
You might want to wear a slip or petticoat under your dress. It will give a more streamline look and some slips now have slimming technology in them. Make sure it fits properly and is the same shape as your dress. It is also good to have a slip to wear to fittings.
Stockings
Going bare-legged is a good option if you are wearing strappy sandals but otherwise some stockings will make sure your shoes don’t rub too much and will hold everything in. If you do want to wear tights with sandals then you could try some footless ones. Footless control stockings are also great. They can even take the strain off your legs after being on your feet all day.
Shapewear
Some spanx can make all of the difference if you are finding it hard to get into your dress. They smooth you out and bring you down about half a dress size. Other shape wear will be just as good. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes for all of the different areas of the body. It might be good to have some on hand for peace of mind.
Wearing The Right Bra
I did not wear the right bra for my initial fitting so I had to pop across the street to Debenhams. Thankfully I managed to make another appointment later that day. The real reason why is because I forgot exactly what the dress looked like. I ordered it in January and by the time it was made and I had my first fitting it was June. Quite a long time. So make a note of what type of underwear you will need on the day. It will save having to re-book a fitting.
If your dress does not have a built in bra you will need one of the following: strapless or spaghetti strap bra or one that is low cut in the back or front. Make sure they are seamless and white or nude. Having some fashion/toupee tape on the day will also be handy if you have to tape anything down or stop anything falling out. You can use it to stop straps falling down too.
Veil or Not
I never thought I would wear a veil but I did. I tried it on with my dress and it looked amazing. The fact that people kept accidentally pulling it on the day was less fun however. It also looked great on the day and really added to the outfit. I clipped it on my hair at the back with a tiara further forward. It was a traditional, almost Princess look I never thought I would go for but I loved it.
When Angelina Jolie married Brad Pitt in August 2014 she wore a silk veil which had been designed by her children. Her six children doodled away and then Donatella Versace embroidered the drawings into the veil. It won’t be to everyone’s taste but I thought it was beautiful and very unique.
Different Types of Veils
There are a lot of different types of veils. Although they can all look quite similar, the different names are usually so-called because of their length. Here are your options:
Ballerina: Goes all the way to the ankles. Very beautiful and dramatic. Elbow: rather obvious: goes to the elbows, Fingertip: ditto. One of the most popular veils in the UK, even before the Duchess of Cambridge wore it on her wedding day. Angel: doesn’t have a specific length but the cut gives it the look of an angels’
wings by coming to a point in the back. Birdcage: Funnily enough, this was the type of veil I thought I would go for, but I didn’t in the end. It stops just below the chin and covers all of the face and is usually attached to a small hat or a fascinator. Two-tiered: a veil with more than one layer, comes down to the shoulders. Blusher: short and covers the brides face, it is then pushed back over the head. Worn over a longer veil usually. Chapel: about seven feet long. Cathedral: About ten feet from your headpiece. Juliet Cap: very Grace Kelly, worn on your crown and then the veil comes down to your elbows. Circular: clipped to the head with a flat comb, can be any length.
Some women don’t like the connotations of a veil but if you really want to wear one don’t let this stop you. If you look closely at weddings then quite a lot of it is incredibly sexist. Ever noticed that all of the people who traditionally make speeches are male? While a veil’s connotations is the handing over of a woman to a man nothing completes a bridal look like wearing a veil and you will feel amazing in one. Let it go and makeup for it by having your maid of honour make a speech.
Some Things To Keep In Mind
If your dress is very bling you might want to wear a plain veil. You don’t want to end up looking like a Christmas tree.
Make sure the veil photographs well.
Practice in it. On my wedding day everyone kept pulling my veil. Watch out for that.
The bling on the veil doesn’t need to match the dress.
Take your height into consideration. A veil with too much volume might make you look short, also watch out for lines that run across. This will stop the eye and make you look shorter.
You could pick up a bargain along with lots of information on veils at weddingveilsdirect.co.uk
Hats, Headpieces, Tiaras
There are other options to a veil, and some that also go with it. Hair jewellery can look stunning and glamorous. Especially with an elaborate up-do.
Some brides wear a hat on their wedding day. My mother wore a hat to her wedding and looked stunningly beautiful. There is a large variety of hats to choose from and they should be less hassle than more fiddly veils and clips. Just make sure you pin the hat on properly and if you end up taking if off at some point, watch out for hat hair. Do it in the bathroom with your bridesmaids so they can restyle your hair and make sure it is not flat. Make sure the hat suits your face, not everyone can carry off a hat. Think about your face shape and what it suits. Some hat options
are: large-brimmed hats (not perfect when getting your photo taken, make sure it don’t cast a shadow over your face), pillbox, fascinator, cocktail, fedora and trilby.
A headband can also look amazing. I saw a beautiful one by Leo Bancroft for his Tesco (Yes, really) range that had pearls and diamante all along it. There is an endless choice when it comes to headbands. Check eBay and Google Shopping for a good variety.
Here it is The Tiara: think about it, how many of us get to be a princess for a day? Yes we are grown women but that doesn’t mean we should not live out our fantasies. Not many things look so bridal and it can bring out the girly side of most of us. I never thought I would wear a tiara, I have never been very girly but I did, and I loved it.
Accessories
Accessories can always make an outfit. A special pair of earrings or an heirloom can really add not only to the outfit, but also to the day. A pair of earring from a grandmother who has passed away will make her presence felt in a lovely and sentimental way. Earrings are a very good idea as they catch the light and will be seen at some point even if you wear your hair down. If you are wearing an off-the-shoulder wedding dress then a beautiful necklace can really add a bit of sparkle.
If your wedding dress does not have full length sleeves then a bracelet can really add something. You will, of course, already have a good amount of bling in the shape of your engagement ring and wedding ring so don’t over-egg the pudding. Well, unless you want to. It is your wedding day.
Gloves
Another option, they particularly work if you are going for a 1950s look.
Jewellery
My mother bought me a beautiful pair of earrings for my wedding day. They were pink sapphire drop earrings. There is a fine lining between wearing some elegant jewellery and looking like a Christmas tree. Your wedding dress should set the tone. If it is very glitzy then you will not need much else but if your wedding dress is simple then you can feel free to bling it up.
Bag
It is handy to have a wedding bag. A clutch will do. Get one of your bridesmaids to hold it during the ceremony.
Shoes
You don’t have to get married in a pair of white shoes. I got married in some red high heels and it really made an impact on the day. Guests were taking pictures of my feet all day. Even if your dress is floor length, as mine was, your shoes will still be on show so use this as an excuse to go and buy a new, beautiful pair of shoes.
If your dress is very extravagant you will want your shoes to be quite plain. However, if your dress is quite plain then jazz up those shoes. If you want more height with less pain then heels with a platform will hurt less, as will a pair of wedges. Make sure your shoes are not too small, you don’t want to end up crippled on the day. Your feet will also probably expand slightly, especially in hot weather. Make sure they are not too big either, they must either fit perfectly or be a little bit bigger.
I know the temptation to just buy the most amazing shoes but do think about comfort. You will be on your feet all day and you will be thankful later. It is possible – and smart – to pack a pair of flats or just lower-heeled shoes but don’t wear those for any official photographs as your dress will be made to fit one pair of shoes, not two different heel heights.
Don’t think you have to wear your shoes in the same fabric as your dress, you don’t. In fact, it really can mix up your look and add a beautiful detail to have a different colour and fabric.
There are a number of options to jazz up some inexpensive shoes. You could dye them and it won’t cost too much. Buy some cheap shoes in satin and then hit the search engines for a cheap but good company that can dye them. Or you can dye them yourself.
You can also buy Blingbacks or some other type of shoe jewellery. These are great as they just clip onto your shoes, either on the front or back.
I also saw a rather brilliant article in a women’s magazine where they took a pair of boots, covered them in glue and then put glitter and sequins all over them. The finished result looked amazing and I reckon it would work just as well on a different pair of shoes.
Cheap shoes are not very comfortable usually so just switch to your flats in the evening/after the wedding pictures. In saying that, I have a pair of cheap shoes from Dorothy Perkins that I bought for an audition and I wear them all the time. They are comfortable and still look great.
If you can afford it I would buy the most expensive shoes you can as long as they are not too bridal and you can wear them again. A good, expensive pair of shoes is a great investment piece and you could wear them again and again, all the while knowing that you got married in those shoes.
If you do want to spend a lot of money on a pair of designer shoes then you might want to design your own shoes. It is not a cheap option and would probably cost in the region of £300 but, if you were buying a pair of expensive shoes anyway, having some made to fit your feet and style exactly will be worth the money. At least they will be comfortable. You could even get your wedding date inscribed on the shoes and you even get a pair that is entirely bespoke. Upper Street are a company that do this and so do shoesofprey.com
Comfort
Same ballet pumps in your bridal bag will probably save your life on your wedding day. Some flat, or lower-heeled shoes will really help when you have been on your feet all day. They really will give that ‘ah’ feeling. The other option is that you kick off your heels and dance the night away in your bare feet.
For extra comfort you can buy padded shoe inserts. There are a number of options for these. You can buy inserts for the back of the shoe to stop rubbing or blisters, there are gel pads that you put under the ball of your foot to ease burning and you can also buy a blister stick which you can rub onto your toes and the back of your heels to stop excess rubbing. Vaseline will also have the same effect.
I have heard of some women rubbing the bottom of their feet with alcohol to numb the feet. Some people swear by it.
It is also very important to wear your shoes in before the wedding day. Do this on a clean floor or a rug. Practise dancing in them too. You might also want to rough up the soles with a knife so the shoes are not too smooth and have a bit of grip. This will stop you falling over.
THE GROOM’S OUTFIT
Just like women, men should dress to suit their body shape. Think about what suits you when choosing your groom’s outfit. Most grooms rent their outfit but not all. Some get a bespoke suit made, others buy one off the shelf. There are a lot of options however.
The groom buys his outfit with his best man or/and the rest of his wedding posse like his ushers and friends. There are no rules or superstitions about a bride seeing the groom’s outfit before the wedding so you could buy his outfit with him or even see it beforehand. You may want to talk about colour schemes with your bride-to-be. If she is wearing ivory then you might want to wear an ivory shirt. You may also want your tie or handkerchief to match the wedding colours. You don’t have to coordinate of course, only if you want. It is too ‘matchy’ for some people.
One thing to keep in mind is the weather. I still feel slightly guilty about asking a few of my friends and my father to wear a kilt to my wedding. They were sweltering in the July heat but they looked amazing so it was worth it in the end. If you are
getting married in the summer you might want to avoid a heavy wool suit and opt for some linen instead.
The best man and groom should be dressed in a similar fashion. They don’t have to match but they should not clash. If one is wearing a morning suit, then the other should as well. Ushers should also either look similar or have something of note that is the same. Like a waistcoat, handkerchief or a tie.
Kilts
If you are Scottish you can go for the kilt option. Kilts look amazing and the full Scottish regalia is something to behold. Proper Highland dress with the kilt, sporran and waistcoat looks brilliant. It looks great in pictures too. Wear your own tartan if you have some, if not then choose one you have a special connection with or one that really grabs you. My dad has an English surname despite being a Scot and he wore a gorgeous black and white kilt. My best man, Steve McAleavy, is also Scottish but his surname is Irish so he wore a family tartan that was equally beautiful.
Military Uniform
Only an option if you are actually in the military but it looks amazing. Women love a man in uniform. Richard Gere in An Officer And A Gentleman springs to mind.
Suits
Make sure the suit fits. If you are not buying a new one, get it tailored and even if you do buy a new one off the shelf, unless it fits perfectly, have it tailored. If you are getting a suit made make sure you give it enough time. At least three months.
Tuxedos
Ditto for tuxedos. You obviously won’t be able to get it tailored if it is rented but do make sure it fits well.
Dinner suit
You can wear a black, white or ivory dinner jacket. White and ivory work well in summer. White or ivory can still be worn with black trousers.
Formal suit
This is not only a good look for a wedding but can also be a great investment buy. A three-piece suit can be worn many times over. If you can afford to get one made, do
so. Good colours include navy, beige, black, pale grey and white. You can even get a patterned suit for a very unique look. Generally worn with a tie or a cravat, this is a very popular choice.
Morning Suit
My husband wore a morning suit to our wedding and I do have to say, he looked incredibly handsome. The morning coat is a very formal choice but don’t let that put you off. Weddings are formal and the groom is supposed to stand out. Coats are black or grey and so are trousers. You can mix and match the colours of the coat and trousers. Morning coats are worn with a tie or cravat.
Tails
Tails are a jacket that is short in the front and long in the back, it has two longer tails which hang down the back. This is a very formal option. Usually worn with a bow tie and a formal, white shirt.
Tuxedo or Black tie
A popular option in America. For formal weddings. Looks great on. Black, grey or navy are all colour options. A tuxedo is worn with a bow tie, waistcoat, cummerbund and braces. Wear the cummerbund or the waistcoat but not both. Trousers are usually flat fronted or have one pleat. Has the added benefit of making people look like James Bond. It is easy to stamp your own personality onto a tuxedo as there are so many different ways to wear it.
Lounge suit
Good for an informal wedding. You could get the suit and jacket made from different material. Looks smart but is more informal.
There are a few different shirt options and you should go with the one that not only suits your outfit, but also you. For collar style you can go for mandarin, which is a collar that does not fold over and is high-necked, spread, which is the most popular one and is the same size all around and wing, which is winged at the front.
For neckwear: a bow tie, cravat or tie are all an option. Each can look great, just make sure it matches the outfit.
A handkerchief can look very smart and could be in one of the wedding colours. Gives an extra something.
Other Details
Cufflinks are a great look. It is the little details like this that really lift an outfit. Try for some personalised cufflinks or some which have a sentimental meaning, a gift from your future wife perhaps. My parents bought my husband some beautiful cufflinks that said ‘groom’ on them and my father wore ones that said ‘father of the bride’. They were really lovely and added a beautiful personal touch to the day.
Waistcoat
Men look very dashing in waistcoats and one that is silk, colourful or extravagant can ensure the groom stands out. All of the male wedding party can wear waistcoats but the groom’s must be different as he must stand out and not ‘blend in’ amongst the ushers and best man. Make sure that your waistcoat covers the top of the waistband. Waistcoats are also great for making men look slimmer. They give a streamlined look.
Shoes
If you buy new shoes then make sure you wear them in a little by wearing them around the house. You don’t want sore feet on the day. Make sure your shoes are in good condition. Check them for scuffs, make sure the shoelaces match and are in good condition and check the heel is not worn.
There are no general rules on men’s wedding shoes but a pair of black oxfords will always look good (full confession, my husband’s choice of shoe on our wedding day). You could wear colourful shoes or even colourful socks. Just make sure you take the label off the bottom if they are new and that they match your outfit.
Renting Versus Buying
The renting versus buying debate may be decided on financial factors. If you are wearing a suit to your wedding then getting one made would be a great investment that would pay off in the end. However, if you wore a tuxedo or a morning suit then you probably would not get as much wear out of it. Another thing to factor into your decision is that you will be looking at these pictures for the rest of your life. Looking good on your wedding day is just as important for a man as it is for a woman.
It is possible to rent and still look good but just make sure you get there early if you are getting married in peak wedding season, you don’t want to have to pick from whatever is left. If you are going on your honeymoon straight away then have a member of the wedding party return the outfit for you in time. When you pick your wedding outfit up check that it is in good condition and that it has no stains and nothing is missing.
Men tend to rent their outfits but women can rent dresses too. This obviously makes financial sense. You only wear the dress once and it costs a considerable amount of money. Despite this, many women hate the thought of not owning their wedding dress. The sentimental value is not to be underestimated.
Shoes - Women
Don’t feel like you have to get married in a traditional pair of wedding shoes. They don’t need to be made out of fabric, or white or Ivory. I got married in a pair of red high heels with blue ‘I Do’ stickers on the bottom. The guests loved them and everyone kept photographing them. It was something bold and unique. The rest of my wedding look was quite traditional so I wanted to rebel with my shoes.
Where To Find Your Outfit
Bridal magazine will have a lot of resources, yes, even for men. Moss Bros is popular and have lots of stores all over the UK. The Moss Bros in London is in Covent Garden. Wedding blogs and websites will also have plenty of shop and tailor recommendations. Search engines are obviously going to be your secret weapon. In fact, it should not be hard to find anything in this day and age. Make sure where you get your outfit is easy to get to however, you will need to pick it up a few days before the wedding and you (or someone else if you are on honeymoon) will have to drop it off. It is best to keep things local.
It is a good idea for all of the male wedding party to go clothes shopping together. That way you can negotiate for a bulk deal. Sometimes you can get the groom’s wedding outfit for free or at a discount.
There are also some sites on the internet where you can buy bespoke suits for a very cheap price. You measure yourself and then the suit is made overseas. I would give it plenty of time if you are choosing this option. Try www.asuitthatfits.com
When renting make sure you know what is included in the price.
A Word On Grooming
Make sure the wedding party shave, have a haircut and look clean and tidy. Grooming will be remembered. Dirty fingernails are not a good look.
BRIDESMAIDS, FLOWER GIRLS AND PAGE BOYS
Choosing Bridesmaids’ Dresses
Gone are the days when a variety of women of different ages and sizes had to wear the same awful dress. The best thing to do these days is choose a colour and then have the bridesmaids wear beautiful dresses that suit them and their shape. I chose
navy blue for my bridesmaids and one of my regrets of my wedding planning is not having all of my maids together and going shopping for dresses.
You can ask your bridesmaids to buy their own dresses but if you are doing this then definitely just give them a colour, don’t ask them to buy a horrible dress they will never wear again. Also, make sure you buy them a present if they buy their own dress. It is only fair. Remember that your friends are not made of money, and even if they are rich, no one wants to be taken advantage of.
Decide if you want your bridesmaids to look like individuals or like a traditional wedding party. The first decision is: do you want them to look very individual or to wear the same dress? Or different dresses in the same fabric and colour? If you really do want them all in the same dress then make sure it will suit everyone’s different body shape. If one of your bridesmaids is pregnant you might want to take her shopping first as it might be hard to find her a dress. Go for an empire line and loose fabrics. Flowing material will work and don’t put her in stilettos either. A thick heel or wedge will be needed.
You can buy beautiful bridesmaids dresses on the high street. Little Mistress, Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and H&M all have affordable dresses with a wow factor. If you want to shell out and have a fun day then sites like maidstomeasure.com give you and your bridesmaids the opportunity to design your own dresses either online or over champagne in its store. It will cost between £215-255. They will look very wow indeed. Oh, and talking about the wow factor, make sure your maids look amazing on the day. Only insecure women try and make their bridesmaids look ugly. If you are getting your makeup done, you could get your bridesmaids’ makeup done too. This is an extra nice treat if they are paying for their own dresses.
If you want to make a day of it you could go to an outlet village like Bicester near Oxford. Kate Middleton has been known to shop there and you could have a day out and then pick up a bargain. They have Jigsaw, Donna Karen and Prada.
For flower girls or younger bridesmaids: many brides dress them in a white or cream dress and then add a sash in the colour of the older bridesmaids’ dresses. You might want to include a cardigan or something to keep the kids warm.
Page boys’ outfits should be easy to find. Don’t buy them too far in advance because children tend to have growth spurts. A shirt and trousers will work and you could add a tie in the wedding colours. Suits are super cute on younger children and you don’t have to spend a fortune. You can even get them from supermarkets like George at Asda, it doesn’t make much sense to spend a lot when they will only grow out of them and get them dirty.
Mother of The Bride
It is a good idea to coordinate with the mothers of the groom and bride to make sure they don’t wear the same outfit. Or the same colour. Traditionally the bride’s mother chooses the style and colour of her outfit and then lets the groom’s mother know. The idea being that the groom’s mother then chooses something similar in terms of formality and won’t wear colours that clash. They should not dress the same obviously. As long as it does not clash let your mother wear what she wants. She will feel more comfortable if what she is wearing suits her and her personality.
If she needs to wear a hat then she shouldn't wear one which is wider than her shoulders and if your mother is petite then make sure she does not wear a hat that overwhelms her. If she is not petite then she shouldn’t wear one that is too small. She could also wear a fascinator or a jewelled clip. Keep in mind that she will be photographed a lot so make sure the hat does not cast too much of a shadow and that you can see her face clearly. She will want to be seen on her daughter’s wedding day.
Dads
Dads should dress to suit the wedding party. Wearing something similar to the ushers would be a good idea. Dads could join the wedding party when they are buying the groom’s outfit. If not, they should be told what the groom and best man are wearing. Dads should not dress like the groom or best man. The groom is supposed to stand out and look different from everyone else. The best man too but less so.