Brenda Tavakoli Staff Writer
With balmy, flowery spring days upon us, it's no surprise that matters of love are weighing on many minds. And in many minds, at least those of the bridal persuasion, lives the fantasy of the perfect wedding gown.
Then reality sets in: Today's busy bride lacks the time to search every boutique for suitable to her wedding's season and mood. Uncovering the perfect wedding-day coverings for attendants is yet another challenge facing today's image-conscious bride-to-be.
And let's not forget finding some way to make sure your (possibly) fashion-challenged hubby-to-be looks sharp.
Thankfully, this subject has been written on at length. All a bride needs is a little basic knowledge of proper attire and a sense of which of today's trends she might incorporate into the ensemble.
Always keep I mind the "what" and "how" of your ceremony. Ask yourself, "How formal will the wedding be?" and "What season will it be in? At what time?"
Are you going for the semiformal look in a spring daytime slot? Or will your big day actually be a formal winter evening soiree? Answering these questions gives you a foundation from which to begin your search for wedding-gown nirvana.
If you cannot pin down the exact time of day and season of your wedding, at the very least keep in mind the level of formality you will strive for.
Also ask yourself where you will be getting married. Is it a church colder than a meat locker? Or maybe it's the sub-tropical Houston sun. With Houston weather, a short-sleeved gown worn indoors at a winter wedding just might fly.
Etiquette guru Emily Post offers definitive guidelines for aligning wedding attire with the wedding's formality. Here are some basic guidelines from Emily Post on Weddings:
Formal daytime or evening:
Bride - Long white dress with a train and veil; gloves are optional.
Bridesmaids - Long dresses with matching shoes; gloves if bride desires.
Semiformal day or evening:
Bride - Long white dress; short veil and gloves optional.
Bridesmaids - Same as most formal daytime weddings.
Informal daytime:
Bride - Short afternoon dress, cocktail dress or suit.
Bridesmaids - Same style as bride.
Informal evening:
Bride - Long dinner dress or short cocktail dress or suit.
Bridesmaids - Same style as bride.
Grooms:
Believe it or not, finding the proper attire for the groom requires a bit attention to detail. Formal weddings demand cutaway or tailcoats.
Semiformal weddings allow a groom and his attendants to choose between black and charcoal hues, depending on the season. Ask the experts at your bridal boutique and check out Post's guidelines for specifics.
Fabrics and colors:
One must also consider fabrics and colors when planning a beautiful wedding. Brides have some leeway to toy with fabrics, as bridal gowns can employ heavy, elaborate fabrics or lighter, flowing choices.
Yet summer brides might thank themselves if they stick with fabrics like single, double or triple silk organza, which evoke a flowing look. Heavier silks or satins work for winter and fall weddings.
Whites wear well in any season for most brides. But the bride must see to it that her attendants are seasonably attired, not only stylewise, but in the proper fabric and color.
Forget velvet during warmer months; it's too heavy and dense. Taffetas and tulles in pastels or vibrant, not dark, hues work well in spring and summer. This year, try colors like violet, honeydew, clay, gray or periwinkle.
By contrast, classy, dark-hued velvet bridesmaid ensembles can add a lush richness to an already cozy winter celebration.
This season's trends
Ana Garcia of Bridal Galleria of Texas has seen many trends come and go in her 15-plus years of experience in the bridal retail business. She offers these tips for this year's brides:
"The sleeveless dresses are very popular - very simple dresses, no lace, no sequins, no flowers, nothing. The plainer the better."
Halters and backless styles are also making a splash.
She added that bridesmaids will look sharp in full-length, straight, sleeveless dresses.
Taska Ventura, owner of Ventura's Bridal Salon, concurs.
"This season, we will see more ... royal-length trains and color combinations on wedding dresses. The more fashion-forward bridesmaids' dresses are bare and sleeveless. Bridesmaids like to think they can wear their dress again!"
Though appliqués, sequins, rhinestones and flowers on dresses are out of vogue for the moment, such adornments are making appearances on accessories, Garcia said.
She added that tiaras are quite popular, as are ornate shoes, headpieces and jewelry. Gloves have also fallen back into favor, though hats aren't gracing many heads.
If a more classic look suits your fancy, Garcia advises sticking with A-lines, unpuffed sleeves, scoop and sweetheart necklines.
More tips for top-notch wedding attire
1.) Try to find something that reflects your style and flatters your figure.
2.) Wear the dress. Don't let it wear you.
3.) Petites and full-figured women should avoid any horizontal lines while embracing slimming, heightening vertical lines.
4.) No pure white for second-time brides. Off-white is perfectly permissible and complements most skin tones.
5.) If this is your second glide down the aisle, avoid veils, trains and orange blossoms on your gown.
6.) Remember, most women must order the dress of their dreams in their particular size. Give yourself at least six months to complete this process or prepare yourself for a wild goose chase around Houston, and perhaps beyond.
7.) Never let the excitement or stress allow you to starve yourself into the gown! "I had about three that passed out because they probably did not eat," Garcia said of one wedding. "They started turning yellow and fainted. This happens very often."