Informal wedding dresses are perfect for the first time bride as well as for a second wedding (or beyond!). Another advantage is that they are well suited to any season of the year and can flatter a bride of any age. So “going informal” is a great option if you do not plan to have an elaborate ceremony and reception.

Look Great, Spend Less

The informal alternatives to weddings gowns are just like regular casual wear, so they can be used for other events beyond the ceremony and reception. The good thing, though, is that you’ll still look great and you won’t have to worry about spending outside of your budget. This is because going informal is all about putting the focus on comfort and style. For the cost conscious, you should know that you will be spending considerably less money than on the full traditional white wedding outfit.

Informal short wedding dresses do not mean plain or boring. The western theme lends itself nicely to choosing an informal dress, and goes well with stylish boots. And a white sun dress or other informal wedding wear is perfect if your mid-afternoon wedding is at a garden or other outdoor location.

Casual Wedding Wear Travels Well

Going informal is a great choice for weddings at home, beach ceremonies, and eloping in Las Vegas or other popular second or third marriage locations. In fact, Las Vegas must be “America’s Third Marriage Capitol”! But back on topic …

Informal wedding dresses are perfect if they fit your style and personality. However, informal wedding dresses may still be too formal for some very casual ceremonies. You might not want to wear a dress at all if your guests are in swim suits or birthday suits.

Take the phrase “informal wedding dress” and picture a gown that is unpretentious, classy, graceful and relaxed. Some of the most beautiful wedding gowns throughout the ages have been the ones that enhance the bride’s features rather than overpower them. Never before have women had so much choice when to comes to informal wedding gowns.

With a little planning, perseverance, and creativity it’s possible to find a bountiful supply of gorgeous wedding dresses sure to suit any bride’s taste and bank account. Many brides may be put off by the term “discount” with visions of cheap materials and boring, poorly designed dresses. However, nothing could be further from the truth as there are literally thousands of elegant, beautifully designed wedding gowns just waiting to be found.

Design sample sales
These sales will be listed in bridal magazines and on many web sites. Many designers sell their samples of wedding dresses at costs far below the original sale prices. The same exact expensive gown in the most upscale boutiques and shops can be had for hundreds, if not thousands of dollars under its original price, and you’ll be the only one who ever has to know that it’s a designer sample.

Department stores
Every department store must clear out their inventory for each new season. Take advantage of this and shop at the right time of year. Timing is critical in finding incredible deals on bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses. Prom season comes around every spring, and in the weeks to follow, prices are slashed on every color and style of dress imaginable.

Local bridal shops, outlets, and resale stores
Many women searching for discount dresses make the mistake of bypassing local bridal boutiques that are privately owned thinking that they’ll never find a good deal there. These smaller shops must also periodically liquidate their inventory just as the larger stores do, so depending on the time of year, many of these shops slash prices to make room for the next season’s styles.

Don’t overlook consignment shops during your search as many contain beautiful but previously worn dresses for a mere fraction of their original cost. Local newspapers often have listings of brand new gowns or dresses that were worn once for sale at bargain basement prices.

The internet
There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of web sites devoted to the glorious occasion of a wedding. From designer discounts to discontinued styles to wholesale costs, the internet offers a wealth of choices for the bride-to-be. Get cozy and be prepared to spend several hours in front of the computer as you search through the great number of mind boggling options available. Narrow down your choices by price range, color, style, and size to make your search easier.

Finding the absolute perfect gown while saving a significant amount of money does take some research and a bit of patience, but it doesn’t have to be a tiresome chore. Instead think of it as a fun way to have the upper hand in keeping your wedding expenses under control while playing detective to find just the right dress. After all, starting out your new life as husband and wife under a mountain of debt is no way to begin a marriage.

If the wedding gown you are looking for must be new, check with your local and chain-run national bridal shops to see if they run annual or semi-annual wedding dress sales. For example, the national chain, David’s Bridal, runs a sale where it is possible to buy a gown for only $99. Although rarer, some locally run bridal salons might occasionally do the same. This may take some legwork, so do not be discouraged if you don’t find a sale right away.

A second option open to you is to see if you have a member of the family or a friend who has sewing skills. There are number of patterns available in a range of sizes at most sewing centers which will allow you to be custom fitted for your wedding dress as it is being manufactured. In this way, the cost of your gown will be limited to what you spend on the pattern, fabric, trim and notions. Other family members who might be adept at beading or perhaps making the veil and headpiece could custom decorate the gown to give it a more expensive look and help keep the cost more in line with your wedding budget.

If you do not have a problem with wearing a used wedding gown, there are several options open to you. Many times those wishing to sell their wedding gowns list them for sale in the classified section of your local newspaper. Another low-cost option is to check local thrift shops like the Goodwill and the Salvation Army stores. Do this as much in advance as you can to ensure that you have time to have the gown professionally cleaned prior to your nuptials. The same is true if you find your wedding gown at a yard or lawn sale. Your last option is to check with your local dry-cleaning stores to see if they have any unclaimed gowns that they are offering for sale. Many times people drop off their gowns for cleaning, and then never claim them if they don’t like the amount being charged for cleaning and storage. Other times, the owner moves or dies and the wedding dress is never reclaimed. After a certain amount of time, the gown is considered to be abandoned and the dry cleaner has the right to dispose of it as he sees fit.

Your last option is to not wear a white gown for your wedding ceremony at all. Up until Queen Victoria’s wedding, when she broke with tradition and wore a white gown, brides simply chose a good dress or other fancy clothes for their wedding ceremony that could be worn again later for other special occasions. Despite popular myth, the white gown did not originally signify chastity or purity, but was worn by a girl to indicate her status and wealth, because only the rich could afford to have an expensive white dress made to be worn for just this occasion alone.

Features of a wedding dress

Wedding dresses come in various colors, forms and styles corresponding to the many cultures and fashions from which they hail. Wedding dresses are characterized by their exquisite grace and charm. Though the term wedding dress usually refers to the bridal gown worn by Western/European brides, all the various kinds of dresses worn by brides worldwide come within the ambit of wedding dress.

Wedding dresses vary with regions, customs, cultures and religions. The Oriental, the Indian, the Middle East, the African, the Mediterranean, and the American - all have their respective typical wedding dress codes. Whatever may be the type of wedding dress of the bride - a bridal gown, a sari, a kimono, a Salwar Kamiz with wedding veil, it is created to spell elegance and hold the audience and especially the bridegroom spellbound. Wedding dresses are secured from the highly skilled artisans who use the best fabrics and the most intricate embellishments - elaborate patterns and designs to create the choicest dresses of the respective culture. The exquisite wedding dresses thus made serve as a reflection of the culture concerned too.

Considerations in selecting the appropriate wedding dress

In marriages the appearance of the bride and the groom is of prime importance. The wedding dress or the bridal attire requires special mention in this regard since the bride is the cynosure of all eyes at the wedding and therefore her attire commands utmost attention. The wedding dress should be selected with due care with respect to the following considerations:

1. Checking bridal magazines to get a better idea of what fashions are in vogue.

2. Seeking opinions from select friends on the dress selection and trying to view choices made from their perspective.

3. Thinking over the kind of party to be hosted and the prevailing mood- formal or casual.

4. Budgetary constraints set up regarding purchase of dress.

Don’t buy from the bridal department. There is usually a surcharge for dresses in the bridal section of a store. Instead, go to the formal evening wear section or even the prom dress section.

If you’ve got a lot of time before the wedding, look for sales at wedding salons. After the month of June, many bridal gowns go on sale. Also, check out sample or floor model gowns. Many of them still look fantastic. Some discontinued bridal dress models are very inexpensive compared to most other bridal gowns. And sadly some bridal gowns are paid for but not picked up. These can be bought at a low price.

Don’t forget that wedding veils are cheaper than wedding gowns. Spend more on a great veil while saving money on the gown.

Ebay and the local newspaper are good places to find inexpensive gowns. Also, use Google search by searching these terms: “wedding dress +discount”, “wedding dress +cheap”, and “wedding dress +bargain”.

As you’re on the internet, search for wedding outlet stores. You may find a great deal at these internet bridal stores. Make sure to find out the manufacturer and style of the dress you’re interested in. Bridal outlet stores will ask for this information. Also, give them your measurements to see if they have a dress that will fit you. If you do buy a dress from a wedding outlet store, the dress will be sent in a box. However, a trip to the dry cleaners will make the dress look great.

Think about renting your wedding dress. The guys get to rent tuxedos, so why can’t you rent your bridal clothes? Renting will save you much money. You can expect a 90% discount on your bridal gown. This means you can wear a $1000 gown for $100!

Scout out the dresses at consignment shops or high fashion/couture wear second hand shops. You can find these shops at every major city.

Ask your relatives and friends. They may have a dress you can borrow.

Think about having your dress made. This is a great alternative if you want the elegant, sleek dress. Plus, designer dresses use the same silk found in fabric stores.

Finally, you can use these tips to find affordable dresses for your bridesmaids.

Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, replaced by durable metals until about the 15th century when diamonds came upon the scene, to signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition which most modern couples choose to keep.

When grooms would “capture” their brides and or were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the woman’s head to keep her from being recognized.

Bridesmaids’ dresses are all identical. Where did this practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It also helped to prevent the bride from being kidnapped by a rival suitor.

The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, that on their wedding day, the bride and groom brought good luck to everyone they touched. Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to “make the rounds” greeting their guests during the wedding dinner.

In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be the origin of the present day custom of banging a spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss.

Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a woman was considered her father’s property until she married, and their she was her husband’s property. At the wedding the Dad would literally “give her away,” transferring ownership to the husband. Now brides often have their fathers or both parents accompany them, and have the officiant ask “Who supports this couple in marriage?” The parents answer “We do.”

There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. But do you know where the term originated? In ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents would make sure they had a supply of a drink made from fermented honey called mead, that would last for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they would be blessed with a son within a year.

Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to marry, the groom would have to carry her against her will into her new home. The Romans thought that it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold so to prevent that, the groom carried her.

During the Middle Ages the length of a bride’s train indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the closer she was to the King and Queen and the greater her influence with them.

During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the traditional wedding favor for guests.

Here are a few more unusual traditions from around the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her glove to “sweeten the union.” According to Hindu beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some western cultures believe rain is unlucky.

In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, symbolizing a long marriage.

Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so that the couple can relax.

In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression “Tying then knot”.

In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to be the reason for the popularity of June weddings.

African-American weddings often hold to the tradition of “jumping the broom”. Slaves in the United States were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of drums. It now is symbol of the couple’s intention to set up a home together.

Japanese couples become man and wife when they take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition once the bride and groom were in the church, the guests would lock the doors to make sure the groom couldn’t back out. It was also important that a male not a female be the first to wish joy to the newly married bride.

There is an old English rhyme that brides have been obeying for years. “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” The actual rhyme also included this line “and a sixpence in your shoe”. Relatives usually offer the something old, like great grandmother’s antique cameo, or your mom’s gown. These items provide continuity from generation to generation.

The “new” symbolizes home for the future and can include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your shoe. The choices here are endless.

Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something borrowed. It should be something that brought happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your mother in law’s ruby brooch, your dad’s silk handkerchief, or your parents’ wedding song.

The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or even your lingerie.

You may want to consider incorporating some of these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books and magazines that you can search for traditions from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps you like something you’ve heard about from another culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you will have children at your reception you might want to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the adults might enjoy that one.

The styles of wedding dresses change with the seasons but there are a few classic styles that will never get old or go out of style. The classic A line dress is one of the wedding dresses. Of all the wedding dresses on the market today A line wedding dresses are the best. These wedding dresses look good on any woman, no matter what she looks like and what she weighs. It is the A line wedding dresses that flatter every woman alike. This cannot be said for any other of the wedding dresses out there.

When you first go shopping for wedding dresses you will want to have a sit down with the bridal consultant at the bridal boutique. He or she will be able to give you some helpful advice about which of the wedding dresses will flatter you the most. These consultants are so useful when you are looking at wedding dresses.

You should also try on all kinds of different wedding dresses just to make sure that you choose the perfect one. You need to try all of these wedding dresses to find the one that is the most comfortable and the one that will make you feel the most like a queen. That is what wedding dresses need to do, make you feel like one of a kind because that is what you are and that is why your husband to be loves you so much.

The wedding dresses that you try on can be of any color. White is the most common color of wedding dresses but there is no reason that you have to stick with it. If you want a bright red wedding dress then you should have it that is your right as a bride. If the wedding dresses you are trying on are not what you are looking for you should let your bridal consultant know. This consultant will go through all of the wedding dresses in their boutique in order to try to find the one that you will like. They can also show you some wedding dresses from their catalogs. If you see some that you think you might like your boutique should be able to order in these wedding dresses.

Your bridal boutique should be able to deal with all of your concerns with wedding dresses. If they are not then you might want to think about looking for wedding dresses elsewhere.

The good news it that since you or someone else will making the dress from scratch, you will have total control over how your wedding dress will look on your most special day. You will have a custom creation that is unique and designed especially for you alone.

Here are some things to consider when shopping for wedding dress patterns.

The first thing to consider is the style of your wedding. Will it be a traditional wedding, or will you being doing something a little more out of the ordinary and have a themed wedding, such as a Celtic wedding? This of course dictates which type of wedding dress pattern you will be looking for.

Another consideration when looking for your wedding dress pattern will be the location of your wedding. Will it be indoors, or outdoors? If you will be having your wedding outdoors, you will want to consider the time of year and season. If it is in the fall or winter you will want to choose a pattern that help keep you warm, if it is spring or summer you will want something that will help keep you cool. The pattern in conjunction with the fabric that you choose will make a big difference as to your comfort on your special day.

You will want your wedding dress to show off your figure to it’s best advantage. Listed below are the 4 basic body types and the goals that you want to keep in mind for yourself based on your body type when choosing your pattern:

Triangle -

your hips are wider than your bust and shoulders. Your goal will be to minimize your lower body and create the illusion of additional upper body width.

Reverse Triangle -

your upper body is wider than your lower body. Your goal will be to emphasize lower body width.

Hourglass -

your bust and hips are larger than your small waist. Your goal will be to create balance.

Rectangle -

your body is long and narrow without a strongly defined waistline. Your goal will be to emphasize width and avoid long vertical lines.

Pick a wedding dress pattern that emphasizes those body features that you want to play up or down.

Since you want your wedding dress to be the most flattering of dresses, there are other things to think about as well, such as the color of the wedding dress.

You want to pick a color that looks the best on you if you are not going with a white or off-white traditional wedding gown. You will want to consider your skin color when picking out your dress color. Your skin color will greatly affect how the gown looks on you. A bride with a lighter skin color has more choices than a bride with a darker skin color.

For brides with a lighter skin color, white or a dress in a darker color will result in a very lovely appearance. Brides with a darker skin color will want to choose their colors while also considering their make up also for the most beautiful appearance. If you have darker skin and do not consider your make up while choosing your fabric and during your fittings, you will not have a true reflection of how you will look on your wedding day.

Since you are making your own dress or having it made, you will be able to embellish it any way you choose. Brides can make fashion statements with fabric. You can range from delicate draping to more dramatic ruffles and fabric flowers. Ruffles, ribbon, ruching, gathering, pleats, fabric flowers, and draping are all special details that you can add to your gown. Just remember to keep your body type in mind when picking your embellishments.

Here are few places where you can start looking for your wedding dress pattern on line.

- Simplicity Patterns has been making patterns for generations. Look them up on the internet and browse through their patterns. They have a large selection of wonderful patterns to choose from.

- Vogue Patterns also offers a stylish selection of bridal patterns. Go to their website and browse through their collection also.

- McCall’s, is another trusted name in sewing patterns. They have a marvelous collection of patterns on their website to go look through.

Searching through all the wedding dress patterns may seem overwhelming at first, but by following the tips presented here you will end up with a stunning dress and you will be the most beautiful of bride’s on your wedding day.

Choose the Right Colors for Your Wedding Dresses

Many brides use their favorite colors for their wedding dresses - pink, red, fuchsia, burgundy, plum, mauve, purple, or blue. But before you choose colors, see if you can’t find some photos of various weddings from the past. Look at a variety of color patterns and combinations before making your choice. You might find colors that you like much better than your usual favorites.

Consider how the colors of your wedding dresses will look with other colorful items once it is all put together for the big wedding day. The bridesmaid dresses will be matched with flowers, tuxedos, mother of the bride dresses, flower girl dresses, accessories, and even the reception decor.

Wedding Dresses with a Touch of Color

A growing trend is to add a touch of color to the bride’s wedding gown. This is perfect for the bride who wants more than the traditional wedding gown. Some brides have color sprinkled throughout their wedding gown with embroidery. The gorgeous embroidery patterns come to life on the wedding dress when color highlights are added. These are usually available in a variety of colors painted on an ivory white wedding gown.

Test Wedding Color Combinations

Don’t be afraid to match unusual colors before making your choice. Some color combinations might surprise you. For example, not many would choose bright peach, bright yellow and white, but these are actually beautiful when coordinated together in wedding flower arrangements with yellow dresses! Try out a variety of combinations to find the right wedding colors for you.

Choose Colors that Complement You

It’s your special day. Choose colors that complement your hair and skin tone. You’ll want colors that make you look wonderful on your wedding day. If you normally look great in red, then you’ll probably look fantastic amidst red decor and red bridesmaid dresses. Maybe you can even add some red embroidery colors to your wedding gown. Whatever color suits you should work fine for the wedding.

Other Considerations

Other things to consider before choosing your wedding colors include the colors of the church or building where the wedding will be held as well as the reception hall, the types of flowers available for that time of year (if using real ones), and the availability of wedding dresses in those colors.

Once you choose colors for your wedding dresses and flowers, you’re ready to start planning the wedding. To save time, you can find a wide variety of wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and even prom dresses online. Be sure to choose the colors you love. After all, it is your special day!

If the bride wants a perfectly casual look appropriate for the beach, there are various sarongs and tops that can be bought at stores or even online. They even push the idea further by requiring the guests to come in barefoot. It makes sense because one wouldn’t want his or her expensive footwear have sand everywhere. One can also dress the beach look up by having flower tiaras or flowers in their hair.

The wedding planner can also put a red carpet on the beach which complements the casual beach wedding dresses of the brides and the bridesmaids. The carpet can prevent the heels of the entourage from getting stuck on the sand.

Now if you are wondering where you can find the casual beach wedding dress for your biggest day, there are various stores there that have selections of beach wedding dresses. This is because beach weddings have been popular in the United States over the years. The prices range from $85 to $200, depending on the design and the style.

These beach wedding dresses are not only casual, they are also simple yet elegant. These complement the beach setting and you can have them at affordable prices. Make the most out of discounts. It would be like practically stealing the casual beach wedding dresses.

If you prefer a more casual experience, then just wear a simple bikini or swimsuit that is accessorized by a sarong. These can be bought at department stores, on the internet and by catalog order. Sarongs as casual beach wedding dresses are quickly becoming a trend.

There are so many sarong designs and styles to choose from so it is easy to grab whatever reflects your personality best. Sarong serves as not only casual beach wear for the bride but also wraps for the bridesmaids. You can choose either a piece or two-piece sarongs. To coordinate this with the men’s attire just make sure that whatever the women are wearing, the men’s attires are complementary.

Informal Wedding Dresses Are InInformal wedding dresses are becoming the IN thing today. Not only are the gowns leaning more toward informal - but brides have chosen to mo…