The Perfect Dress

The focal point for any wedding is the bride, and, of course, her dress. She might walk down the aisle in a delicate sheer gauze gown or make a regal entrance in a dress adorned with beading, embroidery, or touches of gold or jewelry.

If you are a bride in search of the perfect dress, there are many options in the Tri-Cities. Small dress shops are spread across the area and the region now has a major Bridal retailer as well. One of the Southeast’s largest bridal clearinghouses is within a couple of hours drive and nearly every major dress maker in the country has a website for easy access.

For summer, the wispy sheer look, with dresses that are typically worn over non-transparent underslips is popular, and a trend toward bareness continues with sleeveless, strapless dresses with halter tops or deep-cut square necklines.

Brides marrying in cooler weather may select a more opulent dress, perhaps adorned with beading, embroidery, or touches of gold. Some dresses even incorporate jewelry into the design with pearls or rhinestones attached to the gown at the neck and/or draped down the back.

Today’s dress color is tending toward ivory or cream and away from stark white. A virtual rainbow of shades is now available to brides including pale blues, roses or greens as well as whites from snow to old parchment.

Color is not the only choice that a future bride is faced with. Dress lengths range from tea length to trains that stretch for yards and yards. Silhouettes, or dress styles, range from slim column dresses to A-lines, and individual designs range from simple elegance to fun and from traditional to “wow, that’s different.“

Whatever your personal style, there is a dress that is perfect for you and whether you are getting married in a big church wedding or planning a small ceremony in the backyard, your wedding dress will be the focal point of the occasion.

What do I look for in a dress?

There are many things to consider when you are choosing a wedding dress. Your chosen dress should match the style of your wedding, fit with your personal style and most importantly, you should be comfortable wearing it.

For brides planning a morning or afternoon wedding, you have the option of choosing a less formal gown, for an elegant evening wedding with a large reception, you will want to choose a very formal gown.

If you are planning an outdoor ceremony, avoid gowns that have a train or are designed to drag the ground in the back. Instead, look for a floor length gown that barely skims the floor when you have your chosen shoes on or a tea length gown to swirl about your ankles.

If you will be walking down the aisle in a large church or hall that has a long walkway, a dress with a sizeable train and beadwork is likely in order. This will allow those guests that are seated farthest from the aisle to easily see you. Wedding s of this size also tend to be much more formal, so the dress should match the occasion.

Once you have an idea of what kind of dress you are interested in, start looking. Do some window shopping and look at several bridal magazines. Try to narrow down your selections before you start to try dresses on.

When you do start trying on dresses, enjoy the process, but don’t make any snap decisions. If you find a dress you like, don’t order or purchase it immediately, give the decision some time to sink in. Sleep on the decision and return to pick up the dress the next day. Many dress shops will hold a gown for 24 hours if you want to think the purchase over.