Beautiful Modest Wedding Dresses

Finding the perfect wedding gown can really make a bride feel very special on her wedding day. If you are seeking a gown with more coverage, you may think that your options will be limited. Happily, there are many wonderful options today for beautiful modest wedding gowns.

There can be different degrees of modesty in a wedding gown, depending on your preference and any other specific requirements from your church or situation. It is very common in certain churches and synagogues to expect that a bride not show a lot of skin for the ceremony. This can mean anything from having covered shoulders to needing a wedding dress with long sleeves and a jewel neckline. Other brides may not be following any particular directives, but just feel more comfortable in a gown with more coverage. Not only are there some very pretty bridal gowns available with appropriate amounts of fabric, there can be a considerable amount of flexibility in having a less modest gown re-cut to suit your needs.

A bateau neckline is gorgeous when more coverage is desired on the bodice of the bridal gown. This delicate boatneck will make you feel like Audrey Hepburn in "Sabrina"! It is a timeless shape with a 1950's inspiration. There is a fabulous version of a tea length bateau neck wedding dress by Vineyard which features a lace applique on English net and a full soft skirt. The top portion of the neckline is an illusion style with sheer lace above a solid bodice. This is a great style for brides who prefer to have a more modest neckline, but can allow a little skin to show through. Finish it off with a pair of pearl earrings and some cute little gloves, and you will be ready for an afternoon garden party wedding. If you prefer a full length bateau neck wedding dress, you will love the simple modern style from J Crew which is solid all the way to the top of the neckline.

Sleeves are a simple way to make a wedding gown modest. In many cases, a three-quarter sleeve will be appropriate (check with your officiant if in doubt) and more comfortable than a long sleeve. There is a lovely three-quarter sleeve wedding gown in the Adele Wechsler Eco Couture collection which features feminine tone on tone floral accents. Also keep in mind that many sleeveless wedding gowns can have sleeves added. As long as the gown has a true shoulder, such as a bateau, v-neck, or tank style top, most designers will be willing to make a pattern change and add sleeves. When you begin shopping for your bridal gown, be sure to let your consultant know what you have in mind so that she can show you the gowns which can be altered to fit your needs. Some large bridal salons like Kleinfeld in New York even have specialists who work with brides seeking modest wedding dresses.

Square and jewel neckline wedding gowns are also good options when you seek more coverage. Some may have sleeves, and many could have sleeves added. Also keep in mind that necklines can be raised, or modesty panels can be added to square and v-neck wedding dresses. In the right hands, these additions can add style and beauty to the gown, rather than looking like an afterthought. One company which offers a lot of short sleeve gowns with modest necklines is Bliss by Bonny. Some of the classic wedding gowns in their collection are embellished with light pearl beading, which is so pretty with pearl earrings and a pearl necklace.

Although they are not as common as strapless gowns, there are many lovely modest wedding dresses available. Also keep in mind that many strapless gowns have coordinating jackets or shrugs which can be worn over them to ensure appropriate coverage for a religious wedding ceremony. Sometimes it may just take a little bit of imagination to see the possibilities in a wedding gown which you love that could be made to be perfect with a few minor changes.

Modest Wedding Dresses

Modest wedding dresses don't necessarily come in plain, boring designs. Of course your dream is to find the perfect gown, but holding to that ideal doesn't mean spending a fortune either. There are many modest wedding dresses available that are not only affordable, but beautiful too - if you know where to look for them.

The dress of your dreams may be extravagant and expensive, but it may not be realistic for you to spend that much. Listen to your conscience when it's telling you to look for modest wedding dresses within your budget. But you don't need to worry that you won't be beautiful on the day of your wedding. There really are so many ways to find affordably priced wedding dresses that will make you shine on your wedding day.

First of all, don't assume that you have to shop within the bridal department. The price of a dress goes way up once it's labeled a 'bridal gown'. The formal wear section or prom dress section of a department store may turn up some surprising results. You can find many elegant gowns in stores around Christmas and New Year's, and many of these dresses would be very appropriate to wear as a wedding dress.

But is a bridal salon your first choice as a place to shop for your wedding gown? The average bride begins planning her wedding at least six months in advance, which would allow you to take advantage of bridal salon sales. Great sales and deals are to be found as early in the year as July. In addition, look for sample dresses and the actual models that are on display; their condition is usually identical to dresses on the racks. Many modest wedding dresses are such great deals because they are the last remnants of discontinued lines. Some gowns that were custom-ordered have never been picked up. If you can find a gown like this, it's a fantastic way to keep your wedding spending from breaking the bank.

Even the most expensive veil will be much less than a wedding gown. Purchase a more expensive, elegant veil, and then spend less on the wedding dress itself.

Classified ads in your area newspaper often turn up very gently used dresses, or you can find great deals on modest wedding dresses that are brand new on eBay. Just because a dress is advertised as 'used', doesn't necessarily mean the dress has ever been worn. Sadly, there are times when weddings have to be called off. And while you're online checking out eBay, use your favorite search engine to look for other good sales on bridal gowns. Use the words 'wedding dress' and either 'sale' or 'inexpensive' for your search terms; the results will surprise you.

Shopping for modest wedding dresses might not seem quite as exciting as shopping for couture gowns, but it has its own rewards. A high price tag is not essential to looking beautiful on your wedding day. All it takes is a little bit of extra time for your online search, and if you're willing to do that you'll discover an excellent selection of modest wedding dresses.

Irish Wedding Dresses

The majority of brides I meet are looking for unique wedding dresses. Anything from camo to Gothic wedding dresses are being considered by today's bride-to-be. Introducing color is definitely becoming more popular with brides feeling this is a good way to express their personality whilst at the same time giving their wedding a unique feel.

In ancient Ireland blue was in fact the favorite color of a wedding dress, the all-white wedding gown not becoming popular until relatively recently. So as a subtle way of incorporating your Irish heritage on your wedding day you may wish to wear a blue dress or a white or ivory dress with a blue trim. Another subtle tip is to have Irish bluebells as part of your bridal bouquet.

In these economically challenging times many brides-to-be are prudently on the lookout for cheap wedding attire. Imagine then if, instead of spending months trying to find the perfect wedding dress, you decided instead to just wear your best frock on your wedding day? This was the custom of the farming classes in ancient Ireland, the focus being on the practicality of wearing something that can be worn again. This may be taking the notion of cheap wedding dresses to the extreme but it has got me thinking about buying a gown that can be worn again either as it is, adorned with contemporary accessories or even dyed a different color. Definitely more economical than splurging on one of those Vera Wang wedding dresses we keep reading about (thanks Chelsea Clinton!)

If you are committed to wearing an Irish wedding dress, one of the most beautiful ways of reflecting your Irish heritage in your wedding dress is to adorn the gown with handmade Irish lace. One example of the type of lace you could use is Carrickmacross lace where the lace designs are embroidered on a very fine net backing. This makes it easy to attach the lacework to the dress. An alternative is Kenmare lace which is a very fine needlepoint style of lace based on the detached buttonhole stitch.

Unique Wedding Dresses

Imagine a wedding that is remembered for years, a wedding that is the talk of your hometown. Many brides are now choosing to have their wedding dress created just for them. The idea is to have a dress style that no other bride has ever worn. Having a wedding gown that is unique and eye catching will have family member and friends talking about it for years to come. Plus, you will have a dress that you will cherish for a long time to come.

If it is in your budget, hire a designer to design a unique wedding dress for your wedding. This can be the expensive route and some brides do not have room for this type of expense. If you do have the budget, this is the best way to go about having an amazing looking unique dress.

Another way for you to get a unique wedding gown is to visit your local design school. This is a great way to get a new and local designer to create your wedding dress. These in school designers will usually jump at the chance to design something. This is also a great way to save money.

If you know what you are looking for design the dress yourself. If you are not exactly sure what you want use different aspects from several wedding dress styles and combine them. Contact a tailor. A tailor can help you combine the different styles and end up with a beautiful unique wedding dress. An experienced tailor will be much cheaper than hiring an experienced designer.

If a unique dress is what you want to add a fabulous look for your wedding start early and take your time deciding on the perfect dress. If you start early you will have plenty of time to create your unique wedding gown.

Non Traditional Wedding Dresses

With weddings becoming more and more customized, non traditional wedding dresses are popping up more and more. After all, not every woman dreams of a princess wedding gown and not every woman who does can afford one. There are some cases where a big ruffled dress just does not make sense.

Beach Weddings - Most brides who get married on the beach prefer a more streamlined look and often opt for a more non traditional wedding dress. These dresses are often shorter in length and have no train.

Theme Weddings - Some brides choose to have a theme wedding to go along with the personality of the couple. The theme may be a hobby or sport that the couple likes, such as golf, or it might be a movie theme or holiday theme. In all of these cases, a wedding dress that matches the theme would be much more appropriate than a big poofy dress.

Casual Weddings - Lots of couples are opting for a more casual wedding. Brides may be dressed in a nice cocktail dress or even a casual dress and grooms would be dressed nice slacks and a button up shirt. These weddings often take place in a court house, public park or even at the zoo.

Color Themed Weddings - More and more brides are choosing wedding dress colors other than white. A popular trend in the last few years has been to get a beautiful wedding gown in black or even red. These dresses are often intricate and beautiful, just made in a different color.

Traditional Wedding Dresses

The majority of brides in this country still prefer traditional wedding dresses over some of the less conventional alternatives. So what does a traditional wedding dress look like exactly? For the most part, all traditional dresses are long and white or in a shade that is closely related to white such as ecru and eggshell. Beyond that, there are various silhouettes and necklines that will make some dresses look more traditional than others.

Let's start by examining the length of a dress. Traditional wedding dresses are typically floor length, and they can either have a train or not. Any dress that is tea length or shorter does not qualify as a traditional dress. The white wedding dress has been a staple for decades, when you picture a bride walking down the aisle, she will always be in white. For this reason if the bride wears a colorful dress, it will be considered anything but traditional.

There are five common silhouettes that most wedding gowns fall under. They include the A-line dress, which has a tight bodice and flows out toward the ground. The ball gown which also has a tight bodice but a very full skirt. The sheath dress, which is shaped kind of like a line going straight down. The mermaid, which hugs the curves until about the knee and then flows outward. The empire dress, which has a higher than usual waistline that flows out. Of all these silhouettes, traditional wedding dresses are most commonly A-line or ball gown.

Next we move on to the neckline. Most necklines can be considered traditional, from boat neck to strapless. These necklines have been used for wedding gowns for decades. Other common necklines include the V-neck or plunge neckline, the scoop, the halter, and the sweetheart neckline. The only one that appears to be a little less traditional and a little more modern is the one shoulder or asymmetrical neckline.

Besides the length, color and shape, traditional wedding dresses can also be distinguished by some other factors. Fabric for instance may play a big part. There are a handful of fabrics that are always associated with wedding dresses, they include tulle, organza, charmeuse, silk, chiffon and satin. If any fabric that is a far cry from one of these is used to make a wedding dress, that dress cannot be considered traditional. Take the fabric velvet, it's been used before, but seems only appropriate for weddings with a medieval theme and not a traditional wedding.

The details of the wedding dress is just as important as all of the other factors. Ruffles for instance, are a fairly new trend that you won't see on more traditional dresses. Beading and other embellishments may be common even for something more traditional, however any kind of embellishment that is over the top is not. Feathers are a great example, there are dresses with the entire bottom covered in feathers. That kind of unique style is definitely not something that would be worn by a traditional bride.