Aren’t you too excited about dressing up in a classic ball gown, with immaculate makeup and a hairstyle with every strand held in place, on your wedding day?
If you answered yes, it is likely that a formal wedding is not for you. Brides with an, easy-going personality cannot always relate to a formal wedding. This is because rules and expectations at formal weddings bind everything. A casual wedding theme at an exciting venue would perhaps appeal better. In this case, you can make and bend the rules. This is more fun and will be more memorable when appropriately planned.
Brides with their hearts set on an informal wedding do not usually want traditional gowns. If this doesn’t reflect the fun and bubbly element of your personality, no rule requires you to wear it. Instead, plenty of dresses are better suited for an informal wedding. This is what you should look at.
Destination wedding dress collections usually feature bold and at times, even daring wedding dress styles. These are good choices for an informal wedding. If not these, you may even find an attractive dress in an evening dress collection. So, look there instead of the traditional wedding dress aisles.
So, how do you shop for your dress when your wedding differs from the rest? Here are some tips from our bridal consultants to help you with this.
1.Identify the venue first
The dress styles that are suitable for an informal backyard wedding will not be good for a wedding on the beach. So, the venue is an important factor to consider when planning your bridal look. Informal wedding venues include beaches and resorts, gardens, backyards and restaurants. Your wedding dress should be appropriate for the venue and comfortable for the weather. Always start your shopping only after you finalize the location of your wedding.
2.Do your research in advance
You shouldn’t skip your dress research because you won’t pick a traditional wedding dress. Informal dresses come in different styles. You have various options, from bridal pantsuits to tea-length dresses and loose sheaths. Unless you know what to wear, dress shopping can drag on and overwhelm you. So, plan your look first. Have an idea of the dress styles that you want to try on. Then find a shop that caters to your needs.
3.Fix your budget
An informal wedding gown can also be expensive. Nonetheless, you should be able to find dresses in different price ranges. Calculate the maximum amount that you can spend on your dress. This will give you a reference point to base your search on. Also include the cost for alterations and accessories when calculating the price. You will incur additional expenses when shopping for your wedding dress.
4.Be flexible
You may have to think out of the box and be open to looking at more than just bridal dresses to find a dress of your choice. Since your search is for something unusual, shopping for a regular wedding gown may not be as easy. So, be prepared to search in other departments to find what you want.
5.Don’t settle for what is available
Like I mentioned earlier, it isn’t always easy to find a dress that satisfies your preferences for an informal theme. Fortunately, you can always customize an available dress if it isn’t exactly your taste. Explore the possibility of dyeing a dress if everything but the color isn’t right. Or you can even have the dress tailored. This allows you to plan your look to even the smallest detail. If you can find a talented seamstress, this is a practical and easy solution to your need.
6.Get alterations done
A dress doesn’t look right unless it drapes correctly and fits perfectly. So, you should alter your dress to your measurements once you purchase it. If the boutique where you shop doesn’t provide this service, look for a seamstress who has the experience to work with dress styles like yours. It can take anywhere between 3 weeks to 3 months to complete alterations, depending on the complexity of the dress. Make sure you do your shopping early so you have enough time for it and don’t incur rush charges.
7.Choose the right accessories
You can dress up or down with the right choice of accessories. Accessories can help you create the look you want. So, choose jewelry, shoes and other accessories that enhance your look. You can mix and match dress styles and accessories to look modern, vintage, classic or boho-chic. Also, think out of the box and try on accessories like birdcage veils, flower crowns and vintage jewelry to find your unique style statement. Also experiment with color to add a pop of personality to your outfit.
Now, let us look at some of the dresses suitable for informal-style weddings. All these dresses belong to our dress collection at Best for Bride. Enjoy your tour!
Style: Tea length dress with lace appliques
With dainty lace appliques in the bodice this dress is very attractive. Lace appliques are also present in the lower half of the satin and net skirt. The waistline is defined by a pleated waistband, which clearly emphasizes the smallest part of the bride’s waist. The dress also has a gentle sweetheart bodice and layered skirt, exuding youthful charm. The exquisite lace details in the dress make it just right for a garden wedding.
Style: Casual style with High-low hemline skirt
Very simple with delightful, uncluttered details. The simplicity of this dress adds to its appeal, giving it a casual vibe. The bodice features an empire waistline. It is embellished with intricate lace details till here. Soft layers of net flow from the waist to floor length. There are pretty lace appliques in the lower half of the skirt. The tonal strapless bodice features spaghetti straps that support and act as an interesting detail in this area. The high-low hemline makes this dress just right for an informal wedding style.
Style: Fun and flirty A-line dress with hi-low hemline
This dress is bound to take years off age off the bride who wears it. With a lace-bordered hi-low hemline, the dress is casual but fun. Soft scintillating straps support the lace-embellished sweetheart bodice. A crystal-studded waistband defines the natural waistline. This little detail adds a touch of pizzazz to the beautiful dress in white. Exquisite details like the hemline, waistband and pretty lace appliques will ensure the bride stands out from the crowd.
Style:Colored wedding dress with simple details
Here is another dress with all the essential elements for a casual wedding. The ruched bodice and pleated skirt have no fussy embellishments but is very charming. The simple floral detail on the slim waistband complements the simplicity of the dress. This gown is easy to manage in outdoors, and the pale pink color creates a vintage effect.
Style: Floor-length gown with illusion back details
This is a stunning beauty from the Mori Lee bridal collection. The 6836 dress is of floor-length, where the details are concentrated in the embellished bodice. With a V-neckline and beaded satin belt, the dress has bridal charm. However, it doesn’t overwhelm with details. The gathered A-line skirt is universally flattering, which makes it suitable for brides of most body types. It also features an amazing illusion back. This dress would be beautiful for a non-traditional wedding in the warmer months.
Style: Spaghetti straps on sheath-style wedding dress
If your dream dress drapes closely and shows off your natural curves effectively, here is a dress that satisfies your taste. The 6815 Mori Lee dress has an asymmetrically draped bodice in lush crepe. Thin spaghetti straps compliment the criss-cross detail in the sweetheart bodice. The sheath silhouette courses to full length, gently defining the natural curves and creating a sexy effect. The dress is perfect for a destination wedding. It can be chosen for both indoor and outdoor venues.
Style: Pink beauty for the bride who loves color
Let your love for color reflect in your wedding dress choice. This Sans Pareil gown in soft pink is a picture of magnificence, and yet entirely non-traditional. From the fit-and-flare silhouette to the color, this beautiful dress has many unusual elements. The scintillating threads of crystal along the length of the gown create a spectacular effect. Equally bewitching is the low-cut open-back detail and the deep-dip illusion V-neckline. This is a bold choice for a bride, but one that will stay in your guest’s memories for long.
Style:Sexy illusion neckline on non-traditional dress silhouette
You will be remembered as a glamorous bride when you choose this amazing Sophia Tolli gown as your bridal dress. The plunging illusion V-neckline has embellishments that add an air of intrigue. The ruched bodice extends into shoulder straps and is gathered at the natural waistline. The skirt has wispy layers that flutter in the breeze, resembling drifting clouds. The artistic touch of crystal details in the neckline and decolletage are what makes this dress unique. It is a dress that is just right for a beach wedding.
Style: Black and white wedding dress
Be a bride with a difference when you add a touch of black to your wedding day outfit. This dress from the Jasmine designer bridal collection has a trumpet silhouette. From the strapless neckline, the dress follows the natural curves all the way up to the thighs. From here, it opens out into a layered misty skirt. The entire bodice has a ruched criss-cross effect for textural finesse. However, the signature element has to be the black lace appliques that adorn the length of the bodice along the sides. It extends from the bust all the way to the dropped waist, and has a pronounced effect. Classic and sophisticated, yet unusual, this is a dress for the bride who wants to stand out from the rest.
You’ve seen our favorite informal bridal dress picks from our wedding dress collection. One of the other places you should look at is our bridesmaids collection. There are some real beauties in there that will easily pass off as wedding dresses.
One of our customers, Julie Santos, is an example of how bridesmaid dresses can work as wedding dresses. Her pick was a bridesmaid dress from our Jasmine collection. Julie, who was married on the beach, says this was the perfect dress for her big day, and many of her guests couldn’t even believe that the dress she wore wasn’t from a wedding dress collection. Pictures of Julie on her wedding day are available here.
So, you now know that there are plenty of options in informal wedding dresses. Plus, designers are now on a spree to bring out more unexpected dress styles that fit into the wedding dress category.
To see all the dresses featured in this post up close and also search for more options, check out our bridal dress gallery. And don’t forget to tell us which of these dresses you would choose to wear to your celebration. Or do you have another dress in mind? Do share your comments and ideas in our comments section below.
