Wedding Dresses

Alfred Angelo Wedding Gown

Tall brides, while envied for their heights, often have a tough time finding a dress to fit their unique body shape. How can you find the right wedding gown without looking (or feeling) like a giant? What about balancing long legs and torso? How can you find the fit that’s right for you?

Don’t worry – if you’ve got extra inches on your side, DimitraDesigns.com is here to help. Here are some of our tips for dressing your tall body shape for your big day:

Keep it Simple
First off, if you’re tall, stick to gowns with a simple silhouette so that your natural body shape is emphasized. Too many ruffles or embellishments can actually make you look awkward. Instead, stick to a flowing fabric that compliments your body shape. Or, if you want to hide some flaws, go with a stiffer, more tailored look. Just keep the fabric simple and beautiful, like this lovely Alfred Angelo creation.

Be Conscious of Fit
You want to make sure that your gown looks like it fits properly. If you’re wearing long sleeves, be sure they go past the wrist. If you have a long torso, be sure that it’s accommodated by a lower waist line, or choose a looser dress that can be customized with a belt at your waistline. If you want drama, be sure that the gown is long enough to sweep the floor gracefully.

Go Classic
The A-line wedding gown is flattering on all body types, but that’s not the only one you can go with. Depending on your curves, you can feel free to try ball gowns, sweetheart necklines, scoops, bateau necks, tea-lengths, and elegant sheath dresses. Experiment with fit but keep the look classic. Over the top doesn’t always work well with tall brides. Don’t want to look any taller? Then avoid Empire line dresses and busts.

Are you a tall bride? What dresses have you found to be the most flattering?

Mori Lee Petite Wedding Gown

Petite brides often have such a hard time finding the right dress, especially in a size that works for them!

So what exactly looks good on a petite shape?  Well, for starters, think sleek, simple, and slim.

If you’re more of a modern bride, feel free to play with the straight sheath dress. This style of petite wedding gown is oh-so-chic right now, plus, it’s super flattering for a petite figure. It elongates the body, plays up your best features, and has quite a bit of flexibility. For an informal or summer wedding, go with a sheath dress that hits a bit below the knee. For a more formal occasion, go with a longer length that will make you look taller and leaner.

If you love traditional bridal gowns, then your shape will look best in an A-line or princess silhouette. Avoid full ballgowns that can make you get lost in all of the layers of tulle, Instead, look for something a bit more streamlined with a natural waist. Drop waists or empire waistlines can actually make a petite shape look unbalanced.

In terms of necklines, celebrate! You can try just about any neckline you like. Two of our favorites for petite frames are the bateau neck and the sleeveless scoop. These necklines show off your pretty neck and beautiful arms. Just be careful not to overdo it on the details. Petite wedding dresses with too many embellishments can make you look bulky. Keep it simple and chic.

Your wedding day is supposed to be perfect, but sometimes, well, things happen. Here are three quick and easy solutions from DimitraDesigns.com to solve some common wedding day woes.

The Problem: Lipstick on Your Collar, er, Wedding Dress
OK, so we all smudge our lipstick and maybe you managed to get some on your wedding dress. Don’t worry! Lipstick stains may be tough, but they’re not invincible. Start out by sprinkling a little baking soda on a stain and letting it soak up any moisture or grease that’s in the lipstick. Then, brush off the excess powder. Gently disguise any discoloration with chalk. Then, seek a dry cleaner after the ceremony. The baking soda (or talcum powder) trick works on greasy food stains too!

Want to avoid this problem from happening? Make sure you put the wedding dress on then apply make up. Always wear a covering over the gown (e.g. towel) while you get your makeup put on so there’s no chance of getting anything on the dress.

The Problem: Your Special Time Came Unexpectedly
Oh, no. No, no no. This is one of the bride’s biggest fears ever. Make sure you come prepared by wearing the right underwear. We know it might not seem sexy to swap out your thong for a pair of briefs, but it’s better to be safe than sorry if you know your period is coming up soon. Put on a pair that’s comfortable and can easily accommodate you wearing a pad or pantyliner. You can still choose a pair that’s sexy! Don’t ever use a tampon unless you have started your period already! Then, equip a bridesmaid, friend, or family member with a bridal emergency kit that includes enough tampons and pads to take care of a problem should it happen.

If you have a leak or an accidental run-in with your time of the month, you can get any stains out with cold water or hydrogen peroxide. Just make sure to dilute the hydrogen peroxide (one part to nine parts water) so that it doesn’t bleach the fabric. Use chalk to disguise anything that won’t come out.

The Problem: Oh My God, I Hate My Hair!
It’s your perfect day…and your hair looks like a train wreck. You can avoid this wedding day disaster by scheduling trial hair runs before your wedding day with your stylist. This way, you know EXACTLY what you’ll be getting on your day. Just take pictures, work with your stylist on a routine, and make sure that you both are on the same page when it comes to your hairdo.

If for some reason something happens, have a friend or a family member on hand who can improvise a hairstyle if needed. Also, give yourself plenty of time before the wedding in case a hair mishap happens.

At Dimitra Designs, we have a great selection of strapless wedding dresses.  Strapless dresses walk that fine line between being revealing and being elegant— and we think they do it beautifully.  We want to make sure you stay elegant on your wedding day.  Be confident in your strapless wedding dress!

-First of all, the proper fit is very important.  You don’t want your strapless wedding dress to be so loose that you keep pulling it up all night.  But you also don’t want it to be too tight, either.  That will just look tacky.  Like the strapless dress walks the line between revealing and elegant, you need to walk the line between loose and tight.  A properly fitted strapless wedding dress should firmly grip the top of your bust without revealing too much cleavage.

-All of the strapless wedding dresses at Dimitra Designs are masterfully crafted.  You’ll notice that they retain their hourglass shape even when they’re on the hanger.  This is important when you’re shopping for a strapless dress.  Your natural body shape should simply reinforce the hourglass shape of the dress.  It makes it more stable.

-Always wear a bra with a strapless dress.  You want to avoid any Janet Jackson-like wardrobe malfunctions.  In the rare event that your dress falls down, you’ll have the bra to keep you covered.  (Hey, we don’t know how crazy your wedding reception will be!)

Most importantly, make sure you feel beautiful!

We like to be optimistic here at DimitraDesigns.com, so we like to see all weddings lead to happy marriages.  But if you happen to be going into marriage for the second time, there’s no reason to hold yourself back.  In fact, choosing a second wedding dress can be just as much fun (or more!) than choosing the first.

-Tradition held it that you really shouldn’t wear white if it’s your second wedding.  But that’s sort of fallen by the wayside.  You can go ahead and wear white if you want to!  We’ve got a great selection of white second wedding dresses to choose from.
-If you don’t feel comfortable in white, though, you can go ahead and choose something in your favorite color.  You might find something in our collection of mother of the bride dresses or bridesmaid dresses.
-If the dress from your first wedding is still in good shape, you might be able to trade it in as credit on a new one.  (Because you don’t want to wear the same dress twice— no matter how nice it looks!)
-There’s also nothing saying that you can’t have a fairytale wedding the second time around.  Go ahead and glam it up in a couture wedding gown!

DimitraDesigns.com has a great selection of short bridal dresses, but there are a few things you need to think about before you decide to go that route.  First of all, is a shorter dress appropriate for your wedding venue?  If you’re getting married in a more religious ceremony, then it might not be appropriate to show too much leg.  Secondly, what is the weather going to be?  If you’re getting married in the middle of winter, you might want to go with something longer— just to keep you warm!  The third (and arguably most important) thing is…

THE SHOES.

What color shoes do you wear with a short bridal dress?  Frankly, the jury’s still out on that one.  It all depends on how far you want to push the envelope, really.  Some people out there have the opinion that you should probably stick with white or silver shoes.  The argument for that, of course, is that you want people to look at your dress— not your shoes.  And if the shoes are too loud, the dress might get overshadowed.
But the flip side of the coin makes a pretty good argument for those colorful shoes.  Pick something that matches your bridal party.  Are you going with red?  Wear red shoes, have a red rose bouquet, and accent the dress with some ruby jewelry.  It’ll tie the whole thing together.

It’s all up to you.  How funky do you want to be?

It’s one thing to fall in love with a dress when you see it on a model. It’s another thing to try that very same dress on and come to find that it doesn’t look nearly as good on you. Save yourself some dressing-room heartache by looking for the kinds of dresses that suit your unique body type.

1. Petite girls shouldn’t go for something that’s overwhelming. That means that big ball gowns and mermaid shapes are out of the picture. If you’re under 5′3”, try looking for something with clean contours so you don’t get bogged down with bulky fabric.
2. Tall brides can pull off the kinds of dresses that the more petite brides can’t. Ball gowns, A-lines, and mermaid shapes work well. Just try to avoid something with an empire waist— otherwise you might end up looking a little tent-like. Remember to keep it in proportion.
3. If you have a more pear-shaped physique, an A-line dress can offset your bottom half. It also helps to balance your torso and your bust.
4. An hourglass figure is served pretty well by a corset dress. If you’ve got the definition in your waist, you might as well flaunt it. (Corsets also work well for the fuller busted ladies.)
5. Someone with broad shoulders should stay away from dresses with halter and off-the-shoulder necklines. This will only make your shoulders look larger! Try going strapless. Offset your shoulders with some delicate jewelry.
6. Brides with a fuller waist should try something with a princess-line cut. This look will draw everyone’s eyes up.

Knowing in advance what kind of dress will look the best on you can only make your shopping experience easier!

Spring is in full bloom here in Greenville, and it has us thinking about warm weather and tropical locations. Some of our most favorite weddings have been destination weddings. It’s so relaxing to show up to a tropical beach and just relax and get pampered before your wedding. If you’re planning a destination wedding, it’s important to make sure you dress for the occasion.

Make sure to choose a destination wedding dress that’s light and airy so you can be comfortable on your big day. Sleeveless and strapless dresses are a great option for showing off a tan on a sunny afternoon on the beach. You also probably want to avoid very long trains (or at least have a very secure bustle) as it will drag in the sand and get dirty quickly.

Finally, most destination brides choose a dress that’s not too formal for a few reasons. The first is that by it’s very nature, a beach wedding is a more casual affair. Secondly, whatever dress you choose will have to be packed and taken with you on your trip. That’s no easy feat if your dress is a ball gown! Lighter layers will make it easy to transport and care for on your trip.

To the destination brides out there – what kind of dress did you find worked best on your special day?

We’ve talked about how to choose your dress, picking out a hairstyle and a bridal hairpiece to go with it, and even coordinating your bridesmaids and the mother of the bride and groom. Now that your bridal party’s style is almost complete, it’s time to add the finishing touches to your look. It’s time to choose the accessories you’ll wear on your big day!

Bridal accessories include all kinds of things, and you might only choose one or two for your wedding day look. In general, if you have an ornate dress, it’s best to keep other accessories light and simple, so the beauty of the gown shows through. If you’re wearing a very simple dress, you can have fun with bold and bright accessories!

Shoes – traditionally, brides wear white to match their dress. But you can add some extra pop to your day with a pair of shoes in your wedding colors!

Jewelry – Choose one piece of dramatic jewelry, like chandelier earrings or  a large necklace, and keep the rest simple.

Purse- Brides can carry purses! A cute clutch or drawstring bag is a wonderful wedding day purse. Carry some extra tissues, lipstick and any other essential so you’re always prepared.

What kind of accessories are you planning on wearing on your wedding day?

Shopping for your bridal gown should be a wonderful time during your engagement. There’s nothing quite like the thrill and delight of trying on the perfect gown for the first time. At Dimitra Designs, we’re lucky enough to get to share that experience with you. We’ve seen the highs and the lows that can come with wedding dress shopping. It’s natural for many brides to be nervous, and even feel overwhelmed at the process. But it doesn’t have to be that way! If you take some time to plan out the experience, you’ll have a wonderful time!

• Dress appropriately. Wear comfortable clothes that are easy to take on and off. Also, choose a good set of support/shape wear for the day. It doesn’t have to be exactly what you’ll wear on your wedding day, but a good bra is a must for you to really see how the dress is supposed to fit.
• Bring your nearest and dearest. It’s helpful to have a few people with you while you try on dresses, but know when to limit yourself. If you’re not used to the limelight, you might find yourself overwhelmed with your entire bridal party watching you. Choose just 2 or 3 trusted friends and family members to help you.
• Bring a list. You’ve been eyeing up bridal gowns for months, so start writing down your favorites! If you have a list, call the salon ahead to find out what lines they carry. You can remove the ones they don’t and double check the lines they do carry to see if there’s anything else you’d like to see.
• Be adventurous. Maybe you’re convinced that an A-line strapless gown with a chapel length train is the way to go. But if the consultant suggests you try a trumpet gown, or even a short gown, go for it! You might be surprised at how much you like some of them.

What advice do other brides have for first time dress shoppers?