By Patricia Simone
It’s the moment you’ve been dreaming of your whole life—finding the perfect wedding dress. As you’ll soon discover, the options, styles, and looks range from relaxed to luxurious. Here’s what some of New Jersey’s experts have to say about the latest trends.
“The trumpet style (which is fitted through the hip) is more popular than the mermaid look (gowns fitted to the knee) “because this is a style they can really dance in,” says Julie Robenhymer, Miss New Jersey of 2005 and owner of the Dress Shop at Mullica Hill (formerly Mullica Hill Bridal) in Mullica Hill.
“We see a return to opulence and drama,” says Elga Koehler, owner of Calvary Bridal’s new 14,000-square-foot couture destination salon in Millburn, “This is a once in a lifetime occasion, so more brides want to make a bold statement, “says Koehler. “They are choosing grandness—not like a Cinderella gown—but dresses that have dramatic beading on the train or on the bodice. There are actually two trends going on. One side of the spectrum is the full ball-gown look and the other side opts for an Audrey Hepburn slim silhouette with beautiful fabric—very clean, very elegant, punctuated with stunning jewelry.”
“More girls are asking for a modified sweetheart neckline instead of strapless, with a little bit of a dip in front,” says Robenhymer, who is also doing more halter tops. “Halter tops can elongate the body, and because extended lines at times can give the illusion of a taller person, they can be a great pick for some girls.” She cautions that this look is not right for women with broad shoulders, who are better off opting for a strapless style.
Koehler adds that small cap sleeves or thin spaghetti straps are making a comeback too, and to achieve a different look from the aisle to the reception, little lace jackets are the ticket.
Mongramming is still in fashion. Consider inscribing your entire new name along the edge of your train, like Mrs. Thomas Smith, “so when it’s bustled, everyone can see it,” says Robenhymer. Designers like Anne Barge and Reem Acra also offer initials embroidered into the design of the dress, adds Koehler.
And what’s old is also new: You can even incorporate your mother’s wedding gown into your day. According to Robenhymer, some brides wear their mom’s dresses to the rehearsal dinner, some cut lace from the train and have it sewn into their dresses, while others use some material from the old wedding gown and have a garter made.
This is one of the most important moments of your life, so whatever you are looking for, have fun shopping around. Consider the latest trends, and make your ultimate wedding gown a unique reflection of you, your style, and your wedding-day theme.
Informal Wedding Gowns
By Sharon Naylor
For an informal wedding, such as an intimate backyard wedding or a destination, beach, garden, yacht, or at-home wedding, an ultra-formal gown with lots of embellishments and a long train just won’t do. The informal or casual wedding-day look calls for a design of gown that’s more form-fitting, in movement-friendly fabrics, lighter, and always ultra-feminine. You want to look like “the bride,” but you don’t want to look too formal (or weighed-down) by an ultra-poofy gown with way too much adornment. That look is ideal for a black-tie ballroom celebration, but it just doesn’t work for the kinds of informal settings and styles of today’s more intimate celebrations and more natural locations.
Alyssa Tierney, owner of Tierney’s Bridal Boutique in Morristown (www.tierneysbridal.com) shares the current trends in informal wedding gowns. “We’re seeing way more trumpet-style gowns with flowing skirts,” says Tierney. “With just a little bit of embellishment at the neckline and on the bodice.” For informal weddings, gowns make a better impression with just a touch of sparkle. “Informal gowns are also more form-fitting, hugging the body, and the strapless sweetheart neckline is the most popular style right now,” Tierney says of her clientele’s top choices.
Gown fabrics are lighter in weight, such as chiffon or light organza, even a light lace, which creates a more flowing movement to the dress and Tierney calls them breathable fabrics. These graceful gowns are elegant in their simplicity, such as a matte-satin gown with a V-neck and a layer of illusion netting to cover the cleavage just a bit. Open backs are also popular for informal destination wedding gowns, proving that the informal wedding gown can give you the chance to show a little bit more sun-kissed skin than formal gowns that have to be proper, reserved, and conservative for a house of worship ceremony. Another top style in informals is the charmeuse halter gown with beaded floral accents at the bodice and an A-line skirt, or a modern-looking side-gathered A-line skirt with asymmetric gathers and spaghetti straps. Long trains are a Don’t, while sweep trains that reach just a foot or so behind you are the ideal.
While the gowns themselves come in simpler silhouettes, you can add touches of informal-friendly color and texture such as a colored sash and bow at the waist. Alyssa Tierney says that a very popular embellishment to the informal gown is “a ribbon at the waist, with a pretty rhinestone brooch attached at the bow” for just the right amount of eye-catching sparkle.
The informal wedding gown opens the fashion door to color as well. While Ivory is the top color choice in gowns right now, some brides gravitate toward blush pink or blush blue gowns for an unexpected hue reflective of their personal style. “The ivory gown is a favorite of destination and beach brides,” says Tierney. “The soft shade of ivory blends in well with the color of the sand.”
Some of the top bridal gown design companies have created new lines of informal and destination wedding dresses, and even Sandals resorts offers dresses purchased online or even at some of their exotic resorts. Other designer names to research, which Tierney’s Bridals now features on their site, are Paloma Blanca, Jasmine, Mon Cheri, Eden Bridals, Casablanca, and more.
If your wedding timing doesn’t allow for the several months it takes for a gown to be delivered to a bridal boutique, you can shop the retailers such as www.nicolemiller.com, www.jcrew.com, www.lillypulitzer.com, www.nordstrom.com, and even your favorite department store’s formalwear sections where you could find that perfect halter-top with the delicate bead accenting and sweep train waiting just for you, ready to come home with you now.
Plus-Size Wedding Gowns
By Mary Scholz Austin
We all know that most women are not a size 2. Or even a size 8. Why, then, is it so challenging for well-endowed women to find the right wedding gown with just the right fit?
Size Does Matter: Many bridal salons provide “samples” to try on in one or two sizes only, usually a size 8 or 10. If you are a larger size, trying to squeeze into a smaller sized gown for a “test drive” is not only frustrating, it may not give you an accurate idea of how the gown will look on you in your size. Your best bet is to find a bridal salon that specializes in dressing fuller figured women. Look for a full-service salon that has an experienced seamstress on staff in order to achieve an expert fit. National retailer Lane Bryant now offers a bridal line just for voluptuous brides. David’s Bridal recently rolled out David’s Bridal Woman, a vast collection of gowns for size 14W to 26W. These gowns are not just smaller gowns sized up, but original designs based on a size 18W fit model and hundreds of measurements of “real” women. “By basing our sizing on realistic models, David’s Bridal Woman gowns fit and flatter like no other,” the company asserts.
Go Custom: If you have your heart set on a certain look, it may be wise to have your dress custom made. Elizabeth Belfi of Belle Grace in Oakland (201-337-6717) has years of experience creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind wedding gowns for plus-sized brides. Brides often come to her upset and aggravated by the traditional shopping experience. “I measure them and first make a muslin (copy) of the gown they want in their size, so that they can try on the style before I make the actual dress,” says Belfi. “They have a vision and I try to get them there.”
Balancing Act: For any bride, finding the perfect dress is all about accentuating the positive aspects of her figure, while de-emphasizing the negative. Chamein Canton, author of Down That Aisle in Style!: A Wedding Guide for the Full-Figured Woman (Windriver Publishing; 2006) encourages brides to determine their shape—round, pear, hourglass, and so on—then set about finding a style that works with that shape. For example, a round body type needs a gown that adds definition to the waist, while a pear shape should draw attention up to the neckline or shoulders. Canton adds, “While an A-line gown is perfect for all body types/shapes, the empire silhouette has also proven to be quite flattering for most shapes as well.” And don’t forget about fabric—heavier fabrics can add unwanted bulk, while clingy materials might hug in all the wrong places.
Build on Bedrock: In other words, don’t skimp on undergarments. A bustier or bodysuit with tummy control can turn a good fit into a great one, as well as giving you a nice, smooth line. Again, it is crucial to find an expert that knows how to size a bra and other undergarments properly for fit and comfort.
Add ons: Let accessories work in your favor. Gina Feinstein, co-owner with Ellen Wolsten of Ashanti, a special-occasion dress shop in Millburn (973-376-4799) specializing in larger sizes, agrees. Feinstein might suggest “a strapless dress with a bolero jacket” for a woman who is self-conscious about baring her arms. If you want to draw eyes upward and away from hips, wear an up do with a beaded tiara or a stunning necklace and earrings.
Remember, no matter what your size, your gown should be one that plays up your many assets, while making you feel confident and look great.