How to Find Your Wedding Dress
When to Buy Your Wedding Dress
One source of stress when you’re wedding dress shopping can be the timeline. Finding the perfect gown can be love at first sight! But often it takes some time to feel confident in your decision. Beyond that, you need time to make your gown and to have alterations. Here are a few key considerations to keep things on track.
Get Ready to Explore
Once you’re ready to shop, the most important thing to bring with you is an open mind. Sometimes brides come to our shop with a vision, and we are thrilled to help them achieve it. But often customers find the perfect dress is something very different from what they envisioned. Either way, it’s a special moment we look forward to sharing with you.
Producing Your Dress
Our independent bridal designers have some of the quickest standard turnarounds in the industry. That means most of our dresses are ready in four to five months. There are rush options at reasonable prices that can cut that quite a bit, but you’ll still need time for alterations.
Leave Time For Alterations
All wedding dresses need some attention from a tailor. Whether it’s a simple hem or a bustle, to adding a special touch all your own. Our tailors suggest starting no less than two months before your wedding date.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is we suggest starting your bridal gown shopping 9-12 months before your wedding date for maximum options with minimal stress. Of course, not everyone has that much time. Not to worry.
I Need It Now!
If your schedule is tight there are a range of good options. Our dresses can usually be rush ordered for a reasonable fee, which varies by designer. This can cut the lead time by a month or two and in some cases much more. Or, we always have a limited selection of sample gowns to buy off the rack. Keep in mind you’ll still need at least some time for alterations.
A Guide to Wedding Dress Styles
Wedding dress styles are often grouped by the silhouette, which is a description of its overall shape. Here are some of the common terms defined to help you describe what you’re looking for.
Ballgown
The true princess wedding dress, ballgowns have a fitted “bodice” (or top) and a full skirt that gets wider all the way to the hem. Ballgowns are a classic shape for brides who want to bring that drama! Bonus, many of the ballgowns we carry at White Oak Bridal have pockets!
A-line
Narrower and lighter, A-line gowns have fitted bodices through the waist and a lightly full skirt that comes out from there. Perfect for the bride who wants a little volume but want to have slightlty less fabric than a true ballgown.
Soft A-line
Light and flowy a Soft A-line gown flares out just slightly at the waist (less volume than a typical A-line) and is usually made with light and airy fabrics. Soft A-lines are great for outdoor or woodsy weddings, or the bride who wants to be cool and comfortable.
Fit-and-Flare/Trumpet
Quite literally, fitted with a flare, this bridal gown style is fitted through the body and flares out around the mid-thigh area.
Mermaid
Similar to Fit-and-Flare, mermaid gowns are fitted from the chest through the body, and have a dramatic flare out, closer to the knee area. Mermaid gowns are sleek and sexy and a fun way to show off your curves!
Column/Sheath
Sheath gowns are characterized by a narrow straighter shape from bust to hem. This style is a great option for brides wanting to show off the curves without the “poof.”
Ballgown
The true princess wedding dress, ballgowns have a fitted “bodice” (or top) and a full skirt that gets wider all the way to the hem. Ballgowns are a classic shape for brides who want to bring that drama! Bonus, many of the ballgowns we carry at White Oak Bridal have pockets!
A-line
Narrower and lighter, A-line gowns have fitted bodices through the waist and a lightly full skirt that comes out from there. Perfect for the bride who wants a little volume but want to have slightlty less fabric than a true ballgown.
Soft A-line
Light and flowy a Soft A-line gown flares out just slightly at the waist (less volume than a typical A-line) and is usually made with light and airy fabrics. Soft A-lines are great for outdoor or woodsy weddings, or the bride who wants to be cool and comfortable.
Fit-and-Flare/Trumpet
Quite literally, fitted with a flare, this bridal gown style is fitted through the body and flares out around the mid-thigh area.
Mermaid
Similar to Fit-and-Flare, mermaid gowns are fitted from the chest through the body, and have a dramatic flare out, closer to the knee area. Mermaid gowns are sleek and sexy and a fun way to show off your curves!
Column/Sheath
Sheath gowns are characterized by a narrow straighter shape from bust to hem. This style is a great option for brides wanting to show off the curves without the “poof.”
Bridal Buzzwords – Basque, Bodice, and Beyond
Basque Waist
A Basque Waist starts at the natural waistline and dips into a V shape. It naturally creates a flattering, elongated effect, as well as a subtle vintage nod. That’s why it’s one of the most popular wedding dress waistlines today.
Dropped Waist
A Dropped Waist usually sits below the natural waistline running straight across the hips. This style is also elongating like the Basque, but often provides a sleek modern look.
No Waist
Why have a waistline at all? No Waist gowns offer a seamless architecture to hug your natural curves and sweep from shoulder to floor. They range from low-luster silk slip dresses for 90s minimalism; to substantial, body-skimming crepe for a super-clean modern column look.
Corset Bodice
A Corset Bodice is a romantic, vintage-inspired style that provides built-in shapewear, unmatched bust support, and a beautifully defined waistline. The gowns stay perfectly in place – even strapless. Corset bodices can also be entirely internal, for great support in a clean, modern gown.
Basque Waist
A Basque Waist starts at the natural waistline and dips into a V shape. It naturally creates a flattering, elongated effect, as well as a subtle vintage nod. That’s why it’s one of the most popular wedding dress waistlines today.
Dropped Waist
A Dropped Waist usually sits below the natural waistline running straight across the hips. This style is also elongating like the Basque, but often provides a sleek modern look.
No Waist
Why have a waistline at all? No Waist gowns offer a seamless architecture to hug your natural curves and sweep from shoulder to floor. They range from low-luster silk slip dresses for 90s minimalism; to substantial, body-skimming crepe for a super-clean modern column look.
Corset Bodice
A Corset Bodice is a romantic, vintage-inspired style that provides built-in shapewear, unmatched bust support, and a beautifully defined waistline. The gowns stay perfectly in place – even strapless. Corset bodices can also be entirely internal, for great support in a clean, modern gown.
Fabrics – A Place for Lace
Lace
Rather than a single fabric, Lace describes an array of styles. From weightless, flat Chantilly for soft romantic layering; to thick, raised Alençon which is outlined in heavy cord for a regal, 3D look. Lace never wrinkles, photographs flawlessly, and effortlessly commands a room.
Satin
Satin is a smooth weave fabric with a high-shine finish. It offers an elegant, clean look that avoids the bling of lace and sparkle, but still radiates elegance. It photographs with a luminous, high-end glow and handles complex draping or pleating perfectly.
Tulle
Tulle may get a bad rap from starchy ballet dresses, but modern bridal tulle is silky-soft, weightless and fluid. Like the Italian tulle Katie Yeung uses at Hera Couture, which gives her gowns cloud-like fullness, and sheer romantic overlays, without adding weight.
Mikado
Originally made exclusively from natural silk, Mikado is a luxurious, highly breathable, fabric with a rich, deep luster. It is highly architectural to hold dramatic ballgown shapes and structured corsets.
Crepe
Crepe is a matte, slightly stretchy fabric, that skims the body without clinging. It’s the premier choice for modern, minimalist column dresses and more, where architectural draping meets an extra measure of comfort.
Jacquard
Jacquard is a technique that allows complex, multidimensional designs to be woven directly into the architecture of the fabric itself. The process creates contrast by combining matte and lustrous threads for a raised effect to add visual depth in a clean, sophisticated way.
Lace
Rather than a single fabric, Lace describes an array of styles. From weightless, flat Chantilly for soft romantic layering; to thick, raised Alençon which is outlined in heavy cord for a regal, 3D look. Lace never wrinkles, photographs flawlessly, and effortlessly commands a room.
Satin
Satin is a smooth weave fabric with a high-shine finish. It offers an elegant, clean look that avoids the bling of lace and sparkle, but still radiates elegance. It photographs with a luminous, high-end glow and handles complex draping or pleating perfectly.
Tulle
Tulle may get a bad rap from starchy ballet dresses, but modern bridal tulle is silky-soft, weightless and fluid. Like the Italian tulle Katie Yeung uses at Hera Couture, which gives her gowns cloud-like fullness, and sheer romantic overlays, without adding weight.
Mikado
Originally made exclusively from natural silk, Mikado is a luxurious, highly breathable, fabric with a rich, deep luster. It is highly architectural to hold dramatic ballgown shapes and structured corsets.
Crepe
Crepe is a matte, slightly stretchy fabric, that skims the body without clinging. It’s the premier choice for modern, minimalist column dresses and more, where architectural draping meets an extra measure of comfort.
Jacquard
Jacquard is a technique that allows complex, multidimensional designs to be woven directly into the architecture of the fabric itself. The process creates contrast by combining matte and lustrous threads for a raised effect to add visual depth in a clean, sophisticated way.