The
first thing you should do before actually heading to the bridal shop is get an
idea about which style of wedding gown you prefer. You will need to get
familiar with wedding gown terminology and styles. Here are some general guidelines
to help you get started on the road to wedding day bliss.
LENGTH
- Street length - Hem
falls just past the knee.
- Intermission (or Tea) length - Hem
falls between the knees and ankle.
- Ballet length - Hem
falls just to the ankles.
- Floor Length - Hem
barely touches the floor on all sides.
SLEEVES
- 3/4 sleeves - End
between the elbow and wrist.
- Bell - Long
sleeves, flare out toward the wrist creating a bell shape.
- Cap - Rounded
sleeves, just covering shoulders.
- Fitted point - Long,
fitted sleeves that come to a point over the hand.
- Juliet - Long,
fitted sleeves with puffy shoulders.
- Long sleeves -
Extend to the wrist and are normally form-fitting.
- Off-the-shoulder Sleeves - Cover
the upper part of the arm but leave the tops of shoulders exposed.
- Poet - Long
sleeves, fitted to the elbow then flared.
- Pouf - Short
sleeves, gathered to create a puffy look.
- Short sleeves - About
the length of T-shirt sleeves.
- Sleeveless -
Strapless with no sleeves.
- Spaghetti - Thin
spaghetti straps with no sleeves.
NECKLINE
- Bateau - Close
to straight across from the tip of the shoulder. Gives plenty of coverage.
- Halter - Wraps
around the back of the neck to create deep armholes. Often also a backless
style, which is very sexy.
- High - Covers
most of the neck. Creates a formal, somewhat stiff look.
- Jewel - Similar
to that of a T-shirt. Creates a bustier look.
- Off-The-Shoulder - As the
name indicates, the top of the shoulders are bare. Showcases your
collarbone and shoulders.
- Portrait - A very
wide scoop from the tip of one shoulder to the tip of the other.
- Scoop - Classic
U-shaped neckline. Can be cut low for a sexier look.
- Square - Squared
neckline, often associated with empire gowns.
- Strapless - Normally
straight across. Not recommended for women with small busts.
- Sweetheart - Shaped
like the top half of a heart. Emphasizes the cleavage.
- V-Neck - Dips in
the front into a V-shape. Can be very deep.
BODICE
The
bodice refers to the portion of the dress between the neckline and skirt.
- Corset - A form
fitting bodice with boning and lace-up closures.
- Halter - Sleeveless
bodice that wraps around you neck, normally backless.
- Midriff - Fits
very closely around the mid-section, accentuating your waist.
- Surplice - Sections
of fabric cross wrap in the front or back.
- Tank - Sleeveless
with wide armholes like tank top.
TRAIN
- Sweep - 8"
to 12" in length, just a few inches longer than the gown.
- Court - Extends
about 3 feet from the waist.
- Chapel - Extends
about 4 feet from the waist.
- Cathedral - Extends
about 6 to 9 feet from the waist.
- Royal - Extends
more than 9 feet from the waist.
VEIL
- Birdcage - Falls
right below the chin, usually attached to a headpiece.
- Flyaway - Falls
to the shoulder.
- Blusher - Worn
over your face, about 28" long.
- Elbow - Falls
to the elbow or waist.
- Fingertip
- Falls
to the finger tips or just below the waist.
- Ballet - Falls
to the ankles.
- Chapel - Falls
slightly longer than floor length.
- Cathedral - 9 feet
or longer.
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