Wedding Dresses – Choosing Dresses for a Themed Wedding

By Georgina Clatworthy

Themed weddings have become very popular in recent years, but having a themed wedding can leave some brides with something of a dilemma when it comes to choosing appropriate wedding dresses.

There is a fear amongst many that their wedding dress would simply look more like fancy dress than the most beautiful outfit they will ever wear.  So when choosing dresses to coordinate with a theme you should take into consideration the following:

• Color – some themes can require a dress which is not the traditional white or ivory. For instance, a medieval theme could see dresses in bottle green, ruby red or royal blue
• Style – do some research into the style of dress which will suit your theme, particularly if your theme is an historical one.
• Accessories – these can make or break your look so research these carefully too.
• Fabrics – the style and shape of the dress will usually dictate the choice of fabrics, but you should have an idea of what will work and what won’t. A large dress featuring rich velvet fabrics may not be the best choice for a summer wedding!

We tend to think of wedding themes as being historical in nature – medieval, Victorian, 1920’s etc.  But this is not always the case.  Popular wedding themes are often based around subjects such as flowers, butterflies, the beach or a shared hobby or interest.  If your choice of theme does not immediately suggest a suitable style of wedding dress then you will need to consider the attributes of your theme as a basis for your dress.  For instance, a wedding theme based on butterflies would call for a dress which is delicate and romantic in style, just like a butterfly.  A theme based on a shared hobby or interest may not lend itself to any style of wedding dress and as such you can choose whatever you want here!

Accessories can be your saving grace when it comes to your wedding outfit.  The addition of themed accessories to a non-themed dress can change your wedding outfit into once which coordinates beautifully with your wedding theme.  For instance, adding butterfly hairpins to your hair or butterfly shaped picks to your bouquet will provide enough coordination to your theme without being over the top.

Of course accessories can also be the crowing glory to a dramatic themed look.  A stunning regal crown added to a fabulous medieval themed wedding dress will complete the look perfectly. And Art Deco style crystal hair combs make the perfect accessory to a 1920’s style bias cut silk gown.

Wedding dresses are available in such an array of styles, shapes and colors these days that finding a design to suit your wedding theme should not be difficult.  There certainly should be no danger of fearing you will look like you are in fancy dress!  And if you cannot find what you are looking for, then hire a good dressmaker to make one for you.