3 Tips to Choose the Best Wedding Gown Fabrics For Your Special Day

If you’re a bride-to-be, you may currently be in the process of finding your wedding dress. We’re giving you 3 tips for selecting the best wedding gown fabrics!

Finding your wedding dress is one of the best parts of planning your wedding. But there are many factors to consider when choosing the dress of your dreams. Fabric is one of them, but how do you choose from dozens upon dozens of wedding gown fabrics?

It may seem like fabric is a small and insignificant part of your wedding dress. But the truth is that fabric is an essential detail that can make or break the way a dress looks on you.

In 10 or 20 years, you want to look back on your wedding dress and still love it as much as you did the day you got married. Unfortunately, many women fall out of love with their wedding dresses years later.

But you don’t have to!

Here are 3 of the best tips to help you choose the best wedding gown fabric so you can love your gown for years to come!

1. Pick a Style that Complements Your Figure

There’s an endless variety of wedding gown designs, and choosing one is its own challenge! But before you can choose the best fabric, you have to decide on what kind of design you want for your wedding dress.

The foundation of your wedding dress should complement your figure. Not every dress works for every figure. So, pay attention to which dresses will flatter your figure.

Curves & Big Busts

Apple-shaped and pear-shaped figures look best in gowns that flare and flow from the waist. Ball gowns and A-Line dresses work great with curvier or plus-size figures.

Mermaid or trumpet style dresses are best at complementing curves. These styles look especially great on women with wider hips. Many of these dresses come strapless, which is ideal for women with larger busts.

Square Bodies & Small Busts

Many women with square figures tend to feel like their options in dresses are limited. But this couldn’t be farther from the truth!

A-Line gowns can make any women, of any size, feel like a princess for one day. But you can rock an A-Line dress or ballroom gown better than most! An A-Line or ballroom gown are fuller and will create the illusion of a curvier figure.

Petite Figures

Petite figures look best in column or sheath dresses. These dresses don’t flare like A-Line, ballroom, or mermaid gowns.

A column dress will make you look taller and will show off your slim physique! Plus, you have more leeway in using softer fabrics.

2. Understand Fabrics According to Style

Once you decide on the perfect design for your wedding dress, it’s time to focus on fabric.

The base of your dress will be made with common wedding gown fabrics like silk, polyester, rayon, or acetate. Then, your dress will be woven with fabric finishes like satin, charmeuse, chiffon or organza to truly complete its look.

Fabrics for Mermaid, Trumpet, & Column Dresses

Heavier and more durable wedding gown fabrics are necessary for complex designs. This is especially the case for a mermaid, trumpet, or any dress that has an intricate cut.

Silk is easily the most desired wedding gown fabric of them all. It’s a natural fiber that’s been around for thousands of years. Silk is equally durable as it is beautiful.

Rayon is a classic alternative to silk. It’s a fabric finish that will show off curvy silhouettes without breaking the budget.

Satin is smooth and glossy and works with every body type! Because it’s a heavier fabric finish, it’s best for winter or autumn weddings.

Polyester, rayon, and nylon are more cost-effective options for base fabrics. They’re durable and easy-to-clean but aren’t as fine as silk. They can, however, be woven with elegant fabric finishes, like satin or taffeta.

Faille is a fabric finish that’s also derived from silk. It’s softly-woven that finishes with a subtle ribbed texture. Its durability makes it a great option for column dresses.

Duchesse satin is a woven blend of silk and polyester that finishes like satin.

Taffeta is another fabric finish that’s heavily sought-after.

Both taffeta and Duchesse satin are soft, heavy, and durable.

Lightweight Fabrics for A-Line & Ball Gowns

The majority of dresses are made of polyester, nylon, rayon, or some other form of synthetic fabric. In some cases, you may come across gowns made of silk, but they’ll cost more.

If you’re choosing an A-Line or ball gown, you want to focus on lightweight fabrics. Your fabric finishes should also be lightweight. These lightweight fabrics and fabric finishes will pull your dress together entirely.

Tulle is probably on your mind if your dream wedding dress has always been a classic ballroom gown. Tulle is a netting fabric finish that’s typically made from nylon, polyester, or cotton. It’s perfect for ballroom gowns when layered and woven with silk.

Charmeuse is a silky fabric that’s simple, lightweight, and structured. It works great for both tighter and looser fits.

Chiffon is another lightweight fabric finish that’s derived from silk. It’s sheer and fine with a soft, translucent, and draped finish. It’s a timeless fabric that’s simply elegant.

Organza is sheer and delicate like chiffon. Chiffon is a perfect fabric finish for draped dresses. But the firmer structure of organza makes it better for tighter fitting gowns.

Rules of Thumb for Choosing Fabrics

• The more complex the design, the stronger the fabric must be

• The more simple your design, the softer your fabric can be

• Fabric and fabric finishes are not the same

• Heavier fabrics for fall and winter weddings. Lighter fabrics in the summer

3. Finish Off Your Dress with Detailed Fabrics

Once you’ve chosen the best wedding gown fabrics, it’s time to focus on the details of your dress. (This part is fun!)

Lace

Lace is a timeless wedding gown fabric that works for every style! It’s a fabric that works for chic, bohemian, elegant, and vintage styled dresses alike.

Lace comes in a plethora of styles and textures. The texture and style of lace you choose will depend on how your dress’s neckline is cut. It will also depend on how detailed you want your dress to be.

You may consider Venetian, Alençon, or Chantilly lace for detailed gowns. In any case, you want an embroidered lace if you’re aiming for intricate detail.

Brocade, eyelet, and knitted lace are simpler than their embroidered counterparts. Nonetheless, they’re the perfect touch of femininity and elegance!

Lustrous Fabrics

A crêpe georgette fabric can give a draped dress the perfect finish. This fabric is translucent, lightweight, and playful. It looks great, whether your wedding dress is bohemian or vintage.

If you’re going for a crisp and lustrous look, try dupioni silk or shantung silk. Both dupioni and shantung silk are shiny on the surface. But dupioni has a more textured finish than shantung.

Tulle

As previously mentioned, tulle is a classic choice in wedding gown fabrics. Tulle is also great for playing up a shorter dress that falls at the knees or ankles!

Tulle is the traditional wedding veil fabric. But if you’d like a more dramatic look for your veil, try point d’esprit fabric or chiffon.

Choose from the Finest Wedding Gown Fabrics!

Picking the perfect wedding gown fabric is difficult. There are so many varieties to choose from, and it’s hard to know which ones will work best for your dream dress.

You’ll devote a lot of time and money searching through and trying wedding gown fabrics. So, it’s vital that you preserve the look of your fabric before and after your wedding.

Consult with an expert dry cleaner who understands wedding gown fabrics. An expert wedding dress dry cleaner will preserve the beauty of your gown for your wedding day – and years to come!