There are so many things to consider when choosing your wedding dress. You need to take your own personal style into consideration, your body shape and size, the season you’ll be marrying in and for many brides, ensuring their gown matches the overall theme of the day is really important.
With dresses from six of the industry’s most prestigious designers and over 150 gowns available to view online and instore, we’ve got the perfect dress to suit every bride and wedding theme here at Maria Modes, but which one is right for your big day?
Vintage Elegance
If you’re taking your guests back in time for your wedding day and embracing all things vintage and sophisticated, then there are some specific features you can incorporate into your gown that will help you fit in with the theme perfectly.
Beading – If there’s one thing that says 1920 chic, it’s beading. A nod to the decade of the Charleston and the eye-catching dresses that were around at the time, beading is a perfect way to give your gown a vintage feel.
Straight Shape – One particular dress shape that has vintage glamour written all over it is the understated yet stunning straight dress. Some may think that a dress with a flowing floor length straight skirt is a little underwhelming but when styled with the right accessories and worn for a day that is all about old-school elegance, this style is the perfect choice.
The Perfect Gown: There are plenty of gowns at Maria Modes that are perfect for the bride wanting to embrace a vintage look but the ultimate 1920’s inspired gown in our showroom has to be the Ettia wedding dress from Maggie Sottero. The perfect combination of flowing champagne fabric and breath-taking beading, the Maggie Sottero Ettia really has the wow-factor.
Hollywood Glamour
Every bride wants to feel like ‘a million dollars’ on her wedding day and the best way to do that is to embrace all things Hollywood glamour. If your big day is set to have the red carpet feel and you need the dress to match, here’s what you need to be looking for:
Mermaid Shape – also known in the industry as a ‘fit and flare’ dress, a mermaid style dress is all about showcasing the shape of your body as the style of this dress sits close to your curves to create a classy but sultry silhouette. Available in all kinds of designs and materials, there’s a mermaid dress to suit every bride but this is definitely the shape to go for if you want to make a red-carpet entrance.
Ruffles – a wedding dress with ruffles has a sense of drama to it; a statement feature that will catch your guests’ eyes, ruffles are elegant, sophisticated but also seriously glamorous. Combining the fishtail shape with ruffles makes for a great contrast between the tight bodice and the dramatic skirt, showcasing your figure even better and giving you that A-lister look.
The Perfect Dress – the mermaid style is a best-seller, hence we have a vast range of dresses in this shape but for the ultimate Hollywood glamour gown, there’s no better choice than the Maggie Sottero Veda dress. The ultimate combination of everything you need in a dress to suit a wedding of this theme, the Veda wedding dress showcases a tight-fitting lace covered bodice that cascades into voluminous ruffles just below the hips and features a sheer lace back and sheer panel on the front of the gown for extra detail and shape.
Traditional Fairytale
Many girls grow up dreaming of a traditional fairytale wedding that mimics those seen in the films but if you’re lucky enough for that fantasy to become a reality, you’ve probably got a certain kind of dress in mind.
Full Skirt – most women will be familiar with the style of gown that is known as a princess dress’ and if your wedding day is going to be a real-life fairytale then this is exactly the kind of dress you need to fit with the theme. A fitted bodice and a full skirt that starts at the waist and grows in volume as it reaches the floor, this style of dress always leaves guests speechless and although a classic style, is available in so many different designs to suit each bride.
Embellishment – a gown to match a fairytale theme needs to have a touch of sparkle which means embellishment is essential. From crystals to diamantes, it’s the added touch of shimmer that will give your gown the edge and make it the ideal choice for your fairytale day.
The Perfect Dress – We’ve got plenty of princess style dresses available, from off white gowns covered in lace to simple and understated satin dresses that let the shape do the talking but we think the ultimate princess dress has to be the Odelia wedding dress from Pronovias. This dress truly has all the classic elements to make it the ultimate gown for any fairytale wedding. A bodice covered in embellishment and a voluminous skirt that simply lets the shape steal the show, this dress will leave your guests in awe as you walk down the aisle.
Boho Chic
If you consider yourself to be the laid-back bride who wants a wedding to match then the boho chic theme is perfect for your big day. All about creating a relaxed atmosphere, you need a dress that has effortless beauty written all over it.
Flowing Shape – the shape of wedding dress best suited for the boho bride is anything with a flowing skirt. Whether that be a skirt that is fuller at the hips or one that flows straight down close to the body, the key to a boho chic wedding dress is comfort and an effortlessly glamorous feel, meaning a flowing skirt is essential.
Understated Detail – gowns that scream boho chic have a very specific kind of detailing to them. The detail on this style of gown is noticeable and a real feature of the dress but not as dramatic or sparkling as lace appliques or crystals. Full lace bodices that have an almost crotched look to them are the ultimate for boho brides, especially if you’re marrying abroad.
The Perfect Dress – it can often feel more difficult to find a wedding dress that has a laid-back and casual appeal opposed to something very formal but the Juniper wedding dress from Rebecca Ingram is the definition of boho bridal. Featuring spaghetti straps leading into a full lace bodice and then flowing floor length skirt, this Rebecca Ingram Juniper dress is perfect for the understated bride tying the knot on the beach.
Alternatively Beautiful
There’s so much beauty in embracing your own style and allowing your big day to be as individual as you, so if you want to showcase something daring and a little different on your big day, there are some key statement styles that only the bravest of brides would choose.
Off White – it doesn’t get much more traditional than white or ivory for a bridal gown and as stunningly classic as those colours are, any bride wanting to be bold on her big day needs to be opting for an off-white dress. The options are endless for colourful gowns nowadays, with examples of blues and pinks being available in the Maria Modes showroom.
3D Detailing – most lace detailing and embellishments sit close to the fabric and blend in with the overall shape of the dress but if you want the detailing on your dress to make a real statement, 3D detailing is what you need to be looking for. Whether you choose flowers, butterflies or something else, there’s plenty of gowns with 3D embellishments that standout against the silhouette of the dress and make for an eye-catching feature.
The Perfect Dress – We have a selection of statement dresses in our showroom but one of the boldest gowns on our rails has to be the Bluebell wedding dress from Ian Stuart. A designer known for taking risks to create unforgettable pieces, the Ian Stuart bluebell dress is available in more traditional colours but the dark blue and metallic colourway with 3D flower details is the definition of an alternatively beautiful dress.
We understand that every bride is different and has her own unique style which is why we’ve ensured that the Maria Modes showroom has something to suit every woman, whatever her shape, size, style or wedding theme.
Did you choose your wedding dress to match the theme of your day? Let us know what you looked for when you choosing your dress on Twitter or Instagram!