Wedding Dress - Pain or Pleasure?

Wedding dress, certainly, would be the first thing that comes into every bride’s mind when the planning process is kickstarted. And trust me, it can easily be the most time-consuming, exhausting planning process as well. However, from my experiences, it can also be the most regretful decision. Why, you may ask?

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As a proud girly (at some sorts) lady, I’m sure that we all dream of waking down the aisle in the most  elegant dress, among the most beautiful flowers setting, in front of our love ones who would be busy recording that particular glorious moment and put it all over Instagram and Facebook (both story and feeds) for those we hate to be filled with jealousy (kidding, ofc).  That’s why, right after scoring the sparkle on our finger, the first thing to do is secure a number of wedding dress appointments. If you’re reading this and feel like, this is me, well, congratulations, you’re in for a very painful process that by the time it ends, you would probably forget how much excited you get in the first place.

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The fact is, tremendous choices in fabrics, silhouette, neckline, details can be both confusing and intimidated for most brides, let alone some pushy sale people you will very much likely to encounter here and there. The first thing before dress shopping is to understand how much you have in your pocket. Budgeting, despite how much severe it is, is always the most crucial thing when it comes to plan your wedding . One of the most common mistakes is to splurge on an expensive wedding dress that leaves a little left for more important things like photography and makeup.

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In pictures, Aina’s in her custom-designed lace gown with flowy skirt that is not only her dream dress but fits her budget  beautifully. At the beginning of the planning process, we sat down with the couple, understanding their needs and wants. Wedding dress was the number 1 category that Aina wanted to invest in. Her budget was not that big but we found Giang, founder of Ciel De Gia, the right designer who is not only creative, detailed but more importantly, she was supportive and paid a lot attention to understand Aina expectations. 6 months after the first meeting, Aina was back to Vietnam for her final fitting, and the dress brought tears to not only the bride but also her maid of honour.

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Secondly, understanding the venue is also one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing the dress. A ballgown is pretty much the perfect choice for big wedding in an indoor ballroom (well I guess that where the “ballgown” name comes from anyway) while a-line is the most versatile silhouette that is friendly with many situations. Flowy a-line or boho dress is the best choice for beach weddings while trumpet and mermaid would make brides look elegantly sexy in most backgrounds. Also, if you’re planning a complicated agenda with dancing and after reception activities, more than 1 dress should be taken into consideration, After the ceremony, you might consider slipping into another one that is more comfortable and easier to dance in.

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‍In pictures, Phuong, carried her tulip bouquet in a loose bun to harmonize with her classic-with-a-twist a line wedding dress. Unique as she is, her choice of wedding attires included an off white a line dress with a statement bow in the back and lace appliqué for the ceremony, a classic a line ankle length wrap dress with lace camisole for reception and finally, a tailored black suits to go twins with her newlywed husband for the party after.

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Thirdly, don’t let all the advertisements on social media fool you! Just because a 170cm model look extremely dreamy in a puffy ballgown doesn’t mean that you will do too. The fact is, each of us has a unique frame and body type. Understanding your uniqueness and find a dress that enhances you not swallows you. We all want to be a princess, but who says that princess has to wear a big ball gown? Spending time to understand your body type will definitely a MUST.

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Finally, find an entourage who loves you dearly, who is there to make you feel confident with your choice, not to criticize you for not having the perfect body or to shame you on not choosing the most popular dress. One of the most common mistakes my brides admit is to rely on other people’s choices. The people who truly love you will tell you to consider your budget because they don’t want to see you suffer from overspending. The people who truly love you and has a sense of style will tell you to choose a silhouette that enhance your advantages whether it’s your beautiful collar bones or your delicate back or your long legs. The people who love you truly will find the most gentle way to tell you what they think is best for you but will always step back when you already make your mind. Because, sometimes, your mind has already knows what your heart desires.

Happy dress shopping with a lot of love,

G.