A perfect wedding dress is the desire of every bride-to-be. And your wedding dress fabric plays a vital role in achieving your dream wedding look. If you haven’t thought about it, then now is the time. When you are explaining to your designer how you want your wedding dress to look, apart from the silhouette, knowing a bit about the fabric will help you better envision your wedding dress.
Regardless of the design you choose, the material will ultimately give your wedding dress its final shape, look and feel. Knowing how each fabric appears and how it acts will help you to make an informed decision. Some of the most popular materials for wedding dresses are silk, satin, chiffon, organza, tulle, taffeta and linen. Each fabric tells a lot about the bride’s personality, so knowing a bit about each will help you choose wedding dresses to try that better match your personality.
Each Fabric is Different
How a dress will ultimately look depends a lot on its fabric. Let’s delve down deep to understand a little more about common wedding dress materials:
#1. Lace
It should come at no surprise that lace is one of the most popular wedding dress material options. It adds so much elegance to a perfect wedding gown. Lace comes in different varieties and is usually used to detail a bridal dress. Common types of less include:
Alencon: This variety has prominent motifs done on the net and is typically trimmed with cord.
Chantilly: This lace type is known for its detailed work.
Venise: Another variation that is used frequently in winter weddings because of its heavy texture.
#2. Chiffon
Lightweight and semi-transparent in nature, this variety of fabric is often used in layering the gown or in the veil. Despite chiffon’s floaty appearance, it can have a snug fit. This incredibly sheer woven fabric has been used in wedding gowns for ages.
#3. Satin
A popular misconception is that satin is a fabric, which is not. It is a type of finish made from silk or polyester. Most wedding gown satins are made of 100 percent silk. One huge advantage of wearing satin is that it goes well with virtually every body type. If you are going for a ball gown, ruched or draped style, you can trust satin to flatter your figure without a second thought. Satin is tightly woven with a shiny appearance at the front.
#4. Tulle
Tulle is the same fabric that you see in a ballerina’s tutu. Yes, that net-like fabric is called tulle. The net-like appearance is due to tulle’s open weaving and sheerness. You can use tulle to achieve a structured appearance if you’re going for a ruching style, or you can use the same fabric for a ball gown where you’ll get an airy feeling. Tulle can be soft or stiff depending on where the bride wears it. For example, if it’s used in the veil, the tulle is soft. When it’s used to add volume to layers of a skirt, it’s stiff.
#5. Organza
If your heart is set on wearing a multilayer skirt, then you should go with organza. Organza is a sheer fabric that is stiffer than chiffon but lighter and flowier than tulle. Although it is lightweight, you’ll find it’s thicker than chiffon. Organza is a perfect choice of fabric for warm weather weddings. While organza looks elegant, it is a bit delicate, so you need to be cautious about the pull and the snag. Especially if you envision a structured wedding gown, then go for organza.
#6. Brocade
Brocade is heavy and intricately woven fabric. It is often used in three-dimensional designs.
Other fabric types that are used by designers to make wedding gowns include damask (which is similar to brocade), linen (a woven fabric which is lighter than cotton and is extremely comfortable yet easily wrinkled) and charmeuse (lightweight fabric with a soft texture).
While these are the traditional fabrics commonly in wedding gowns, there are many contemporary and mixed fabrics that can be used to create a bride’s dream dress. For example, if you remember Kate Middleton’s wedding gown, it was made from gazar. If you envision a contemporary look, do your research to find out more about the hot trends in wedding gown fashion. In addition to the fabrics, you should also consider the neckline, sleeve style and train length for a complete wedding gown look.
