WINTER WEDDING DRESS

GUIDE FOR CHOOSING THE PERFECT WINTER BRIDAL GOWNS

The Perfect Gown for Indoor Winter Wedding

Most women dream about their wedding dresses from the time they are little girls and picture themselves walking down the aisle in a creamy white gown that makes them feel like a princess. Usually when women think of wedding dresses they think of light, summer wedding dresses that are sleeveless and made from light flowing summer weight fabrics and probably don’t have a lot of heavy embroidery or decoration. However, finding the right dress for a winter wedding can sometimes be a challenge. Brides usually find out when they start shopping for their winter wedding dresses that designers tend to design the prettiest dresses for summer weddings. Brides can find thousands of wedding dresses with gauzy chiffon, light fabrics, and sleeveless styles but not so many made from heavier fabrics that are appropriate for winter weddings.

While brides always need to consider their personal tastes, height, weight, and body shape when picking out the perfect wedding gown, brides that have chosen to have a winter wedding also need to take into account the fabric of the dress and the warmth factor of the dress since most likely it will be chilly or even cold for the wedding. Even if your winter wedding is indoors, it may be chilly in the church or wedding hall and you will probably be taking pictures outdoors or you may want to arrive at the church or hall in a horse drawn sleigh or carriage which means you need to think about how you can be fashionable and stay warm.

Luckily for women who choose to have winter weddings, having a winter wedding gives brides additional options for wedding dresses that are really only available to winter brides. So enjoy being different winter brides! No, you do not have to be stuck with white (though you could go with white if you want to). Use your winter wedding to really play up your personal style and take your wedding over the top in ways that spring and summer brides can’t. Here are some tips for picking out the perfect indoor winter wedding dress.

Wear a red dress

Wedding dresses haven’t always been white. In many cultures and in many religions, red is a more desirable wedding dress color than white. In many countries, a bride got married in her best dress, no matter what color it was. Even in the US, in past eras women wore wedding dresses and outfits that were many different colors. During the past ten years or so there has been a growing trend in Europe and in other countries for sophisticated, trendy, and fashion-forward winter brides to wear red wedding dresses.

Wearing a red dress has slowly been catching on in the US and more and more brides are choosing to wear a red wedding dress to their weddings. A red wedding dress is really not considered appropriate for spring and summer weddings, but a red wedding gown is perfect for a winter bride who really wants to stand out. Also, not all brides look good in white. It’s traditional to tell every bride she looks stunning in her white wedding gown, but the fact is that not every woman’s skin tone is complimented by wearing white and some brides look much prettier in a deeper, richer color like red.

Are you having a Christmas or Valentine’s Day wedding? A Christmas or Valentine’s Day theme wedding is the perfect occasion for a bride to wear a red dress. There are many styles of wedding gowns that can be made in red instead of white. If you find the perfect gown but it’s in white instead of red, have it dyed red by a professional dyer to make sure it’s the exact shade of red you would like. For a Christmas wedding, wear a glamorous long sleeved red satin gown trimmed with gold embroidery and dress your bridesmaids in green satin gowns with gold jewelry and you will add a beautiful and festive touch to the wedding. Planning a Romantic Valentine’s Day Wedding? Wear a flowing, gauzy red gown with layers and layers of sheer petticoats and with an illusion neckline and sleeves, which will be soft, romantic, and still keep you warm. You can always add or take off petticoats if you are not warm enough or if you are too warm.

For a more traditional winter wedding look, pick a traditional strapless wedding gown but in red satin with a sweeping satin skirt and train. The long layers of satin will keep you warm and will also hide additional petticoats or a warm slip if you need to wear extra layers to stay warm. Wearing red gloves will help keep your arms warm and you can drape a red satin shawl or red pashmina wool shawl over your arms to keep off the draft. Planning a Fantasy theme wedding? Live out your princess fantasy in a rich burgundy corseted gown with a sweeping skirt and train in silk or duchess satin. The long full skirts of winter wedding gowns will help you stay warm, and you can always add a rich wrap or gloves to up the style level and the temperature.

Pick a dress made from a heavy, rich fabric

There are many fabrics that aren’t appropriate for a summer wedding that are perfect for a winter wedding. Heavy, rich satins and thick velvets are very elegant and can help keep you warm for a winter wedding. Winter weddings are usually more formal than summer weddings, and a winter wedding is the perfect time to go all out with a rich ball gown with layers of petticoats, heavy satin skirts with gold or silver embroidery, and long trains. To keep your upper body warm wear opera length gloves and little silk shrugs made to match your gown that can be taken off if you get too warm at the reception.

Add petticoats underneath your dress

If you are wearing an elegant, slim fitting dress you might be limited in how many layers of warmth you can add underneath your dress, but the sweeping circle skirts of many winter wedding dresses are ideal for adding layers underneath to keep warm. Be sure to choose petticoats that aren’t bunchy at the waist or you’ll look like you have a wider waist than you do but you can easily add as many petticoats under a full skirt as you need to stay warm, and then you can easily take them off if you get too warm.

Think outside the box when it comes to necklines and sleeves

While most wedding dresses for summer weddings are sleeveless or strapless, the neckline and sleeves of your dress can add a lot of warmth so don’t be afraid to experiment with an unusual neckline or have long sleeves on your dress. Love the look of a corseted, flowing dress but worried about the cold? Add a white, beaded collar and long flowing sleeves to help add warmth and make the dress unique. Want to wear a traditional ball gown with a sweetheart neckline and wide set shoulder straps? Wear opera length gloves trimmed with fur at the top to provide a little warmth without taking away from the style of the dress.

Use shawls, shrugs, and wraps as part of your outfit

Unlike a summer or spring wedding, it’s entirely appropriate for a bride to wear shrugs, shawls, or fancy jackets as part of her wedding outfit in a winter wedding. Wearing a classic white strapless dress? Add a cute little fur or fake fur capelet over your shoulders to stay warm in the church or outside. Or have a seamstress make a shrug out of the same material as your gown that has long sleeves so that you can put the shrug on to add warmth and elegance and take it off when you are warm or want to be more relaxed. Shawls are great wedding dress accessories because they can be draped over your arms to provide warmth but can easily be put away if they are not needed. Pashmina shawls that are made from the light and silky undercoat of Himalayan goats and worn often by Hollywood stars at red carpet events can be a great way to stay warm and still look beautiful.

The Perfect Gown for Outdoor Winter Wedding

Wear a color other than white. Just like for an indoor winter wedding, red is a great choice for an outdoor winter wedding as well, especially if you are getting married in the snow. A deep rich red dress will really stand out among the white of the snow. Getting married in the woods or want a natural theme for your wedding? Get married in a dark forest green gown. Any dark, rich color will make a beautiful contrast to the snowy landscape. Not a fan of dark colors? You can still dress up your outdoor winter wedding by wearing pale blue, lavender or even silver. If you’re going with a Jack Frost/Fairy theme for the wedding, wearing a blue, lavender, or silver gown will add to the ethereal effect of the landscape and decorations while still reflecting your own personal taste and style.

Accessorize for warmth

Pick dresses with long sweeping skirts that will hide layers of warm petticoats. Wear thick wool tights instead of delicate gossamer thin silk stockings. Pack those in a suitcase instead for the honeymoon! Have a seamstress add fur trim to your sleeves and neckline for added warmth. Carry a pretty fur or fake fur muff to keep your hands warm. Wear a pretty shrug that matches your dress lined with wool, fleece, or fur to insulate you against the cold. No one will ever see the lining but you will be much warmer. Put heating gel packs in your muff and in your shoes to keep your toes warm. Choose cute little lace up wedding boots trimmed with fur instead of more delicate shoes. There are many ways that brides can add little accessories and touches to their wedding dresses that will help keep them warm during an outdoor winter wedding.

Wear a special cape or cloak

Already know what kind of dress you want but worried that it won’t be warm enough for your outdoor winter wedding? Add a custom made cape or cloak. A floor length cloak made of the same material as your dress, embroidered, beaded, and lined with matching fleece or fur will keep you warm and look absolutely elegant and gorgeous. Most people think that capes and cloaks only look good in a Fantasy theme wedding but that’s not true; capes and cloaks can be made to match any theme and can be a beautiful way to keep warm during your outdoor wedding.