It is especially important to coordinate both the dress and

Coordinating A Wedding Veil With Your Wedding Dress

As every bride knows, choosing the right wedding dress can go a long way towards making a wedding day even more memorable. However, finding the right wedding dress is just the beginning of this important process. For many brides, the perfect wedding veil completes the look.

It is especially important to coordinate both the dress and the veil. The veil should always complement the dress, rather than steal attention from it. Your choice of a veil may also be influenced by other factors such as your overall build, the style and length of your dress, as well as the overall look you are trying to create. Even the style of your hair can influence the size and style of veil that works best.

When coordinating a wedding veil with a dress, it does not always have to be the same color, although there are some guidelines that should be followed. If your wedding dress is white or ivory, your veil should be the same color; for example a diamond white veil will match a silk or an antique wedding dress. And if you are wearing a dark ivory colored wedding dress, a champagne colored veil will complement it well. In general, to achieve the best effect, if your dress and veil are of different shades, the veil should always be at least a shade or two lighter than the dress.

Even though there are three basic lengths of wedding veils, make sure that you choose the length that best coordinates with your gown. An elbow length veil is about 30 inches long and will look good with most gowns; it will also help draw attention to any detail at the waist of the gown. A fingertip length veil is about 36 inches long and goes best with a full length gown without a train. And a cathedral length veil, which extends up to 4 feet beyond the edge of the dress, is the most formal type of veil ?perfect for an elegant and ceremonial look.

The length of your wedding gown is also an important consideration when trying to successfully coordinate the dress and the veil. Traditionally, the bride veil should not be any longer than the wedding dress and ideally, it should be quite a bit shorter ?the only exception to this rule is if you are wearing a dress with a train. Elbow length veils or fingertip veils are both considered to be safe and acceptable choices if you are wearing a floor length wedding dress. A petite bride should not wear a veil that will only make her look smaller, such as a high bouffant veil.

Although a veil should complement a wedding dress and not clash with it, there are some occasions when it is acceptable to break the rules a bit. If your wedding gown is simple and understated, it can create a striking effect by having a lavishly decorated veil. You should try to avoid a look that clashes too much ?a romantic style wedding dress that is decorated with lots of small pearls would not go well together with a wedding veil that evening dresses juniors is decorated with sequins, for example. Some brides choose to add a touch of color to their veil ?perhaps some colored embroidery ?to complement the colors in the bouquet, or the colors of the bridesmaids.

Just as a wedding dress can be altered, a veil can be altered too. In most cases, a wedding veil is altered in order to make sure that the dress and veil coordinate well. If you are wearing the veil that your mother wore when she walked down the aisle and are concerned that it is just a little old-fashioned, don be too alarmed ?it is easy enough to have it professionally altered. The length, trim and shade of the veil can all be easily and inexpensively altered to make sure that everything is long dress for wedding just the right match and has the desired effect. You also might want to try on several veils, to ensure that everything matches.

Birdcage veils, so-called because of the mesh modest semi formal dresses that covers the top part of the head, are fashionable at the moment and will match just about any style of dress. Some birdcage veils have a rather elegant and old-fashioned look to them and coordinate particularly well with a vintage or older style dress. These veils also have either a French net, which has more of a soft elegant look to it; or a Russian net which has a scalloped edge and is a little bit more modern and trendy.

Choosing the right veil is almost as important as choosing the right wedding dress. Take the time to make sure your veil and dress match ?it will help to make your special day that much more memorable.

Choosing A White Vs. An Ivory Wedding Dress

White wedding dresses are rife with symbolism: purity, virginity, what have you. Clearly today these symbols are less relevant in our society. Nevertheless, the white dress persists! Why? Is it that brides tend to glow in white? Is it that guests assume the bride will wear white therefore no other woman will wear it, rendering the bride a visible beacon amongst her guests? Maybe it's because many weddings tend to be in the summer and white looks so nice outdoors in the sunlight.

Whatever the reason, the vast majority of wedding dresses are still in shades of white and ivory. Some more intrepid brides have chosen other colors, such as a gold wedding dress or even pink!

Is White Your Color?

Despite white being the default choice in many brides' minds, not everyone can pull it off. White compliments very dark skin tones and the lightest skin tones best. Olive-skinned women should steer towards a richer color. If you have a tendency to tan in golden tones white will also look great on you. Brides with yellow undertones to their skin will look better in a diamond white rather than a gleaming white.

Considering Ivory

How do you know an ivory wedding dress is the right color for you? Can it be more than a "middle of the road" between pure white and champagne tones? Absolutely. To answer the first question, think of how pearls look against your skin. Have you always liked the effect? Don't think of the style of pearls, which might be too conservative for you: rather, think of the tone itself. Chances are you'll be saying a resounding "yes" if you have olive or creamy skin. Also in the resounding "yes" category: dark-skinned women, especially those with rich brown tones. In this case you may want to consider a rich ivory color, or a gold wedding dress. Creamy skin also looks nice in ivory, especially a paler shade of ivory.

If you have very fair skin you'll probably want to avoid ivory in favor of white. This way your dress will be lighter than your skin tone, which is the goal.

There are many shades of ivory with varying levels of color, and varying levels of yellow. If you're shopping for a dress in person, the best way to judge the color is against your skin, and preferably in daylight. If this is not possible in the store, ask for a fabric sample that you can take home. Shopping online? Take the time to request a fabric sample. It's well worth the minor cost if you're serious about the wedding dress in question. Not only for the color, but to judge the texture, shine and overall fabric quality.

Whatever your choice, make sure you don't compromise your fabric for the color you want. The knee length summer dresses fabric of your dress is incredibly important and needs to "stand on it's own". Don't be afraid to ask for a fabric sample to be really sure. This goes for a white dress too. Happy shopping!