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Wedding Dress Guide for Petite Women



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Do's and Don'ts on Your Search for the Dream Dress


Petite women often have a hard time finding the perfect-fitting dresses and formalwear. From full length gowns to short cocktail dresses, there's a fine balance between getting the length right and a fit that works on the smaller or shorter frame. Petite women usually have difficulty finding pants and skirts with the same obstacles; either lengths are too long, or the waists are too wide. Slim cuts that don't accommodate for short waists won't help the petite figure, and it's essential that the dress or other formalwear fits perfectly. Hiring a tailor is a great idea, even for bridesmaid dresses or other guests; tailors can hem, sew, nip, and tuck almost any piece to ensure that it fits like it was made for the beautiful bride, bridesmaid, or guest exclusively!

To begin your quest of the ideal wedding dress if you're a petite woman, it's important to take a look at current trends that will enhance, not emphasize, figure flaws. Petite women often have short waists and long legs; as a result, close-fitting bodice styles are ideal as long as they are the right size. Here are some additional tips and guidelines when selecting your wedding dress:

• If you have a larger bust and a small waist, don't pick halter neckline styles. These enhance the upper body area significantly, especially if they're decked out in bads or pearls. Choose light straps or completely strapless dresses for the ideal fit.

• If you have a curvy figure, select a Column style dress that wraps in front. It will draw attention to your best features, and the longer, draping length will add some inches; even without the heels!

• Don't choose a corset + skirt ensemble. These styles tend to cut your figure in half, and most short waists need to be lengthened, not enhanced even further!

• If you like your hips, a great option for you is the bias cut style. This sits naturally at your waistline, and helps to emphasize your curves in just the right places. For a dramatic addition, get this dress with a medium-sized train for a show stopper!

• Choose an A-line cut for the ultimate 'princess' look. As long as you get the right size for the bodice, this dress naturally mushrooms out below your waist giving you a complete fairytale image.

• An empire line dress is ideal for petite figures, since it draws attention upward and makes you look taller. Thin spaghetti straps are ideal for this cut and style, and will flatter those toned arms.

• Pick a scooped neckline to draw attention to the bust area. Many petite women can enhance this area successfully just by selecting the most flattering neckline. If you have a shorter neck, choose a boatneck style to enhance your shoulders and clavicle. If you have a longer neck, pick v-neck or square cut styles that dip.

Some top designers that offer customized styles for petite women include Carmen Marc Valvo, Jessica McClintock, and Marina Couture. It's a good idea to look at a variety of bridal magazines for inspiration and cutting and pasting together your likes and dislikes will help you find your dream dress!
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Weddings: Etiquette and Customs






(CL) - Wedding ceremonies may be civil or religious rites. The civil rite generally implies a simpler event, while the religious rite is governed by more traditional rules.

Precise traditions exist regarding the sharing of expenses. Of course, if Cinderella marries a member of the Rockefeller clan (or vice versa), the Rockefellers will no doubt undertake the higher share (if not the entire share) of expenses.

Bride's family expenses: The brides' family is responsible for paying for the wedding invitations, the bride's trousseau and dress, reception and ceremony expenses, the guest party favors, and the automobile and chauffeur (which does not necessarily need to be an expensive limousine service. he may just be an uncle driving his fancy car). If the wedding ceremony is a religious rite, the bride's family's expenses will also include church flowers and decorations, music, bridesmaid and flower girl dresses, ring bearer suits, and the fee for the minister or officiant of the ceremony.

Groom's family expenses: The groom's family is responsible for paying for the rings, the bride's bouquet, the honeymoon, and the future house furnishings.

Wedding invitations: Wedding invitations should be sent approximately one month before the wedding. The bride and groom, with their respective families, should prepare the guest list. In general, the standard layout is as follows: on the left the bride's parents announce their daughter's wedding, while on the right the groom's parents announce their son's wedding. In addition, envelopes should be handwritten.

If the bride and groom are not that young, they can announce their wedding themselves.

Ceremony: The groom's family sits to the right, and the bride's family to the left. Friends may sit wherever they like. The groom should arrive at least 20 minutes before the ceremony begins, and should await the arrival of his bride next to the officiant (minister, justice of the peace, etc.). The groom's attendants stand to the left, and the bride's attendants stand to the right. The bride arrives accompanied by her father and sits to the groom's right.

What the bride and groom should wear: If the wedding ceremony takes place in a church, tradition demands that the bride be dressed in white and the groom in a classic tight. If the ceremony is not formal, he may wear a dark suit. If the groom is in the military, he may wear his uniform. The bride may choose a romantic, practical, or sophisticated style, but whatever the style, if she does not wear a veil, she must at least have an elegant hairstyle, with flowers or some other sort of special embellishment.

What the guests should wear: Men should ware a dark suit. Women should wear something according to the season, either a fine dress or an elegant tailleur. There are no specific rules regarding guest attire. The best advice is to stay within the bounds of good taste and common sense. Of course, female guests should avoid wearing white in order not to compete with the traditional bride. Hats are allowed, but it is advisable not to overdo jewelry (in other words, you do not want to look like a Christmas tree). In addition, it is best to avoid provocative cleavage, even if the wedding is held in the afternoon.

Reception: A wedding reception celebrated in a country house after a ceremony held in the town's church is charming and romantic, but not always possible. In general, the reception takes place in a hotel reception room or at a restaurant. The reception can also take place at the bride's home if it can accommodate all the guests. Depending on the hour of the reception, breakfast or lunch should be offered. These days, the breakfast-lunch combination-or brunch-is also very trendy. Afternoon and evening weddings are generally more formal and are followed by receptions held at more elegant venues, with a sophisticated menu. Food selection is purely subjective. But regardless of the wedding hour or style, the champagne and the wedding cake should not be left out.

Unforeseen events: It sometimes happens that, after sending out all the invitations, the bride and groom decide not to get married after all or decide to change the date of the ceremony. In either event, if the invitation has been sent only to a few close friends, they may be notified by phone. The mother or a friend can be very helpful with this task. If, however, the guest list is extensive, a note or an e-mail message should be sent immediately. If the wedding is cancelled indefinitely, any gifts already received should be immediately returned to the guests. However, the bride and groom are not obliged to give an explanation for their decision or to justify their actions. People's fantasy will take care of looking for a reason.



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