Bridal Gowns in Orlando

One of the most important things that will help you find your perfect dress in Orlando is knowing what you want. Of course, included in knowing what you want is knowing what would look best on your body shape. Here are the four basic dress silhouettes and what body types look best with them.

Ball Gown (a fitted bodice and a very full skirt)

• Full figure

• Pear shape

• Thin

Empire (a slim skirt with a waist right below the bust)

• Petite

• Thin

• Pear shape

Princess (a dress with vertical seams and a flared skirt)

• Hourglass

• Full figure

• Petite

Sheath (a very slim, form-fitting dress)

• Thin

• Petite

• Hourglass

Once you have figured out what silhouette you want (based on what would look best), you will want to decide on other parts of the dress as well. Not only will you want to make a list of styles you do like, you will also need to make a list of styles you don't like. For example- likes: empire waist, flared sleeves, sheer overlay; dislikes: big skirts, lots of beading, long trains. Your lists can be as long or as short as you want, but remember, the longer the "like" list, the harder to find the perfect dress and the shorter the dislikes list, the harder to narrow down the search.

As soon as you have your "do's and don'ts" list, look at resources online, or bridal magazines to find dresses that match your criteria. The more research you do before you go shopping, the better. Try to only focus on two or three of your likes when picking out dresses so that the people at the bridal salon have something to work with (instead of set criteria that are unwavering).

When you finally do go shopping, make sure you bring your sample pictures and a trusted friend with you. The best thing to do is call around to a couple stores and make appointments (if necessary) and make sure you look at lots of different dresses before making a final decision. The salespeople at the bridal salon may suggest different styles that may look good on you. Unless these styles are in your "dislikes" list, try them on- you never know what you may fall in love with.

Just as with most purchases, brides usually do not buy the first dress they try on. Most brides try on between 5 and 25 dresses before finding the one they really love. If you are not completely satisfied with the way a dress looks on you, keep looking- it is not worth the disappointment of not thinking you look fabulous on your wedding day.

The most basic accessories are often the hardest to choose. There are so many different styles of shoes, veils, and slips that a bride can go crazy figuring out which ones to wear. Help is on the way. By simply following these steps you will be able to pick out these accessories free of stress.

While some Orlando brides choose not to wear a veil or slip- all brides wear shoes. Brides' shoes can range anywhere from flip-flops to platforms and from tennis shoes to pumps. Every bride has her own style, and her own dress style. Try to find shoes that will complement your wedding dress and wedding theme. If you are wearing a simple dress at a beach gathering, you may just choose white beaded flip-flops. If you are wearing a ball gown for a winter wedding, pumps will be your best bet. If you are wearing a long dress and are more interested in comfort than beauty, tennis shoes are becoming a growing trend. No matter what shoes you choose, make sure you are comfortable in them. There is nothing worse than getting blisters on your wedding day. Also, if you are a "flats" kind of girl- don't go for the stilettos, you're just risking falling on your face on the most important day of your life.

A veil is a very traditional part of the wedding outfit. Even if you think you don't want one, try one on to just see how you'd look. Many brides end up getting a veil even after deciding not to just because it flatters everyone. There are a couple of guidelines for matching face shape with veil styles, but if you love a certain style, don't be afraid to get it. Veils are so sheer and billowy, it will be hard for people to tell that it "doesn't look good". One important guideline to follow is matching the veil with the wedding style. If you are having a casual wedding, you will not want to go for the cathedral-length veil. Another guideline to keep in mind is to keep your veil simple if your dress is ornate. If you have a simple dress, the veil can be simple or embellished. Just make sure you don't over-do the designs.

Some brides choose to wear a slip under their dress for two main reasons: to increase the "pouf" of the skirt or to protect your legs from the annoyance of the dress seams. If you choose a slip to increase the fullness of your skirt, there are many different options out there. If you want a thinner look, or simply want to enhance a sewn-in slip, you should try a thin or medium slip which will add up to 4" of fullness. For a bigger look, try a full slip which can add up to 9" of fullness. To go all out, an extra full slip will add even more fullness, and a hoop slip (a slip with hoops at the bottom) will add the most fullness because it will keep its shape better than regular slips. If you are just using a slip for comfort, you may just want to buy a one-layer slip from a department store, or try a thin slip.

Once you get these basics taken care of, you'll be able to focus on more detailed accessories like jewelry and makeup. No matter what accessories you choose, make sure they coordinate not only with the wedding style, but also with your own personal style so that you can feel great on your big day.