Tag Archive for: wedding dress

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10 Tips for Finding the Perfect Veil For Your Wedding Dress

The bridal veil is a classic and iconic wedding accessory that can enhance your overall bridal look and add an extra touch of elegance and romance to your wedding attire. Finding the perfect veil to complement your dress is essential for achieving a harmonious and stunning bridal appearance.

As a wedding photographer, I felt I needed to share these 10 valuable tips to help you find the ideal veil to match your wedding gown and your personal style, ensuring you look and feel absolutely beautiful on your special day.

Finding the perfect veil to complement your dress

1. Consider Your Dress Style

The first step in selecting the perfect veil is to consider your dress style. The veil should complement the features and details of your gown. For example, if your dress has intricate lace or beading, a simple, sheer veil would be a great choice to avoid overwhelming your look. Conversely, if your gown is more minimalistic, you might opt for a more embellished or detailed veil to add a touch of sophistication.

Bride wearing veil during ceremony

2. Match the Length

The length of your veil should harmonize with your dress. Here are some common veil lengths and how they can work with different dress styles:

  • Cathedral Veil: This long, dramatic veil extends beyond the train of your gown, creating a regal and elegant look. It pairs well with formal, classic ballgowns.
Bride through veil in doorway
  • Chapel Veil: Slightly shorter than the cathedral veil, the chapel veil falls right to the floor, adding a sense of grandeur without being overwhelming. It’s suitable for various dress styles, especially A-line and fit-and-flare gowns.
Bridal veil flying around the couple
  • Fingertip Veil: This veil extends to your fingertips, making it versatile and flattering for most dress styles, from sheath to ballgown.
Bride playing with veil
  • Elbow-Length Veil: A shorter veil, ending at the elbow, adds a charming and vintage touch. It works well with tea-length or retro-inspired dresses.
Bride with veil on
  • Blusher Veil: A blusher veil covers your face and is often paired with more traditional, classic wedding dresses. It adds a sense of mystique to your bridal look.
Close up of bride under veil 2

3. Consider Your Hairstyle

The way you plan to style your hair on your wedding day can influence the type of veil you choose. If you’re going for an updo, you have the flexibility to wear a veil that attaches higher on your head, like a fingertip or chapel veil. For down hairstyles, a veil that attaches lower, such as a cathedral veil, may be more suitable.

Bridal veil flying in wind

4. Be Mindful of Your Face Shape

Your face shape can play a role in choosing the right veil. For those with an oval face shape, most veil styles tend to work well, giving you the flexibility to choose the one that complements your dress the best. If you have a round face, consider opting for a veil with some height or volume on top to help elongate your face. Here’s an example of a wide range of wedding dresses in Melbourne to complement different face shapes, making it easier for brides to discover the perfect gown that accentuates their unique features.

For heart-shaped faces, veils that narrow at the top can help balance your face shape, creating a harmonious look. If you have a square face, a softer, cascading veil can work to soften the angles and edges of your face, providing a more gentle and flattering appearance. On the other hand, individuals with long faces may benefit from a veil with some width, such as a blusher or a veil with a fuller crown, as it can add a sense of balance to their overall bridal look.

Groom leading bride up stars with veil flowing

5. Pay Attention to Veil Edging

The edging of the veil is a small detail but one that can make a big difference in how it complements your dress. Some common edging options include lace, satin, and raw (unadorned) edges. Consider what works best with the details on your gown. For instance, a lace-edged veil can beautifully match a lace wedding dress.

Mum putting in veil

6. Test the Veil with Your Dress

Once you’ve narrowed down your options, it’s essential to test the veil with your dress. Schedule a fitting or try-on session with your dress and potential veils to ensure they work together harmoniously. Take photos from various angles to see how they look together and make any necessary adjustments.

Mum helping put on bridal veil

7. Coordinate with Dress Color

If your wedding dress is not a traditional white or ivory, make sure your veil complements the dress color. Veils come in various shades, so choose one that matches the dress color precisely to avoid a mismatched look.

fun in the veil

8. Think About Your Theme and Venue

Consider the theme and venue of your wedding when selecting a veil. A beach wedding, for instance, might call for a shorter, more casual veil, while a formal church wedding could accommodate a longer and more elaborate veil. Think about the overall ambiance and style of your wedding when making your choice.

Darwin’s St Marys Cathedral wedding ceremony

9. Customize Your Veil

Don’t be afraid to customize your veil to make it uniquely yours. You can add personal touches like monograms, lace appliqués, or even have a custom veil made to match your dress perfectly. Customization allows you to create a veil that’s as special and unique as your love story.

Flying veil on rustic street

10. Seek Professional Advice

Finally, consult with professionals in bridal fashion. Bridal consultants, dress designers, and experienced veil makers can provide expert guidance on finding the perfect veil to complement your dress and achieve the desired bridal look.

flowing veil

Selecting the perfect veil to complement your wedding dress is a crucial aspect of your bridal ensemble. By considering your dress style, matching the length, coordinating with your hairstyle, and being mindful of your face shape, you can ensure that your veil enhances your overall look. Pay attention to the edging, test the veil with your dress, and think about your theme and venue to make an informed choice. Don’t forget to coordinate with your dress color and customize your veil if necessary.

Seeking professional advice can be immensely helpful in finding the perfect veil. With these tips, you’re well on your way to finding the perfect veil to complete your bridal look and make your wedding day even more memorable and beautiful.

 

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The best spot for your ‘trash the dress’ wedding photos

After the big day, brides are presented with a dilemma – what to do with their wedding dress? It’s a tough question; after all, this is probably the most expensive item of clothing you will ever own, but the chances are you are only going to wear it once! Some brides like to hang on to their dresses for sentimental reasons, or to pass it on to younger members of their family. However, there is a third, more dramatic, theatrical, and photogenic option – a ‘Trash the Dress’ photoshoot!

If you’ve not heard of the concept, ‘trashing the dress’ does pretty much exactly what it says. ‘Trashing the Dress’ photos are when the bride (and often the groom) get together for one final shoot after the wedding, and quite literally trash the dress. Whether it’s playing together in the surf at a beach wedding, slinging paint bombs at each other, or even getting wet and wild under a waterfall, trashing the dress is enormous fun, and makes for some spectacular wedding snaps.

Bride and groom walking in waters of Lake Louise

Trashing the dress often goes hand to hand with beach or outdoor weddings, as there’s a certain romance and drama in getting up close and personal with nature directly after your nuptials. So if your destination wedding this year involves taking a western Caribbean cruise or hiking up a mountain, why not consider a ‘trash the dress’ wedding photoshoot! Take a look at the following ideas and get inspired!

The best spot for your ‘trash the dress’

Standing in the surf

An absolute classic beach wedding shot, a photo with the couple standing in the surf as the waves roll in (ideally at sunset) is absolutely stunning. If you are going full on in your trash the dress shoot, you can wade in a little further, away from the sure, for extra drama.

Bride and groom on Maslins Beach

In a cloud of color

Smoke and paint bombs are an amazingly photogenic way to create a cloud of color, and shower your shots in joy and vibrancy. Normally used in the Hindu festival of Holi, paint bombs are non-toxic yet stunningly dramatic, surrounding bride and groom in a halo of gorgeous hues, and contrasting beautifully with the sheer white of your dress!

First dancing in smoke

Beneath the waves

If you are getting married by the sea, why not go one step further and get a few photos underneath the waves? Diving underwater and taking some careful, clever shots is an amazing way to create magical memories. The otherworldly vibe of the ocean floor creates an atmosphere that is hard to match, and once again the contrast between turquoise or deep marine blue of the water and the white of your dress makes for an amazing image.

pt willunga jetty wedding photo

Under a waterfall

If your wedding is outside in the great outdoors, in a forest, a National Park, or up a mountain, why not try and find the nearest cascade and create some truly memorable photos? It is hard to think of a more romantic image than a kiss between bride and groom under the raging torrent of a glittering waterfall, and you can really conjure up some passionate, poignant photos that will stay with you forever.

Waterfall wedding photographer Hobart

Covered in paint

While smoke and paint bombs are the fun, simple, and easy way to go, why not go full Jackson Pollock and cover each other with splashes of neon paint? For starters, it will give you an incredibly fun experience that might release some of the tension of the big day, plus it will create awesome, color-filled photos. What is a better canvas for your artistic skills than your bridal gown?

Stangate House wedding Light Painting
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How to save on your Wedding Dress

Bride and groom at sunset, nature backdrop, wedding day love.

How to save on your Wedding Dress

Are you an Adelaide bride-to-be dreaming of a stunning wedding dress without breaking the bank? You’re not alone! I recently documented a wedding where the bride astoundingly snagged her dress for just $50. It was far from a fashion disaster – instead, it was a gorgeous, well-crafted gown. What’s more, she bought three dresses at this price by taking advantage of a closing-down sale at a local bridal shop.

As a seasoned wedding photographer in Adelaide, I’ve witnessed numerous weddings and have gathered invaluable tips on how to save on your wedding dress without overspending.

Wedding dress hanging at Al-Ru Wedding

Tips on how to save on your Wedding Dress

 

1. Prioritize Local Shops Over Online Stores

While online shopping offers affordability and variety, the risks can be high. Imagine the disappointment of receiving a dress that’s completely different from what you ordered. By choosing local bridal shops, you support our community and avoid last-minute dress disasters and exorbitant shipping costs.

Expectations vs reality
Expectations vs reality

2. Know your price range before you shop

Buying a wedding dress is often a highly emotional affair, which vendors can pick up on and cause you to start spending over and above what you expected, or budgeted to pay. If you’re familiar with the TV show Family Guy (s10e21), there is a scene about this exact scenario. The dress was out of their budget, but the salesman talked them into buying it all the same because he picked up on the bride’s emotions. Try to only try on dressed that you know you can afford, do not get tempted by that more expensive dress as you know once you put it on you’ll have to cut back on more important things, like a few extra nights on your honeymoon.

Family Guy Wedding Dress

3. Check out ‘Trunk Shows’

Trunk shows are fantastic for viewing new bridal designs and snagging previous collections at a discount, sometimes up to 50% off. Adelaide frequently hosts bridal fairs at venues like the Adelaide Showground and the Convention Centre, offering prime opportunities for deals.

4. Get lucky with sales and changing stock

Many brides have found their dream dresses at a fraction of the cost by purchasing floor samples or taking advantage of sales. Adelaide bridal stores often reduce prices on these items, making it a perfect opportunity to find a high-quality gown at a lower price.

sale

5. Plan way ahead of your wedding

Planning months in advance of your wedding will save you money in a number of ways, first you know what you want, you have a reasonable budget and you can take your time choosing and hoping for that amazing bargain. Second if you leave it too late you may have to spring for huge express shipping fees just to make sure your gown is with you on time.

6. Use your credit card

When buying your dress, consider using a credit card that offers rewards, like frequent flyer points. This strategy can help extend your honeymoon or provide additional benefits for your wedding expenses.

Credit Cards

Understanding how to save on your wedding dress is key to achieving your dream wedding in Adelaide without overspending. By focusing on local shopping experiences, setting a realistic budget, taking advantage of trunk shows, scouting for sales and floor samples, planning ahead, and making smart use of credit card rewards, you can find a beautiful gown that meets both your style and budgetary needs.

Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to looking stunning on your big day while keeping your finances in check. Remember, a savvy approach to wedding dress shopping doesn’t just save money—it also paves the way for a more enjoyable and stress-free wedding planning experience.