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Wedding Gowns

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Go bold and take a feathered approach to your wedding dress.  This one’s definitely in the realm of the untraditional – for the bride who likes to stand out from the flock.

Artificial features are made from polyester materials, then printed to look like real feathers. What’s great about them is that they’re easy to clean and hold up well over time.

Whether you go long, short, ball gown, full-fledged, or with a simple feathery accent around the back or bust, the trick is to keep it soft and feminine. This is your wedding dress, not a costume, so don’t allow the trend to take over.

Here are some feathered fancies to inspire you

 

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White is the classic shade for a bride on her big day, but it’s not a set rule. Those who like to live life a little more boldly can opt for a fun pattern to brighten their bridal look.

Delicate floral prints are super popular in the wedding world. Add to the bottom of your skirt for a subtle look, or go big with an all-over pattern. Using a simple white base still offers that bridal look, with a lot more flair.

Here are some pretty patterns to inspire you:

 

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From Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn to Elizabeth Taylor, we have been blessed with beauty and fashion icons who have endured over the ages, cementing themselves in the cultural landscape. Beyond their incredible talent and poise, they have created eternal trends when they walked down the aisle.

We often turn to celebrities for inspiration in life, whether it be in your career, fashion, or just general advice. Take inspiration from these iconic brides who revolutionised the wedding dress.

Lace like Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly’s Victorian-inspired gown was made of 125-year-old Brussels lace, taffeta, and thousands of hand-sewn pearls. The skirt was made of ivory faille and featured three petticoats: a smoothing petticoat, a ruffled petticoat and a foundation petticoat. Underneath the dress was the skirt support, the under bodice and the lace bodice with a slip. The gown itself was made of 100 yards (91 metres) of silk net, and the veil was 90 yards (82 metres). To keep the veil in place, Kelly opted for a Juliet cap decorated with lace, orange blossoms and seed pearls instead of a tiara. 30 seamstresses worked for 6 weeks to complete the look.

Classic and feminine, lace is a pretty versatile option – choose a finer lace with a high neckline for a Victorian feel, or go bold and boho with exaggerated patterns and a plunging neckline. Paired with a sleeved style, it is current and flattering to most figures. The pattern or texture of your veil doesn’t have to match your dress – so dare to be different!

Short like Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn

For her first marriage to actor, stage and film director Mel Ferrer, Hepburn stunned in a Balmain-designed tea-length flared dress with a satin sash, a high neckline and balloon sleeves that she accessorised with elbow-length gloves. The pair married in Burgenstock, Switzerland in an intimate ceremony on September 25, 1954.

Short dresses have become an increasingly popular trend, especially now that minimonies are the in-thing amid the pandemic. From mod minis to whimsical lace, it’s time to flaunt your legs. What’s more, this style is the perfect way to show off those heels! A below-the-knee dress is perfect for a summer or spring wedding.

Off-the-shoulder like Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Jackie Kennedy

For her big day, the future First Lady was a vision in a buffant ivory silk-taffeta off-the-shoulder gown, which has gone down in history as one of the most iconic wedding dresses.

Off-the-shoulder is the perfect balance between sexy and sophisticated. For the modern bride, a boat neck will add a graphic element, while soft or sheer fabric draping down your arms will create a fanciful look for a more romantic feel. For brides with wider hips, a cinched waist and scooped neckline will balance out your hips and accentuate your waist. More gamine brides should opt for boat-neck styles in soft, delicate fabrics, as this will lend a feminine touch to your naturally athletic body.

Colour like Elizabeth Taylor

Always the bride, it seems film star Elizabeth Taylor grew tired of wearing white on her big day. For her fourth wedding, this time to actor Eddie Fischer, she stunned in a green silk dress with a hood and long sleeves. For her fifth walk down the aisle, Taylor wore a canary-yellow chiffon gown and stunning floral headdress to marry Richard Burton. She embraced the 70s aesthetic in a unique tie-dye dress when she said I Do to Burton once again after the pair divorced in 1974.

For those who want something a little different, your moment has arrived: from a smattering of bright flowers or a lace overlay, all the way to a coloured gown. Subtle shades or blush, nudes and silvers are perfect for those looking for just a touch of colour, while the daring can go for solid brights or ombré in darker tones. For a hint of colour, a subtle ombré skirt in nude is your answer.

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Your engagement ring doesn’t need to be the only thing sparkling on your big day. If you subscribe to the ‘more is more’ belief, then your wedding is the perfect day to show that off.

From glitter to beadwork, Swarovski crystals to diamanté, you have so many ways to elevate your wedding dress. The key with this trend is to opt for a simpler silhouette so that you don’t overwhelm your look. Some well-placed applique goes a long way in taking you from drab to fab.

Here are some shining, shimmering, splendid bridal looks we are loving:

 

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Make a bold statement with a tulle wedding dress. Known as the modern-day ‘frothy dress’, this fabric creates a fairytale-like design, encouraging the bride to feel like a little girl playing dress-up.

Tulle has been a popular fabric for bridal gowns for decades now, and it’s easy to see why. Its versatility is its best asset. It can be chic and glamorous or soft and girly depending on how you style it. Take a look at just a few of the variation we are loving:

 

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On your wedding day, it’s important to feel comfortable and stay true to yourself. Many brides may opt to up the sexy factor but if that does not feel authentic to you, don’t worry about it.

Dressing modestly does not have to be boring. You can still make a stylish statement while covering your cleavage, legs and arms if that is what makes you feel most comfortable. The important aspect then comes in the design of your wedding dress.

Lace, embellishments and beadwork do wonders for bringing life to an otherwise simple silhouette. If you’re not one for sparkle, opt for a more modern cut like a cape that will still cover your arms while giving you a fashionable edge at the same time. A super-long train and subtle corset detailing are also subtle ways to add a unique touch to your look.

Here are some stunning brides who rocked modest bridal fashion on their big day:

 

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An unidentified woman in the US is working hard to sell a vintage wedding dress she found in an abandoned old gold rush town while hiking.

Since returning home with the dress, she claims strange things have been happening to her. The bride is now trying to sell her dress on Facebook Market place for $600 (about R8 900).

In the Facebook advert for her dress, the bride explains that the minute she returned home with the dress, everything changed.

“While my fiancé and I were hiking through a small town between Fairfax and Carbanado, Washington, we came across an old gold rush town that was completely abandoned,” she wrote. “Needless to say our curiosity got the best of us and we started to explore the ruins of this ghost town. In one of the rundown remnants of a small cottage we shimmied up into, I came across this dress.

“It was so gorgeous, I froze at the sight of it. And if I’m being completely honest, it scared the crap out of me all at the same time, but something about its ethereal beauty just begged me to bring it home with me.”

“First small things like a sock, and my closet door being open in the morning when I specifically remember closing it before bed. Then my cat’s food tray would get thrown at such velocity it would knock things off of the shelf hung on the wall it strikes. This happened relentlessly.”

Doors would slam, lights would turn on and off, and the couple heard footsteps all over their apartment. If that wasn’t bad enough, their home also began to smell.

“And then came the smell of rotten eggs and fire that would fill our bedroom. Night after night. Then flies started to pile up against my back windows and swarm around my front door.”

Life began to calm down after the woman gave the dress to her future mother-in-law for cleaning and tailoring.

“During the two months that she had the dress it was complete peace, no more tension in the room, no more arguing between me and my partner, no more objects moving or footsteps and my cat was back to her affectionate playful self,” she said.

“She never got it dry-cleaned and begged me not to get married in this dress because of the energy surrounding it and I hadn’t even told her about what was going on at home because up until that point, I hadn’t even connected the two.”

The bride is now keen to find a new owner for the cursed dress. However, her Facebook post did not get the reaction she was expecting. Many accused her of stealing the dress, and said she deserved to be haunted for taking something that did not belong to her.

Others said instead of selling and making a profit off of it, she should return the dress wear she found it to hopefully break the curse.

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Finding your dream dress is always a special moment, but when it’s out off your price range that dream turns into a nightmare. Luckily, this bride was able to get her gown thanks to an unlikely celebrity source.

A woman went on social media and posted about an A-line dress from David’s Bridal with floral details and removable neckline sleeves that she fell in love with, but also mentioned that she could not afford it.

“I’m getting married in March and trying to move home,” Twitter user Ireanna wrote. “Excited but overwhelmed. I saved some money, but it’s still a struggle. I found the dress of my dreams and want to have it so badly, but come in saving for the move, I don’t think it will be possible.”

She then asked her followers to consider donating to her Cash app to help make her dream come true. Out of the people that the tweet reached, Missy Elliot responded with: “Congratulations early on. God bless you both with an unbreakable Union full of love and happiness”.

Ireanna was overjoyed about Missy’s response and invited the star to her wedding. Missy responded by telling her that she has paid for her dress.

 

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It seems that the iconic singer has a heart for charity as another Twitter user commented that Missy has paid for her dog’s surgery.

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There is no rule that says you can’t look sexy on your big day. Bold brides are encouraged to show some skin with a daring dress that oozes sex appeal.

Show off your favourite assets in a sexy wedding gown. From a plunging neckline to an open back or thigh-high slit, you can achieve this look in multiple ways.

Here are a few slinky numbers we are loving:

 

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Etsy has announced the winners of its second Etsy Design Awards, and a wedding dress has made it on their list of favourites.

The Etsies is a global design competition in which people from around the world can submit their creations for categories from home and art to fashion, kids and pets.

Winners of the Etsies are chosen with the help of two star judges. This year, actress Drew Barrymore and NBC’s Making It judge and Etsy Trend Expert, Dayna Isom Johnson were part of the panel.

The competition has 12 categories, including a wedding category. This year, Lithuania-based designer Inge Stalyte took home top honours for her celestial-inspired wedding dress.

The tulle gown is adorned with silver and gold stars, and features a cascading cape.

 

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“Inge Stalyte’s intricate, celestial bridal gown is full of sparkling silver and gold sequin stars, carefully sewn into satin and tulle. Her collection of free-spirited, bespoke bridal pieces are completely made-to-measure, with a focus on comfort and inclusive sizing,” Etsy explains.

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