Planning for your destination wedding at a resort in a warm and sunny tropical location comes with its own unique set of challenges. Finding a destination wedding gown that not only suites your personal style, but also that travels well, and works with the climate, and the setting of the wedding can indeed take time. You will want to start shopping for your wedding dress right away, but before buying a gown for your destination wedding, you might want to consider the following:
Don’t be rushed in choosing your gown. Grab your maid of honour, you sister, or your mother and start shopping. Look for a destination wedding dress in traditional, upscale department stores, bridal shops, online retailers such as BeachComberBride.com and eDressMe.com, or resorts such as Sandals Resorts which offer a full line of dresses for the bride, bridesmaids, and flower girl with all of the accessories. There are also several designers who specialize in destination wedding gowns including Jessical McClintock, Rina di Montella, Mon Cheri, The Dressy Group, Alfred Angelo, and Sophia Tolli.
While shopping, try on lots of dresses and take the time to make a decision. Ensure that the dress you choose makes you feel spectacular and beautiful. If not, leave it for someone else! You have dreamed about your wedding dress since you were a little girl. Be sure to choose one which lives up to your dreams and is best for you. You want the dress you chose to have the “wow” factor!
Determine the location first. Your dress should fit with the setting and not appear out of place. Destination wedding gowns can range from a very traditional full length wedding dress to a casual sarong. Destination wedding attire tends to be more casual and generally is much less formal and fussy than what you would wear to a traditional church wedding. However, a ballroom gown would not work on the beach, and wearing flip-flops would strike a wrong note if you get married in a castle. The setting, whether it is on the beach or in a beautiful garden, is lovely enough that you don’t have to detract from it by wearing heavy fabrics or lots of jewellery. If you are getting married on the beach, remember that the ocean breezes can cause a long cathedral veil to become unruly, and a long train will accumulate the sand.
Destination wedding dresses are usually made of simple construction with basic lines, not the lace, satin, and pearl creations of the top wedding designers. Stick with informal destination wedding gown styles that feel tropical or beachy such as lightweight, flowing dresses, slip-dresses, mermaid shapes, or even layers of wild ruffles. Wedding gowns can include spaghetti straps, capped sleeves, or a romantic and sexy off-the-shoulder look. If you are the traditional type of bride, you might want to wear the sleeveless gown with the floor-length skirt – just remember the hem is going to get dirty. Also realize that a dress right to the ground will not allow the air to flow under it which could make the dress very hot indeed on a humid, sultry day!
Choosing fabrics for a destination beach wedding dress. Opt for something that is light weight and that flows with the island breezes. Those of us who live in cold-weather climates tend to forget in January or February how hot and humid the Caribbean and Mexican climates can be. As a bride, you want to select a fabric so that you will be comfortable in your destination climate. If you are going to a steamy, tropical paradise, choose lightweight materials like airy silks that breathe, chiffon, organza, charmeuse, or crepe, and avoid heavy fabrics such as satin and brocade. Choose a dress that is cool and comfortable with fabrics that are light and wrinkle-resistant so that it is easy to pack for travelling. Try to find a fabric that is washable so there is no worry about sand and water affecting the look of the dress.
Fabrics to avoid in a destination wedding dress would be anything that stains easily or tends to be too heavy. Fabrics that wrinkle or pucker are also poor choices if it’s humid, as is heavy beading, which weighs a dress down. While a crinoline is pretty, it probably won’t travel well, nor feel good on your skin while standing in the warm Caribbean sun.
Cotton is cool and lightweight but is not generally used in traditional wedding dresses. However, it is used for embroidered, Mexican wedding dresses and tropical print sarongs and pareos.
If you want to do a “trash the dress” photo shoot pick a dress that is light and flowy.
Travelling with your dress. Before you buy you wedding gown, consider how you will get it to your destination and how well the fabric will bear up under travel. The longer the train, the more difficult it will be for transporting the dress. Carry your dress with you on the plane rather than checking it in your luggage. I suggest using a lightweight carryon bag that will hang in the first class garment bin. If this is not an option, place it close to you in the overhead carrier bin.
Be sure to check with the airline ahead of time to inform them that you will be carrying on your wedding attire. This notice is especially important if your dress is oversize. There may be an extra fee but you will be expecting it. Once you are on board the plane, ask the flight attendant to place your outfits in the closet in the first–class section Some airlines will insist that you put your dress in your luggage. Some fabrics such as linen, satin, and organza, wrinkle severely when packed. Call the hotel ahead of time and ask if they can press your gown on the morning of the wedding. Most hotels offer this service.
In addition to packing the dress and accessories, it is also important to carry a small sewing kits for loose beads and buttons. A portable steamer can help remove wrinkles that developed during packing and travelling.
Select a style of dress that flatters your body. While there are no set rules for what to wear at your destination wedding, a few styles are common. Regardless of what destination you choose, you need to select a style that flatters your figure. Dresses may be long or short, depending on your taste. Experiment with different hemlines. Cocktail-length gowns to skirts that are shorter in front and longer in back are popular choices that work beautifully when a wedding location is less formal.
Like the traditional wedding dresses, the most popular colours for destination weddings are light colours such as white, or off-white. For the bride who prefers colour, champagne , rose, or light slate gray are all nice, non-traditional choices suitable for a destination wedding.
Popular destination wedding dress designs include long, halter style dresses, the classic strapless gown, and those with low, cut-out backs. Make sure that the style you choose, whether it is a sheath, A-line, or Empire waist, plays up your assets and makes you feel gorgeous. The dress should be soft and fluid, not clingy, as well, as lightweight, and easy to pack. You are best with a dress made of fabric that fits and moves with your body. If you do select a strapless dress, buy yourself a strapless bathing suite to avoid tan lines.
What about footwear? When choosing footwear to wear at your wedding, the traditional satin, three inch pumps just won't work in the sand. There are numerous ideas for beautiful yet suitable footwear to accompany your island wedding dress. Lose the pantyhose. You could opt to go barefoot for your beach wedding but be sure to have a pedicure the day before the wedding. You could also choose simple, flat, one-strapped sandals, or dyed to match your dress flip-flops embellished with jewels or flower designs.
Comfort is the number one consideration when choosing your destination wedding dress. You want to look beautiful and appear “cool” as opposed to being red-faced from the heat on your wedding day! Considering practicality, style and reality before buying your destination wedding dress can help you succeed in having an enjoyable day and can help make your wedding day a dream come true!