September 2020 - Viero Bridal

Wedding Dress Ideas for an Outdoor Wedding

Outdoor weddings are growing in popularity, and they are the perfect way to celebrate your nuptials in a natural and unique environment. No longer limited to tea party weddings, outdoor wedding styles vary from ethereal and whimsical to avant-garde and modern, and all points in-between.

Outdoor weddings have changed. The once-standard outdoor ceremony and indoor reception have evolved to couples celebrating the entire wedding outdoors. From getting married on the beach to partying in a vineyard, outdoor weddings provide a beautiful space to celebrate your love with an ideal scenic backdrop for photos.

Once you have decided to celebrate your wedding in the great outdoors, it’s time to dive into the fun part—picking your dress!

Choose a style and theme for your wedding and then check out this list of the best wedding dress ideas to match your outdoor wedding.

Colored gowns

For your outside of the box outdoor wedding, you can further the theme by choosing a colored gown.

Why not match your wedding dress for the season? A beautiful blush dress for a spring wedding would be light and airy, paired with flowers in the same shades of blush, creams, and champagne. A fall wedding may call for a deep, rich color or nude-colored gown. For a summer wedding, modern brides are choosing mint green, baby blue, and emerald green.

Some cultures believe that red symbolizes purity or good luck. Wearing a red dress will guarantee that you stand out against any background, and look great while doing it.

Regardless of the season or the reason, you may choose to wear your favorite color just because. Outdoor weddings are fun and breezy, so why not wear something that makes you feel great?

Short dresses

Shorter dresses are increasing in popularity each year. There are styles for pretty much any bride looking to wear a short gown, ranging from modern and sophisticated to earthy and bohemian (or boho).

Short dresses are great for almost any venue, from afternoon brunch weddings to celebrating in your backyard. They are versatile and perfect for showing off a great set of gams.

If your wedding is going to be celebrated mostly on grass, at the beach, or any organic ground surface, you may want to avoid a dress that is ballroom length. Luckily, there are beautiful wedding gowns of varying lengths for you to explore.

You may opt for a tea-length gown if you are wanting something beautiful with a nod to nostalgia. Tea-length gowns are a little less casual than the traditional shorter length gown, but even the shorter lengths are becoming less casual and more sophisticated and cool.

Bohemian gown

A dreamy barnyard wedding or cool lakeside gathering calls for a dreamy boho wedding dress. Of course, any wedding venue can suit a bohemian dress if you style the surroundings to fit the motif.

Bohemian dresses usually have a simple shape but feature unique details like bishop sleeves, lace, and beading. You may choose a form-fitting dress to highlight your silhouette, or wear a sheath or something with an empire waist.

Color-wise, with Bohemian dresses, you will want to stick to neutrals, like ivory and white, nude, or champagne. However, if you prefer a different colored dress, choose what you think is beautiful.

Decorating for a wedding with a boho vibe centers on flower and greenery, with earth tones here and there. The bohemian wedding style is personal to you, and though it is traditionally mason jar bouquets and hay bales, decorating for a bohemian wedding is essentially highlighting the beauty of the outdoors in neutral colors.

Anything goes with boho, as long as it is ethereal.

Strapless

Strapless wedding dresses are perfect for any type of wedding.

In the heat, strapless wedding dresses will keep you looking elegant and timeless and feeling cool. Strapless dresses will highlight your décolleté, and look lovely with any hairstyle, including an updo—all ways to beat the heat without sacrificing elegance.

Strapless dresses are versatile and as the weather gets cooler, you may wish to add a stole or some other type of shoulder covering.

Backless gown

This style is very on-trend and can be worn in any season, as we have seen backless dresses in both sleeved and sleeveless styles.

Backless gowns are dramatic and sexy. Features can include intricate beadwork, buttons, and exquisite lace.

If you decide on a backless gown for your outdoor wedding, you will want to wear your hair in a style that showcases your back as a feature.

Your own unique style

When choosing your wedding dress, choose what feels right on your body. You will want a dress that makes you look incredible while also helping you feel comfortable while walking down the aisle and dancing the night away.

If you are looking for ideas for your outdoor wedding dress, Viero Bridal has what you need. Whether you are looking for affordable wedding dresses in Chicago or want to visit all of the best bridal shops in Las Vegas, we have enough options for even the most discerning bride.

Visit one of our flagship stores in Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, and Los Angeles, or browse our designs online. Once you find something you like, contact us to book your first appointment.

Tips for Storing and Preserving Your Wedding Gown

We don’t need to tell you that your wedding gown is an investment, and we will bet that your wedding dress was one of the most expensive and important items that you have ever purchased. After you purchase and pick up your dream dress, you will need to store it properly to ensure that it remains perfect until the wedding day.

Or, what if you want to revisit the dress long after your special day is over? Surely you don’t want a crumpled mess of fabric!

Brides often decide to repurpose their wedding gown in a number of ways, such as a redesign, staging of a “trash the dress” photoshoot, or simply holding on to it with the hopes of passing it on to a child or grandchild.

And what’s more is that today’s brides may have to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic. The perfect wedding dress may arrive on time but brides are forced to postpone their wedding ceremony for an indefinite amount of time, so properly storing your wedding dress is essential.

No matter the reason for storing your wedding dress, you’ll want to do it right!

Here are our top tips for properly storing and preserving your wedding gown:

1. Budget to have your dress preserved

As you know, the dress shopping experience requires a budget. Whether you’re in the midwest looking for affordable wedding dresses in Chicago or have decided on a splashy tour of the best bridal shops in Las Vegas, a budget is essential.

But, have you saved room in that budget for preserving your dress? Make room by adding an additional $200-$1000 for keeping your gown pristine.

2. Take care of your dress before your wedding day

If you have your dress well before the wedding date or are really serious about preserving your wedding dress long term, take extra measures to care for your dress before you even wear it!

Always transport your wedding dress in a garment bag, usually provided by your bridal boutique. Avoid dragging your wedding dress when it is out of the garment bag.
While spills caused by others can be hard to avoid, prior to and during your wedding, take great care to avoid food spills, drink spills, and any flowers in your bouquet that may lead to staining.
When sitting for hair and makeup applications, wear something other than your wedding dress so that any spilling or dropping of makeup or hair products do not touch your dress.

3. Take care of your dress after your wedding

Once the wedding festivities are over, it may be tempting to just flop onto a bed in exhaustion.

But, proper wedding dress storage starts right away.

When changing out of your dress, be sure to hang it properly or lay it on a flat surface like a large table.

The morning after your wedding, (or the night of if you aren’t too tired!) place your wedding dress in your garment bag for safe transportation. This will keep it free of dust and debris until you are ready to have your gown professionally cleaned and preserved.

4. Do not take your wedding dress for standard dry cleaning

It may seem logical that a dry cleaner could provide the proper cleaning for your gown but this is not really the case. It is best to take your dress to a specialist that can assess the fabric, stitching, and overall composition of your garment to ensure that the right cleaning method is used.

You may have noticed that some dry cleaners do provide a wedding dress cleaning service, but it is important to understand the process that is used prior to trusting them with your wedding gown.

A cleaner should ensure the following:

Cleaning is done with a pure solvent rather than a recycled solvent that might stain a gown, leaving it looking greyed, grimy, and smelling foul
No damage to the dress will occur in the process of cleaning, and full responsibility is taken by the cleaner to provide full replacement cost should anything happen during the cleaning or preservation process
They will look for and treat invisible stains that can become visible with time and heat. Things like drips and drops from a dessert or white wine contain sugar that can become yellow or brown stains as time goes by
A guaranteed time that your dress will remain preserved in optimal conditions

5. Maintain the preservation method carefully

Keeping your wedding dress in a garment bag is a cheaper option for storage, but it will not ensure that your wedding dress is free from the effects of aging. Proper preservation can protect from these effects.

There are three common options for preserving your wedding dress:

Sealed: If you choose a company to preserve your wedding dress, you will want to ensure that the company uses a preservation box. The box will be completely sealed, with oxygen removed and replaced with nitrogen. This process will prevent aging due to oxidation.
Bag: Your dress will be preserved hanging on a padded hanger, with reinforcements from twill tape to prevent sagging in the hung areas, and placed in a cotton bag.
Boxed: Similar to the sealing method, your dress will be placed in an acid-free box, with acid-free, colorless tissue paper used while folding to discourage permanent creases in the dress. The box is not sealed, so it can be opened at will.

6.Store your dress

After your dress has been cleaned and preserved, choosing a good spot to store it is essential to protecting your investment.

For best results, store your wedding gown in a dark, cool place away from direct sunlight. This will keep your dress from yellowing, and protect it for years to come. Avoid storing the dress in a basement or attic that might be susceptible to common elemental disasters and water damage.

It is never too late to preserve your dress

If you don’t have a preservation plan in place immediately following your wedding, it’s understandable. You’re happy and blissed out and ready to settle into life with your love.

If this is your reality and you just never really got around to preserving your dress, it doesn’t hurt to take your gown to a wedding cleaning specialist to ask about preservation.

Your dress has some stains or some aging spots and it may be more costly to remove them, but a reputable cleaning company will let you know if it is possible.

If you have questions about which cleaning companies are reputable when it comes to gown preservation, ask your wedding consultant or someone from the bridal boutique when you are dress shopping or even after you have made your purchase. The best wedding gown boutiques will have a list of companies that they recommend and with whom they frequently work.

Let Viero Bridal help you choose your wedding gown and answer all of your questions related to dresses, style trends, fit, and preservation. We have flagship boutiques located in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, each providing exceptional service and affordable couture gowns for every bride.

Wedding Dress Shopping: What to Do and When

Wedding dress shopping is one of the most exciting parts of planning a wedding! However, shopping for a wedding dress is not like shopping for any other type of clothing. Without proper consideration and strategizing, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed and stressed by the process.

You may be a bride with a clear aesthetic in mfind, or you may be a bride that has no idea where to even start. The struggle is real, and factor in potential COVID-19 delays and it all becomes that much more complicated.

To help demystify the process and ensure that you have enough time to find the style and fit of your dreams, we’ve put together this dress shopping guide.

This guide will cover everything from your very first bridal shop appointment to the final fitting and pick up.

Here is everything you need to be prepared for purchasing your dream dress and having a stress-free wedding day!

1. A year from your wedding date

The first item on your wedding agenda should be setting your budget.

A budget allows you to see how much money you can spend on each item. This means planning out costs associated with your dress, the guest list, meals, entertainment, and venue. When calculating the dress portion of your budget, do not forget to include or leave room for accessories, shoes, jewelry, taxes, multiple alterations, and shipping costs if needed.

Once you set your budget, you can begin to think about the theme and style of your wedding which will influence your dress choices. For example, if you are planning a boho wedding, a glamorous princess-style gown will look out of place.

While it isn’t necessary to have an exact dress in mind, it is a good idea to have a general idea of what you are looking for. Look at Pinterest, bridal magazines, celebrity weddings, and dress designer websites for inspiration.

When looking for inspiration, try to keep an open mind. Your bridal consultant may have some suggestions that you didn’t expect. Trust their experience and trust the process. At the very least, try on the dress! You may be pleasantly surprised.

Book your appointment

Typically, we recommend booking your appointment 10 to 12 months before your wedding. But, COVID-19 has lead to occasional shipping delays and other obstacles so you might consider booking even earlier.

The last thing you need to stress over is a wedding dress that has yet to arrive, so give yourself plenty of time for shipping and alterations. Call the bridal boutique you are considering to find out what types of delays they have been experiencing.

Unless you fit into the store sample sizes, your dress will be specially ordered for you. Once it arrives at the boutique, which can take anywhere from four to nine months, you will need to book an appointment for alterations. Most bridal salons have an in-house tailor that will help or they will be able to suggest a tailor to you.

A custom-designed wedding gown

Having a custom wedding gown can be a dream come true. But a custom gown requires a very specific vision and a lot of patience.

If you choose a custom design, know that it will take longer to get your gown so do not panic. Trust the designer and you will get the payoff you are looking for.

Choose your entourage

Your shopping companions can either make the shopping experience more enjoyable or add to the stress. Avoid making things more complicated by inviting only friends, family, and bridal party members that are honest but supportive.

Again, COVID-19 might mess with your plans. Call ahead and ask the bridal boutique what safety measures they are taking and whether or not they are limiting the number of people that can attend the appointment.

If numbers are limited to you and one other person, consider inviting the rest of the entourage to join you virtually. Collecting different opinions can be valuable so don’t give up on gathering them just because you can’t meet in person! Depending on the distancing measures in place where you live, consider hosting an outdoor brunch or cocktail party with those that were unable to attend the appointment. There are many ways you can still enjoy and celebrate this experience with your entourage!

2. Eight to ten months from your wedding date

If you haven’t purchased your dress yet, you should be doing so at this time. Once you order the gown, you are responsible for the deposit, which is typically over half the full dress price. If for some reason, you require a rush order, you may have to pay additional rush fees.

Now the waiting period begins. Once the dress arrives, you can make arrangements for alterations to the dress.

Remember, order the size for the body you have. Even if you plan to do lose weight or tone up, your wedding gown should be chosen for the way you look now. Dresses can always be taken in to accommodate moderate weight loss. But, when you order a smaller size, you risk not having a proper fit on your special day. Letting out a dress is much more difficult than taking one in.

3. Five to six months from your wedding date

Now is the time to start thinking about what you are going to wear with your wedding dress.

If you are planning to borrow some jewelry from a friend or family member, start trying these items on. Working your way through these smaller planning tasks will help you feel calm and organized as the day approaches.

Choose your undergarments

You are going to want to wear undergarments that suit the style of dress you have chosen.

Dark colors or patterned embellishments may be visible through the dress and serve a distraction. You will want undergarments that fit comfortably and do not produce visible lines. This is especially important when selecting a bra if needed.

If you are wearing a wedding gown that requires a strapless bra, try a variety and wear them for extended periods. Find one that is most comfortable and flattering. Avoid anything that tends to fold or roll, and anything too tight across your back. Remember, you want to be comfortable when walking down the aisle, eating, visiting, and dancing!

Your wedding dress is a significant investment and your undergarments should not get in the way of your picture-perfect beauty.

Find a pair of shoes

Perhaps you want to add a pop of bright color to your look or rock a pair of sky-high heels. Maybe your style is a little more casual and you’re thinking a kitten heel, wedge, or fancy flat.

Whatever shoe you choose, wear them before your wedding so you know that you won’t be in excruciating pain all day long. If you simply cannot pass for the stylish or cute heel, have a more comfortable pair on hand to slip into after the pictures are taken!

Select your jewelry and hair accessories

Do you want to wear a veil? Does your dress need a jeweled belt? These things should be decided around this time.

Have these items ready to try on with your dress when it arrives at the boutique. If you are not entirely sure what will work with your dress style, have the bridal consultants lend a hand. Most bridal shops have a variety of options on hand to try with your dress.

Once you have determined your hair accessories, you can decide on your other jewelry or vice versa.

Remember to consider the style of your wedding, the neckline of your gown, and the hairstyle you will choose for your wedding when choosing your accessories.

4. Three to four months from your wedding date

At this time, you will want to book your first wedding gown fitting.

For your gown fitting appointments, you will want to ensure that you bring your undergarments and shoes with you. This is important so that the tailor will see what length your gown should be and you can determine if your undergarments are appropriate for your dress choice.

At the first fitting, you may decide that you want to alter the look of your gown. Adding sleeves or changing the neckline are items that are frequently requested by brides at this first fitting.

You will want to find out what your bridal salon charges for alterations, as some may charge for each individual alteration. If you need major alterations, you can expect a hefty price tag due to the delicate nature of the fabrics. Simple alterations (such as a hem alternation) may cost $200-300.

If you have yet to choose your shoes, bring some shoes of similar height you plan to wear so that your gown is hemmed or let out to the correct length.

5. Six weeks to two months from your wedding date

At this point, your wedding is close enough for your second dress fitting.

The second dress fitting is to ensure that your dress fits like a glove. You will want to sit down in your gown, lift your arms over your head, and generally move around to get an idea of how it will move. You want to also look for any pulls, bunching, or areas that do not sit correctly on your body.

It is very important to be honest with your tailor about how you feel in your gown. Remember that you will be performing a variety of different activities during your wedding day. You want to be as comfortable sitting and eating as you are dancing and welcoming your guests.

6.One month before your wedding

Your wedding day will be here before you know it, and following this timeline has left you with only a few final items to cross off your checklist.

Book your final fitting

This fitting is designed for you to see how your gown is going to look on your wedding day. You will not need an entourage for this trip to the tailor, but consider bringing one special person to share the moment with you. It can be a profound experience!

Pick up your dress

Once your fittings are complete, your dress will be ready to be picked up. Store your dress in a safe spot, away from pets, children, and any other dangers, so that there are no surprises on the day of your wedding.

7. The day before your wedding

This is the best day to gather all of the things you will need for your wedding day. Pack a bag with some essentials: deodorant, lipstick or gloss for touch-ups, bobby pins, hair spray, mouthwash, bandages, and kleenex, and on the day, give these items to a trusted friend or your maid of honor for safekeeping.

You will want to gather your jewelry, shoes, and accessories to be brought wherever you are getting dressed.

You may want to borrow or buy a steamer to ensure that your dress is free of wrinkles.

An evolving timeline

Rarely does life go perfectly according to plan and because of this, you need to be a little bit flexible with your timeline. Give yourself as much room as you can!

Using the above guide to create a timeline can help move your preparations forward and help create a smooth wedding planning process.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, you may find your timelines need to be especially flexible. Remember, you are not alone. Whether you are looking for couture wedding gowns in Chicago or visiting all the best bridal shops in Las Vegas, you will find compassionate and supportive consultants that can help you navigate these particularly complicated times. Do not be afraid to call and ask questions or seek clarifications.

At Viero Bridal, we understand how important it is to find the right dress. We have flagship stores in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, and New York full of stunning designer gowns at affordable prices. View our collections online and when you are ready, reach out to book an appointment. We are standing by and ready to help you find the perfect gown, for your perfect day!