You’ve spend ages choosing the perfect wedding theme, so now it’s time to select the perfect gowns to complete the look…
The roaring 20s
With the imminent launch of The Great Gatsby, the 1920s is looking bang on trend as a wedding theme. It’s also a straightforward and classic way to theme your big day, so you know your pictures are going to look fresh for years to come.
Lily Allen and Kate Moss both had classic 1920s-style veils, featuring decorative lace details. A 1920s bridal gown features stunning intricate beading, a drop waistline and a loose bodice – hemline could be just below the knee or trailing on the floor. The whole look is unstructured rather than fitted, satin is a key fabric here and shoes should be strappy with block heels rather than stilettos. You could dress your bridesmaids flapper style gowns with long beads and peacock feathers.
A boho big day
A Boho theme is romantic, dreamy and simple. Jenny Packham and Alice Temperley are making some wonderful boho-looking wedding gowns that drape around the body rather than enclose your figure and feature lace panels, chiffon, glass and pearl detailing. You might want to forget a veil – wear your hair in a half-updo and crown yourself with a garland of flowers rather than a tiara.
Ballet flats would work well. This is a not a look for strappy high heels. Rather than white or ivory you could introduce some pastel colours and textures into your gown. Your bridesmaids could be dressed in long flowing dresses – chiffon in different colours would work here and you might like to investigate an ombre colour theme, where your maids wear different shades of the same colour. You could also dress your girls in mismatched dresses, that’s very on trend right now.
A beach destination wedding
If you’ve decided to go for a destination wedding and have a big day bash on the beach, then you really need to forget a tight, formal-fitted wedding dress. You’ll be far too hot in anything corseted and you’ll just feel uncomfortable and out of place. Look for dresses in light, chiffony fabrics that move with the breezes and sweep along the seashore.
Fairytale princess
If you’ve been planning your wedding ever since you were a little girl then this is your moment. This is the time to have the big, full-skirted bridal gown made in tulle, with a tight fitted bodice and all the trimmings.
Go for a cathedral-length veil topped with a dazzling tiara if want a really dramatic entrance. As for your hair, you can either do as Kate Middleton did and wear it swept half up, half down or you can have a beautifully finished updo that just shouts ‘perfectly groomed’.
Accessories should include pearl and crystal detailing and your shoes should peek daintily out from beneath your skirts – a princess theme really demands a long wedding dress rather than anything ballerina length or shorter.
When it comes to your bridesmaids, we’re thinking long for them, too, and a line of flowergirls in traditional sash dresses, scattering rose petals along the aisle from their baskets – that would be perfection.
A rocking 50s theme
This is a great theme if you’re a little bit sassy because it gives you so many options. You can source a retro-looking gown, knee length, with a full-skirt plumped out by petticoats and a tight-fitted bodice.
Add a little bolero in lace and in true 1950’s style let a net petticoat, maybe in a different colour, peak out from underneath. Shoes should be neat stilettos with a pointed toe. Satin looks good and maybe you should finish off your style with a statement coloured sash in red or turquoise.
As for your accessories, this is one style where a birdcage veil would look perfect and really complete your look. Think ‘prom style’ for your bridesmaids. Have a look at Dessy’s bridesmaid dresses – Alfred Sung D480 is bang on trend with a halterneck and a full skirt (and it’s a dress your maids will be more than happy to wear long after the big day.)
