The Best Summer Wedding Dresses
Summer weddings offer plenty of benefits -- sunshine, clear skies, and greater freedom to travel and celebrate. Depending on your climate, a traditional wedding dress in heavy fabrics and voluminous layers may be unsuitable for your ceremony. Summer brides have the freedom to choose lighter, airier dresses, to reflect the carefree attitude of the season. Does this Spark an idea?
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Fit
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Strapless gowns are cool and stylish in summertime. Most summer wedding dresses are all about movement and airiness. Since you probably want to feel cool on your wedding day, steer away from long sleeves. Strapless wedding dresses are chic and versatile -- spaghetti straps offer the effortless look of strapless gowns but with more support. Halter tops on wedding dresses can look playful or elegant. If you don't want to bare your shoulders and arms, try short sleeves and balance the coverage with a knee-length skirt. Avoid too many layers, instead opting for youthful knee-length skirts or lightweight flowing skirts (think peasant style).
Materials
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Summer wedding dresses should look and feel cool and comfortable, so avoid heavy or overly ornate fabrics. Cotton is breathable and timelessly stylish -- white cotton wedding dresses are ideal for an informal beach wedding. For a more upscale look, silk is lightweight and versatile. Silk georgette is an especially sheer type of silk, suitable for non-bulky layering. Organza is similar to silk georgette but offers a more defined, tailored look -- chiffon is traditional and airy, ideal for the summer bride who wants a classic wedding dress.
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Colors
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Floral patterns and bright colors reflect the youthful spirit of summer. Crisp, true white looks cool and refreshing during a summer wedding ceremony, but also consider richer variations, such as ivory or cream. Silver accents match summer's cool color palette, and gold undertones can look unexpected and memorable. If you've already chosen a non-traditional wedding dress material and fit, try adding color and playfulness -- pale pink and blue undertones can evoke the rich, natural surroundings of summer, especially suitable for a beach or outdoor wedding.
Embellishments
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In summer, simple silhouettes are suitable and chic. If you prefer to add embellishments, keep them light, without visually weighing the dress down. Beads make lightweight and delicate embellishments -- beads embroidered on the skirt, bodice or both -- catch the sunlight in outdoor weddings, providing a subtle shimmer. Fine lace overlays provide a traditional look without adding too much heaviness or stiffness to the dress's silhouette. For gauzy layers, try a net overlay -- this can provide more coverage for your arms and shoulders.
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References
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