Bridal stylist Chelsea Roach shows off one of the dresses available at David’s Bridal. Most brides are foregoing all-white wedding dresses and opting for ivory or champagne-colored gowns, Roach said. Photo by Riana Canetti-Rios

White wedding gowns still are popular, but color is trending

“Here comes the bride, all dressed in white….” Wait, not so fast.

In reality, most brides today are choosing ivory or champagne-colored gowns rather than just white ones, bridal consultants say.

“The classic look of solid white color and corset back dress isn’t gone, but isn’t the go-to choice anymore,” said bridal stylist Chelsea Roach with David’s Bridal. “Most brides do not want to wear solid white. I have noticed brides are more interested in ivory/champagne, ivory/sandstone, ivory/stone or solid ivory. However, you do have the traditional bride wanting white, and I recommend they shop a year in advance as solid, white-colored dresses tend to take longer to order.”

An illusion wedding dress is a dramatic option for the bride who wants to stand out without baring it all. Photo courtesy of Ryan R Jones Photography

The bridal gown for many women is something they dream about their entire childhood and adolescence, said Connie DeRome of the Galveston Bridal Group, a full-service bridal consulting company in Galveston.

“What they have in their heads is what they have always imagined they would wear for their wedding,” DeRome said. “We just have to find it because the wedding gown — and the bride — is the focal point of the wedding. It determines the mood, the flowers, the colors — even the cake.”

The most popular dresses are floor-length, A-line shape and tailored. They fit the body snugly, but are flared at the bottom, giving room for the legs to move and the bride to walk and dance.

“Lots of lace, lots of sparkle and detail — that’s what brides choose,” DeRome said. “The more sparkle the better. And some have deep ‘illusion’ cuts with sheer netting, which makes them more interesting.”

Although some brides-to-be choose lighter, almost slip-like dresses for outdoor weddings, more and more are wanting dresses with sleeves, Roach said.

“This year, David’s Bridal created the possibility to add sleeves to multiple favorites from the collection, which enables me as a bridal stylist to give more options for the brides that come in,” she said, adding the sleeves could be for personal preference, weather-related concerns or religious reasons.

Kenzie Gonzales shows off a fit-and-flare-style gown by Roya Couture with a double layer ruffled hemline, all over lace and beading. The dress is available at Galveston wedding boutique Nefertiti Bridal. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds

The traditional ballerina-style gown, with five or six layers of silk tulle and netting, usually is the one dress every customer tries on in her shop because it looks so bridal, DeRome said. But most move on and look for the more figure-revealing styles for their selection, she said. Interestingly, DeRome is seeing some retro-look choices, including the glamour look of the 1940s with heavy satins, no lace but details that fit the shape of the body, accentuating curves.

Although DeRome has observed that some brides are foregoing veils or headpieces, perhaps because many weddings are being conducted in non-religious venues, Roach said most of her customers feel complete once the headpiece is added.

“I’ve learned the headpieces are being matched with shoes and belts,” Roach said. “If a bride likes a bling-bling veil, then she most likely also wants a shiny belt. And do not forget her sparkly shoes to complete the look. I’ve also noticed that romantic floral headpieces are beginning to trend.”

The wedding dress is the bride’s choice.

“She knows she has found the right one when she sees it,” DeRome said. “She knows she feels right in it.”