Lyla Dejesus
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, so it's only natural that you want to feel like yourself. A custom wedding dress is a beautiful and personal process, resulting in a one-of-a-kind bridal gown. Whether you design your own dress or work with a designer, there are many ways to make your wedding dress unique to you. From choosing the right fabric and silhouette to adding personal touches like buttons or a cape, you can create a dress that reflects your style and vision. If you're on a budget, don't worry—a good designer can work with you to create a custom look within your price range. And if you're feeling stressed, remember what's important: marrying the love of your life! So stay true to yourself and have fun with the process.
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What You'll Learn
Choose your fabric and silhouette
Choosing the fabric and silhouette of your wedding dress is an important step in ensuring that your dress is a perfect fit for your body type and personality. The silhouette of a wedding dress refers to the overall shape of the dress, which will accentuate your figure.
Before you start shopping, it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the different silhouettes available. The most popular wedding dress silhouettes include A-line, ballgown, fit-and-flare, mermaid, and sheath.
If you want to accentuate your waistline and make it appear tiny, a ball gown would be a good choice. This silhouette features a fitted bodice that flares out dramatically into a voluminous skirt, creating a dazzling yet timeless effect. For a more subtle take on the ball gown, an A-line gown is a good option. This silhouette is universally flattering, with a cinched waist and a voluminous skirt.
If you want to elongate your shape, a V-neck gown is a perfect choice. This style makes the eye travel vertically, adding the illusion of height. For brides who want to elongate their arms, a long-sleeve wedding gown is a great option, as it creates a continuous flow of fabric.
For a modern yet timeless look, a fit-and-flare gown is a perfect choice. This style hugs the body in all the right places, creating the perfect curves while accentuating smaller areas. The fit-and-flare silhouette is similar to the mermaid silhouette, but with less volume and severity in the lower half, giving it a softer, more romantic feel.
The sheath silhouette is another timeless option for brides seeking elegance and sleekness. This slim silhouette hugs the body and falls straight to the floor, delivering a sophisticated, glamorous, and comfortable look.
It is recommended to try on different styles and silhouettes to see what looks best on you before deciding on your gown.
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Add colour
Adding colour to your wedding dress is a great way to make it unique and a true reflection of your personality. There are many ways to do this, from subtle hints to bold statements, and you can choose whichever suits your style.
If you want to keep your dress mostly white, you can add a coloured waistband, sash, or belt to inject some colour while maintaining a classic silhouette. A well-placed ribbon or belt in a contrasting or complementary shade can accentuate your waist and add a touch of elegance to your overall look. You could opt for luxurious materials such as satin, velvet, or even a bejewelled embellishment to create a focal point.
For a more subtle hint of colour, consider adding a coloured underlay or lining to your wedding dress. This technique involves layering a sheer or translucent fabric in the desired shade underneath the main fabric of the gown. As you move or dance, the coloured underlay will peek through, adding a hint of intrigue and enchantment to your dress. You can also add coloured embroidery or appliques to your dress. Delicate floral patterns, intricate designs, or meaningful symbols can be crafted using coloured threads, adding subtle hues or bold pops of colour to your gown.
If you're feeling more adventurous, you can experiment with a dress made entirely from colourful fabrics or try out vibrant patterns and prints. From a bold red gown symbolising passion and love to a regal purple ensemble exuding elegance and power, the possibilities are endless. You could also try a dip-dyed or ombre effect, gradually fading from a light hue to a deeper shade, adding depth and dimension to your dress.
Don't forget about your shoes and hair accessories as another way to add colour to your overall bridal look. Your shoes can be a fun way to show your personal style, from colourful cowboy boots to golden wedges, and they will definitely make for some great pictures and conversations!
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Wear statement accessories
Accessories are an integral part of expressing your individuality and sense of style on your wedding day. When it comes to bridal accessories, you can opt for timeless pieces or choose to bend the rules of tradition.
If you want to make a statement, consider adding a pop of colour to your look. Colourful accessories were a big trend on the 2025 runways, with modern brides embracing non-traditional looks. You could also incorporate bows into your outfit, which are a classic symbol of femininity, sophistication and beauty. Bows can be added to gloves, dresses, jewellery, earrings, necklaces, shoes, veils and more.
If you're wearing a strapless wedding dress, you might want to focus on hair accessories instead of jewellery, as they will be more visible. Veils are a popular choice for brides and can be the star of your wedding ensemble. They come in various lengths and styles, from birdcage to cathedral, and can feature unique details like satin edges or lace applique.
For jewellery, pearls are a timeless choice and were a popular trend in 2025. You can find pearls on tiaras, earrings, headbands, necklaces, handbags and even wedding dresses and shoes. If you want to add some bling, consider a wedding watch or other statement jewellery pieces. These can also be worn after your wedding as a memento of your big day.
Lastly, don't forget to choose a bag that complements your dress. For example, a sparkling bag goes well with a sequin dress, while a pearl bag is perfect for a simple satin gown.
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Include something borrowed
The tradition of including "something borrowed" in your wedding dress is based on the old English rhyme, "Something Olde, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, A Sixpence in your Shoe." The rhyme suggests that brides should incorporate these objects into their wedding dresses or carry them on their wedding day. Including something borrowed is meant to bring good luck and fortune to the bride and groom, with the idea that borrowing items from a happily married woman will transfer her good luck onto the new bride.
- Stitch a piece of fabric from your mother's wedding dress onto your own gown. This will not only add a sentimental touch but also symbolise the borrowing of good luck and fortune from a happily married relative.
- If you're looking for a more subtle approach, consider borrowing a hair accessory from your grandmother or a piece of jewellery from your mother, such as a bracelet or a pair of earrings. These items can be seamlessly incorporated into your overall look without altering your dress.
- For a creative twist, you could borrow a vintage car or a decked-out ride from someone in your inner circle for a grand exit after the ceremony. This unique touch will add a memorable element to your special day.
- Decorate your wedding venue with borrowed items that complement your theme. For example, if you're having a travel-themed soirée, use your grandfather's leather luggage tags as part of your décor. Or, if you prefer a garden-inspired theme, line a chest of drawers with floral-printed plates borrowed from your mother's collection.
- Borrow a recipe for a signature cocktail from a family member or friend and include it in your wedding menu. This will not only add a personal touch to your reception but also involve your loved ones in a unique way.
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Get the right undergarments
The undergarments you wear under your wedding dress are a personal choice and should be based on what makes you feel comfortable and happy. While some brides feel comfortable in a standard set of underwear or bridal lingerie, others prefer the structure and support of shapewear.
If you opt for shapewear, consider the level of structure and compression you want. Light-to-medium compression shapewear is made from lighter sculpting fabrics and provides gentle smoothing with minimal shaping. It's a great option if you want to feel like you're not wearing shapewear but still want coverage. When choosing shapewear, opt for pieces that don't ride up, bunch, or produce lines. You may also want to select shapewear that is as close to your natural skin tone as possible, especially if you're wearing an ivory or white gown. This is to avoid any potential see-through issues with the fabric of your wedding dress.
If you're creating a dress with a plunging neckline or open back, you may not need to worry about a bra, as many wedding gowns have built-in support in the form of boning, padding, corsetry, linings, and interlinings. Sewn-in cups or built-in corsets can be sufficient for support for larger-chested brides if they're well-made. However, if you feel you need extra support, you can bring a strapless bra and shapewear to your fitting to try on with the dress.
Ultimately, the right undergarments for your wedding dress will depend on your personal preference and what makes you feel comfortable and confident.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to make your wedding dress unique to you. You could add a pop of colour, either to the dress itself or with your accessories. You could also incorporate a piece of fabric from a parent or grandparent's dress, or opt for a non-white dress.
Accessories are a great way to express your individuality. You could opt for a veil, a cape, or a draped neck sash. If you want to keep your shoulders exposed, you could try evening gloves. When it comes to jewellery, pearls are a timeless choice, but you could also add a pop of colour with your jewellery, especially if you want to embrace the 'something blue' tradition.
Choose your beading wisely—a sparsely beaded or unbeaded dress can look more expensive. You should also get the gown altered by a professional so that it fits well. Finally, make sure you have the right undergarments to enhance the fit of your dress.
The most important part of choosing the right shape for you is that it flatters your body. Try on dresses in multiple shapes and fabrics to get a feel for what works for you. If you're having a beach wedding, opt for a soft, light, and flowy shape and fabric. If you're getting married in a grand cathedral, consider the season and how much you want to stand out.
