Ever since playing dress up as a young child, every girl dreams of her gown on the big day. When the time finally comes to shop for your wedding dress, in Washington, there is no better place to find the perfect one than Hitched. From their personalized service to the incredible selection, this is the place to go! Today, I am so excited to share insight from the ladies of Hitched – they are absolute pros!
What are the styles and trends for wedding gowns in the upcoming year? Which styles work best for different wedding styles? Which styles work best for specific body types?
This year we are seeing gowns with a lot of soft, romantic details—incorporating ruffles, tiers, and texture to fabrics such as organza, chiffon, and gazar. These gorgeous gowns can really transcend any venue or season because lightweight fabrics are a dream in the spring and summer, but also create a really ethereal effect in colder months. A lot of gowns are being shown with beaded belts or some other type of embellishment at the waist, which can really show off the waistline, not to mention add a fun, playful touch for the reception.
In terms of figuring out what shape works best for your body type, it is really just a matter of trying on different styles to get an idea of what makes you feel most beautiful. Shapes and styles really vary from designer to designer, so it is great to be open minded when beginning the shopping process, and of course Hitched ladies are all specialists in figuring out what fit works best on your body, so we are happy to give you input!
How many dresses do brides usually try on before they find “the one?” Are there certain undergarments that a bride should wear when trying on dresses?
Choosing the perfect gown is much like finding the perfect groom – some ladies date around for years while others marry their high school sweetheart. At Hitched, we recommend starting off your search by picking five to seven gowns that you love and narrowing down from there. We do not have any specific rules on how many gowns you can try, but sometimes it is helpful to focus your search so you do not get overwhelmed.
Even though it is a cliché, you would be surprised to learn that often “the one” ends up being the very first gown you tried! In terms of undergarments, comfort is key – but for gown trials, we provide long line corset bras in lots of sizes at the store. Of course, if you prefer to wear your own strapless bra, that’s fine, too!
Do you carry dress options for the Mother of the Bride and Bridesmaids? If so, what are you favorite lines and designers?
We have five terrific bridesmaids lines in the store: Amsale, Anna Elyse, Lela Rose, Simple Silhouettes, and Thread. What we love about our lines is that they each speak to different tastes and different types of weddings through their varied fabrics and silhouettes.
So whether you are getting married on the beach in Cabo or at the Willard downtown there is something for everyone. Also, all of the lines allow the bride to have their bridesmaids pick individual styles but maintain a cohesive look through color and fabric. We especially love Amsale’s new crinkle chiffon bridesmaid line.
We have carefully chosen one line for all the Moms out there – Modern Trousseau’s Mother of the Occasion collection allows a mother to custom order a gown that matches any style of wedding. Mom gets to pick the color and the fabric and make design changes to her dress; best of all, Modern Trousseau uses custom measurements for each outfit! We will be hosting a special trunk show October 30th with Callie Tien, the designer of this stunning line – it is a great opportunity to check out the line, and definitely worth booking an appointment ahead of time for your mom or future mother-in-law.
What type of alteration schedule do you recommend for a bride leading up to the wedding?
In an ideal world, we like to start alterations on a gown about two and half to three months before a wedding. With DC’s busy brides, this allows plenty of time to be flexible with fitting appointments. Usually a bride has two to three fittings, with the second fitting about a month before her wedding. Each bride and each gown is different, but that is our general rule of thumb.
Do most of your brides select a matching veil to their dress? Do brides ever mix and match? Are there other hair accessory options that you may recommend?
Some designers do make matching veils to go with specific gowns. But, in general, brides select a veil that coordinates with their dress stylistically or in fabrication. We carry designers that specialize in making veils and offer a wide selection of customizable options that allow the bride to choose based on her own aesthetic preference.
In addition to veils, there are many fun hair accessories. Not all brides choose to wear a veil, but we are advocates of adding a special hair accessory to complete your wedding day look if you forgo a veil. We love using belts as hair bands or placing beautiful organza flowers in a tousled chignon. If you are looking for a way to add a little bling to your look, a vintage-inspired brooch or haircomb is a great way to add sparkle without looking overdone.
Thank you so much to Julia and Carin for stopping by today – they simply are the BEST!
