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Attention brides & brides-to-be!

I know you’ve dreamed of that perfect “Say Yes to the Dress” moment, but the shopping part…it can be overwhelming when you’re presented with a ton of options! Trust me–I was there once too. When I went to the bridal salon, I was dead set on an all-lace, form-fitting dress with a keyhole back. It was trendy, but also classic. I went in…tried it on…and it just did NOT fit my body type at all (you actually need some curves to pull that bad boy off!). So I ended up going with the exact opposite of what I anticipated–the A-line ball gown with kind of a lot of toulle.

But if you’re in the market to be shopping for dresses, I want to give you some inspiration as you go shopping. Here are some beautifully stunning brides on their wedding day.

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Allison’s gown is the most timeless gown I have ever seen. The simplicity of the fabric with no lace and no beading allows her to show off her beauty. This dress allows the focus to be on her and not the dress; instead, the dress compliments her body and beauty. I love the deep-V in both the front and the back of the dress. There was a small mesh detail right at the bottom of V-neckline in the front. This gown was form-fitting and, dare I say, sexy while maintaining the elegance and class that Allison embodies. Finally, I have to mention the long sleeves–these are underrated. Allison and Corbett were married in November in Washington, D.C. While we lucked out and had beautiful weather, the sleeves provided some warmth to her during the gusts of wind and gave the dress the exact amount of modesty to balance the form-fitting silhouette.

Gown | Essense of Australia
Bridal Boutique | Blue Bridal

In contrast to Allison’s form fitting gown, Heather elected to have a full ball gown. I always call these “princess dresses” because I used to watch way too much Say Yes to the Dress and that’s what every single woman who came in called a ball gown. Well, Heather nailed the “princess dress” look. Not only did she have the full ball gown with glitter, there were lace details on the strapless bodice too! She completed her look with a few accessories. First, she had a tiara that sparkled all throughout the day. Second, she had a fur sash that she wore for some portraits and during any time we had outside. She also got married in November, but it was not quite as warm as we experienced with Allison! All of those elements together, and voila–you have a magical winter princess.

Gown Designer | No Information
Bridal Boutique | Amanda’s Collection

Samantha chose a lace dress with a champage/nude underlay. This dress…to die for! It somehow took modern and Bohemian and wrapped them into one dress. Justin Alexander has a ton of variety, definitely making this designer worthy of a look! This gown was form-fitting with long sleeves. Samantha proved that long sleeves can still be pulled off during the summer months if done correctly! While the overlay on the rest of the dress was fabric, the sleeves themselves only had mesh to ensure there was some airflow! If you have a style in mind, don’t compromise on it–rock it no matter what!

Gown Designer | Justin Alexander
Bridal Boutique | Ellie’s Bridal

We have seen a couple gowns with sleeves, one strapless gown, but I am a sucker for some beautiful straps as well! Elle’s gown had sleek, thin straps that still allowed a little skin to be shown, but provided the security that a strapless dress cannot. The low back and form-fitting fabric and cut of the dress mirrored the sassier side of her personality. Similar in fit to Allison’s dress, this is the summer alternative, as Elle and Sam got married in June when it was a bit warmer. Sometimes, simple just makes even more of a statement!

Gown Designer | No Information
Bridal Boutique | No Information

And then sometimes…one wedding dress is not enough! Emily had not one, but two dresses for her wedding day! The first was modest, with a cap sleeve cape over the strapless gown. This was perfect for a military wedding ceremony. The lace cape over provided a beautiful texture for portraits that contrasted with her smooth updo. Once the reception began, Emily changed into a gown with a bit more flow in the train to show off her dance moves! The train of her second dress was also great in portraits. They got married right next to the water, which provided a light breeze in the heat of the July sun and her train caught the wind just right to create some stunning portraits!

Gown Designer | Ava Laurenne Bride
Bridal Boutique | Ava Laurenne Bride

Your bridal gown is a statement. It should be something you feel comfortable in, that represents who you are and who you want to be. Obviously it will be an integral part of your wedding day portraits that will likely be passed down for generations. I hope this gave you some inspiration to see some of the varying options of dresses that could fit your style!