How to Pick the Perfect Wedding Dress
Shopping for your wedding gown is one of the most, if not the most, exciting and memorable details of planning your big day. Every bride has a special story in her journey to finding her dress. The goal is choosing the gown that’s uniquely you—the one that makes you feel confident and beautiful. Here, we’ve gathered tips to help you say yes to the perfect dress for your magical day.

Get Inspiration
Whether you’ve been imagining what you’ll wear on your big day for years or aren’t sure what your dream dress is yet, look at different wedding dresses that inspire you. With so many gorgeous gowns to consider—from A-line and mermaid silhouettes to ballgowns and sheaths—it can get a little overwhelming, but beginning your search before you even make your boutique appointment can help you narrow down your wedding day look. “Before you start shopping for your wedding dress, it’s helpful to do a little research and find photos of gowns that speak to you,” says bridal stylist Gabrielle Hurwitz, based in New York City and Los Angeles. “Compile photos of styles and silhouettes you love on a Pinterest board or in a saved Instagram folder to organize your thoughts.” And follow our Instagram and go to our website to choose from looks in our current collections of Couture and GALA bridal gowns.

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Compliment Your Wedding Theme
Creating a mood or vision board for your wedding dress will not only give you inspiration for finding your gown, but will also help set and compliment the style of your celebration. “Think about your dress within the overall wedding day and design,” says Hurwitz. “Keep in mind the season, time of day, venue, and your event’s theme.” For example, if you’re hosting a spring or summer garden-themed wedding, look for a dress with floral accents in 3D appliqué or romantic lace, such our Nirvana A-line gown hand-embroidered with delicate lace flowers or our Fantasia dress with whimsical petal details on its corseted bodice and voluminous skirt. If you’re planning a super glam fall or winter affair, consider a dress with shimmery beading and a sultry silhouette that lets you shine all day like our Glitter mermaid dress with sparkly allover sequin or our Nelli beaded-lace gown with a curve-hugging trumpet silhouette.


Also consider what type of bride you are. Do you favor tailored, yet edgy styles like our slim-fitting Aspen gown with sexy lace-up cutouts? Are you a classic bride who wants a princess ballgown like our dreamy, silk tulle Almaz dress? Or do you love Gatsby-worthy looks, such as our glimmery Lima fitted gown featuring our signature constructed sweetheart neckline?


Accentuate Your Assets
Every bride has a part of her body that she loves, look for styles that will play up your best feature. And don’t get caught up with being a specific size to get into your dream dress. “Shop for the body you have now, not the one you hope to have by your wedding date,” says Hurwitz. “If you love the gown today, you’ll love it even more on the wedding day.” The one rule to picking the right wedding dress is that there are no rules to what silhouette you can wear because of your body shape or size. Brides can wear any silhouette as long as it makes you feel comfortable and beautiful. Your big day is all about how amazing you feel.

See What’s Trending
Bridal fashion is influencing what we see on the fashion runways and red carpet, and most importantly setting trends that are becoming timeless looks. When choosing your wedding dress, consider the styles that are trending, but also keep in mind what you’ll still love when you look at your photos years after the big day. Allover lace embroidery is not only always on trend, but also an ageless look. Our Fleur mermaid gown takes this style up a notch with stunning 3D-lace appliqué, a plunging neckline, and over-the-top sheer point d’esprit tulle sleeves.

Weddings trains are getting more unique and dramatic—from sophisticated shorter trains to showstopping cathedral length, this dress detail helps complete your bridal look. Shorter trains, such as on our elegant Spark V-neck mermaid gown, are perfect if you want to comfortably work the room in
your glamorous gown. And grander, cathedral-length trains are for the bride who wants a big moment, such as with our Denise sheer-side inset mermaid gown featuring a spectacular train that’s unforgettable. Tulle streamers attached to the shoulders and floor-length, fairy-like illusion sleeves that give the look of a train are also trending, such as on our Shimmer fitted trumpet gown. You can also go for a detachable train or overskirt to change your look throughout the day. And of course, you can modify the train on your chosen Galia Lahav Couture or GALA bridal gown.

Statement-making sleeves are also a big trend for the upcoming seasons, think flirty, ruffled detachable sleeves on our Edna sweetheart-neckline trumpet gown; romantic tulle poet sleeves on our Pipa A-line dress; and billowy, off-the-shoulder sheer sleeves on our Glory strapless ballgown.