More and more couples are using their creativity to enhance the wedding with DIY decorations and centrepieces. The DIY trend isn’t stopping with decorations. Brides are always on the hunt to embellish a wedding dress and add details in different ways to give it a personal touch. They might add great little details such as beads, appliqués, or even adding lace to wedding dress. Whether it is a smidge more lace or covering the entire bodice with beading, the options are endless to customize the bridal dress.
Every bride dreams of looking her best on her big day, and the dress plays a pivotal role in bringing that vision to life. While many opt for ornate and intricately designed gowns, there’s a charm and elegance in the simplicity of a plain wedding dress. But what if you wish to add a touch of glamour to that simplicity? In this article, we’ll delve into how to embellish a plain dress, offering you various embellishment techniques and insights on creating the perfect balance.
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Different advantages of adding wedding gown embellishments
When you embellish a wedding dress, your bridal gown will look more expensive
Embellishments can be used to upgrade the overall look of a simple and inexpensive wedding dress. However, brides will know that an embellished gown can be pricey. So, if you are on a budget but want to enjoy the look for less, embellishments are the way to go. With the right choice of embellishments, you can add an elaborate touch to a simple wedding gown and make it look more expensive than what you paid for it.
When you embellish a wedding dress, the most popular wedding dress embellishments available are beads, appliques, crystals, embroidery, lace, ribbon, and sequins. You can use one or more of them when embellishing your dress for added splendour. Specifically, if you’re wondering how to embellish a dress with beads, this can be a standout technique. Beads, when used strategically, can bring attention to specific parts of the dress and provide a unique sparkle. Nevertheless, there are sure do’s and don’ts to follow so that your dress enhances the beauty of your embellished wedding dress.
Embellishments can change the look of a gown
With custom embellishments, you can transform the look of a bridal gown to suit your taste. One way is to use lace or sheer fabric to create sleeves or change the neckline detail. So, you can embellish a wedding dress in the right areas and transform an almost perfect gown to fit your vision.
The right embellishments can add a modest touch to a dress
If you aren’t a big fan of strapless or sleeveless dress styles, you can use lace as an embellishment to create an illusion neckline and sleeves to a strapless style. This will not only cover up the décolletage but also do so in manner. Match the embellishments in the lace to that in the rest of the dress for the best effect.
Now that we have had a look at how embellishments can help you, here are some tips on how to dress up a plain wedding dress and how to embellish it for maximum impact. If you’re specifically interested in intricate details, let’s delve into how to add beading to a dress. Beading can add a touch of elegance and sparkle that completely transforms a simple dress.
When you embellish a wedding dress, the most popular wedding dress embellishments available are beads, appliques, crystals, embroidery, lace, ribbon, and sequins. You can use one or more of them when embellishing your dress for added splendour. Nevertheless, there are sure do’s and don’ts to follow so that your dress enhance the beauty of your embellished wedding dress.
How to embellish a dress and create the right impact
Do your research in advance
There are countless ways in which you can add embellishments to your wedding dress. Unfortunately, it is also easy to do too much and create a cluttered look. However, you can avoid this mistake by researching your options and narrowing them down to what you prefer the most. Take a look at various embellished gowns online and create an inspiration board. Make a note of what you like and don’t like about each of these styles. Find designs and patterns that will be suitable for your dress style. For more inspiration, you can also explore various wedding dress decoration ideas online, which can provide innovative approaches to enhance your gown. Then come up with ideas on what types of embellishments would be most suitable and how to place them in your dress.
Don’t go overboard with DIY wedding dress embellishments
When choosing embellishments to add to the dress, remember that adding too much can detract from the design. Imagine adding every type of embellishment to a dress. The dress would look gaudy. Instead of incorporating all embellishments known to man on the wedding dress, choose one or two types of decorations that will add beauty to the overall look. You can think of adding beading to the wedding dress for subtle glamour. Or add sequins to the wedding gown for more shimmer. You can also mix and match embellishments, but do it tastefully.
Choose the right areas on the dress to embellish for maximum impact
Many brides embellish along the neckline or a hem. You can also add sleeves or change the design of the neckline with an overlay. If a new design is created on the dress, the bride may want to sketch her design idea first. This helps with refining ideas and can be used as a guide during embellishing.
Consult your bridal consultant or seamstress for suggestions
Most elaborate embellishments will have to be done by a professional seamstress. However, your wedding dress consultant is also an expert who will be able to make valuable suggestions. So, be open to ideas and welcome offers from both of them for dress embellishment ideas. They can suggest how to embellish your wedding dress to achieve the final effect you desire. Apart from that, they can also advise if specific ideas that you may have may not be practical. So, use their expertise to your benefit.
Consider factors like fabric to choose the right type of embellishment
Beads are a popular choice for DIY wedding dress embellishments. Adding small pearl or crystal beads to lace on a dress is more accessible by the lace design. When choosing beads, consider the weight of the fabric. Lightweight fabric can hold only so much weight. If adding beading to the neckline, leave space under the arms. Otherwise, the beads cause chaffing and are incredibly uncomfortable. Your seamstress should guide you in this regard and suggest the most practical choices to complete your bridal look.
Pay attention to the overall look and effect on fitting when adding beading to a dress
Another thing to consider is the effect of beading on the dress. Covering a large area of the bodice with beads may cause some shrinkage, affecting how the dress fits. However, if you are only adding a line of dots along a neckline or hem, the shrinking should not be a problem unless the person is gathering a bit of the fabric with the stitches.
Beyond beading, another popular way to elevate your wedding dress is by adding sparkle. If you’ve ever wondered how to add sparkle to a wedding dress, there are several methods. Whether you’re considering sequins, glittering fabric, or shimmering thread embroidery, each approach can make your dress shine even brighter on your big day.
Consider the overall cost of the embellishments as well as charges for the service
Sew-on Crystals come in many sizes, shapes, and colours. The cost of crystals can add up quickly. Keep your budget in mind when choosing wedding dress embellishments. One popular way to embellish a wedding dress is by adding lace to the gown, giving it a delicate and romantic touch. The bride can purchase a lace appliqué or pick lace at a fabric store. A lace appliqué is ready to sew on the dress. If using lace, select a small section of the lace pattern that you would like to use as an embellishment and cut around it. The bride can add sequins or beads to the piece of lace before adding it to the dress.
Pay close attention to the finer details that will affect the overall finish
Simple details can quickly alter the overall finish of the dress. Unless you pay close attention to the elements, the embellishments will stand out and not look like they belong in the dress. When sewing on appliqués or lace, use a matching silk thread rather than an all-purpose thread. Sew a small stitch such as a blanket stitch around the entire edge of the appliqué or lace. For a bold new look, some women like to cut away the fabric behind the appliqué, which will create an embellishment that people can see through. Of course, the appliqué would have to be on an area of the dress where exposed skin will not be inappropriate. Lace embellishments with cutouts can be an excellent way to add interest to plain sleeves.
Removable embellishments also work
Several removable accessories can create a similar impact if you aren’t sure about committing to fixed embellishments. Even the most plain wedding dress can be dressed up with these options and converted into a more-expensive looking gown. Here are some ideas:
- Consider adding a crystal studded waistband or sash to add bling to your outfit.
- If you don’t want to add sleeves, you can simply pair your dress with a removable bolero for a similar effect.
- An even simpler way of embellishing your dress on the cheap is to pin fabric flowers or lace appliques to chosen areas of your dress. You can do this anywhere; in the hem, neckline, strap or train using tiny sewing pins.
- Or for more bling, add an ornate brooch. A vintage brooch worn in the middle of the bodice can have a striking appearance. Or add it to the waistline.
Always match your DIY wedding dress embellishments to the existing details on the dress
You can easily mess up your overall look if your DIY embellishments clash with the existing details in your dress. So, please pay close attention to the already present information and use them as a starting point. Look at the style of the work and try to match your new embellishments to what is already there. For example, if you use more beading or crystals in an already embellished gown, make sure that the unique embellishments match the colours and designs present. Try to use decorations of similar or superior quality to do your best.
Consider the accessories as well when choosing embellishments
Although your dress may be simple, you may already have picked out statement accessories to wear on your wedding day. Make sure that the details you add to your dress go well with these accessories. So, if your veil has a lace trim, keep the effect in your dress cohesive by choosing a similar embellishment. Or, if there is a sparkly detail on the veil, add a matching trim to your neckline to highlight this detail. And if you will be wearing pearls on your wedding day, make sure the beading on your dress looks cohesive with these accent pieces.
Don’t hesitate to explore colorful accents as well
In 1840, Queen Victoria embellished her wedding dress with orange blossoms for a pop of colour. If you are looking for ways to add colour to your wedding outfit without going overboard subtly, consider colourful details to embellish your wedding dress. Choose your appliques, trims, beading or embroidery in colours that match your wedding palette. Or pin down certain colourful embellishments to your dress for a welcome pop of colour. It will add a creative twist to your wedding outfit and reflect your bright personality.
Your wedding day comes once in a lifetime, and you deserve a gorgeous wedding dress for it. This dress should most importantly help you look and feel as you had always dreamed of looking on your wedding day. So, let those creative juices flow and have fun exploring various ways in which you can look different on your wedding day. Find the right embellishments to transform a dull dress into a dazzling version in no time. Create that unique look, and you will be glad you put in the time and effort to do it when you look back at it years from now. Browse the Best for Bride blog for more ways to personalize your wedding experience with creative DIY ideas. And for the bride who wishes to make a statement, we have the perfect wedding dresses for you, whatever be your taste. Whether you prefer a simple wedding gown that you can embellish yourself or one that is opulent and complete in this respect, find it at our Best for Bride wedding dress gallery. Visit us here.
Summary of Wedding Gown Embellishments
Different Advantages of Adding Wedding Gown Embellishments:
- Makes the gown look more expensive
- Changes the overall look of the gown to suit personal taste
- Adds a modest touch, such as sleeves or an illusion neckline, to the dress
Tips for Embellishing a Wedding Dress:
- Do research in advance to find the preferred style and embellishments
- Avoid overdoing it with too many embellishments
- Choose the right areas on the dress for maximum impact
- Consult a bridal consultant or seamstress for suggestions
- Consider factors like the fabric when choosing the right type of embellishment
- Pay attention to the overall look and effect on fitting when adding beading to the dress
- Consider the overall cost of the embellishments and the charges for the service.
FAQ – Wedding Dress
How do you embellish a bridal gown?
Choose one or two sorts of decorations that will add beauty to the overall look rather than adding all of the embellishments known to man on the wedding gown. For a delicate touch of glitz, consider adding beading to the bridal gown. For more glitz, sequins can be added to the bridal gown.
Is it possible to add beading to my wedding gown?
You have a lot of alternatives if you enjoy the appearance of a beaded wedding gown. The most common beaded decorations are crystal and glass beads, which come in a range of shapes and sizes, allowing your seamstress to create a design that’s as simple or as extravagant as you choose.
Is it possible to add a corset to a dress?
Adding a corset back to your wedding gown allows you to fit exactly and saves you money. Perhaps you’ve decided to wear your mother’s gown or purchase a ready-to-wear gown that you think is appropriate for your wedding. For the most part, the dress fits you fine, however, it wouldn’t zip all the way up the back.
Is it feasible to make a bridal gown sparkle?
Want to add some glitz to your wedding gown but don’t want to spend the extra money on hand-beading? Consider adding a sequined underlayer or a layer of shimmer tulle to the bodice.
What is the best way to attach Swarovski crystals to a bridal gown?
To make it easier to apply, put a little bit of Jewel Bond glue on a scrap piece of paper. Using the waxed end of a gem setter tool, pick up one flatback. Place the flatback on the fabric after lightly dipping it in the glue. To remove the flatback from the gem setter tool, you may need to use your fingernail.
