Pick Your Pocket
A bride used to carry her belongings in a demure bag or purse down the aisle.
Today, the advent of the pocket has revamped the wedding dress game.
“In the last year, if you tell a bride a dress has pockets, they are all over it,” said Cindy Ciccozzi, owner of D.I. Bridal Boutique in Butler. “It is changing with the times.”
Pockets, which are placed on the sides of the dress' skirt, allow today's bride to access her cellphone when she wants to capture the moment for social media or a shot the wedding photographer might not catch.
Some brides even say they can use the pockets to stash snacks, boutique manager Donna Wentley said with a laugh.
Along with pockets, other popular trends in the wedding dress industry include tulle, lace, shades of nude fabric and sleeved silhouettes, according to the staff at D.I. Bridal Boutique, 128 Evans Road.
The business has helped attire countless brides, grooms and their wedding parties on the journey from the dressing room to the aisle for the past five years.
“That's why we started: We wanted people to have a very nice selection and not break the bank,” Ciccozzi said.
Since 2015, gown styles have shifted from fit and flare, which means fitted through the waist and flaring out at or below the hips, to an A-line, which means having a flared bottom and a close-fitting top.
Popular styles overall range from graceful and simplistic to fairy tale.
When a person comes in the shop, Wentley asks details of the wedding, questions about the couple, and an idea of what they are looking for in a dress.“Nine times out of 10 when they tell me what they are looking for, they leave with something else,” Wentley said.Then comes the shopping — searching for that perfect dress.Fittings vary from bride to bride, she said, adding some will try on 20 dresses during a session that can range anywhere from one to four hours or more, she said.Colors are a gown staple more than ever, Ciccozzi said.Nude shades of sand, blush, mocha and taupe create a two-tone look when contrasted against ivory and three-dimensional lace.Double layers of lace in the dress skirt are a subtle favored detail, she said.Beaded appliques are another popular accent that creates depth and definition.Dress sleeves are also trending, said Wentley, adding some dresses are even made with detachable sleeves.“Anyone who is self-conscious of their arms ... they want that coverup, whether its moms or brides,” Ciccozzi said.Scoop, open-back dresses and illusion back dresses are also in demand.Dress trains have shortened, Wentley said.Buttons that run down the back of the dress through the train are another popular detail, she said.One option with the buttons is to alternate every fifth one with a rhinestone, Ciccozzi said.
Accessories have also experienced a shift with time.In the 1970s and 1980s, large headpieces with veils were a staple. Now, Butler area brides typically choose veils for outdoor weddings, while larger cities with more cathedral style weddings see more headpieces, Ciccozzi said.Beaded belts, pearls, family jewelry and heirlooms are also popular.Rose gold is a favorite color for veils to compliment rose gold jewelry, which can be paired with any dress.A geometric design is trending for the bride who wants to push the limits on different and unique. Another option to accent individuality is color, she said adding one bride chose a red dress.Rather than custom designing a gown, dresses can be personalized with additional appliques.
Find the dress a year before the wedding to allow time for any alterations and ordering, Ciccozzi recommended.Social media has changed how people shop, she said, adding people ask to try on dresses they see on social media.When a dress is on, ask what you do and do not like about the dress, which helps when narrowing down and making a selection.“I think it's important that the bride gets a dress that reflects her style as well as how comfortable she is,” Ciccozzi said.Wedding dresses are made so brides do not have to be encumbered by multiple undergarments. Dresses can be lined or unlined with a built in bra.“Wedding dresses never used to be so comfortable as they are today,” she said.When a bride is hesitant to take off the dress, she has found the one.“They definitely still cry,” Ciccozzi said.Sometimes, it is the dress that the bride does not think about versus the first one she tries on.“You can just see the change in them whenever they've got it on and they're looking in the mirror,” she said. “That's why we do what we do; it's a rewarding feeling because you're satisfied knowing they got exactly what they want.”
