Choosing and Wearing Renaissance Wedding Dresses
If you've always wanted to feel like a princess at a fairy tale wedding, there's no reason you shouldn't take it a little further. Dress like a real princess at your wedding, and encourage guests to do the same, and you'll have a celebration that's like no other. However, there's a lot to choose from when you're picking out a Renaissance wedding dress. There are many styles and shapes, and you don't have to get married in white. If you prefer another color, there's no reason not to use it.
If you want to get married in a Renaissance style wedding dress, one of the things you should be aware of is that these gowns require a lot more in the way of underpinnings than most clothing you've probably worn. To look the part, you'll need a corset or pair of bodies, and you might need a farthingale (hoop skirt) or several petticoats underneath. These will give you the correct shape. Don't be tempted to skip out on the right under things just because they're not something you're used to wearing. A Renaissance gown without the right support tends to look deflated and frumpy.
If you purchase your gown ready made, chances are that you'll need to have it altered. A local tailor or seamstress can do this for you, but you may wish to make sure that they have experience altering historical gowns. Otherwise, you could find that your dress doesn't look the way it once did, after alterations are done. That's because many pieces of Renaissance costume are made differently than a modern dress would be.
If you choose to have someone make your Renaissance wedding dress, or to make it yourself, you'll need to have accurate measurements, and be sure you're not planning to lose weight before the wedding. A precise fit does a lot to make this type of gown look good - even if you've lost weight, you may not look your best in a dress that's too large. Also, remember that your shoes and underpinnings will change your height and proportions. If you've already bought your corset, take measurements both with and without it on to send to your tailor.
Wear your dress before the big day. Since most Renaissance wedding dresses include underpinnings that are unfamiliar, you'll need some time to get used to them. That means spending a day or at least a few hours wearing your gown and all the trimmings. You'll learn how to sit comfortably and how to move without knocking things over. Being comfortable in your wedding dress is a big part of having a successful ceremony and reception. That means it's vital that you take some time to get to know your Renaissance wedding dress and how you feel while wearing it.