All brides prefer different wedding dresses, whether they're sleek and simple with little or no adornments or extravagant with lots of glitz and glam. For those of you who are in the latter group, there are embellishments in countless cuts, colours, textures, sizes and patterns to add some extra sparkle to your wedding gown.
Applique
An applique is a cutout of fabric which is sewn onto the dress to create an interesting pattern. Some appliques can be adorned with pearls or sequins and made from lace. You can see the lace applique detailing on this Ashley gown by Amanda Wyatt from the wasit down to half way down the skirt.
Beading
Beading can come in all shapes and sizes on a wedding dress and can cover any area, such as highly detailed sections of the neckline, sleeves or hem. Beads can be made of glass, crystal, pearls, metal or gem stones. If you would like to add slight hints of colour to your dress, beading is the ideal way. This Claudia gown by Amanda Wyatt has stunning beaded detail on the halter neckline and bodice.
Embroidery
Embroidery is stitching on the surface of the gown that can take many forms such as floral designs. Some dresses can be completely covered entirely in embroidery, whilst others have simple little areas of intricate embroidery on areas such as the bodice, hem and sleeves. The Gina gown by Sottero and Midgley has a highly detailed embroidered lace bodice and utterly cute dotted tulle!
Jewels
If you really love glamour and sparkles you need a jewel encrusted number! Although most of us won't be able to afford to decorate our wedding dress in diamonds, it has been done! The addition of jewels, whether real or fake, will make it truly shimmy and shine! The Princess Jasmine gown from the Disney collection by Alfred Angelo is encrusted with pearls, rhinestones and crystal beading.
Lace
Thanks to its delicate look lace can be used both all over a wedding gown or on certain areas, such as the bodice, skirt, neckline or sleeves. The Lorena gown by Maggie Sottero has intricate beaded lace on the bodice and throughout the full skirt.
