Lady LUX

It is clear that when it comes to weddings, designer Vera Wang really knows her stuff. She has designed innumerable dresses in 40 or more categories and quite a number of celebrities have said “I do” in her designs. So if you know someone planning a big day, perhaps you should sit up and take notice of Wang’s Top Ten Wedding Day Dos, as reported by WWD.

1. When considering your dress, think beyond how it appears on your body. One of the first steps to finding the perfect gown is to determine what kind of wedding you want to have. “The volume, silhouette, proportions, amount of adornment, tailoring and other elements of the dress should have a lot to do with not only where you have your wedding, but what time of day it is being held and what the temperature is.”

2. Don’t just try on the dress. Put together the entire ensemble to make sure everything is in order: the headpiece, the bouquet, the shoes and even the makeup. “A lot of girls put a tremendous amount of effort into the dress, but they don’t give a lot of thought to the headpiece, tiara, barrettes or other accessories. Very often they are an afterthought.”

3. Size your bouquet appropriately. “Bouquets that are too large or too loud will detract from the dress.”

4. Wang believes that one of the keys to confidence is feeling at ease in your getup. “Feeling comfortable in your appearance is incredibly important. If you feel comfortable with the way you look, you will radiate the most confidence.”

5. The rule with your hem length is to make sure your shoes are covered and that your dress looks as if it is floating above in the front. “If it is too long in front, it’s treacherous. In order to make a wedding a success, the bride should not have to lift the dress. Someone tripped in my most recent show. It can be a particularly long walk down the aisle.”

6. Your makeup represents many choices. Wang says to veer away from anything too strong. ”I’m not crazy about strong red lipstick with a white dress. If you never wear blue eye shadow or purple eye shadow or glitter, why wear it on your wedding day? You want to avoid any makeup that makes you look disguised or that makes you no longer look like yourself. That is huge. It should be the same with the hair. Sometimes stylists can get too elaborate with hair styles and colors. Wearing [hair] accessories and [bobby] pins are very much about editing.”

7. Wang professes to like the more understated footwear. “I have to say I prefer a shoe on the quieter side whether it is a fashion shoe (though it doesn’t have to be) or something with a bit of a wedding feeling. I like a shoe with a tapered toe box. I’m not someone who is into a full-on Swarovski-covered glittery shoe. I don’t think you want that much attention. A little kitten heel is nice if you are marrying someone shorter than you, or a platform if you are marrying someone taller.”

8. Make sure you are covered with your photography: Go both color and black-and-white. “It is just as important to have black-and-white photography done as it is to have color. Black and white is chic and timeless.”

9. Be ever-so-careful that you do not stain your dress. This means stepping into your gown, regardless of its size or shape. “There are things no one can compensate for. I once had a bride get red lipstick on the front of her dress when she pulled it on over her head. Keep anyone with colorful drinks, beverages or makeup away from you.”

10. Take your time strutting down the aisle and show off your dress to the maximum. “Savor the moment. There’s a tendency when people get married to rush down the aisle as soon as the ceremony has ended. I’m not sure if it’s relief or what. But you have to remember the guests spend most of the time looking at your back during the service.”

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