• Tips & Advice

Your bridal dress shopping is an exciting, yet important journey. After all, the dress you choose directly impacts how beautifully your big day unfolds and your overall wedding theme. Now, the most important element of any bridal gown is its fabric.

Each fabric features a variety of unique properties. Whereas some work wonders for summers, others are suitable only for winters. While some gowns can be versatile enough to match any wedding theme, others may only fit specific nuptial settings.

Regardless of when and where you tie the knot, however, it’s important to note that the fabric of your wedding dress can make or break your big day. The material you choose directly impacts the budget, style, and formality of the overall piece. It decides how your classic gown looks and feels.

With a gazillion options available out there, it can be daunting to pick a fabric that matches your budget, wedding theme, and personal style. Here, we’ve compiled some of the most popular wedding dress fabric choices to explore before finalizing the dress of your dreams.

Understanding Different Fabric Types for Your Bridal Gown

From satin to chiffon and every dreamy fabric in between, here are the most popular bridal dress fabrics to explore before falling in love with a wedding dress.

Lace

Nothing brings intricate beauty alive on a wedding dress like lace fabric. Brides love it for many reasons including its ability to exude a romantic and sophisticated aura. Lace is all you need to add awe-inspiring depth to simple silhouettes. With so many different fabric varieties, lace has the ability to look absolutely stunning for any wedding theme. For instance, Venetian or net-backed Alençon lace can work wonders for a rustic or bohemian-themed wedding. On the other hand, a luxe brocade bridal dress is perfect for a formal wedding. The only downside of lace is that it’s one of the most expensive fabrics for wedding gowns.

Satin

Satin is undoubtedly one of the most popular wedding dress picks. If you envision your gown to look sensually smooth, sleek, and shiny, satin is sure to give you that look. Keep in mind that satin is a type of finish, not a standalone fabric. It’s made from silk, polyester, or a combination of both. The best satin gowns, however, are crafted entirely from silk. Although satin looks oh-so-delicate, it’s super durable. While satin dresses look fantastic for most wedding themes, the fabric’s structured look may not be a great option for a casual wedding.

Silk

Silk is a timeless fabric for wedding gowns. Not only does silk create a dreamy romantic look but it looks equally glamorous. Silk is also super comfy to wear. It’s lightweight and breathable so you can focus on making memories instead of managing your dress throughout your wedding day. Another important feature of silk: it doesn’t crease or wrinkle easily. This fabric comes in many varieties with raw silk being the most popular one. Because silk is a luxury bridal fabric, it comes with a higher price point.

Velvet

This thick, felted, and oh-so-soft fabric is one of the most popular fabric choices for winter wedding dresses. Thanks to its heavy weight and layered composition, brides remain cozy and comfy on their big day regardless of how cold the day gets. Velvet also offers regal and sophisticated looks which are perfect for weddings with a royal touch.

Polyester

The top features of a polyester wedding gown are affordability, resistance to wrinkles, and durability. While polyester can be worn during all wedding seasons, it’s perfect for cooler temperatures given its not-so-breathable nature. This fabric is great for brides in search of inexpensive gowns that create an expensive look.

Crepe

Magical allure, lots of fluidity, and a graceful structure are the hallmarks of a crepe wedding gown. This luxurious yet stretchy fabric helps wedding dress designers craft classic, bold, and chic dresses, highlighting your beauty the moment you put it on. Based on the material used – cotton, silk, polyester, and wool – crepe comes in a variety of qualities.

Perhaps the best feature of crepe fabric is its ability to create an alluring draping effect. It not only gives you a luxe look but it also keeps you comfy through and through. Crepe blends magnificently with lace motifs and other artistic additions.

Chiffon

Chiffon’s magic lies in its lightness. Gowns crafted from this fabric exude fairytale-ish looks, perfect for most wedding themes. Remember, though, that no bridal gown is weaved entirely from chiffon. Instead, there are bits of this fabric here and there to make the base fabric more sensual and graceful. It’s also a common practice to infuse appliques into chiffon gowns for that extra texture. The sheer and lightweight properties of chiffon make it a great option for summer weddings.

Tulle

For brides wanting to create an ethereal look on their big day, the netting fabric tulle is a perfect choice. Tulle’s texture often contributes to more dreamlike pieces. Perfect for tea-length wedding dresses and flirty silhouettes, tulle is a great way to take your bridal dress drama to another level. The fabric’s versatility makes it a great choice for formal weddings, and wedding brunches. Tulle can be pretty stiff, though. So, if you’re willing to take a little bit of discomfort for a delicate and dreamy look, this fabric might be a good option for you.

Mikado

Mikado is a form of heavier silk that flaunts a shiny finish. It has become a popular choice among brides thanks to its ability to offer a more sophisticated and architectural structure to a bridal gown. It can be molded to craft ultra-fitted ballgowns and narrow mermaid dresses that look sexy and sculpted. While brides can wear Mikado bridal dresses for all wedding seasons, the fabric is typically well-suited for cooler climes.

Taffeta

Crafted from a blend of synthetic and silk fabrics, taffeta is versatile and great for all wedding seasons. It’s comfy and light for summer weddings and looks rich and luxurious for winter weddings. This crisp fabric works gorgeously with any color and exudes a dreamlike iridescent hue, thanks to its weaving process. Taffeta is perfect for full-skirted ball gowns and A-line gowns.

A Final Word

The type of fabric you choose for the dress of your dreams determines how gorgeous you look and how comfy you remain throughout the day. Now that you’ve mastered the most popular wedding dress fabric varieties, here’s an important tip: Let the theme of your wedding guide you! For instance, you might want to pick a piece in lace or cotton materials if you’re hosting a rustic-style wedding. On the other hand, the very royal and elegant indoor wedding you’re hosting this winter may require some velvet-y magic.

That said, it’s time to start your bridal dress shopping journey. We hope you find the perfect fabric (and bridal dress) for your big day!

Jonah Levine is the Creative Director of NewYorkDress.com. NewYorkDress.com, established in 2008, is the #1 online source for designer evening gowns worldwide. As Creative Director, Jonah works to create the ultimate online and in store luxury shopping experience with a focus on service and personalization.

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