How to Choose the Right Fabric for your Wedding Gown.

So you are looking for the perfect gown? There are so many different fabrics that you can use in a wedding gown. It’s one of the biggest decisions to make and every fabric has pros and cons. Fabric often dictates the style of gown as it depends on the drape, flow, stretch and more. This blog is designed to help you with finding and deciding on your dream gown.

Don’t feel like reading? Watch it here.

Before diving into individual fabrics, a question we often get asked is “what colour is a wedding gown?” Most people assume wedding gowns are white but in fact most are ivory. At Erin Clare Bridal we mostly use ivory fabrics and shades can range from very pale to a much richer shade. We also have some fabrics that come in multiple shades of ivory. We stay clear of white in general as it just seems harsh in the sunlight and a bit stark. It can also look quite blue when photographed.

Our Ivory Dupion Fabric. Image by White Parrot.

One of Erin’s favourite jobs as a designer is to source fabrics. She is a little obsessed with fabric! We source all sorts of varieties of laces for our collections as well as for our custom made orders. We can also source other fun fabrics like feathers, sequins or jacquards if brides are looking for something a bit more unique.

The fabrics we use at Erin Clare Bridal are mostly hand washable. It is something to check with each individual gown but for the majority of our gowns we have a policy to use fabrics that are easy to care for. This makes it much easier once you get married to look after your gown.

The below are some of our most popular fabrics and a bit about them:

Stretch Crepe.

It’s a beautiful, luxurious crepe with enough stretch for comfort. Our crepe is a heavier weight but also has a lovely drape. It has a matte finish so it absorbs the light. Crepe is a popular fabric for wedding gowns and whilst you will see other gowns made in crepe they are often light weight and show every bump. Ours tends to just mold the body and holds you in. We also double line our fitted gowns so inside you have almost like shapewear that’s helping you feel nice and snug and secure. Our crepe is suitable for fitted or A-line gowns, it can become heavy in full skirts.

Our Stretch Crepe. Image by Taylor Kezia

Stretch Satin.

It’s a matte satin so it doesn’t give you a full shine and has the ability to absorb light well however it still has a beautiful, luxurious sheen. It drapes nicely and molds the body beautifully. Our satin has stretch in it so you can move freely. A lot of brides do a sit test to see if they can comfortably sit in the fabric and our satin always passes the test! It is a luxurious colour, a slightly richer ivory than the crepe. Our stretch satin is suitable for fitted or flared gowns.

Our Stretch Satin. Image by Luke Middlemiss

Mikado.

Mikado has been really popular lately. It has a smooth grain through the fabric giving it a beautiful subtle shine. There are various ways to cut this fabric. We can drape it, pleat it or keep it really clean and flat. It’s a really lightweight fabric. In ballgowns it looks like a lot of fabric and like it should be really heavy but it’s not. So if you want to wear something grand on your wedding day with a big skirt, mikado is just sensational. We work with two different colour shades. A paler ivory and a richer shade of ivory. Our Mikado works well for fitted bodices and A-line or ball gown skirts, as it has no stretch we don’t recommend it for a fitted skirt.

Our Mikado. Image by Luke Middlemiss.

Dupion.

Our dupion fabric has a natural feel and looks like a silk. It has a matte base with a slight sheen. It is also very light weight making it a great choice for Australian brides. Something to consider is that the dupion creases easily. So if you are travelling far for the ceremony or reception the gown may become crushed more than our other fabrics. Our dupion fabric is best for fit and flare or ball gown style skirts, as it has no stretch we don’t recommend if for a fitted skirt.

Our Dupion. Image by White Parrot.

We hope this helped and gave you some more insight into bridal fabrics. If you have any questions regarding fabrics contact us directly or book an appointment to discuss your options. If we don’t have the fabric you are looking for we have many suppliers we can source from. At Erin Clare Bridal, we love working with premium fabrics to achieve the most beautiful gowns for our brides.