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Guide to Destination Wedding Dresses

You are here: Home / Destination Wedding Ideas / Destination Wedding Attire & Beauty / Guide to Destination Wedding Dresses

//  by Cynthia // 2 Comments

Searching for destination wedding dresses? Look no further, because I have tons of photos, tips, advice, and ideas to help get you started.

If you are planning a destination wedding, your dress may look anything but traditional.  Choosing the best gown for your non-traditional ceremony can be an overwhelming task.  Read on to learn seven helpful tips that will aid you, as you begin to search for your dream attire.

destination wedding resort door hangers

1.  Have a Vision

Scan through bridal magazines or one of this site’s photo galleries of destination wedding dresses to learn which styles you are instantly drawn to.  It may be traditional and white, or it may be colorful, short, and printed.

Once you narrow down one style, you can show these images to your bridal consultant at the boutiques, or create a binder of looks to have by your side as you shop wedding retailer websites online.  You should also check out what other real destination brides have worn.  These brides also usually share some great advice on the best attire.

destination wedding dresses tips and ideas
Photo Credit: Courtney Lynn Photography | Check out more of this real elopement

2.  Choose Your Fabric & Style Wisely

Some fabrics are better than others when it comes to destination wedding dresses.  Keep in mind that you have to travel with your gown, as well as select a silhouette and length that will not trip you up on the beach, all while keeping you cool and calm in warm temperatures.

Strapless styles are a popular choice among brides-to-be.  They like the fact that they do not feel weighed down with straps that can be intrusive, like halter top styles and boat neck cuts.

strapless destination wedding dresses
Credit: PlayaWeddings Photography | See more of this real destination wedding in Mexico

 

Chiffon is also one of the most popular fabrics for destination wedding dresses. It is lightweight; it doesn’t wrinkle easily and doesn’t cling to the body.  This fabric will keep you cool, sway in the ocean’s breeze, and be simple to steam after taking it out of your travel garment bag.

guide to destination wedding dresses min
Credit: Rachel Tweggs Photography | See more

3.  Know your limits

If you have a specific budget in mind, stick to it!  Give your bridal consultant a budget and ask them to only show you dresses in your price range.  The last thing you want to do is fall in love with a spectacular gown that is way out of your budget.  If you are shopping online, many websites allow you to define your search criteria not only by dress color and silhouette but price as well!

4.  Pad the Date

Since you are traveling to your destination a few days prior to your big day, you need to communicate this important fact to your retailer/vendor.  Always give your vendors your travel date, not your wedding day.  This will ensure that you have your dress before you hop on a plane! Click here for must-read tips on traveling with your destination wedding dress.

5.  Think outside the box

If you are very traditional, there are many white destination wedding dresses in shorter styles to choose from.  Consider selecting a gown that has shimmering embellishments like rhinestones so they sparkle in the sunlight.  Selecting a chiffon gown in a short or tea-length hemline is ideal because the dress will not drag and will be easy to walk in the sand (which can sometimes be difficult, dress, or not!).

tea length destination wedding dresses
Photo Credit: Joanna Tano Photography | See more of this real wedding in Maui

If you are non-traditional, you may wish to consider trying on a few dresses that have a playful print or color that will stand out in the surf and turf setting.

destination wedding dresses 2
Credit: Joseph Lin Photography | See more of this real destination wedding in Tulum

6.  Prep For The Dress

Many brides begin tanning prior to their big day.  You may want to do this for a number of reasons. Maybe you want a subtle glow as you saunter down your sandy aisle.  Tanning will also help you develop a base tan so you don’t get burnt as you are exchanging vows on the beach under the intense rays.  If you plan on soaking up some sun prior to your ceremony, be sure to wear a strapless bathing suit (and of course SPF) to avoid unsightly tan lines when wearing your gown!

7.  Pay Less for Authentic Designer Destination Wedding Dresses

Don’t limit yourself to brick & mortar store searches.  There are many online shops that boast beautiful, affordable, and interesting designer dresses.  If you are on a tight budget, you can get your dream dress for less, as online websites’ prices reflect the dress only, not the overhead that you are responsible for paying for when shopping in a boutique.

You also can take advantage of free shipping on most sites and can shop multiple sites in a matter of minutes.  Save time, gas, and type in exactly what you want in the search criteria!

Although there are benefits to buying online, I must warn that ordering your destination wedding dresses online can be a huge risk, so make sure you do your research to ensure you’re dealing with a legit merchant before you click to buy!  Check out my complete guide to buying an authentic designer wedding dress online for half the price, without getting scammed.

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  • The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Wedding Dress Online
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Filed Under: Destination Wedding Attire & Beauty Tagged With: Destination Wedding Dresses

Cynthia
Cynthia

Cynthia is the founder and editor of Destination Wedding Details.She has over 15 years experience in the Marketing and Event industry and launched Destination Wedding Details in 2010, shortly after planning her own destination wedding. Cynthia uses her experience and genuine passion, to inspire brides who are planning their dream wedding away from home.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lauren Woodley

    June 1, 2016 at 11:58 am

    I really appreciated the insight you gave about buying the dress online. As you say there are a lot of options to still get the dream dress that you want, but at a price that fits your budget. I never thought about this option before for dress shopping, but I’ll definitely look into it so that my day is perfect! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  2. Mukhtiar Ali Khan

    January 29, 2016 at 5:29 pm

    This is really very nice information shared on this post and wish to add some important points from my side that how to find and select good wedding Dresses for this unforgettable occasion

    Every woman dreams of an ideal wedding and would love to splurge and buy a luxurious and pricey wedding dress for the special day; however, most women don’t have a huge wedding budget. All the more, spending thousands of dollars on just one dress, that too for one day, does not seem logical for a lot of us, so buying dresses is an intelligent and the safest option in such cases. Buying inexpensive gowns is a perfect option for all those brides that wish to keep the wedding cost down to an achievable amount.

    Now let’s see a few stores where we can buy some lovely yet cheap wedding dresses:

    ==> Rentals
    ==> Outlet Shops
    ==> Thrift Shops

    By the following above ways, you will find your dream dress for your wedding.

    Reply

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