Dressing the Bride and Groom

New Looks and Classic Styles

by Anne Reynolds and photographs by Hillary Harvey, December 29, 2011

The Attire
Have you heard of “The Kate Effect?” It’s a bridal industry expression that was coined after the recent royal wedding and is making a huge impact on what brides are wearing down the aisle. Sleeves are becoming fashionable once again! Beloved Twilight star Bella Swans’s long-sleeved sheath dress and Lauren Bush’s high-necked, long-sleeved gown have also brought a more modest style of dress into bridal magazines and blogs. Gladys Portalatin, owner of The Bridal Cottage in Kingston says, “Not only have we seen resurgence in long sleeves since the royal wedding, we have an order for an exact replica of Kate’s dress on order right now.” She goes on to say, “People have always wanted sleeves and our store works with a specific manufacture that can alter any gown to add them.”

The reception dress is also gaining popularity among brides, giving them the chance to flaunt a sexier, shorter and often, more comfortable style of dress for the reception. It’s their time to shine, so it’s the perfect opportunity for a wardrobe change. Portalatin says, “We have brides who enjoy the ability to change into the reception dress and carry styles in the store where the skirt can transform from longer to shorter for a different look.” She also mentions, “Some of our brides actually buy two reception dresses. One for the majority of the reception and one dress for when they leave the wedding.” That “Going Away” dresses that Portalatin references is a throwback to our grandparent’s generation and is making a comeback among brides today.

As we all know, fashions come and go, and because a style is trending does not mean that it’s necessarily right for you. Elizabeth Morrison, of Pomona says, “I’ve found that the dress style that looks best on me is either a full A-line or a ball gown with a sweetheart neckline. I also prefer a lace-up back. It’s the signature design of wedding dress designer, Maggie Sottero.” Morrison plans to shop at Letitia’s Bridals in Monsey, one of the premier carriers of the Maggie Sottero line of gowns.

Be it a long-sleeve dress with sleeves, a ball gown, or perhaps a vintage tea-length style; finding the perfect wedding dress is one of the most important details of wedding planning. So important, in fact, that it’s often one of the first items to be checked off your wedding to-do list. Heather Graham, co-owner of Chamonix bridal salon in Rhinebeck recommends ordering your dress one year in advance. Her advice is, “You book the venue first, and that determines the style of your dress you’ll choose, which can take up to eight months to order. This leaves time for alterations, which adds another month to six weeks.”

For the gents, the classic black, single-breasted tux remains the formal wear of choice. Peter Esposito, owner of Esposito’s Tux Shop in Kingston, says, “When you’re purchasing a tuxedo, you’d not want to buy anything else but the classic.” At his full-service shop they’re seeing the grooms and his wedding party experiment with color, and it’s often in the accessories. It’s not uncommon for the wedding party to wear a different color of tie or vest than the groom. Esposito says, “We recommend that the groom is set apart (even subtly) from the wedding party. The vest or even boutonnière is one way to do it, but the groom can also rent a higher-end tux that still complements the rest of the group.”