I’m going out on a bit of a limb here: I must confess, I don’t like strapless wedding dresses.
If I was Prime Minister of Australia, I think that I would ban them.
I do apologise if your wedding dress was strapless; I don’t mean to offend you. First of all – I’m sure you looked beautiful on your big day! And secondly, I bought my wedding dress at the end of the (over-the-top) eighties, when it was a case of the more sequins, beads, lace, crystals, pearls, sparkle and satin, the better, so my gown probably wouldn’t be your cup of tea, either. (Although I loved my dress and felt like a princess on my big day, I’m aware that it looks quite dated now. Not that I will ever fit into it again *sigh* …).
But that’s nothing compared to the fad for strapless wedding gowns; it feels like strapless has been the #1 choice for brides for the past ten years or more. A quick spot of research and what do you know, I’m not far wrong – turns out 73% of brides in one poll done in 2011, chose a strapless gown!
Thankfully the trend seems to be waning, at long last. I personally want to thank the Duchess of Cambridge for single-handedly turning the tide with her demure – long-sleeved! – wedding gown.
Are Strapless Wedding Dresses Cheaper?
I remember talking to another bride-to-be at the office way back in 1990; we were both due to get married later that year, and she told me she’d chosen a strapless dress because they were so much cheaper! (Even though she was having a June wedding – I’m thinking she might have been just a bit chilly …). Of course, strapless wedding dresses have surged in popularity since then, so maybe that’s no longer the case?
If a strapless dress is done well, and fits nicely, it CAN be a lovely look.
Why I Don’t Like Strapless Wedding Dresses
Fit is everything … and I don’t mean you have to be perfectly fit, or model thin, to go strapless on your wedding day. In fact, I’d venture to say that more buxom brides look much better in a strapless wedding dress, than their skinny sisters; it really does seem to make the most of their (ahem) … assets.
All too often however, strapless wedding dresses DON’T fit well. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen a bride in a boned, strapless wedding dress turn around to look at something – and her bodice stayed put. There’s no give in the things; surely they can’t be comfortable?
The other bad look is when the bodice juts out proudly in the bosom area. Trouble is, the actual bride inside it has no hope of actually filling it out; there is a huge gap between her chest and her dress!
Eventually I suppose, our daughter will get engaged and if she should choose a strapless wedding dress, I’m sure she will look absolutely beautiful – and I just might find I have to eat my words (or delete this blog post)!
Is there a style or trend in wedding dresses that you really don’t like?
Linking up with My Home Truths.
My 25 year old daughter and I agree with you. She’s always liked styles such as the ones pictured at the end of your post. Kate Middleton’s gown was gorgeous! I simply loved it.
I got married in the late 80’s where the fashion was puffy sleeves. Mine weren’t too puffy as I’m petite and very short and they would have looked like floaties!
We must have got married around the same time – I was May 1990. I wore a “fishtail” wedding dress – slim fitted to the knee before flaring out to form a train; of course it was covered in beads and crystals etc. The sleeves were a bit puffed but not too much 🙂 .
Lol…I’ve been looking online for wedding dresses and I must admit I do like the strapless ones. I don’t like poofy long ones or too lacy ones. Personally, I am not looking for a long gown either but I know some women look good in them. The poofy ones don’t look good on anyone. 😛
Have you been to try any on Sanch, as well as just looking online? I went wedding dress shopping with my sister about 15 years ago, and she went shopping with a very fixed idea of what she wanted – and ended up coming home with something different, because trying dresses on she realised that something else looked better actually on!
I’m not a big fan of strapless wedding gowns either. I think it depends on the fit of the gown and I certainly don’t understand why larger girls opt for these gowns. They would be much more suited to something with sleeves. I think almost every wedding I’ve been too in the past 5 years, the bride has worn a strapless gown and I don’t understand why they are so popular. As you pointed out there are many more beautiful choices.
Me either Kathy … it’s almost boring now.
I just wrote a long comment and got a non permission error! Grrr. Short version – I love strapless dresses and wear them (only on holidays – I have some weird tropical rule that I invented apparently – why aren’t I a fashion blogger again?)
I didn’t wear one on my wedding day – I wore purple, of course. I’d wear strapless over white…but then I have crappy old skin that probably looks pretty bad in a strapless dress…
Oh I hate it when that happens Lydia! Thank you for persevering! A purple wedding dress – I’d love to see pics hint hint 😉
I agree with you Janet. The other problem I’ve noticed with some strapless dresses is that they have to be hitched up now and then which isn’t a very good look, especially at a wedding. At the last wedding we went to the bride (my niece) bought a strapless gown but had it altered to have straps made of the lacy fabric. She looked stunning.
Yes it’s amazing the difference even a shoestring strap can make; and you’re right, the hitching up is NOT a good look!
It’s the ones that look like they could have a life of their own off the hanger that get me…& the ones where you either can’t fit into a toilet stall & shut the door or you need help to lift it all up in order to sit on the toilet. Just saying.
LOL that’s what dresses were like when I got married in 1990 Jo – the bigger the better! I went for a fishtail wedding gown, so it was fitted to the knees before flaring out to a train. No toilet assistance required 😉 .
I’m not a great fan of strapless wedding gowns and it’s mainly because so many girls who don’t actually suit them will persist in wearing them. I’m a great believer in dressing in what suits you and not necessarily what is the current trend. Nothing worse than seeing young women with rather ‘chunky’ thighs and legs wearing very short mini skirts either. Don’t follow the crowd; be an individual 🙂
Yup I just don’t understand why they are so popular, especially seeing the comments and feedback I’ve received on this post and on Facebook!
There are many times I’ve seen a bride in a strapless dress and thought it looked very uncomfortable!!
That’s a point – I never thought of that!
I had a strapless wedding gown! I reckon, it was “once in my lifetime” moment and so I made that choice. It could be also because most wedding gowns here were strapless. But if I ever do this again, I probably wouldn’t make that kind of decision. Love the last collate of pictures.
And I’m sure you looked beautiful xxxx
I had a strapless dress for my wedding day and managed to rock it, even without much of a bust. It was a very simple, straight line look and it worked for me but I have seen many that have not over the years!
See, I knew there would be some good ones out there … it’s just I have seen a LOT that aren’t …
I am no fan of them either, partly because most women do not have the figure to wear them – they are either too boney, have no bust or too much bust, or falling out of them. Perhaps you and I have only seen bad examples!!! I also think they have been done to death and its time to move on to other weddings designs!! When I was looking, I found some beautiful strapped dresses that looks beautiful and elegant. You get my vote with this one.
PS my daughter-in-law wore a staple-less dress but she wore a long sleeved bolero over the top (as it was winter) in lace and she looked gorgeous. I found some photos I posted of my DIL’s beautiful dress: http://jo-stophaveachat.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/the-bride-and-groom.html
Your DIL looked beautiful – though I wonder if she will regret choosing a colour rather than white?
No I don’t think so – she looked radiant in the pink and it made her look so joyful and happy!
NO WAY I could fill a strapless dress!
I couldn’t either back in the day … my boobs didn’t really grow til AFTER I had kids (I know many women say it’s the other way around, but not for me!)
Haha! When I got married I had my heart set on a strapless goes but when I met with my dressmaker she informed me that only a very small amount of women suit strapless gowns and I wasn’t one of them! After trying a few on I agreed with her and went with a mermaid-ish kind of gown with twisted straps, all made in a soft silk. Totally different to what I imagined! But I loved it.
Oooo sounds lovely Jasmine! 🙂