There’s a lot that goes into planning a wedding, that’s for sure. With all of the decisions and details to be made, it can be challenging to ensure that everything about your big day comes together as you envision.
Matching your venue and wedding dress is a great way to make all the different parts of your wedding be cohesive throughout every part of the day, from ceremony to send-off. But how do you match your venue and wedding dress to your venue? We are here to help!
There are various factors to consider, from the venue’s style and color scheme to its formality and setting. By taking these elements into account, you can be sure that your dress complements the venue beautifully, creating a harmonious and memorable look.
How To Match Your Venue and Dress
1. Consider the Venue’s Style and Atmosphere
- Rustic Barn or Farm: Farm and barn weddings call for a more relaxed, rustic wedding dresses. Flowing fabrics, bohemian styles with intricate lace patterns and butterfly or bell sleeves. Other accessories for a country-style wedding are a flower crown, cowboy boots and hats. Dresses to consider: Morilee Rhapsody, with very boho lace and detachable long sleeves would be a perfect choice for a venue like The Farm Bakery and Events in Quakertown PA. For a rustic wedding venue like Holly Hedge Estate in New Hope, PA, an ideal dress choice would be Mia Solano’s Verona with an a-line silhouette, overlapping delicate laces, cap sleeves, and an open back.
- Beach or Destination: Lightweight fabrics like chiffon or organza work well for a beach wedding because they will help keep you cool. Consider a more casual, breezy dress with shorter trains that can handle sand and wind. A destination wedding also means you will be carrying your dress along with you whether in the car or on a flight, so a lighter fabric that can be easily steamed out is a good idea. Dresses to consider: Essense of Australia #D3823, great crepe fabric with pearl straps and peek-a-boo pearl detail along neckline and back or Morilee’s Patricia with a sweetheart neckline, sparkling beaded bodice, and pleated light satin skirt with slit.
- Classic Ballroom: A traditional venue calls for a classic, elegant dress. Think about ball gowns and A-line dresses. A full dress with intricate beading and embroidery. It should be as upscale as the venue. A black tie dress code calls for a classic gown in a silk or satin with a long train and depending on the bride’s personal style, this could be a ball gown or a silky sheath. Elkins Estate in Elkins Park, Montgomery County, PA is a dramatic and ornate venue with beautiful details everywhere you look. Dress to consider: Morilee Madison is a timeless ballgown adorned with pearls that match this gorgeous estate‘s aesthetic.
- Garden or Arboretums: Gardens and arboretums are very popular venues for spring weddings. For a romantic garden or vineyard wedding, consider a gown with floral appliqués or botanical details that reflect the natural beauty of the surroundings. Dresses to consider: Madi Lane Tenley has stunning floral appliques throughout the dress, as well as a gentle shimmer, which makes her a perfect option for outdoor wedding ceremony spaces like The Gardens at Applecross in Downingtown, PA. Morilee Petal is a sweet and romantic A-line with soft blush-colored flowers and sage vines that would be perfect outdoors at Terrain Events in Doylestown or Devon, PA.
2. Match the Dress to the Venue’s Color Scheme
- Neutral or Pastel Venues: A white or ivory dress compliments a venue with a black and white color scheme, neutral tones and natural elements, or pastels. These could be in line with the minimalist, industrial – think Fitler Club in Philadelphia PA – and modern weddings at the Warrington in Warrington, Bucks County, PA. Dresses to consider: Evie Young Sydney and Sophia Tolli Lloyd
- Bold or Dark Venues: For venues that have a moodier atmosphere, consider adding a splash of color to your dress with embroidery or floral prints, or completely opt out of the classic white gown to stand out against a bold background. Parque Ridley Creek in Glen Mills, PA has a sort of moody vibe to it with the dark stone walls and arches. Venues with this atmosphere allow for more non-traditional wedding gowns. Dress to consider: Morilee Rosa in black.
- Seasonal Colors: Consider leaning into the natural colors of your wedding season: silver and white for winter weddings, blush pinks for spring. For a fall wedding in a venue with autumnal decor, a nude or champagne dress with sparkling accents would make a grand entrance. An outdoor ceremony at Stroudsmoor Country Inn in Stroudsburg, PA in the fall will give you a beautiful backdrop of red, orange, and golden leaves. Dress to consider: Kitty Chen Keisha has a nude lining that compliments the natural fall color palette, and the leafy appliques are the perfect embellishment.
3. Adapt to the Venue’s Formality
- Formal Venues: For highly formal venues, such as cathedrals or luxury hotels, a dress with a longer train, dramatic veil, or intricate details will be fitting. Formal venues have a lot of impressive details, so your wedding dress should too! One North Broad, a majestic Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, PA has gorgeous marble floors, high ceilings, and stunning architectural details that enhance the formality of the venue. Dress to consider: Essense of Australia D3812, with its beaded appliques and striking sparkle, is the perfect glamorous wedding gown for this venue.
- Casual venues: In casual settings like a backyard or intimate restaurant like Osteria Philly in Philadelphia, PA, a simple yet elegant dress without too many embellishments works well. Dresses to consider: Serene Levi and Wtoo Fortune.
4. Complement the Venue’s Architecture and Decor
- Modern venues: A sleek, minimalist dress will reflect the clean lines and modern aesthetic at venues like galleries and industrial spaces. The W Hotel in Philadephia, PA has a ballroom with a modern vibe including circular light fixtures and large windows that overlook the city. The contemporary lines in this space perfectly reflect the art-deco design on Evie Young Reagan.
- Vintage or Historic Venues: A dress with vintage-inspired details, like chantilly lace or basque waistlines, can complement the architecture and atmosphere of older venues. A perfect match to this aesthetic is Evie Young Roxanne with classic chantilly lace, exposed boning, and a basque waistline, all of which fit the vintage, French-chateau vibe of Hotel du Village in New Hope, PA.
Need help with suggestions for the right wedding dress to match your venue? Contact us and let us know where you are getting married and what season, we can help you find your dream wedding dress! Whether you are looking for a selection of rustic bridal gowns for barn wedding venues, simple silhouettes for a destination event, or even simply great dresses for certain body shapes, we can introduce you match your venue and wedding dress so you can say Yes to the Dress!