How to Choose the Right Lace for Your Wedding Dress

Why You Should Consider a Lace Wedding Dress? 

With so many bridal fabrics to choose from, why should you say “I do” to a lace wedding dress? Check out all the great reasons below. 

Lace is Timeless 

For centuries, lace has been used to create wedding dresses and continues to be a go-to fabric for brides nowadays. While different varieties of lace may gain popularity as trends shift, this fabric will be worn by brides for years to come. 

Lace is Luxurious 

Lace, especially handmade lace, is fit for royalty! There is a reason why Queen Victoria wore a satin bridal gown with a Honiton lace flounce in 1840, and Kate Middleton wore a wedding dress with a lace bodice, sleeves and a lace appliquéd skirt for her wedding to Prince William centuries later in 2011. The intricacy of lace lends itself to an elevated bridal look. 

Lace Adds Texture 

If you’re looking for a gown with visual interest, lace is your fabric! Layered lace appliqués, bold corded laces and even the most delicate Chantilly laces add extra detail to your dress and bring dimension to fabrics like satin, crepe or tulle. A lace with metallic threading or beading adds even more detail for an ornate and regal look that only lace can achieve! 

Lace Provides Options 

Lace is a wonderfully versatile fabric that works well with various wedding dress silhouettes, body types and wedding aesthetics. Check out some of the reasons why lace is such a versatile wedding dress fabric:  

Lace is quite flattering! It can be used on the sleekest column gowns or for a dreamy A-line. A heavier beaded lace hugs the body while minimizing any areas that a slinkier fabric like silk may highlight. 

Lace wedding dresses always have a super bridal look! While a satin mermaid may look red carpet ready, a gown in lace always gives off those bridal vibes.

If you believe that small details can make a significant impact, then lace is the fabric for you! A lace-trimmed train or sleeve instantly elevates your dream dress to the next level by adding dimension with intricate motifs.

Not into an all-lace look, but still want to incorporate this bridal fabric? Lace can be used in so many ways! A lace embellished illusion back, lace sleeves, a lace-trimmed hem, or even accessories, like lace gloves or a veil, add that beautifully bridal touch to your look without feeling overwhelming! 

Characteristics of Lace 

The beauty of this fabric is that there are so many types of lace to choose from, and each one has its own special characteristics.   

Lace can be made of a variety of fibers, from cotton to polyester to silk and even linen.  

Delicate laces have smaller stitches and finer threads. French laces often have “eyelashes” along the edge and are often used to trim a neckline or hem. 

Lace tends to be delicate and can be easily damaged. Be careful when choosing your jewelry that you don’t pick anything that will catch on the lace and pull the threads. 

Lace doesn’t wrinkle too easily, making it wonderful for a destination wedding dress! 

Lace can be vintage or modern, depending on the pattern and how it is made. Handmade lace is time and labor-intensive and may only be used for smaller lace details, while machine-made lace is produced much more quickly, making it better for larger areas or even an entire gown.

Types of Lace Used in Wedding Dresses 

With so many types of bridal lace to choose from, let’s talk about each type, if it’s the right lace for your wedding gown and what differentiates one type of lace from the next.