Deciding on a Backyard Wedding Bridal Dress

My sister is still down in Virginia, and so I (luckily?) wasn't along for the wedding dress shopping trip. My mom didn't get to go either; I think that she feels a little more sad about it than I do. However, my sister did get to shop with her soon-to-be-MIL, who doesn't have any daughters of her own, so it made for a good bonding experience.

There are many things to consider when getting a wedding dress no matter where you plan on getting married. In my mind, price should be one of the foremost considerations, and a budget should be firmly established before you even think of going to a store. That's mainly because once you get surrounded by the plethora of fairy-tale gowns (not to mention the super-adept salespeople), all thoughts of budget go out the window. I know; I've watched those bridal dress shows enough to see how the whole thing works.

My sister ended up getting a dress that was longer than she originally intended; in fact, it even has a train, which we'll have to figure out how to work in the grass (not to mention during the motorcycle ride for giving the bride away...) But I guess part of the fun of planning is making all of the pieces fit together.

We later talked to a woman who said her relative had gone to White House, Black Market to get a simple white dress that ended up looking gorgeous, and was even not so "wedding-ish" as to be wearable to later occasions. Well, too late for us, but something to keep in mind for your own weddings!

In conclusion, here are things to consider when choosing a dress for your backyard wedding:

• Cost. Price should always be the first consideration. Set a budget and stick with it, and you'll be much happier when the credit card bills come. As hard as it is, try and remember that this is a piece of clothing you will only wear once (I know some people will be mad at me for saying that!)
• Length. Balance the desire for a long dress with the knowledge that it will most likely get a little dirty along the edges (although that can also be the case for a wedding dress in other settings as well).
• Temperature. The season you plan on getting married will have some effect on your wedding dress choice if you're going to be spending a lot of time outside. Consider getting a short-sleeved or sleeveless dress for warmer months, and possibly having a cover-up in case you get cold.

Image source: Flickr.