Types of Fabric for Wedding Dresses

Tulle, Lace, Satin, Organza

The bridal industry is full of confusing terms that can leave brides overwhelmed and wondering what they are purchasing if they arent prepared ahead of time. In our blog post from 12/30/2019, we broke down the different kinds of silhouettes and styles of wedding gowns that you might see when shopping for your dream dress. We want to take that a step further and dive into the 7 most common fabrics that you will see in a bridal store. If the words tulle, lace, satin, and organza send your head spinning, you are in the right place!!

Types of Fabric for Wedding Dresses

First up is chiffon. This type of fabric is pictured above on the skirt of this wedding gown. Chiffon is flowy and will blow in the wind if you are outside. Bridesmaids dresses are frequently made out of chiffon as well. Many describe chiffon wedding dresses as having a boho look about them, and many brides choose a chiffon gown for a beach wedding. Chiffon is great if you are looking for something lightweight and comfortable. The one drawback to chiffon is that it can stick to the body if there is any staticso have some static guard on hand if you choose a chiffon dress!

Pictured above is an example of a wedding dress made out of crepe. This fabric is stretchy and clings to the body. Crepe is similar to jersey, which is a fabric frequently used as the lining in lace or tulle wedding gowns due to is comfort, but has a little more texture to it than a smooth jersey fabric. Crepe is a great option if you are looking for something that will be comfortable throughout the wedding day.

When I think of a Mikado wedding dress, I think of Meghan Markles stunning wedding gown. Mikado is a thicker fabric and will weigh more than chiffon or even crepe. Mikado is frequently used in simple dresses without beading or lace. It oftentimes has a beautiful sheen to it and has more texture than a satin fabric.

Next up is organza. Organza fabric is see-through, so it is frequently used as an overlay on a wedding dress (such as the pink overlay on the dress above). Organza also has an iridescent shine to it, which sets it apart from its close relative, tulle. When compared to tulle, organza has a buttery feel compared to the coarse texture of tulle.

This wedding dress has a satin skirt. Satin is similar to organza as it has a sheen to it; however, satin is not see through. Satin is another fabric that is frequently used for simple or plain wedding gowns. It can be heavy, and you may get warm if you have a satin dress for a summer wedding! Satin is a classic look; a fabric used for traditional wedding gowns.

Silk is a buttery soft fabric that has a slight sheen to it, but not as extreme as satin. Silk can be expensive and can yellow over time, but provides such an elegant and classic look to a wedding dress! This A-line skirt pictured above is pictured in silk.

Last but not least is tulle. Tulle is a very popular trend in bridal at the moment. It is a coarse fabric that provides volume to A-line and ballgown skirts. It can also be used on a fitted dress, but a fitted tulle dress typically has a lace pattern sewn onto the tulle. Tulle can be itchy, but designers frequently line the dresses with other, more comfortable fabrics to prevent discomfort. Tulle is see through and creates a dreamy look to a wedding gown.

Types of Fabric for Wedding Dresses Recap

We have covered chiffon, crepe, mikado, organza, satin, silk, and tulle fabrics as they relate to wedding dresses. Although this is not an exhaustive list of fabric types, these are the most popular types of fabric for wedding dresses at this time!

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