When a couple entering into marriage does not limit themselves to a solemn civil ceremony, but decides to undergo the sacrament of church wedding, the preparation must be timely and thorough. In addition to the spiritual component, confession and communion, a more mundane aspect is also important - the choice of clothes and accessories for the bride. A well-chosen wedding dress, as well as a headdress and shoes, should look appropriate in the temple, without depriving the newlywed of femininity and attractiveness. When solving this difficult task, it is important to take into account not only your own wishes, but also church canons. And in order not to make a mistake with the choice of style, length and decor of the outfit, it would not be superfluous to check with the priest in advance whether the chosen model is suitable.
What a wedding dress should be like according to Orthodox traditions
According to Orthodox tradition, wedding attire should be modest and chaste. You can't overload your outfit with fancy, too bright details. The following should be taboo for the bride:
- excessive luxury;
- emphasized sexuality, seductiveness (so that the newlywed does not lead anyone into temptation);
- bare arms, knees (therefore, the popular “tank top” and “bustier” styles are not considered as dresses for a church wedding);
- deep neckline;
- uncovered head (some types of hats would also be inappropriate; the ideal option is a modest veil, scarf or openwork stole).
The wedding ceremony lasts quite a long time, so the festive costume should be comfortable so that the bride feels comfortable. If the sacrament takes place in the summer and the temple is hot, you should not wear synthetic clothing. If the wedding is held in a winter in an unheated building, you should take care of outerwear in advance that would go well with the dress.
Selection criteria
When choosing a suitable dress for a wedding, it is necessary to correlate your own vision of the image with religious canons and make sure that no discomfort distracts from the sacrament. A church wedding according to the Orthodox rite will take at least an hour. The bride and groom will have to stand all this time, so you should not choose models with a tight corset that will make it difficult to breathe, an uncomfortable train or prickly synthetic lace.
Length
The generally accepted length is maxi, but the canonical direct indication is only that the dress should cover the knees. Accordingly, midi length is allowed, but in Russia women traditionally go down the aisle in floor-length dresses. It is important to adjust the hem to the height of the bride, so as not to step on it while walking.
The most popular midi model is a modest product of a laconic straight cut with a minimum amount of decoration. The skirt is slightly flared, the sleeves are long, made of semi-transparent material. The neckline is shallow, oval or square.
Train
American movies often show brides in dresses with a long train. However, when applied to Orthodox church ceremonies, this element is very inconvenient. During the ceremony, the bride and groom will have to walk around the altar holding hands, and it is easy to step on the train. This detail is more suitable for a traditional Catholic wedding.
If the bride still wants to choose a model with a train, this element should be removable. But ideally, it is better to refuse it altogether - the wedding dress for a woman will become many times more comfortable, and its cost will be much cheaper.
Materials
Dresses for church sacraments are made from the same fabrics as clothes for civil weddings. When considering which dress is best for a wedding, brides often limit themselves to silk and satin. These materials do look noble, but they are expensive and also tend to accumulate static electricity. Other popular options include:
- Velvet is ideal for winter ceremonies, but in summer the bride will be very hot in it.
- Organza is a good option for warm weather, a pleasant bonus is its affordable price. At the same time, you do not need to choose the most budget fabrics - they resemble ordinary tulle and have a characteristic shine that is inappropriate for a church. The material should be dense so that the silhouette does not shine through.
- Lace - on temple models, openwork inserts on the bodice and hem are applied only over the main fabric or lining. Lace can be solid or fragmentary. The material is used alone only on the sleeves. An interesting option for natural blondes, fair-haired brides is a guipure blue wedding dress.
- Chiffon - delicate flowing fabrics allow you to create romantic light images. It goes well with any decor.
- Tulle – used in combination with denser fabrics, suitable for inserts on sleeves, creating fluffy skirts.
Short, plump women should choose dresses with lace inserts, they will distract attention from extra centimeters, visually stretch the silhouette vertically. They can be placed on the hem, bodice or sleeves. It is important that the material is not too richly decorated, this will be inappropriate in church.
Color of the outfit
Contrary to popular belief, the bride does not necessarily have to be in a snow-white dress - the outfit should be light, but the halftones are not regulated in any way. Many girls are happy to change the white dress for a church wedding to pale blue, lilac colors of clothing. Pinkish shades suit young blondes, and golden ones suit dark-skinned women. Also, beautiful wedding models can be presented in colors:
- champagne;
- ivory;
- vanilla.
The acceptable palette is very rich, so today the question "Can you get married in a church in a red dress?" has already become controversial. On the one hand, this is the original festive color for an Orthodox church, on the other hand, the image of the bride implies modesty and humility. To avoid confusion, it is better to clarify this point in advance directly in the church where the wedding will take place.
The tradition of wearing a white dress comes from Western Europe. In Rus', the main wedding color was red: by the ornament and color scheme, it was easy to determine which province the bride was from.
Popular styles
Despite a number of restrictions, wedding dresses are presented in a fairly wide variety of styles - each bride can choose the right one and look beautiful, slim and elegant on such an important day for herself.
| Models | Description | What figure flaws will it help to hide? |
| Simple cut | Modest, laconic pieces, straight and trapezoidal silhouettes, below the knee and full-length | Skinny thighs, too tall |
| A-line silhouette | Fitted top, flared bottom, shallow square or scoop neckline | Broad shoulders, small size and unfortunate breast shape |
| Closed | A-line or straight floor-length skirt, high collar that hides the neck | Massive shoulders, unaesthetic arms |
| Models for plus size ladies | Maxi length, high waist, flowy silhouette, thick fabrics | Excess volumes |
| For women over 40 years old | Semi-fitted style with a moderately deep neckline, a straight or slightly flared hem without slits or lush frills | Full legs, large bust, "roll" on the stomach |
A wedding dress for a pregnant woman should hide her “interesting situation” as much as possible: models with a high waist, lots of folds and a shallow neckline are suitable.
Rules for creating a bride's image
The pleasant efforts of the bride to select the details of the image do not end with a suitable dress for a church wedding. You should also take care of purchasing appropriate shoes, a headdress, choosing a hairstyle and makeup. The image of the bride should be feminine and romantic, without a single hint of vulgarity.
If, when choosing a dress for an Orthodox wedding, a girl has settled on a discreet style with a minimum of decoration, she can add solemnity to her appearance with the help of elegant earrings and a thin chain.
Cosmetics should not be bright or aggressive. For the temple, daytime makeup in light, pastel colors, without glitter or "acidic" colors is best. You should not choose perfumes with rich spicy and floral aromas. The air in the temple is already quite heavy, and a strong smell can cause a headache.
Shoes
Shoes should be modest and comfortable, with low heels, as the bride will have to stand a lot. It is best to complement a beautiful wedding dress with classic, elegant pumps in the same color, without flashy decor, or ankle boots if the wedding takes place in the cold season. The following shoe models are not welcome in the temple:
- sandals and open-toe or bare-heeled sandals;
- clogs (even closed ones);
- platform shoes.
The shoe decor should be minimal. For example, you can choose shoes with an ornament that repeats the embroidery on the hem. Pointed-toe models are not recommended, they look ridiculous in the church and generally do not match simple and modest wedding dresses. Pregnant women can be recommended comfortable ballet flats in muted pastel colors. If the wedding is held in the hot summer, and the girl still decides to choose sandals, she should wear thin nylon socks under them.
Headdress
The traditional headdress for a wedding is a veil. Only options that completely cover the bride's head are suitable for a church sacrament. When deciding what dress to wear to a wedding, it is worth paying attention to models that have a sewn-on veil-hood made of light openwork lace. Other options are also suitable:
- headscarf made of translucent fabric;
- light veil cape;
- thin scarf stole;
- an elegant hat (only if the ceremony does not involve placing crowns on the heads of the newlyweds).
The choice of headwear depends not only on the dresses women wear for the wedding, but also on their haircut. If the hair is styled in a voluminous hairstyle, it is better to choose a veil, stole or scarf. A hat will do for short loose curls, but its style should not be pretentious or extravagant. And of course, a hat with wide brims or large, flashy decorations will not do for a church.
Various scarves go well with braids placed around the head. It is not recommended to choose thick opaque materials; for a winter ceremony, the bride may prefer an openwork knitted stole.
Makeup and hair
The Church orders women to abstain from cosmetics. However, such an important event in the life of the young couple happens only once, so the clergy allow minor deviations from the rules. At the same time, it is important for the bride to adhere to a number of recommendations:
- Instead of lipstick, it is better to choose pink or pearlescent lip gloss.
- Mascara - only dark, not colored.
- There is no need to line your eyes. The shadows should be natural, muted colors, without shine.
- Blush - pink or pinkish-brown.
- It is better to refrain from using shiny powder.
- The manicure should not be bright, the best option is classic French, it will suit any dress.
Since a church wedding takes a lot of time and involves putting a crown on the head, the hairstyle should be comfortable and not too high. Long hair can be braided, intricately arranged braids and decorated with small beautiful hairpins, fresh flowers or a string of pearls. Any dress for a church wedding will look organic with such a hairstyle. A short haircut will be completely hidden under a veil or headdress. Medium-length curls are curled and styled with invisible hairpins. You should not dye your hair in bright, unnatural colors. Ladies of a respectable age are only allowed to mask gray hair with dye or tint shampoo.
Low “knots” and braids intertwined at the back of the head are best suited for weddings – such hairstyles will not interfere with the installation of a traditional crown and will not lose their shape during the ceremony.
Folk omens
There are many folk beliefs associated with weddings and festive attire. Many of them are quite curious. Each bride decides for herself whether to believe in these “superstitions.” The Church does not bless taking this “folk wisdom” seriously. The most common beliefs and rules are:
- You need to choose the color very carefully: wedding dresses in beige or cream tones promise frequent cheating of the husband. Suits made of dark fabric promise a hard life, full of deprivations and tears.
- The groom is not recommended to participate in the selection of the wedding dress, but he can pay for a beautiful wedding dress for the young bride and take on organizational issues related to the ceremony.
- Ladies who are getting married for the second time should not wear their first suit, otherwise the family failures will be repeated. It is also not recommended to wear the dress of a mother, friend or older sister, so as not to repeat her mistakes.
- It is believed that the groom should not see the bride in her wedding dress before going to church under any circumstances, otherwise the young people's marriage will be short-lived and unhappy.
- The ideal option is a festive outfit sewn by the bride herself: it will be charged with positive energy, guaranteeing a happy union. It is also good to get married in a suit sewn by the hands of a mother, grandmother, aunt or other close relative.
- It is absolutely forbidden to rent someone else's wedding suits. If the bride saves on the most important outfit, she will be in debt for the rest of her life. Therefore, the answer to the question "Is it possible to get married in someone else's dress?" will only be negative.
- For those who buy wedding clothes in a salon, there is an interesting sign associated with money. Having received change from the seller, it must be hidden and not spent for three months - this money should bring wealth and material well-being to the family.
- It is recommended to buy shoes on Friday. It is better to go for a veil on Tuesday, and for a dress - on Wednesday. Following this simple rule guarantees a family life in abundance and contentment. On weekends, you can choose jewelry.
- To the question of whether it is possible to sell a wedding dress, folk wisdom answers negatively. Also, you should not give it to others - the outfit should be kept as a keepsake.
In order for the wedding dress to fit well and look impressive, you should take care of its selection in advance, at least a month before the solemn date. Ladies with a non-standard figure should contact a professional dressmaker, and girls with a model appearance will suit any ready-made standard option. Particular attention should be paid to the quality of the material and decorative trim. Following these simple tips, the bride will definitely look like a queen on her important day, without violating church rules.
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