The variety of wedding dress fabrics to choose from is as unique and varied as each bride that is deciding which to use for her wedding day. Your wedding gown is undoubtedly the one of the most important fixtures of the wedding itself, so it’s no wonder there are so many fabrics for you to pick from when finding that perfect match for your big day. Thick to thin, white to black, embellished or silky, the choices can seem endless. 

From shape, texture, cut and drape, every wedding dress fabric has something to offer its potential bride. Determining the best fit for your gown can be time consuming which is why we will be going over some of the most popular fabrics used all over the world today. This guide will go over the most fashionable and favored wedding dress fabrics to help you decide which will be “the one” for your big day.  

Fabric Types

Satin

Durable, versatile and well-known as one of the most common bridal fabric, satin is a smooth, ample fabric with a high sheen that comes from how its fibers are woven together. Satin can be made from many types of fibers, such as nylon, silk or rayon. 

This fabric is great for every body type as it can be draped and ruched for a ball gown style of dress. As it is a thicker type fabric, it is commonly used in the fall and winter months for weddings. Satin comes in different types like charmeuse or duchesse. 

Charmeuse

Lightweight and rich, charmeuse fabric also boasts a great drape and glossy-looking sheen. It is typically made with silk but synthetic fibers can also be used in its production. Being a liquid-like and slinky fabric, charmeuse drapes over the body is found in A-line and sheath silhouettes most commonly. It gives a minimalist look with sophistication and style to match. 

Make sure you are comfortable with how thin this fabric is, as it tends to show any bump, curve or bra line that is put under it. Charmeuse is also well known as a liner for wedding dresses because of how lightweight and silky it is. 

Chiffon

Chiffon is a lightweight fabric that creates a soft, dreamy look. It is a sheer, light woven fabric that is most often used as an overlay, in layers or as an accent fabric as it is quite see-through as is. It offers an ethereal look that creates a delicate silhouette that is great for any type of body. Perfect for those spring and summer month weddings. 

Organza

Organza is another sheer, lightweight fabric like chiffon, but unlike chiffon it is more stiff and structured. It is quite delicate and can snag easily if you are not careful. It offers the same effect as tulle but has a more flowy look to it, and is used often to add fullness to dress skirts or in sleeves and overlays. Because of its sheerness, it is great for summer weddings and destination weddings.

Lace

Lace is an open-weave, sheer fabric made from yarn or thread and is known by its intricate open designs and patterns made through a variety of methods. Lace is crafted from wool, cotton, silk, polyester and even nylon and can be machine-made to keep the price down. The higher the quality of the lace, the smaller the stitches and finer the thread is used. 

Lace can be styled and used many different ways due to all the varieties of lace on the market today, such as Chantilly, Alençon, embroidery and beaded, just to name a few. Normally, lace is used as an overlay or to add graceful detail to your gown in your sleeves, back, train, or neckline.

Silk

One of the more expensive fabrics you can choose, silk is also one of the oldest fabrics still being used today. Made by silkworms, this fabric is full of gloss and sheen. Timeless as it is traditional, silk is versatile, durable and comes in a wide variety of styles and textures. You can find silk in quite a few variations, such as mikado, faille, gazar, shantung and dupioni. This woven fabric can be a little warm, so if worn in the summer months, going sleeveless is always a good option. 

Tulle

Tulle is a sheer fabric with a netting-like open weave. It features a gauzy, fine feel that can be layered or embellished (pearls, glitter) and adds volume to your gown without extra weight. Tulle is also popular as being used for veils as well. It is a delicate fabric that is used outside of weddings to add volume to skirts and dresses. Tulle is most typically used to add volume for a ball gown-like look.

Let’s Get You Into Your Dream Dress!

Hello Beautiful!

Let’s Find Your Dream Dress.

At Sposa Mia Bridal, our hand-curated collection of Bridal Gowns will steal your heart, with a mixture of price point and styles we provide a unique selection of gowns and accessories that is elegant, timeless and romantic.

To schedule your visit, please give us a call at the boutique or take a moment to complete our appointment request form. We will get back to you as quickly as possible to confirm the details!