Prefacing dumb question: what fabric of gown did you go with and why

I didn’t have a fabric in mind, just the shape of the dress I wanted (although I ended up choosing something completely different). I would recommend trying on different fabrics and styles to see which ones you prefer and feel most comfortable/confident in.


Good luck in your search - I know it can be overwhelming!

My gown was tulle horsehair in the skirt and then a beaded lined mesh on the top. I definitely focused more on shape than fabric but I knew from the beginning that I’d likely end up with tulle because I love how light-looking it is and it seemed more appropriate than a heavier satin for my spring wedding.

View Quoted Comment Thanks so much!

View Quoted Comment Thank you! Appreciate the feedback

Silk chiffon. I tried the dress on and fell in love with the soft texture and feel of the fabric. And it’s so light and comfortable.

I just know that satin is out of the question for me. It's too thin/clingy and will show every spot of cellulite on my 40 year old body.

I'm on team Lace. I wanted lace for mine because I feel like it's timeless and won't look dated in 20 years.

Mine has lots of lace!

I decided to go with lace because I feel like it adds a nice textured effect that is more interesting to look at. Also I just think the detail in lace is so nice.

I ended up going with an all polyester dress and I love love loved it and it was perfect for me. It had lace overlays and different layers but it was literally polyester.


One other dress I tried on and I went back and forth about buying was a 100% silk slip dress with lace overlay. The silk was so soft and cool on my body and it was Soooooo comfy (compared to the feel of polyester)
I’m glad I went a my dress but the feel of the fabric on your skin could help with your decision! Good luck!

View Quoted Comment Lol. I’m sure you’d be gorgeous in it but yes! I feel the same!

I think your fabric choice needs to be based on how you want your dress to drape.

For example, if you want your dress to be figure-hugging, then a crepe or a satin is going to do that because those fabrics have some stretch, and tend to mould to the figure.

For something floaty and romantic, chiffon or organza or tulle are good options.

If you want a structured ballgown, mikado is the way to go.

I knew I wanted either a very structured, stiff dress with a big ballgown skirt, or a really soft, flowy romantic dress with 3D flowers, so I looked at tulles, chiffons, netting, etc, before settling on mikado.

As others have said, it's mostly what looks good on your body since everyone is different. You can also consider your venue too - if you're outdoors, you might want a more floaty dress, whereas if you have an industrial chic or old Hollywood vibe, you might want something to match that instead.

I had two dresses - my ceremony dress was lace and had an illusion lace bodice, and my reception dress was a silk slip dress. I LOVED my ceremony dress; my reception dress was a lot more comfortable to wear but I don't think it was as beautiful or flattering. The only fabrics I think I would absolutely not choose are polyester satin (the high sheen always looks cheap to me) or a heavy brocade type satin weave. Chiffon reminds me of prom dresses or bridesmaids dresses.

I think lace, crepe, silk, and tulle are all beautiful! Crepe (which I absolutely love) or a silk satin tend to show undergarments, so worth keeping in mind, whereas a fabric with some heavier texture like lace is less likely to do so. An a-line or ball gown style skirt will be more forgiving with your panties than something more fitted, like a bodycon, mermaid, or fit-and-flare silhouette.

I chose a mikado dress that has some lace and illusion tulle on the bodice. It wasn’t really about the fabric for me, but more about the shape and overall look.


If by fabric you mean material, then my dress (a Pronovias) is 100% polyester. Unless you are paying many thousands of dollars for your dress, it is most likely going to be made from some synthetic material or another. You have to thoroughly check the label, however, because designers will try to disguise this by only addressing the gown as “lace”, or “satin”, etc, terms that say nothing about the actual fiber makeup but rather describe the weave and finish.

View Quoted Comment Lace, crepe, and tulle are not materials in and of themselves. They can be made from silk ($$&dollar but are usually made from synthetic fibers.


There are many high-quality polyesters etc that don’t have the unpleasant qualities you described. But I agree, if I could have afforded silk I definitely would have done so. I generally hate polyester because it doesn’t breathe at all.

I went with taffeta and there was no real reason to why other than the dress i happened to like was taffeta. otherwise i wasn't looking for any specific fabric

What a fun question. I like fashion, and fabric quality is definitely reflected in the price ranges of bridal gowns. Prior to my appointments, I made a deal with myself to not even look at (or touch) gowns not in my price range because I can't mentally settle for a knock-off. But, like many brides, I didn't go for what I first thought I wanted. Instead of Pronovias crepe and structure, I chose romantic 3D flowers, a deep V neckline, and an underlayer of lace. So perhaps those elements are trendy, but I think once you feel that feeling, your look will effectively be timeless.

I knew I didn't want ANY lace or tulle and wanted crepe or satin. My gown is a diamond white crepe dress with Swarovski crystals and I'm so in love with it!! It's everything I wanted plus so much more!

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The question was about fabric, not material content, and the OP used lace and satin as examples which are terms used for a fabric, not a fiber. So if we are talking fibers, I'm not sure of my ceremony dress, although I have never seen netting/mesh made of a natural fiber so I guarantee the dress was at least some percentage nylon or polyester due to the illusion lace bodice. My reception dress was 100% silk, in the form of a low sheen satin weave.

When you go into a bridal boutique very few women go I want a 100% silk dress or a 100% cotton dress, they go "I want lace, crepe, tulle" etc and are more concerned with the appearance of the fabric rather than what it's made of, which is what I think the OP's question was about based on the examples provided.

Most consumers probably don't distinguish between knit/weave and fiber content. I can't tell you how many "silk" items I have seen advertised on consignment that are actually 100% polyester satin. I definitely do try to make the distinction as, in general, synthetic fabrics don't breathe well, aren't great for the environment, and tend to hold funky odors moreso than natural counterparts. I'll opt for natural materials (cotton, linen, silk, wool, etc) whenever its an option.