When it comes to designing your dream wedding dress, or even just picking out that perfect gown, there are several important factors you have to consider. Given that style, texture, cut, drape and season are some of them, you also have to take into consideration the type of fabric used for the gown.

A particular style of gown in chiffon would be completely different if it were created with brocade or batiste. Fabrics are used to create a distinct effect and overall look for your gown. Some fabrics can be used to hug your curves, while others can be used to create a certain “crispness” in your gown; some are heavy to carry while there are those that are so light, you’ll hardly even feel them there.

With the number of different fabrics out there, choosing fabrics may turn out to be a confusing affair.

This is why we’re giving you our very own list of fabulous fabrics designed to provide you with the exact effect you want for your own wedding dress.

Into the Smooth World of Silk

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  A cream and dark red silk gown
  Silk is undoubtedly one of the most popular fabrics used for wedding dresses. This natural fiber is considered to be an example of luxurious and completely elegant fabrics. It is highly sought-after as a wedding dress material because of its strength, resilience and elasticity. Its threads can be used to create a number of different fabrics. Lustrous and smooth silk-produced fabrics include:
• Charmeuse: This fabric is lightweight silk-satin. It’s semi-lustrous and feels a lot like satin against the skin.
• Duchesse Satin: Duchesse Satin is relatively more affordable and lighter than silk satin. It’s made from a combination of polyester or rayon and silk, with a satin finish.
• Satin: This type of silk fabric is heavy, smooth and densely woven, with a highly glossy appearance on one side. It is commonly used for wedding gowns.
• Shantung: Shantung is a fabric that is highly similar to raw silk. It has a low sheen and an almost rough and slubbed texture.

Silk threads can also be woven to create gauzier and more textured fabrics that can be layered on top of each other. Most of these fabrics are lightweight and transparent. Some examples of this type of silk fabric include:

• Chiffon: Chiffon has a sheer, transparent and delicate appearance. It is usually created from a blend of rayon or silk and has an incredibly soft finish. This fabric is often used to create overskirts, wraps and sheer sleeves. Due to its transparency, multiple layering is needed.
• Organza: A lot like chiffon, organza has a sheer, crisp and stiff texture to it. This fabric is used to create overlays, sleeves, skirts and the back of gowns.
• Tulle: This fabric is a type of netting created from rayon, nylon or silk. It is mostly used to make skirts and veils. This is the same material that is used to create tutus. Tulle is excellent for ball gown skirts and ballerina skirt styles.

A long bridal style chiffon gown

An organza corset wedding gown

A white tulle lace wedding dress

Other examples of silk fabrics include:

• Silk Gazar: This fabric is basically made of four layers of silk organza.
• Silk Mikado: This brand of blended silk fabric is heavier than pure silk.
• Silk-Faced Satin: This fabric is highly lustrous on one side and matted on the other.

Other Great Fabrics for Wedding Gowns

Aside from silk, you can also make use of other fabrics to get a completely different texture, shape and style for your gown. The following list shows you some of the hottest fabrics used for making bridal gowns.

• Batiste: Batiste is a type of fabric that is soft, lightweight and transparent.
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  A white brocade wedding gown from Bridalfabric.com
  Brocade: This Jacquard-woven fabric is popular for its intricate and raised designs. Although once limited to fall and winter weddings, there are some modern brides that are choosing brocade as their fabric of choice for their summer weddings.
• Crepe: Another extremely thin, soft and lightweight fabric, crepe distinguishes itself from other fabrics with its crinkled texture.
• Damask: This type of fabric is a lot like brocade. It has the same raised designs but is much more lightweight than the other fabric.
• Dupioni: A lot like shantung, dupioni has a slight sheen but is created using coarser and thicker fibers.
• Faille: This fabric has a similar ribbed finish and structure as grosgrain ribbon.
• Gabardine: Gabardine has a durable and firm finish. It is tightly woven and has diagonal lines on the fabric.
• Georgette: Another lightweight and sheer fabric, georgette is often created with silk or polyester with the same crinkled surface as crepe.
• Illusion: Often used for necklines and sleeves, illusion gets its name from its fine and sheer net quality.
• Jersey: This type of knit fabric is known for its elastic quality. There are crosswise ribs found on the underside of the jersey, and lengthwise ribs on its face.
• Moire: This type of silk taffeta has a heavier quality, complete with a subtle and wavy design on the actual fabric.
• Organdy: Organdy, much like organza, has the same transparent and stiff quality.
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  A one-piece, strapless, fitted A-line corset back taffetta gown
  Peau de Soie: Peau de Soie is a high-quality cloth with a soft, satin-like face and a dull luster. It has a grainy appearance with fine ribs on the fabric.
• Pique: Easy to wrinkle, this type of fabric should be treated with a wrinkle-free finish. It can be pretty heavy with a lengthwise woven ribbing that distinguishes it from other woven fabrics.
• Taffeta: Smooth and crispy, taffeta is not a common material for wedding gowns. It contains a slight ribbing in the fabric, and can be used in combination with tulle and other fabrics for a fuller and voluminous effect.
• Velvet: A plush, lush and soft fabric with a felted face and a rough underside.

Check out the video for the newest collection of wedding dresses today.