Do remember the episode of Seinfeld where George confessed that he had always wanted to be draped in velvet? If you found yourself nodding in agreement with him, then indulge your love of velvet when designing your wedding. One caveat, though: velvet is best reserved for winter weddings.
When looking at velvet, it is important to know about the different varieties. The finest velvet is woven in Germany. For bridal gowns, a silk velvet (which is usually a silk and rayon blend) is going to be the best choice, because it has a wonderfully fluid drape. Acetate velvets are less expensive (and sometimes have a weird sheen), but they work for secondary pieces such as trims and ribbons, or perhaps for a flower girl dress. Cotton velvet, or velveteen, is much stiffer than silk velvet, and works well for designs that need to hold a shape, such as the groom's vest.
Anytime that you use velvet, you will instantly increase the luxuriousness of something. That is why velvet is a scrumptious addition to any winter wedding. It makes a stunning bridal gown. Picture a long sleeved winter white dress, possibly with fur cuffs. Pure luxury!
A bridal gown that spectacular deserves equally fine wedding jewelry. Because velvet is a heavier fabric, your accessories should have a visual weight to them as well. Look for wedding jewelry with presence. Glittediamondrings-20" title="ring">ring Swarovski crystals will add the perfect amount of glamour to your bridal ensemble.
For a more airy effect, look for pieces created from devoré velvet. This very special type of fabric combines areas of velvet with sheer areas. The combination of sheer and velvet textures are used to create a beautiful design, such as a floral or scroll pattern. Most people are familiar with devoré from decorative scarves, but it is also available in larger pieces. If you decide that you would like to wear a bridal gown made from devoré, plan on having a gown custom made, because you are unlikely to find one off-the-rack.
Velvet has many wonderful uses beyond the wedding gown. It makes fantastic capes, wraps, and stoles, not only for the bride but for the rest of the bridal party as well. Because silk velvet is so soft and fluid, it is possible to hand bead the edge of a silk velvet wrap with crystals or pearls to make it even more opulent. If you are ordediamondrings-20" title="ring">ring a velvet wrap, choose one that is also lined with velvet so you have the soft velvet against your skin. You will literally be draped in velvet!
Another great place to use velvet in your wedding is in the décor. If you are using a chuppah for your ceremony, it would be lovely to create it from velvet. Since the inside of velvet is nothing special to see, you will want to line the inside of the chuppah with another fabric. You could use a second layer of velvet, or choose a gorgeous silk charmeuse in an accent color. The charmeuse will introduce a nice shine, and it hangs well with the silk velvet.
You can use smaller touches of velvet throughout your wedding reception. If you are using chair covers, a wide velvet ribbon would look lovely tied around the covers. Velvet ribbon can also be used to decorate favors, tied on invitations and menu cards, and glued around the outside of a plain column candleholder for a festive effect.
There is really no limit to the wonderful ways that velvet can be used to dress up a winter wedding. If your wedding will be held in the colder months, take advantage of all that luxurious velvet can bdiamondrings-20" title="ring">ring to your wedding. There is nothing that quite compares with the richness and beauty of fine velvet.
