If you want to look your best at your wedding, but aren’t quite into the long, elaborate trains and pearl-trimmed hemlines of traditional wedding dresses, you may want to go with something a little more informal. Here are some ideal styles for informal wedding dresses, as well as some places you can find a dress at an affordable price.

What Should I Be Looking For?

Most traditional wedding dresses are rather long, so an informal wedding dress probably won’t have a train, and could be shorter, about up to the knee in length. You can find dresses that are ankle or knee-length at almost any department store, but the key is finding an informal dress that still makes you feel like a bride. One way to do this is by selecting the right fabric for your dress. Satin or silk mixes in fabric will give a dress a smooth look, and can be flattering on the figure without being too clingy.

When you’re searching for informal wedding dresses, don’t sell yourself short. Just because you may be ordering your dress from a discount bridal shop, or shopping for a wedding dress in a department store, you can still find a dress that fits you perfectly. Try on as many dresses as you need to, and look for the dress you really want, but be sure to have a backup plan. Have an idea in your mind about exactly how you want your dress to look, and don’t be afraid to ask a sales associate, or even online support, for help. And, don’t forget to take the location of your wedding and the season your ceremony will be in into consideration. Your informal wedding dress could be backless or strapless, or you can find a dressy jacket or cardigan to accent your wedding dress.