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.

How Can I Dress Up An Informal Wedding Dress?

Accessories are extremely important when you’re choosing any wedding dress, but even more so when your dress is informal. Finding the right shoes and jewelry to go perfect with your informal wedding dress can be a challenging task, but the right accessories can make your overall look turn out beautifully. In many cases, brides who opt for informal wedding dresses don’t necessarily dress in all white, so finding accessories in off-white, taupe, pearl, and beige tones may accent the dress well. Diamonds are always a great accessory, and they can also provide a nice contrast, since the dress will not be extremely elaborate. You could also wear your favorite stone, a piece or pieces of jewelry that have been passed down through generations in your family, or even your birth stone. However, remember that for occasions like these, less is usually more. Choosing one piece of jewelry to be the central ‘decoration’ for the body, with smaller, matching pieces is usually best.

What about Shoes?

As far as shoes go, make sure that you choose shoes that go well with the entire look that you’ve chosen for your wedding. Open-toe shoes or strappy sandals go well with dresses that have ruffled skirts or splits; stiletto-type shoes or pumps look good with A-lined or more form fitting dresses. Make sure that you’re shoes are comfortable enough for you to stand in for long periods of time, and make sure that the shoes make you look even better in the dress you’ve chosen. You can even choose shoes with diamond embellishments to match your jewelry. This way, your informal wedding dress can be fairly simple, but the accessories will make your outfit especially elegant.

You can find informal wedding dresses at department stores like Macy’s or Bloomingdale’s, along with accents for your wedding dress, like shawls, and purses to make your special day complete.