No, that wedding dress you are looking at wasn't dipped in tie dye at Burning Man. The ombre wedding gown trend is one that is increasingly popular, and might be ideal for your wedding if tradition does not appeal to you or you want to do at least one thing a little differently. Learn something about this trend to discover if it's the missing ingredient to your Big Day.

Dip-Dyed

Ombre wedding dresses are dip-dyed to create the desired look. It is generally a DIY process, so scour the Internet for a tutorial you feel works for you. Some brides have blogged about their ombre dress dipping experiences, including Taylor Ann Linko of Taylor Ann Art.

“At first I was 100% sure I could do this. 20min into coloring, I thought I ruined my dress," she wrote in a blog post. "It took a few days for me to regain confidence and work on it again.”

The result? A beautiful, multi-hued ombre dress that matched her bouquet perfectly!

Airbrushed & Beyond

Air-brushing wedding dresses to achieve the ombre look is also possible, however many prefer die-dying (most likely) because of the control it offers. Look to Pinterest for ideas in addition to tutorials to inspire you and come up with the exact look you want. Remember, once a dress is dyed it can be challenging to change it without damaging the fabric or ending up with a hideous purple color you detest. Wedding dresses aren't known for being cheap, so take your time and do the research!

Is the ombre dress trend right for you? Keep in mind you can work with one or multiple colors depending on your taste and aesthetic. If you consider yourself an atypical bride who wants to make a lasting impression, give the ombre dress trend some thought.

If you are toying with the idea of wearing a short wedding dress, read on. Rocking a short wedding dress offers many fantastic benefits, all of which help you have a great time on your Big Day.

It's Comfortable...And Practical!

Wear a short wedding dress and never worry about falling over your train or your new hubby stepping on the gown during your first dance. Dance the night away without concern that your hemline will be soiled black the next day.  Short wedding dresses are ideal if your wedding is at the beach or a tropical destination, because you will stay cool and comfortable all day long. You also get to show off your legs!

The Shoe Factor

Enjoy wearing super-chic, super-fantastic heels on your wedding day when you go the short dress route. The prettiest heels are often lost on wedding days because they are completely and totally hidden by long dresses. If you are a shoe freak, consider a short wedding dress.

Less Fabric=Less Money

Spend a little to a lot less on your wedding dress if it's short. Less fabric generally makes short wedding dresses a lot less expensive...and they are also cheaper to clean and preserve. Now that's a win-win-win, yes?

Numerous Options

Choose from a variety of options when you "go short." Do you want a thigh-high dress? Mini dress? Ankle, tea, or knee-length gown? Short dresses provide a plethora of fantastic options to select from.

Unique Look

Go for a short wedding dress for a totally unique look. Most brides still opt for long, "traditional" dresses, yet short dresses buck convention and the status-quo. Why not say no to tradition and do the short thang?

Mull these reasons over before you go dress shopping...you might find the perfect short wedding dress that speaks to you instantly! Happy hunting!

The decision to rent or purchase your wedding dress is a question many brides have. Both feature pros and cons, and what works for one bride may not work for you. Help yourself make this important decision by reviewing the following information.

Renting Your Dress

Renting your wedding dress provides the opportunity to wear a designer-label dress for a mere fraction of its original price.  Most rental stores let you try on a variety of gowns to help you find your dream dress, and some even come with reduced-price or free dry cleaning. Additionally, you won't have to worry about a huge wedding dress taking up closet space once the wedding craziness is over.

On the flip side, it is unlikely you can make serious alterations to a rented wedding gown. There's also no saving it for your children or as a cherished garment from one of the happiest days of your life. You will  have the dress for a limited time only, so you will have to plan your wedding photos with that in mind. Renting a dress also means getting it back to the shop before you leave for your honeymoon.

Buying Your Dress

Buying your wedding dress is generally much more expensive than renting it, however it is yours to keep forever. Wedding gown preservation is another expense, but one that is worth it if keeping your dress is important to you. Make any alterations you want without worrying what the rental place will say. You also don't have to worry about getting the dress back to the shop on its "due date." If something stains the dress, you can have it professionally removed minus the stress of it being a rental.

Again, what works best for you depends entirely on your situation and how you feel about wedding gowns in general!

If you decided to clean your wedding dress yourself to save much-needed cash, read on. The following tips for DIY wedding dress cleaning will help you avoid a wide variety of mishaps.

Prep The Tub

Wash your wedding dress by hand as long as the material isn't silk. Clean the heck out of your tub first to provide your dress with an ideal cleansing environment. Fill your tub about halfway with warm water and a quality detergent such as Tide.

Clean The Dress, Including The Hem

Let the dress soak for about an hour before cleaning the hem with a white sock soaked in clean water and Tide. If the sock doesn't get the dirt out of your hem, use a soft brush. Examine the underarms, neckline, etc. for visible dirt, then rinse and hang your dress. Let the dress dry on a non-metal hanger.

Look For Wood Splinters

Inspect your dress for wood splinters. If you do find some, remove them as carefully as possible with tweezers. 

Steam The Dress

Steam your dress if desired to further remove wrinkles. Hanging the dress after cleaning it should remove the wrinkles, however if you want to steam it hang the dress in your bathroom after a super-steamy shower. This should help remove any leftover wrinkles.

Request Professional Stain Removal

Commission professional wedding dress stain removal if you still notice stains after cleaning your dress. Research wedding dress preservation companies and look for one that hand-cleans dresses on-premise and utilizes a careful stain removal process. Reputable wedding dress preservation companies also provide you with the perfect storage container--an acid-free box featuring acid-free paper. Such boxes are ideal for storing wedding dresses, as they protect gowns from yellowing and mildew.

Hope these cleaning and preserving tips help keep your dress in great condition! Good luck!

Whatever your reason for wanting to preserve your wedding gown, know quite a lot goes into it. Use the following tips to preserve your dress and subsequently avoid the dreaded "yellowing" issue.

Be Ready On Your Wedding Day

Help yourself on your wedding day by bringing items with you that contribute to gown preservation. Items include safety pins for broken zippers, straps, and bustle loops, and lighter fluid for makeup and grease stains. Test the fluid on an inconspicuous part of your gown first in case the fabric dye reacts badly. Baking soda or cornstarch helps disguise spots, while water works on--you guessed it--water-soluble stains. Know what your dress fabric can and cannot endure prior to your wedding day, and leave bad stains to the professionals rather than trying to clean them yourself.

Hang By The Loops

Hang your dress by its loops instead of the straps, no matter how sturdy they appear. Look for the loops on the inside of your dress that are attached to the side seams, not the ones attached to the shoulder seams. The side seams are much sturdier than their shoulder counterparts.

Find The Right Location

Store your dress in a location not prone to changing temperatures. This means the attic and the basement are out. Temperature control is necessary to avoid problems with humidity, extreme heat, and extreme cold...and subsequently the yellowing of your dress.

Forget The Plastic

Do not store your wedding dress in a plastic container or plastic vacuum-sealed bag. This may seem like a good idea, but plastic can trap moisture and result in dress yellowing or mildewing. Not good.

Get Your Gown Professionally Preserved

Work with a reputation gown preservation company if you want to ensure the longevity of your dress. Look for a company that provides individual hand cleaning performed on-site, as well as stain removal and acid-free boxes for gown storage.

If you are marrying for the second time or are simply not interested in the traditional wedding registry, review four fantastic alternatives. Each provides something special that just might pique your interest.

Honeyfund

Looking forward to your dream honeymoon? Have friends and family help out! Honeyfund is ultimate honeymoon registry, a cash registry that allows you to pick and choose what you would like to spend the  money on. Drinks at the hotel pool? A parasailing lesson? How about whale watching or a romantic night on a yacht? Use Honeyfund to make your honeymoon extra-glorious and romantic.

Deposit A Gift

This registry is ideal for couples who prefer to spend wedding gift money on charitable causes. Deposit A Gift makes it easy for friends and relatives to donate to your favorite cause, such as a women's rights organization, local animal shelter, environmental nonprofit, women's shelter, homeless shelter...you get the idea. If you already have everything you need, Deposit A Gift is perfect.

SimpleRegistry

SimpleRegistry makes it possible to put your entire wish list in one convenient space. For example, if you want that blender from Sears and sporting equipment from Modell's, you do not have to create separate registries. Put everything you want in one place...it also makes for easier gift shopping, as your wedding guests have a much wider list of choices to select from.

Card Avenue

Fan of gift cards? This registry is for you! Card Avenue makes it super-easy for guests to purchase gifts for you--all they have to do is buy gift cards instead of hunting down those tennis rackets you want. Additionally, these gift cards never expire so you can use them whenever you desire.

Discuss the above options with your partner to find the perfect registry for your wedding needs. Have fun!

The decision to preserve your wedding dress is one you will likely pat yourself on the back about for years. It is also one that means deciding whether to "go cheap" or spend a little more money. The latter is arguably the best decision, because it guarantees the preservation of this most important gown. Review three reasons to spend a little extra on wedding dress preservation:

Outstanding Service Guarantee

Working with a wedding gown specialist, aka someone who specializes in wedding dress preservation, generally means enjoying a lifetime+ warranty. State-of-the-art technology, dress fabric advances, and the knowledge of a professional equal a wedding dress that will last 100 years or more. Wedding gown specialists know how to work with your specific fabric to ensure its perfect preservation. Can your local dry cleaner claim the same guarantee? Oh, we don't think so.

The Right Materials

A wedding gown specialist can guarantee the ideal preservation of your gown in part because of the materials he or she provides. Acid-free paper with an acid-free box is the combination necessary to optimal dress preservation. Housing the gown in plastic or any old box is a direct path to Yellow Dress Town.

No Risk Of Damage

Preserving your wedding dress through a specialist means no risk of damage, something your local dry cleaner cannot guarantee. Giving your dress to a dry cleaner could mean the gown ends up in contact with other garments or chemicals that melt beadwork or otherwise damage the fabric. Your wedding dress specialist inspects your gown, applies pre-stain and stain treatments as needed, and ensures the dress is completely free of organic stains that will cause yellowing over time. Additionally, you get to inspect the dress before it is placed in the acid-free box.

The decision to preserve your wedding dress will cost around $200--money well-spent, yes?

If you are wondering how much it costs to dry-clean a wedding dress, you are hardly the only one. How much it will cost to dry-clean your gown depends on a number of factors, most of which revolve around your dress fabric. Read on to get an idea of how much dry-cleaning your dress will cost and what alternatives you should take advantage of.

Dry-Cleaning Cost

It usually costs between $100 and $150 to get a wedding dress dry-cleaned so long as the fabric is not extra-fragile and there is not a ton of beadwork or similar embellishments to deal with. If a dry cleaner tries to charge you more than $200, run screaming from the room. Some dry cleaners charge more because they simply do not clean wedding dresses that often. They jack up the price because they are not specialists and are spending more time on the labor.

Do your research to get a price range and ensure your dress is being cleaned by the best option in town. Plenty of horror stories exist about women finding their dresses have been ruined because they went to a less-than-reputable or knowledgeable dry cleaner. Don't let that be you!

Wedding Preservation Specialist Advantage

Rather than going to a typical dry cleaner, consider getting your dress worked on by a preservation specialist. Preservation specialists are experts in everything to do with wedding dress fabric and know how to deal with stains of all types. They also provide the acid-free box and acid-free paper your dress needs to remain unsullied by time.  Professional wedding dress preservation costs about the same as dry cleaning and guarantees the results you want. Some preservation specialists even charge less than dry cleaners because it's what they do for a living!

Remember, it should not cost a small fortune to clean and preserve your wedding dress!

If you are wondering what goes into the wedding dress cleaning process, read on. Professional wedding dress cleaning is indeed a process that requires careful inspection to ensure preservation.

Checking For Stains

First, a wedding dress is checked for obvious stains, such as those from mud, wine, food, and perspiration. Once such stains are noted, the dress is checked for "invisible" stains with a black light. Examples of invisible stains include clear beverages such as Sprite, and white cake icing. Invisible stains might not seem like a big deal, but they can cause the dress to yellow if left on for an extensive period of time.

Checking For Damage

The second stage of wedding dress cleaning is checking for dress damage, such as loose hems and torn fabric. You have the option to leave dress damage as is, in which case the specialist will place a stitch or three in the dress to keep the damage from getting worse.

Cleaning The Dress

Wedding dress cleaning generally involves soaking the hemline, applying spot treatment as needed, and dry or wet-cleaning the gown depending on the dress fabric and care instructions. Silk dresses are usually dry-cleaned, while polyester dresses are generally wet-cleaned. Some dresses feature a combination of fabrics, making working with a specialist crucial.

Post-Cleaning Inspection

Once the dress is thoroughly cleaned, it is inspected once again for any issues. If none are found, the bride inspects the dress before the gown is placed in an acid-free preservation box with acid-free paper.

The Bottom Line

Working with a specialist is highly, highly recommended if preserving your dress is a big honkin' deal to you. Specialists understand how to deal with wedding dress fabric of all types and won't make the mistakes a dryer cleaner might. Go pro if you want to preserve your dress--it is well worth the effort!

Your big day is almost here, and you know you want to preserve your wedding dress. This doesn't mean you have to limit wedding day fun because you are so gosh-darn worried about staining your dress, but you can take a few precautions. Take advantage of the following tips...and remember to have fun on Nuptials Day!

Bring The Right Tools

Keep a stash of safety pins in your makeup bag on your wedding day for emergency use as needed. You may need one for a broken zipper, bustle loop, or torn strap. Whatever you do, do not use tape or staples, as both could easily damage your dress.

Know Your Fabric

Gain a thorough understanding of your wedding dress fabric prior to your big day. For example, a dress made of a synthetic fabric such as polyester will usually survive a spot treatment. Water-soluble stains such as coffee, tea, and mud will usually come out of synthetic fabric when dabbed with cool water. Do not use water on silk or rayon, and DO NOT rub the stain. Spots can also be disguised with baby powder, baking soda, or cornstarch.

Let The Professionals Handle It

Keep in mind it is best to leave stain treatment to the professionals unless said stain is so large and noticeable you might as well change out of the dress. Inorganic stains such as those from makeup or grease can be treated with a solvent such as lighter fluid, however such fluids can also damage the dye within the dress fabric. Perform a spot test on a hidden area of the dress, or just leave the stain be. Organic and inorganic stains should be left to the professionals for best results.

Take your gown to a specialist for preservation--they know what they are doing and will ensure your dress comes back stain-free, beautiful, and ready for storage.