Wedding Dress Fabric Swatches
Creative ways to use fabric swatches
By Natalie Tsang
September 7, 2011
One part of the wedding dress shopping experience is getting fabric swatches. Venues that sell online wedding dresses usually have swatch books with several samples or allow you to order them individually. If you buy a wedding dress from a bridal store, you can also request a fabric swatch. It often takes several weeks to prepare a dress and in the mean time, you can use the swatch to find matching shoes, a veil, and other accessories. But, there are so many other things that you can do with them!
Having a swatch after you’ve picked out your dress can help you select décor if you’re working within a specific or narrow color palette. Swatches vary in size from a two inch square to the size of a handkerchief. Some brides carry swatches with them all the time to keep them inspired and in a constant state of preparedness. To prevent the swatch from fraying, keep it in an envelope or coin purse. If you have several swatches, you can keep them in a mini photo album.
If your bridesmaids are doing their dress shopping individually, you can always cut up your swatch and mail them each a sample. This will help her choose a dress in a matching color and texture to yours. In cases when the bride chooses a non-traditional color, this can also avoid the problem of a bridesmaid choosing a dress that is too similar to the bride.
If you are having a destination wedding or are having your wedding in a different city, you should send your planner or coordinator a sample to narrow down décor choices. The color and feel of the fabric can be a major inspiration.
The actual fabric swatch can also be featured in the wedding. A larger piece can be used to wrap the bridal bouquet. When you do the bouquet toss, one lucky girl will not only get the bouquet but also a part of a wedding dress. The fabric can also be transformed into flowers to decorate a veil, your mother’s corsage, or the guestbook. A smaller piece can be used for the groom’s boutenniere. If you invested in an entire swatch book, you can incorporate the fabric into escort or place cards for a colorful and unique touch.
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