For any bride-to-be, the wedding day is a moment of immense joy and anticipation. Every detail, from the exquisite dress…
Planning a temple wedding and don't know where to start? When choosing the perfect modest wedding dress, you should keep in mind a few things. You want to make sure that the dress you choose is comfortable and flattering, but also reflects your style and personality. It’s important to find a dress that makes you feel beautiful, and will be appropriate for the celebration of your marriage.
There are many Latter-Day Saint (LDS) brides these days who keep this in mind when buying one or several pieces of their wedding attire. And since you're getting married in what could be your one and only white dress, it is important to choose a manufacturer who has been in business for years and has an excellent reputation, by word of mouth and in writing.
In this article we will help you find the perfect wedding dress for your big day.
When it comes to custom-made gowns or alterations to existing gowns, Versailles Atelier understands that every bride is unique and requires different levels of customization.
We take into account the bride’s preferences, budget, and timeline. Our experienced seamstresses can make a custom-made gown or make alterations to an existing gown to make it more modest and temple appropriate in as little as 3 to 4 weeks (but understand that this comes at an added cost like a rush fee to prioritize your dress). But the more time you give yourself the less stressed (and less expensive) your dress will be!
Not all brides choose to wear their wedding dress when they get sealed in the temple. A lot opt into wearing their temple dress instead. A temple dress is a simple dress that you wear while in the temple (you will wear this every time you visit the temple).
The temple dress is made with soft fabrics (like chiffon, laces, etc), and has no ornamentation on the gown (like sequins, beads, etc). Temple dresses come in a variety of details and sizes, so no matter what your personal style might be, you'll be able to find something that fits you perfectly.
If you choose to wear your wedding dress in the temple on the day of your wedding you will need to follow certain guidelines in order to wear it.
According to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints general handbook on their website a “...brides dress worn in the temple should be white, modest in design and fabric, free of elaborate ornamentation. It also should cover the temple garment. Sheer fabric should be lined. To be consistent with other dresses worn in the temple, a bride's dress should have long sleeves or three-quarter sleeves. Dresses should not have a train unless it can be pinned up or removed for the sealing ceremony.”
If you arrive the day of your wedding in your dress and it does not meet these requirements, the temple will provide you a temple dress to change into for the ceremony and you can change back into your wedding dress before you exit the temple.
If you do choose to have a temple ceremony make sure to contact the temple in advance to schedule. Dates fill up fast, so as soon as you know when you want to get married make that call.
Not all couples choose to go through a temple sealing on the day of their wedding. In order to get married and sealed in the temple, you need to be endowed by the church. Because of this, if any of your family members aren’t endowed they are unable to attend your sealing on your wedding day.
In recent years The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has changed their view on having a year-long waiting period to be sealed if you are married civilly first. Because of this, a lot of couples opt into having a civil ceremony where they can have all family members in attendance.
This has also allowed brides to walk down the aisle with their parents and have a moment they normally wouldn’t have. Brides will also have the ability to not wear a garment modest dress if they choose to have this type of wedding.
If you are endowed, you may still want a modest dress because of the covenants you’ve taken. If you aren’t yet endowed, discuss with your family and see how they would feel if you wore a wedding dress as it is rather than modified to cover garments. This would open the door to more style options than would normally not be available to you.
According to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints handbook, if you choose to have a civil marriage ceremony it should have specific, sacred vows that align with your beliefs. For example, the website's general handbook states that “Marriage is sacred and should be honored and dignified as such. Marriages for church members performed outside of the temple should reflect a spirit of commitment and joy.”
The A-Line Wedding Dress is one of the classic style dresses that modest brides choose for their wedding day. The skirt has an A-line shape, which means that it flares out from around your hips to just below your knees.
These gowns can have more modest necklines as well as a sleeve of some kind. If the neckline isn’t high enough or has a long enough sleeve, ask your bridal stylist the best ways to make these changes to accommodate your modest style preferences.
This type of dress is perfect for any bride who is looking for a classic style with easy ways to modify for any religious purpose, including temple weddings.
Long sleeve wedding dresses are a popular choice for those who want to wear something that is both elegant and unique. They can be made from many different materials, including tulle, crepe, chiffon and satin. The sleeves can be long or short, depending on the style of dress you choose.
A long sleeve wedding dress is the perfect option for a temple modest bride. Long sleeves are traditionally associated with modesty, so they're often worn by women who seek modesty for their wedding day. Plus, you'll feel comfortable and confident in your new look!
LDS brides wear a lot of different things!
The most common outfit for a modest temple bride is a white dress, but it's only required if you choose to wear it during your temple wedding ceremony. Otherwise, you have the option to choose any color of dress you would like as long as it meets the modesty requirements that go along with wearing your temple garments.
This is why many modest temple brides opt for wedding dresses that are more traditional and formal, like ball gowns or long sleeve lace gowns. These dresses are often specifically designed for brides who seek modesty on their wedding day, with touches like pearls or lace that evoke the style of 19th-century America.
These brides also often choose to wear veils as part of their wedding day outfits for photos, ring ceremonies or if they choose to have a civil wedding ceremony before their temple sealing. Veils can be made out of silk or lace, depending on what style you prefer.
Latter-Day Saint brides also commonly wear gowns that appear white in color (most modern day ‘white’ dresses are a light Ivory as true white is no longer made by wedding dress designers). The main requirement is that the bride's dress be modest and not reveal too much skin if worn inside the temple or following the guidelines of their temple garments.
Many times these dresses have long sleeves and skirts that come down to the ankles.
There is a lot of symbolism behind wearing white on your wedding day. Wearing white as a modest temple bride reflects the covenants you make when you are endowed, which are traits these brides hope to embody on her special day.
You can wear a wedding dress in the temple!
The temple is a sacred place where we seek to connect with God and one another. It is also a place where we come to be sealed together as families are forever. In order for you to wear your wedding dress in the temple, it needs to be modest in coverage. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact your local temple or ward house and they will be happy to help and answer any questions you have.
Modesty, which is defined as "an attitude of propriety and decency in dress, grooming, language, and behavior," has always been a central tenet of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Dressing modestly, acting respectfully, and caring for one another are all ways that we strive to bring God honor. The Church's teachings on modesty are discussed in greater detail here.
The garment worn in the temple is a reminder of the covenants you make with God. The temple garment is meant to be worn as an undergarment, covered by other clothing, including your wedding dress.
More information about the temple covenants can be found on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints website. Or by speaking to your relief society president and/or temple matron.
A modest temple wedding dress needs to cover the temple garments that you have been endowed to wear. Your local bridal shop like Versailles Atelier Bridal in South Jordan, UT can help you design and make a beautiful modest wedding dress that meets the modesty requirements. If you have any questions about covering your temple garments, modesty, or your wedding dress, you can ask the temple matron or the Relief Society President.
A temple wedding is a beautiful, simple, spiritual ceremony with close family and a few friends. It is important to find out from your chosen temple what your guest capacity will be. Your temple matron or relief society president can answer your questions and help guide you through planning your temple wedding.
After your temple wedding, it's time for the reception! During the reception, guests will enjoy delicious food (and maybe even a dance floor) as they celebrate this special occasion. This is where any of your family members and friends that were unable to attend the temple sealing will come to celebrate your special day.
Some also opt into doing a luncheon after the ceremony if you have a morning sealing so you can feed yourselves as well as your close family and friends before the reception starts.
When getting sealed or married in a temple, it is customary to invite close friends and family members. They need to be baptized and active in the LDS Church with a current temple recommendation.
A variety of different sized sealing rooms can be found in each temple. The temple will need to know how many people will be attending your ceremony and they will let you know how to prepare including obtaining your marriage license, living ordinance recommend, arrival times, etc.
If you would like to exchange rings at the sealing ceremony you are able to. Otherwise you can choose to exchange rings later at a ring ceremony with your family and friends who were unable to attend your sealing ceremony.
Ring ceremonies are typically simple with no vows. But there are couples who use their ring ceremony as an opportunity to mimic a ‘civil ceremony’ and exchange vows in front of their loved ones and exchange rings at that time.
The average time for the sealing ceremony is only 20-30 minutes. Arriving at the temple with enough time to complete all necessary preparations for your sealing ceremony is something the temple staff will tell you about.
We at Versailles Atelier have a few one-of-a-kind bridal gowns available for same-day purchase if you have a short engagement timeline. Most of the dresses we sell are custom-made for individual customers so be sure to give yourself ample time for dress ordering and in-person fit alterations once your dress is completed in production.
Our expert staff will hand-select the best dresses that can be altered to become the dream dress you've always imagined, as well as help you custom design a modest temple dress for your wedding day. In order to find the best modest temple wedding dresses for your big day, click here to schedule your appointment.
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