Alternatives to modern barely-there swim wear are available, as I reported in an earlier entry, "Dress with Joy this Swimwear Season."
Alternatives to modern "sexy" bridal gowns are also available. I'm sure there is a listing somewhere else as well (such as at ModestClothes.com/modest formal dresses), but I'll provide here a list of some websites with beautiful photos of
bridal gowns that glorify the purity and beauty of a new bride. Most of these sites also provide dresses for the bridal party, as well as formal wear for other special occasions.[Personal note: after reading several articles about and praying about living modestly and simply, as in the previous articles, I think that it is also possible to buy, borrow, rent or make a wedding dress for a modest amount of money; but you must look carefully and think creatively. You may even consider breaking the whole "bridal gown" tradition in favour of using what would have been spent on a gown for good works; but that, of course, is up to you.] above image from BridalImage.com
Let me first remind you of my understanding of my thoughts on dressing with joy and pride when appearing in a formal situation:
* You don't need to be undressed to be pretty. Please have a look at these websites, and any others you can find in a web-search on "modest wedding gowns". The ladies that you see are extremely beautiful and classy. right image from Eternitygowns.com
* Dressing discretely at your wedding does not mean that you are ashamed of the body you are presenting to your new husband. The Christian lady will remember the description of the holy city being "adorned as a bride" for her husband, Christ. There is a sense of glory, beauty, wonder and even splendor in being dressed for him. The description of the woman's breasts as being something to satisfy really are directed toward her husband and no one else. He should be able to "rejoice in the wife of his youth" and be satisfied with her breasts - can he do that if everyone else is rejoicing in them too? If either the bride or the groom wants to show off what he's got, that is considered pride, and it also places her body as a prize rather than something which he will cherish as precious and special for him alone (as illustrated in Song of Solomon).
* Men do not just need to learn to live with women baring their chests in public. They really don't.
image from Allposters.comHere's an article on how to pick your modest bridal gown: "Modest Wedding Dresses for Every Kind of Girl," from Buzzle.com, which begins with these lines: "I think it would be safe to say that today most brides prefer sleeveless wedding dresses. However, you might be surprised to know that many brides prefer modest wedding dresses and you might be even more surprised that they look lovely in them." (This article was written in January 2007) Published in January 2006, is "The Hunt for a Modest Wedding Dress", showing that women were looking for alternatives to the modern styles without being "frowsy" a long time ago, such as online sites, what to tell your seamstress, or how to do it yourself. You see, it is not impossible to retain your modesty and dignity if you really want to. See also the articles under the topic "Modest Wedding Dress" at LoveToKnow.com, for more descriptions and help on finding the perfect dress for your once in a lifetime occasion.
None of the following websites paid me for promoting them. The fact that these are listed does not mean that you will approve of every thing that you see, nor need you. These websites are merely provided to present you with a list of some of what IS available as an alternative to the modern strapless or very low cut bridal gown. This list is also not a complete list, and does not include dresses for sale on ebay or craigslist.org. Please, pass on the link to this article if you know of anyone who says, "But there just AREN'T any decent wedding gowns out there!"
Totally Modest
Latter Day Brides
Victoria's Bridal
Eternity
Kathleen's Bridal
Simply Elegant
A Formal Choice
Bonny; Bliss collection
The Bridal Online Store
Gowns by Simple Elegance
Anastasia Modest Bridal
Dress of a Lifetime
Carilynn's Modest Wedding Collection
Lydia of Purple
Katrina Marie Designs
Bridal Fantasies
Legacy Bridal
Simcha Wear
7 comments:
Modesty is a topic that I have grown to appreciate more and more. I wish I had had this post to read 10 years ago when I was shopping for my wedding dress.
That's me as well!
I could never quite understand why precisely on their wedding day, a day during which we are supposed to show purity, some brides choose such horribly immodest fashions. Bare shoulders, bare chests, sometimes even bare bellies... immodest and tasteless.
I wish more brides, parents, pastors could read this. Modesty must be taught so the brides don't question what they will wear on their wedding day. It's such a blessing to hear brides come in and say "it's so wonderful to have choices" or "I never thought I'd get to wear something so modest and beautiful" I count it a great honor to assist brides in honoring the Lord on a day that represents Christ and the church. I honestly don't think brides realize this; they've taken the worlds philosophy of "it's my day"! I'd also like to encourage bridesmaids not to lower your standards for an inconsiderate bride. There's no friend worth loosing a Godly testimony over. The guests will long remember you wearing something you said you'd never wear. Thank you for your stand and allowing me to comment. Dana, owner of Simply Elegant, Modest Bridal and Formal Gowns
Thank you! what a wonderful post... I run a blog with a friend called The Christian Wedding Blog - http://www.christianweddingblog.blogspot.com - would you mind if we linked to your post?
THANKS FOR THE GREAT POST!! So encouraging...
I own Chatfields Bridal Boutique in St. Louis, Missouri. Our shop is all-modest, which means no strapless, backless, or plunging necklines. All the wedding dresses have modest necklines and sleeves. Please take a look at our website to see many modest options we offer. Chatfields Boutique. You might also want to check out Modest Couture a line of vintage inspired wedding gowns at Modest Couture.
We made the decision about a year ago to be an all-modest only bridal store. Modesty is so difficult to find, that we have brides drive hours to our shop.
Thank you for listing the modest bridal stores. These are lovely store owners that have also chosen to serve brides that choose modesty.
I am from Kenya in Africa and I must say that I am so happy to have come across this link and i truly appreciate and give thanks to our loving God for enabling me to find this before I even get engaged. thing is, my sister and i had to walk in and out of bridal boutiques in search of modest wedding gowns to no avail.(sadly, like overseas, Africa's modesty and morality is on the decline).It was tiresome as well as disappointing and we ended up having to find a tailor who could make something that was truly modest for my sister's wedding.
These links have come just at the right time and I certainly will forward them to my single young modest ladies who still value their dignity as well as self-worth.
Our bodies are the temple of the Lord and thus should be honored and respected. the best thing we could ever give to our husbands is our chastity and one way of showing our chastity is by how we dress everyday. i love this link. Thank you so much and may God abound His grace unto you always.Be blessed
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