Wedding Gowns & Bridal Gowns

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Mamma Mia isn’t exactly one of my favorite movies, and I’m definitely not one to listen to Abba, but I had a lot of fun with the visual eye candy of the movie. Set in a gorgeous Grecian island, it was only right that the protagonist Sophie would get married looking naturally beautiful in a flowing wedding dress. No frothy gowns made of layers of silk and brocade, no elaborate wedding hairdos held by a thousand hairpins and a can of hair spray, and no two-inch layer of makeup on her face. I love Sophie’s fresh-faced beauty and how her wedding was all about spending quality time with the people she loves. It helps that the island with its tropical flowers and crystal blue seas was breathtakingly beautiful as well!

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Most Hollywood movies with wedding scenes have the leading lady walk down the aisle in a designer ball gown dress, which tends to get a little old and unimaginative. Sophie’s cream-colored wedding dress, on the other hand, was designed by Academy Award winning costume designer Ann Roth and features soft layers of lace and tulle. The dress ends just at her ankles to make it easy for her to dance, and is adorned by sparkling blue beads, which is something you hardly ever see in a white wedding dress.

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Personally, I would have gone for a simpler veil or no veil at all – her long wavy locks are too pretty to be hidden. And gorgeous as the dress might have been, Sophie did tend to look plump in scenes where the dress would bunch up at her mid-section. Empire-cut wedding dresses are generally flattering for most body types, but there’s always the danger of making the bride look slightly round if the dress is too loose or has too many layers. Still, the carefree effect of the wedding dress was absolutely fitting for the setting of the movie, and its hardly surprising that brides who want a laid-back beach or garden wedding try to recreate Sophie’s effortlessly romantic look.