Let’s Talk About Sleeves!!!
We LOVE sleeves!!! There’s nothing like a beautiful sleeve to elevate your wedding look and bring your dress to the next level! For all our brides out there wanting sleeves, we hear you and we are HERE FOR IT! Here are some pros and cons of sleeves that’ll be helpful to know as you go on your dress shopping journey:
Sheer lace long sleeves, by Margeaux Strait Photography
PRO: Looks amazing!
Sleeves just bring instant elegance and romance–we’re OBSESSED with how they look in our brides’ wedding photos! Much like dresses, sleeves come in different styles–some are tighter fitting, clinging to your whole arm all the way to your wrist (standard long sleeves), some are looser fitting, billowing out around your arm and gathering at your wrist (bishop or peasant sleeves), and some are tighter around your bicep and flare out by your wrist (bell sleeves). Any of these styles look stunning in wedding photography!!
Sheer long sleeves with lace
CON: Can feel restricting
If you want to be able to raise your arms, dance, and reach above your head without fear of tearing your dress, then tighter-fitting sleeves (or off-shoulder sleeves) might not be the best option (unless they are detachable, which we specialize in). An issue you’ll face with sleeves that cling to your arms all the way to your wrist is that they’ll have little to no stretch, especially if they’re a tighter tulle or lace material. Certain off-shoulder sleeves will also sit just at the part of your upper arm where if you raise your arms, they’ll tighten and can keep you from raising your arms all the way. If off-shoulder sleeves are looser, this may not be an issue, but it’s something to keep in mind!
PRO TIP: If you want to have the look of sleeves while still being able to raise your arms, there are a couple options for you! Ask if the sleeves can be made detachable, so that you can pop them off for the reception when you are doing all of the hugging and dancing. Consider bicep sleeves, which are made with an elastic band that clings to your upper arm without covering your shoulders. Also consider looser-fitting sleeves–because there’s more fabric to the sleeve, you’ll be able to move your arm around freely.
Bicep sleeves, photo by Cascade Voyage Photography
PRO: Warmth
Many fall and winter (and even some spring) brides look for dresses with sleeves so they won’t get chilly outdoors! SO many beautiful pictures are taken outside during these seasons, and we totally get that you want to match the vibe of the season while also making sure you don’t freeze during the colder months! Sleeves can help keep you warm during your fall, winter, OR spring wedding, and will look GORGEOUS while they do it.
Jean jacket over bridal gown, photo by Allison Harp
Styling Tip: If you want the look of sleeves without committing to a sleeved dress, you can always wear a faux fur jacket, a jean jacket, or a sheer lace jacket to complement your wedding look and give the illusion of sleeves. We offer a wide collection of jackets to complete your wedding look, which you can style with your dress at our shop during an Icing Appointment!
Sheer lace jacket over strapless wedding gown, by Beyond the Gates Photography
CON: Extra Costs
As with everything you buy, extravagance usually equals extra cost. The extra materials and hand stitching/beading needed for sleeves will somewhat reflect in the price of the dress. If you want to add sleeves to a dress that doesn’t already have sleeves, it’s 100% doable and will be an easy addition to your gorgeous gown! The one thing to keep in mind is adding sleeves will come with additional costs, since more materials will need to be added to your order. If you want to completely customize your sleeves, costs will increase again, since all the basic materials will need to be ordered and your sleeve will need to be put together by your seamstress.
Photo by Hunter Ryan Photo
PRO: Conceal Only What YOU Want to Conceal
We think you’ll look stunning no matter what dress you say YES to, but if you’re wanting to conceal anything on your arms or upper shoulder areas, sleeves can be a beautiful way to cover anything that makes you self-conscious and give you that much more confidence on your big day!!
CON: Risk of Damage
Sleeves can be billowy and beautiful, catching in the wind and giving ALL the drama for wedding photos. Unfortunately, those same kinds of sleeves can catch on things SUPER easily throughout the day. If you’re a bride who’s worried about sleeves catching on branches, splinters, furniture, crutches, wheelchairs, etc., you might want to think about opting for a tighter-fitting sleeve. Loose, flowy sleeves are SO pretty but can also drape into food and drinks, and get stained or torn. If these are issues that matter to you, it might be good to rethink the kind of sleeves you’re interested in wearing.
We hope this helped you on your dress shopping journey!! Sleeves are beautiful and come with their pros and cons, but when you say YES to your dress, you’re choosing a one-of-a-kind gown that makes YOU feel like a beautiful bride, and that’s all that matters!! Your dress has to make you FEEL utterly and completely beautiful and if sleeves make you feel that way, you better believe you should wear those sleeves!!! We are here to support your dress dreams and make the dress shopping process simple, easy, and most importantly, SUPER fun!!
If you’re ready to say YES to the sleeved dress of your dreams, you can book an appointment with us on our website here, you can text us at 541-368-2090 or you can give us a call at 541-330-7090, and one of our stylists would be happy to get your appointment on our calendar! We can’t wait to meet you and celebrate your love story while helping you find the PERFECT dress!!!
Cheers!
Your Bella Brides Fam
