Catholic Brides! Help! What is "modest" in terms of dresses?? What did your dress look like?

Question

Hi! I need some help here...I have a very specific style of dress that I want to wear for my Catholic wedding, and I need to know if it's OK.

My dress will be a V-neck sleeveless mermaid style dress (fitted from chest to lower thighs with a flare/train at bottom). I have an hourglass figure, like my curves, and don't want to wear a shapeless A-line or ballgown that covers everything up. I am petitie and curvy, so I don't want my dress to be wearing me!

That said, I need to know if I can "get away" with wearing this kind of dress for the ceremony. I am considering having a lace formal jacket made if need be as a cover.

My priest seems pretty laid back and says he doesn't know anything about fashion or lay down specific rules for brides, so he wasn't much help. I don't think he's that strict, but I would hate to get my dress and not be able to wear it. Yikes! I am concerned because not many brides wear the style of dress that I want.

Eva Longoria wore a similar style for her wedding, if you need an example of what my dress would look like.

"Mommy to Seven" I don't need your lecture and that was very rude and un-Christian like. If you assert yourself to be religious, then prehaps you need to examine your own virtues. OF COURSE I have been praying. OF COURSE I have been taking my pre-marital classes seriously. I take my future marriage *very* seriously. In fact, I am walking down the aisle *with* my fiance (symbolizes a partnership) as per trational Catholic "rules". I refuse to partake in the secular and sexist "giving away" of the bride, and the attention seeking grab of making a big grand entrance and the solo walk down the aise. None of that crap is in the bible. Did you walk with your fiance down the aise at your wedding? Just because I want to look good for myself and my fiance should give you no idication that I will be a bad wife or mother. Just because I like my figure and don't plan on having 7 kids doesn't mean I will be a bad wife.

oops...meant "indication"...

P.S. I also wanted to add that I *didn't want* a large fancy wedding. My fiance did. He said that he *wanted* to have a dress custom made for me. In a style that I felt good and comfortable in. All I requested was that it must be a religious (Catholic) ceremony. I hate it when people make assumptions....I'm asking for help, not demanding a lecture.

Answer 1

I have known a couple Catholics who got married and they wore whatever dress they wanted (I think they wore strapless), but they covered their shoulders while in the church ceremony. A lace bolero jacket or some other light shoulder covering should do the trick.

Answer 2

The V-neck can't be too low -- you don't want to be showing a ton of cleavage.

Do you mean sleeveless as in a halter style or does the dress have actual straps or shoulders to it? Or is it strapless with one of those V-shaped cuts in the front? Strapless are often frowned upon, but not always. Strapless with a V-shaped cut in the front would be pretty racy. If the dress has shoulders instead of straps, you can probably wear it without any sort of lace jacket at all. If there are straps only, straight ones (not halter), you can have little cap sleeves made to velcro/tape in for the church and then quickly remove them afterwards for photos and reception. (Or have your photos taken without, then add the sleeves for church and remove them again later). Halter straps are just about impossible to add sleeves to.

If you chose to go with a bolero jacket or something like that for a covering, make sure the lace is "dense" enough to provide modesty, otherwise it's really not worth it. Another option is a sort of mini cape.

Answer 3

I/m Catholic too & say wear whatever you want. I know you will look very elegant & classy (& won't be walking down the isle in a bikini). I wore a strapless gown and felt stunning by no means did I feel like I was offending anyone!! It is the year 2007 and we do live in America so the Catholic Church here is different from other countries & in years past. I really wouldn't worry & btw do not cover up with a shawl it takes away from the gown. During the ceremony is when everyone can admire you gorgeous dress....you only get to wear it once so enjoy!!

Answer 4

Sounds fine, though just for general information on the day you wouldn't want your boobs hanging out anyway, so as long as that's not happening with this dress, you'll be fine.
I wore a very traditional gown, but that's what I looked great in!
And, actually, where I'm from that type of dress was very common several years ago... so I don't think you need to worry about it. If it passes inspection with your Catholic mom, you're probably fine!

Answer 5

For my friends Catholic wedding, she wore a strapless gown, but had the bridal shop order some cap sleeves for her that just buttoned into her dress. She wore the little sleeves for the wedding and took them off for the reception. If your Priest stated that the specific church you are being marrried in doesn't have any regulations regarding attire then feel free to wear you dress the way it comes. However, if you are still concerned, bridal shops and alterations shops should be able to make little cap sleeves to go with your dress.

Answer 6

I cannot see that it really matters what you wear.
You were born naked, what`s wrong with that?
If your god is so picky, why didn`t he insist that you were born with a suit or dress on?
Just because you`ll be in a church it doesn`t mean to say you have to cover up any flesh, all of it or part of it.
Your god is very prudish if he/she insists on what you should wear in a church.
Rules are made by humans, not gods; there is nowhere in any bible that says what you must wear at any time in your life.
Go as you want to.

Answer 7

As others have said, styles have changed. In the old days, a woman in church had to be covered from her shoulders to her knees. Today strapless dresses are very popular, please use a bit of common sense when it comes to cleavage.

Answer 8

So, is this wedding about you and the dress.....or is it about the Sacrament of Matrimony?

That is the question.

No one should have bare shoulders in church- or be showing cleavage. Who are you trying to impress? Is it GOD? And you really need to focus more on your marriage than you do on the trappings for the wedding.

Figure out how much time you are spending on wedding plans- and spend at least that much time in PRAYER asking for the grace you will need to be a good wife and mother.

Answer 9

easily, the way it extremely is it seems "dress-y" despite the fact that it extremely is yours and your hubby-to-be's critiques that count (as long as you do no longer look like finished trash, which that gown would not). i think of it extremely is gonna desire greater desirable than a layer taken off. btw...that is one heck of a gown to bop in! do no longer knock everyone out! haha jk. superb needs to you and your destiny such as your husband!

Answer 10

You may want to cover your shoulders with a shawl