Your gown is an endless cascade of stunning candlelit white. The bodice is corseted up the front as well as the back, your bosom accentuated by a criss-cross lattice design of gold, silver, or black. Your waist is slenderized by a flattering medieval belt that drops to a point in the center, then rises up over your hips on either side. Your skirt is a flowing A-line, the train extending three to four feet from the waist. The pointed tips of your ivory-colored, pearl-studded boots can barely be seen emerging from under the hem. This is a Renaissance wedding procession, and you are the bride.
Renaissance sleeves were long and worn off the shoulder, flaring out around the wrist and crests of the knuckles. The buttoned look was also a Renaissance favorite, some gowns sporting forty or more buttons in a line down a single sleeve. Capes and hooded cloaks were popular. A cape often extended only to the small of the back, though many cloaks trailed behind the noble lady as she walked.
The use of color was boundless. Deeply resonant plums, reds, and yellows, royal blues and purples, hunter and emerald greens, were all acceptable. While the bodices were often stiff and flat, the necklines plunged to point, daringly low, reminiscent of today's box, scoop, and sweetheart designs. Silver and gold brocades lent an elegant touch to the bodice of any Renaissance woman. Full ball-gown skirts were often embroidered in the pattern of a scene from some legend or historical event. The accent of pearls on the neck, wrists, shoes, and tiara crowns were also popular as the ideal complement to any color, however bold.
The weight of fabrics such as silk, velvet, and charmeuse make a Renaissance wedding dress an excellent option for a fall or winter bride. The addition of a hooded cloak or cape would allow for warmth as well as style, as would the length of Renaissance sleeves and full layered skirts. The look of the Renaissance can also be achieved without capes, velvets or silks. Look into substituting lighter fabrics such as satin, rayon, or crepe to accommodate a spring or summer celebration.
