Our complete guide to wedding fabrics

Learning about the different types of wedding fabrics may not be top of your ‘To Do’ list for your big day. However, the right material can make a huge difference to how you look and how comfortable you feel, as well as the overall shape of your gown.

For example, a warm beach location calls for light airy fabrics, such as chiffon and tulle, rather than layers of heavy satin. Alternatively, sleek Mikado is perfect for a structured design with a modern edge, while soft crepe is great for a silhouette that comfortably hugs curves without clinging. 

At wed2b our bridal experts will help you every step of the way. They really do know it all when its comes to luxury wedding fabrics. Simply tell them all about the style of your day and how you like to dress, along with where and when you’re getting married. Then they’ll be able to recommend something fabulous to suit both the setting, the temperature and your personal style.

To get you started, we’ve put together an overview of all our favourite wedding fabrics. So, if you’d like to know your crepe from your Chantilly or your tulle from your twill, read on… 

Chiffon

Chiffon is a lightweight, sheer, matt fabric made from polyester. The name comes from the French word ‘chiffe’, which means cloth or rag. It was originally a very expensive silk fabric and its use in fashion and design often signified high status. 

One of the lighter wedding fabrics, its opaque yet soft fluid movement mean it’s lovely for romantic, feminine silhouettes with drapes and pleating. It very delicate and has a floaty, ethereal vibe too, which is perfect for boho styles. It’s also a great choice for destination gowns or brides who want a less traditional style.

Crepe

Crepe is a luxurious fabric. It was traditionally made from silk, but can now be made from almost any fibre. It’s tightly woven with a grainy surface, and the size and feel of grain depends on the type and weight of the crepe. Crepe varies from thin and lightweight to thick and heavyweight and most crepes have a beautiful drape effect when they move. 

Crepe lends itself to soft silhouettes, such as bias cut or sheath dresses, as it drapes around the body, hugging curves for a beautiful, fitted shape. Modern crepe also has a stretch to it, which makes it very comfortable year round.

Lace

Lace is the perfect bridal fabric; soft, pretty, delicate and detailed. It can also be everything from classic and floral to striking and modern. These are the six main laces used in bridal design...

Alençon lace

Alençon lace uses a technique of intricate needle lace making, practiced in the town of Alençon in Normandy, France. Known as the 'Queen of Lace', due to it popularity with French royalty and its fine detail, the distinct floral pattern, outlined with elegant corded detail, creates a stylish classic look.

Chantilly lace

Romantic Chantilly is a bobbin lace that was popular in 18th Century France. It often features filled-in floral elements with a fine outline. It’s still one of our most loved laces, as its sheer, dainty nature makes it a great choice for wedding dresses.

Embroidered lace

Embroidered lace has a delicate pattern stitched onto tulle, which is then cut out to create an appliqué. This style of lace is the most versatile and very popular in bridal design, and is often seen on striking illusion backs.

Guipure lace

Guipure is a French word for lace that has a thicker thread outlining the pattern. This is often connected with bars or plaits rather than mesh. The effect of this is that the pattern of the lace ‘pops’ a little more and it's ideal for a more dramatic look.

Knitted lace

Knitted lace is a softer lace choice, knitting together dainty threads to create beautiful floral or leaf patterns. This lace easily contours around the body with a slight natural stretch, and is a popular choice for boho designs.

3D lace

On-trend 3D lace features small independent pieces of lace that have been stitched on at the centre of the design. This allows the edges to move freely for the wow-factor effect of real flowers.

Mikado 

Popular Mikado is a heavier type of fabric with a lustrous finish. Its thickness means it holds its shape well and can be used to create dresses with rich structural lines and clean-cut silhouettes. It’s made using a method that originated in Japan, based on a very specific treatment. This technique gives the fabric its voluminous qualities and luminous appearance.

Mikado is often associated with high-end fashion, and is usually used for cleaner designs that focus on simple silhouettes rather than lots of detailing. There are also different types of Mikado, including embroidered brocade Mikado. The lustrous sheen, which is more matt than satin, gives it a luxury feel and makes it ideal for brides who want a touch of shimmer without lots of glitter and glitz.

Organza 

Organza is a crisp, lightweight fabric that’s quite delicate. It has a thin, sheer appearance and holds its shape, but moves softly as you do. Organza originated in China, where this fabric was first cultivated. It was traded along the Silk Road, the trading route from China to Europe. Then production spread around the world. China is still the biggest producer and exporter of organza today.

There are many types of organza from shiny to matte, as well as heavier weaves called organdy. Organza is used to create lots of different silhouettes, and often features in layered voluminous gowns. It adds volume without too much weight, and is great as an under layer between lighter fabrics and lining layers. Its bounce also makes it perfect for fun, frothy skirts and it’s ideal for a soft, romantic feel.

Satin

Satin is very traditional for both bridal and bridesmaid dresses. It’s a woven fabric with a smooth surface and high sheen on one side, which has a lustre that catches the light. It dates back to medieval China, where it was made exclusively with silk. The weave originated in the Chinese port city of Quanzhou, which was called Zaitun in medieval Arabic. Hence the name satin today.

There are different weights and grades of satin. Heavier weights, such as Duchess and Matt, are used to create stiffer silhouettes. Softer and thinner satins, such as Charmeuse and Double-faced, give a more fluid drape. The beauty of satin is its lovely sheen. It’s also very durable and the different weights means it’s suitable for all seasons. 

Tulle

Lastly we have tulle, a fine net-like material. It has a softer drape than net and is lighter and a touch stiffer than chiffon. It’s named after Tulle, a city in the southern central region of France. In the 18th century it was known as the centre of lace and silk production, and early tulle netting originated here. 

Tulle is often used to make full ball gown skirts and veils. It’s also used for sheer illusion panels, necklines or barely-there sleeves on all styles of wedding dress. These might be plain or decorated with pretty lace appliqués. Plain tulle has a floaty fairytale feel while glitter tulle is a great choice for sparkling princess brides.

Material girls

So, which of our fabrics is 'The One' for you? Are you floaty organza, sensuous satin, modern Mikado or one of our other beautiful materials? If you’re not sure, our friendly bridal experts (both online and instore) can help. Simply head to your nearest store and they can offer personalised advice tailored specifically to you and your special day. So drop in today, they can’t wait to see you!

Click here to explore all our wedding fabrics and wedding dresses, then try on your favourites at your nearest wed2b store. Here’s what to expect when you visit, too. Lastly, for more inspiration, check out our Instagram, Facebook or TikTok accounts.