If you're a bride-to-be shopping for a wedding dress in Southern California or Los Angeles, knowing how to properly put on your wedding dress is something you probably haven't thought much about. But on your wedding day, the way your gown is zipped can make a difference in both how your dress fits and how smooth it looks from the back.
At Lovella Bridal, a luxury bridal boutique in Glendale and the Los Angeles area, we've helped countless brides get into their wedding dresses. One of the biggest mistakes we see is someone grabbing the zipper and trying to pull it all the way up while the two sides of a fitted wedding dress are being pulled apart.
Not only can this put unnecessary stress on the zipper, but it can also cause the zipper teeth to become misaligned or even split.
There's a better way to do it. And once your wedding dress is zipped, there's also an easy bridal stylist trick you can use to smooth any back skin or creasing around the top of your gown.
Watch the Video: How to Properly Zip a Wedding Dress
In this quick tutorial video, Nayri, Wedding Fashion Expert and bridal stylist at Lovella Bridal, demonstrates exactly how two people can work together to safely zip a fitted wedding dress.
You'll also see how she adjusts the bride's skin around the back and underarm area after the gown is zipped to create a smoother, more polished fit.
This is a great video to send to your mom, maid of honor, wedding planner or whoever will be helping you get dressed on your wedding morning.
Don't Pull a Wedding Dress Zipper Up in One Motion
One of the most important things to remember is that you don't want to force a wedding dress zipper closed when the two sides of the gown are being pulled far apart.
Wedding dresses can be extremely structured and fitted, particularly through the bodice. Trying to make the zipper do all the work puts unnecessary tension on it.
Instead, have two people work together.
One person should gently bring and hold the two sides of the wedding dress together near the zipper. A second person can hold the bottom of the zipper to create tension and slowly begin zipping the gown.
The goal is to allow the zipper to close the dress rather than asking the zipper to pull the entire dress together.
Why Wedding Dress Zippers Can Split
When a wedding dress is tight, it can be tempting to grab the zipper and pull harder.
Don't! When the two sides of the dress are too far apart, the zipper teeth can become misaligned. Continuing to pull can cause the zipper to split or potentially create a wedding dress malfunction at exactly the moment you don't want one.
Instead, stop and reposition the gown.
Bring the sides of the wedding dress closer together, maintain gentle tension at the bottom of the zipper and slowly continue upward.
If your wedding dress has a hook and eye closure at the top, fasten that as well once the gown is properly positioned.
What If Your Wedding Dress Has Two Zippers?
Some wedding dresses have more than one zipper as part of their construction.
The same technique applies to each one.
In Nayri's demonstration, the gown has two zippers. She repeats the process for the second zipper by holding the dress together while another person maintains tension at the bottom and carefully pulls the zipper upward.
Whether your wedding dress has one zipper or multiple closures, patience is much better than force.
Why Does Back Skin Show Above a Wedding Dress?
Once a fitted wedding dress is zipped, you may notice skin gathering or creasing around the top edge of the gown.
This doesn't necessarily mean your wedding dress is too small.
A structured, fitted bodice is designed to sit closely against your body. As the two sides of the gown are brought together and zipped, your skin can naturally get pushed toward the center of your back or upward around the top of the dress.
Before deciding that something is wrong with the fit, try repositioning the skin.
The Bridal Stylist Trick for Smoothing Back Skin and Creases
Once the wedding dress is completely zipped, Nayri uses a simple trick to create a smoother-looking back.
Rather than leaving the skin where it was pushed while the dress was being zipped, gently smooth it downward and outward toward the underarm area.
You're essentially redistributing the skin that became compressed toward the center of the back when the fitted gown was closed.
This small adjustment can make the back of a wedding dress look noticeably smoother without changing the fit of the gown itself.
It's also something you can practice during your wedding dress alterations so the person helping you get dressed knows exactly what to do on your wedding day.
Practice Getting Into Your Wedding Dress Before the Wedding
Your wedding morning shouldn't be the first time your mom, maid of honor or other designated helper learns how your wedding dress works.
At one of your final fittings, have that person pay attention to exactly how your gown should be put on and secured.
Does it have a zipper and hook and eye? Two zippers? Interior closures? A corset? Buttons? Detachable pieces?
Wedding dresses can be much more complicated to put on than everyday clothing, and every gown is different.
Ask your seamstress or bridal stylist to demonstrate anything that isn't obvious. Taking a quick video on your phone can also give your designated helper something to reference on the wedding day.
Never Force Your Wedding Dress Zipper
Above everything else, remember this: if the zipper isn't moving, pulling harder isn't necessarily the answer.
Pause and figure out where the tension is coming from.
The dress may simply need to be repositioned. The two sides may need to be held closer together. Fabric may be getting caught. Or the zipper may need to be realigned before you continue.
Taking an extra minute to carefully zip your wedding dress is much better than dealing with a broken zipper minutes before walking down the aisle.
Final Thoughts on Properly Zipping Your Wedding Dress
Knowing how to properly zip a wedding dress is a tiny wedding-day detail that can prevent a much bigger problem.
Have one person hold the sides of the gown together while another maintains tension and slowly works the zipper upward. Don't try to force a tight wedding dress closed with one big pull.
Once the dress is completely zipped, take another moment to adjust the fit. If skin has gathered around the top of the gown, gently smooth it down and toward the underarm area for a cleaner, more polished appearance.
And most importantly, teach whoever will be helping you get dressed how to do all of this before the wedding day.
Wedding Dress Shopping Tips from Lovella Bridal Los Angeles
If you loved exploring the top bridal trends from New York Bridal Fashion Week, Lovella has even more expert advice to help guide your wedding dress search. As a leading luxury bridal boutique in Southern California, we’re here to make your shopping experience stylish, joyful, and stress-free.
Explore more helpful posts:
- What To Expect When Wedding Dress Shopping For The First Time
- The Wedding Dress Trends Every Los Angeles Bride Is Loving
- How To Choose the Perfect Wedding Dress Silhouette
- Why Every Bride Needs a Bridal Stylist
About Lovella
If you're shopping for your perfect wedding dress, come visit us at Lovella Bridal in Glendale, CA. We carry wedding dresses in all sizes and styles, including plus-size bridal gowns and a full selection of veils and accessories. Lovella Bridal is the premier, luxury bridal wedding dress shopping boutique located in Los Angeles, California. Lovella features couture, feminine, modern and chic bridal gowns in all sizes from the best wedding dress designers. Schedule an appointment to find the wedding dress of your dreams at Lovella Bridal. We can't wait to help you!
About Wedding Fashion Expert
Our wedding dress shopping tips and advice are from Nayri, Lovella's own, in-house wedding fashion expert. Nayri is truly the expert when it comes to bridal fashion and wedding style. As the Wedding Fashion Expert, Nayri is the top bridal fashion stylist and the best-selling author of the book "I'm Getting Married And I Have Nothing To Wear," the ultimate guide to helping brides find their wedding day style and their perfect wedding dress. You can subscribe to her YouTube channel or listen to her podcast for more helpful and practical advice on wedding dress shopping.
