They really are, you guys!
Seriously, I cannot more highly recommend springing for a few fabric swatches in the colors/fabrics you’re planning to use for bridesmaids’ dresses, wedding gowns, etc. Sometimes colors can (and usually do) look COMPLETELY different on your computer screen than they do in real life, especially if the fabric in question has a certain shine or shimmer to it. Having a physical swatch also helps you see what a color looks like in both artificial and natural lighting.
Take, for example, the swatches I recently ordered from Weddington Way to help me finalize the decision for our bridesmaids’ dresses. We’re decidedly going with the Alfred Sung line by Dessy, but the Alfred Sung dresses come in two options of fabrics: dupioni and peau de soie. Seeing as how I’m far from a fabric connoisseur, I really needed to physically see the fabrics, IN PERSON. I figured purchasing swatches would also help me settle on the final color choice for the dresses, too. They arrived yesterday, and I’m pleased to announce that I’m totally satisfied with what I see:
In the terrible, artificial light of my bathroom
Inside, next to my kitchen window
In the backyard
You guys, I’m totally in love with the dupioni. The “dahlia” color is so vibrant and punchy in person, and I think it’ll make a fabulous contrast against the silvery gray of the groomsmen’s attire. The sheen to the fabric also picks up perfectly on the shimmery, wintery aspect of our theme and color palette, I think. Dupioni, it is!!!
Did you order fabric swatches of the colors and/or fabrics you were considering for your bridesmaids’ dresses? Did the swatches ultimately influence your final decision, or did they pretty much look how you figured they would? Anyone else going with Alfred Sung dupioni dresses?
I actually went to the bridal shop and looked at the fabric swatches there. Isn’t the Dahlia shade beautiful? I used Dahlia, Watermelon, and Majestic for my BM dresses. I chose 8 styles for them to choose from. I’ll post pictures soon! However, I did order fabric swatches for my table linens and napkins. It worked out great.
Such a difference in the colors in different lighting!
Which is the closest?
I do agree with swatches if you’re doing any online ordering.
I ordered swatches/samples for the silk rose petals I used.
I also ordered fabric swatches have them on-hand when shopping for other items–helped me match ribbons and check how well various wedding-related colors and fabrics went together. I’m not visual (NO imagination), so swatches were vital. Being able to just pull a swatch out of my purse in the middle of Michaels or JoAnn Fabrics was invaluable!
I agree – swatches are fabulous, especially when you can’t always remember what exact shade you chose like me! I ordered my girls’ dresses from a small bridal shop and asked if I could get some swatches and they gave them to me for free! I guess it was one of those situations where it didn’t hurt to ask!
The swatches really vary in color depending on the light! I was lucky that we had a Priscilla of Boston nearby so I could see samples in person. But they didn’t have the one swatch I wanted to order the dresses in so I pulled a “what the heck” and ordered them since we didn’t have a strict color palette.
My girls wore Dessy dupioni as well- in daisy. the swatches were so useful to have, I was glad i ordered extras!
Wow what a difference in the colors depending on the lighting. I love the color you chose!
the swatches look big too! i wonder if you can re-purpose somehow?
@Mrs. Archer: I totally forgot about extras–yes, definitely get several of each swatch that you’ve decided on and give one to anyone who is deeply involved in wedding planning with you. I gave one to my mother so that she could look for things on her own when she had the chance. It was absolutely invaluable. I also had one in my car (just in case) and one in my planning book. I ended up cutting a piece off the planning one for my florist, and he found it very helpful.
I really like the colours you’ve chosen though the artificial light makes it look more berry than purple, lol!
Yes I learned to do this the hard way after ordering my MOH dress as a ‘preview’ it was a much lighter shade than I wanted, but thankfully still pretty, so I decided we r gonna keep that color for her and then am ordering swatches to make sure the rest of the girls’ dresses r the right shade. The joys!!! But I totally agree, computer screen variations can mess you up.
@sofarrsogood: Would love to see the pictures! It was originally between Dahlia and Watermelon for me, so I’d love to see those two next to each other. They’re all so gorgeous!
@miascloset: To my eye, the pictures in the natural light are what they look closest to IRL, which is closer to the color I was hoping for!
I ALMOST ordered fabric swatches, but ended up doing something even better for us!
We went with Dessy too (LOVE Dessy!) and in scoping out dresses, we realized that the ties come in the EXACT fabric of the dress we were looking at. That made our decision to order the groomsmens’ ties from Dessy also. And since FH is a regular tie-wearer, we figured we couldn’t lose by ordering a tie in the color we were considering instead of a fabric swatch. If we liked the color and fabric (and of course, the tie itself), one of the groomsmen would have a tie, and we’d get the dresses. If we didn’t like it for our wedding, FH would have a tie he’d wear for other tie-appropriate occasions, and we’d order another one. Turns out, we loved the color, loved the fabric, and loved the tie! So we kept the tie for one groomsmen, ordered 4 more, plus bow ties for our mini-groomsmen, and told the bridesmaids about our choice so they could order their dresses. It was a win-win-win(-win?)!!
Mrs. Armadillo, Houston, Texas Age and Occupation: 23, Graduate Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Armed Security Officer Engagement Date: September 28, 2011 Wedding Date: March 2013 Venue: First Presbyterian Church/Bay City Civic Center About Me: I’m an oldies-loving, board game-playing, coffee addicted fine arts junkie from Southeast Texas in pursuit of her master’s degree in communication studies who met the goofy, strong, artistic, and unexpected love of her life in the beautiful piney woods of East Texas. Serendipity threw us together again and again (and again) on our college campus before we eventually stuck, but when we finally did submit to destiny, we hit the ground running and never looked back! We’re planning a religious, small town, budget-friendly, DIY-infused “winter becomes springtime” ceremony and reception to celebrate the beginning of our lives together with the people we love the most, and are pouring our hearts and souls into making sure our wedding represents us as a couple down to the nitty gritty details and balances tradition with the quirky individuality that is uniquely and unequivocally “us”!
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