Best Wedding Dress Fabric for Beach Ceremonies: Chiffon vs. Satin

I got married at Riu Montego Bay. The one in Jamaica. Gorgeous place honestly. We picked it mostly cause we wanted something easy, like all inclusive, don't have to coordinate a million vendors, you know. But anyway this is about the chiffon wedding dress.

I wore a lace chiffon thing. Actually I don't even know the style name I just tried it on at the store and it felt light so I went with it. Didn't really think too much about the beach part until later when I started panicking.

Okay so sizing. I'm normally a 10/12. Not sure why I ordered a 16. I think I read somewhere that wedding dresses run super small and I got scared. It came and I put it on and honestly I looked like I was wearing someone else's dress. The top was okay but everything else was just huge. Skirt was dragging on the floor. Couldn't even walk properly.

My mom was like that's way too big, I was like I know. So I had to get it shortened obviously. Found a tailor near the resort cause we flew in a few days early. She did it in like two days. Also the back was a little loose. Like the lace part around the waist. She took it in. Nothing crazy.

The dress itself had these ties in the back and also a zipper on the side. I honestly didn't care about that when I bought it but I was so glad later cause the ties weren't long. Like some dresses have those really long ribbons and I feel like they would've been flying all over the place cause it was windy. Not like super crazy windy but enough that my veil kept going in my face. So yeah the ties stayed put. And the zipper just made it easier to get in and out. Not a big deal but when you're doing photos and changing jewelry and stuff it helps.

I didn't wear a bra. The top had enough padding or structure or whatever. I was nervous about that cause I usually don't go braless but it was fine. No straps to worry about. No adjusting. I feel like strapless bras are the worst invention ever, they never stay up on me. So that was nice not having to deal with it.

The chiffon thing people talk about with beach weddings, it actually makes a difference. I saw another bride there wearing something really heavy. Big skirt, lots of layers. She looked beautiful but she was also like sweating and her dress was picking up all this sand and stuff at the bottom. Mine was light. It moved when the wind blew. Not in a bad way, just like floated a little. I didn't feel hot in it. I mean I was hot cause it's Jamaica but I don't think the dress made it worse.

I had this bouquet with birds of paradise. The orangey red ones. My florist recommended it for a tropical vibe. I was like sure. It looked good in photos actually. I wore some blue jewelry too, just some pieces I already had. Nothing expensive. I figured it would match the water. The water at that resort is crazy turquoise. Like insanely bright. I'd seen photos but it's different in person.

The ceremony was at the gazebo. The white one, you've probably seen it. There's like these stone steps going up and then a red path. My dad walked me down the path. The dress didn't get stuck or drag too much which was good cause I was worried about that after the hem. The tailor did a good job.

Photos. We did a bunch. Some by the gazebo, some on the beach, some just walking around the resort. The photographer was really nice, she told us where to stand and what to do. I'm not good at posing so I just followed directions. The dress looked white against the ocean, popped against the greenery, all that. The lace details showed up more than I expected. I thought lace might get lost in photos but it didn't.

People said nice things about it. A couple guests. The resort staff actually, one of the ladies at the front desk said she loved it. Our photographer mentioned it a few times too. Could've just been being nice but I'll take it.

I don't really have any big advice other than don't order too big. And get it hemmed. And wear something light if it's gonna be hot. That's probably the main stuff.

I think that's everything. Let me know if you have questions about the resort or whatever, I can try to answer.