The nașă, the couple’s godmother, appears in almost every important photograph: at the ceremony, beside the newlyweds as guests offer their congratulations and at the cutting of the cake. Her dress is seen up close and for hours, so it needs more thought than one worn only for the reception. The aim is not to go unnoticed. It is to look polished while keeping the bride at the centre of the frame.
Start with colour, then think about shine
White, cream, ivory and very pale champagne are the safest shades to avoid, even if yours looks different to you. Under a camera flash and in photographs, light tones look more alike than you might expect. On a long dress, the risk shows most on the upper body, where the eye lands first.
Rich, deep shades sit more quietly beside a white dress: navy, emerald green, deep cherry, dark purple. Powdery pastels can work, but try them on in daylight and not only under the showroom lights, because some lose their colour in photographs.
The second consideration is just as important: how the fabric reflects light. Large sequins, high-shine satin and dense crystal embroidery draw the eye even in a dark colour. Matt lace, fine chiffon or a softly lustrous taffeta give you elegance without competing with the bride’s embroidery. You may also find it useful to read how to judge the right amount of shine in a sequinned dress, because the same principle applies to any fabric that catches the light.
Length and silhouette for a day in several stages
A wedding day usually means a ceremony, photographs, getting in and out of the car, the meal and the dancing. The nașă moves about more than an ordinary guest, because she is often on her feet, greeting people and accompanying the couple. So the first test is how the dress behaves when you do four things in a row:
- walk up and down three or four steps, as at the entrance to a church or venue;
- sit down on a chair and stand up again without holding the fabric;
- raise your arms, as you would for an embrace or to take a photo;
- take a few quick steps and turn sharply.
A midi dress with the hem below the knee is easy to wear through all of this. A long dress can be just as elegant, but check its length with the shoes you will wear on the day, not with another pair. A few centimetres of heel change how the hem falls, and a skirt that is too long gets trodden on on the stairs and dirtied on the kerb at the entrance.
Shoulders and arms matter more than you think
If the ceremony takes place in a church, many women choose to cover their shoulders with sleeves, a jacket or a shawl. Not every church expects this, and it depends on the church and the officiating priest, so it is worth asking beforehand. A dress with three-quarter or long sleeves settles the matter without any extra accessory. In the evening, when the air cools, you will still have something covering your shoulders.
At the fitting, check whether the sleeve pulls when you raise your arm and whether the edge of the neckline stays in place. A V-neck can be a very good choice, as long as it lies flat when you lean down towards a shorter bride or groom, or towards a child. For more on checking a dress with sleeves, our article on wedding dress sleeves describes the same movements, and you can try them just as well in an evening dress.
Two dresses from the collection as examples of cut
These are not buying recommendations. They illustrate the points above, using details confirmed in our catalogue.
The Amour 46 evening dress is a midi in emerald green. It has a bodice and three-quarter sleeves in Chantilly-style lace, a V-neck, a pleated waist and a floaty skirt of fine chiffon falling to below the knee. It combines sleeves and an easy length with a dark colour and a matt fabric. The current price is on the dress’s page, and at the time of writing it is available in a size 44.
If you prefer floor length, Amour 34 is a long navy dress. It has a bodice and three-quarter sleeves in embellished embroidered lace, a V-neck, a pleated waist and a full skirt of fine chiffon. The current price is on the dress’s page. At the time of writing it is available in sizes 46 and 48, and it can be made to measure in other shades or sizes.
Comfort, because the day is long
The nașă cannot slip away quietly after two hours. Check that the waist does not become uncomfortable after the meal and that the fabric does not crease visibly around the hips when you sit. The bodice should also stay in place without constant adjusting. A fabric with some stretch helps, but it is no substitute for a cut that fits well from the start.
Think, too, about what you will wear over the dress, such as a coat for the journey to church or for photographs outdoors. A dress with sleeves sits well under a light coat, while one with volume at the shoulder can be flattened. If the fitting shows that the length, waist or shoulders need adjusting, our evening dress alterations service is the place to discuss what can be changed. How long the work takes depends on how much needs doing, so book well in advance rather than a few days before.
Coordinating with the bride without spoiling her surprise
You do not need to know what the bride’s dress looks like to choose well. It is enough to ask whether the wedding has a main colour, whether the couple have chosen colours for the ceremony or the décor, and whether there is a dress code. If the invitation specifies one, our guide to dress codes will help you understand how formal to be. This information helps you avoid two things: wearing the same colour as the bride, and clashing with the rest of the wedding party closest to the couple.
If you would like to try on a few options in person, in different colours and fabrics, you can book a showroom appointment. Bring your shoes and, if you have them, the jewellery you plan to wear. They almost always change what you choose.
TO BRING TO YOUR FIRST MEETING
- The images that inspire you, and your questions.
- A sense of the occasion and of what makes you feel comfortable.
- The details you would like to discuss with the atelier.