Extremely nitpicky but I hate white wedding gowns in fantasy, especially when they make absolutely no sense in the setting. No, that culture in the far north that prioritizes function over form and mostly wears heavy furs would not have the means, ability, or desire to make a sleeveless ivory silk gown with a semi-sweetheart neckline. Please be sensible about this and use your creativity instead of just slapping a Kleinfeld wedding gown into a medieval fantasy setting.
Here’s some tricks to making interesting fantasy wedding dresses:
- Focus on the things that indicate wealth and prosperity in your fantasy culture.
- What materials would your bride have access to and what would make the most sense for her to wear?
- What colors are not only beautiful and culturally significant, but also require expensive or rare dyes?
- What imagery could be used in patterns that are relevant to the culture (animals, plants, family crests, etc)?
- What skills could be displayed in the making of the gown (beadwork, embroidery, fabric painting, etc)?
- What interesting and unique materials can you add that are relevant to the culture (fur, leather, bones, plants, shells, etc)?
- Would your culture be more focused on the amount of material, things like trains and heavy lairs, or on the quality and detail?
- What will happen to the gown after the wedding (worn for other events, turned into household materials, turned into other clothing, etc) and are there details to it that make any other functions easier?
- What other things make the bride stand out (veils, headdresses, jewelry, makeup, body paint, hairstyles, outerwear, etc)?
- Is it more important in your culture for the gown to be made by other people (showing off wealth) or by the bride and/or her family (showing off the bride’s talents)?
For a quick example:
If your wedding ceremony requires the bride to walk through a cold and snowy forest for cultural or religious rites, she would freeze her poor tits off in a sleeveless silk gown. Instead, consider a heavy wool gown in rich colors with elaborate embroidery and a thick cloak, maybe hooded, made of fine furs to show off her family’s wealth. Jewelry, headpieces, and detailing on the gown could be made with things carved from stones, wood, antlers, and/or bones, especially if it’s a culture that prizes hunting skills. Maybe a heavy veil that isn’t just beautiful but also helps protect her face from biting winds during the journey.