You don’t need to be a seamstress to understand wedding dress descriptions. Just check out this easy guide to the glitz and glamour that top wedding fashion designers add to wedding gowns.

Appliques: Unlike patterns, appliqués are separate pieces of fabric sewn onto your gown to add texture and dimension.

Beading: Individual beads sewn or glued onto fabric for shimmer and weight. Beads are often made of seed pearls, crystal, glass or semi-precious gems. Be sure to ask what specific materials are used to add beading to the dresses you try on.

Embroidery: Generally sewn in a contrasting shade, embroidery is done by hand or machine to add texture and patterns to plain fabric. If you’re looking for very light touches of color, consider embroidered floral elements.

Fringe: Popular in the 1920’s, fringe adds movement and weight to fabric. Fringe has a tendency to look costume-ish when overused, so look for delicate uses of fringe.

Jewels: Small crystals glued to fine mesh create the illusion of glittering bare skin. Often used on the back of dresses and at the neckline, this elegant, sparkling embellishment looks gorgeous on formal wedding gowns.

Ribbons: Often used as a sash, ribbons can be very thin or very wide. Modern wedding gowns often use a satin ribbon to add a splash of color to the waist.

Trim or Edging: Sometimes used interchangeably, these decorative design elements are used at the borders and edges of your dress. Look for trim at sleeves, necklines and hems. Trim is often ruffled, braided or delicately scalloped.

Sequins: Made of synthetic materials, sequins are tiny iridescent discs generally attached to a dress with a clear monofilament thread. Generally avoided for daytime weddings, sequins can add drama and shimmering style to an evening wedding gown.

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