Try on a Tulle Wedding Dress

Close your eyes and imagine your wedding dress. What does it look like? Do you dream of a fairytale dress with a cloudlike skirt billowing around you? Then you may be in the market for a tulle wedding dress. Tulle is a sheer, lightweight fabric often found in ball gown wedding dresses, though it’s most famous for giving ballerinas their gorgeous tutus. (Learn about all the major wedding fabrics with our wedding dress fabric glossary.)

What Is a Tulle Wedding Dress?

Made of nylon, silk, polyester or other blends, tulle can be stiff and strong or soft and flowing depending on its composition. It’s often used in ball gown wedding dresses to give skirts length and reach; these dresses often feature underlayers of stiff tulle beneath the skirts. This is what gives tulle ball gown wedding dresses their distinctive silhouette. Tulle skirting also appears in some fit-and-flair silhouettes and in mermaid gowns that feature big skirts at the base. When you want to make a statement with your skirt, tulle is the fabric for it.

A layered tulle wedding dress may also include a tulle overlay. This sheer layer of tulle over the front of the skirt gives the dress a dreamy, flowing look. Overlays may also feature beadwork or delicate appliqués that drift over the dress. A tulle overlay looks amazing on all types of dress silhouettes, including ball gowns, A-lines and sheath dresses.

Finally, tulle can also create illusion necklines, sleeves and backs. The fabric is so thin and sheer that it can look invisible on the skin. Designers often add artistic appliqués to tulle fabric; these beautiful pieces seemingly float across the bride’s décolletage, along her arms or down her back.

Is Tulle the Right Fabric for You?

If you already have your heart set on a ball gown with a cotton candy skirt or have fallen hard for an illusion neckline, then set your sights on a tulle wedding dress. Otherwise, it’s important to recognize some of the challenges with tulle. This fabric is delicate and snags easily. You’ll need to be careful putting on a dress with tulle sleeves or a tulle neckline. You also don’t want to wear a necklace with a tulle illusion neckline, as it could easily pull on the fabric.

At The Knot, we offer a wide variety of tulle dresses in different silhouettes and at various price points. Start your search for the perfect tulle wedding dress today.

Tulle wedding dresses