Confirmation Dresses

Rites of passage are significant milestones in the lives of people all over the world. During these times, young boys and girls become adults, members of their greater communities of faith, and celebrate their lives in the church. To honor the meaning and significance of these occasions, proper attire is customary for the ceremony and particularly when a dress is involved, attire will always be a major part of the experience for the girl of honor. Therefore, the ideal Confirmation dress should be the main consideration for her and her parents when preparing for the big occasion. It is everyone’s desire, including friends and family, but mostly the special girl making the transition, that she feels appropriately dressed and confident in herself when standing before all of the most important people in her life.

For hundreds of years, the dress has been the focus of the occasion for the lady. Whether it’s prom dresses or graduation dresses, whether it’s a wedding, a sweet sixteen or a royal ball, the dress has always set the tone for the way a girl will feel and carry herself through the experience, and Confirmation is often one of the first of these grand occasions for a young girl. Many varieties of Confirmation and First Communion dresses for teenagers are available to choose from, each of them perfect for the right girl.

General Things to Consider for Confirmation

Choosing the right dress can depend on many things. Some churches have certain guidelines for what is allowed and/or what is required. In some cases, a robe is worn over the clothing during the ceremony and the dress is only seen at the gathering afterwards, so it may be wiser to choose something that is not so church-specific and can be used in the future for other things. This may also free you up from having to adhere to certain restrictions. As the ceremony is usually performed around the ages of 12-15, the dress should reflect the coming of age of a young girl. Too many bells and whistles may detract from the fact that the girl is moving into adulthood and might look too childish. It is best to go for clean, simple lines that elegantly display maturity, grace and modesty. The Confirmation ceremony is meant to mark the transition of an innocent child into the age of more conscious, spiritual responsibility and independent choice within the laws of the faith and it is best for the dress to help portray these qualities. For the creative and the crafty, making your daughter’s dress is always an exciting and personal option that leaves you free to fully customize every curve, angle, accessory and detail you can dream of. This is a great way to invest more of yourself and fully integrate you and your daughter’s aesthetic ideas into the occasion. Patterns can be purchased at the local fabric store, and catalogs can be searched for inspiration. For most people, however, simply purchasing a dress will be the way to go.

Choosing Confirmation Tops

Regardless of how the dress is acquired, there are definitely a few key factors to keep in mind. Unlike a First Communion dress, which is generally all white and incredibly ornate with lots of elaborate detail like beadwork, different laces, trims, airy tulles and flowing veils, confirmation dresses for girls have less reminiscence of a wedding dress and more elements of modesty and simplicity. The intensity of decoration and embellishments to shoot for should be somewhere between wedding gown and Sunday morning church service. Shoulders should be covered, even if the dress is sleeveless or has thin straps. This is best accomplished employing additional garments like shrugs, sweaters or shawls. These separate elements are the key to having more freedom in choosing the dress as it no longer needs to come with long sleeves attached and allows you to choose a dress that can double as a great evening dress for any future occasion. As you do not want the attire to be too revealing, classic v-necks or scoop necklines are a great option for confirmation dresses for girls. Sleeves can be full length, mid length, or short.

Ideas for the Ideal Confirmation Bottoms

Tea-length to floor-length dresses and skirts are ideal. Calf length skirts and dresses are a nice in-between. Sometimes a full-length gown is everything you are looking for. This length can be both conservative and elegant, and is also a great option if the girl is getting confirmed in colder seasons. A tea length skirt or dress is great for the girl with a spry personality. Worn with tights, it can be a very practical approach that also allows for freedom of movement and is great for warmer weather ceremonies.

Colors and Patterns for Confirmation

The most encouraged and most commonly accepted color scheme for a Confirmation is white, or off-tones of white amongst many branches of this faith. White has long been the color and symbol most associated with purity, freshness, innocence, and goodness. While this is a fantastic choice, this, however, does not in any way imply that this is the only color appropriate for a confirmation dress or that it is the right color for everyone. The dress has to also fit the personality of the girl in it. While lighter colors are strongly encouraged, light beiges, blues, pinks, yellows, grays and purples are also acceptable and fun options. The pattern of the fabric can also be a good thing to accent and decorate the whole ensemble with. If the style or cut of the dress is simple, a flower pattern, for example can be just the right amount of decoration for the look without adding bulk. Polka dots are also a classic, feminine, simple and elegant way to help spruce up a quiet look. Silver dresses and silver or gold details are also a festive option as long as they sparkle is not overdone. They are both festive and neutral colors, with both celebratory and modest qualities and look pretty and appropriate on dresses for juniors.

Confirmation Accessories

Veils seem a bit much for a Confirmation, but that’s not to say that accessories are unwelcome. Jewelry, of course works for Catholics and Lutherans, and is a classic option. Scarves and shawls, once again, are a wonderful accessory to have. They come in many patterns, often with shines and textures and can be worn in many different ways. White or pink flowers can look quaint and beautiful when used to adorn hair. Just one behind the ear or an assembly of some small ones with a simple up-do can beautify and add freshness to the ensemble.

Learn more about Confirmation on this Wikipedia page.

The following video explains more about the sacrament of confirmation.