Celebrity wedding dresses: A-lines or headlines?
Gone are the days when all brides walked down the aisle in identical white wedding dresses. Wedding gowns these days say more about the bride's individual style and modern women are breaking the mould when it comes to choosing their wedding dresses.
Style icon Sarah Jessica Parker got married in classic black, Gwen Stefani was pretty in pink on her big day and hip hop star Kelis said her vows in a green gown.
However, it is not just their favourite colour that influences how brides choose their wedding dresses. Many would want to use their bridal gowns to help emphasise their best physical attributes.
When supermodel Heidi Klum married Seal she was five months pregnant with her son Henry. But Heidi knew just how to choose from a wide variety of maternity wedding gowns to look fabulous when she said her vows.
The German beauty opted for one of Vera Wang's maternity wedding gowns - an ivory dress with an empire waistline that proudly showed off her tummy.
Heidi chose Chantilly lace for her outfit, which is considered to be the most delicate lace available. Depending on the detail on the fabric, Chantilly lace could cost up to £300 a metre.
When considering other designer bridal fabrics, brides-to-be should bear a few important factors in mind.
How does it feel?
On your big day you want to feel beautiful and comfortable, so always test how the fabric feels against your skin. Brides-to-be shopping for their ideal designer bridal fabrics should make sure the materials they choose do not scratch or irritate their skin.
Brides jetting off to tie the knot at an exotic location need to consider bridal fabrics that travel well. Organza, chiffon, silk, crepe, crinkle cotton and rayon are all fabrics that are lightweight and wrinkle resistant - making them excellent choices for a destination wedding.
Once a bride has decided exactly how her dress will look, she will need to start looking at different wedding hair styles to complete her bridal look.
Even though your wedding day is the one day when you want to pull out all the stops and look the best you have ever looked, it is not the time to start experimenting with new wedding hair styles.
As soon as you have decided what your dress will look like, arrange with your hair stylist to discuss wedding hair styles that will suit your bridal gown, style and face, well in advance of the big day. Don't limit yourself only to fashion trends or saying "this has always worked for me". Broaden your horizons and consider various styles, colours and accessories when looking at wedding hair styles.
Feel fabulous
Whether you choose an elegant up-do, romantic loose tresses or a funky short style for your big day, hair accessories could be your crowning glory. And with so many to choose from - fresh flowers, tiaras, hair bands, clips and jewels - you will be spoilt for choice.
Brides-to-be considering this abundance of fashion options ahead of their big day might feel overwhelmed, but the one thing they always need to remember is that this will be their one big day and that they are the ones who should feel fabulous.
Don't be a slave to fashion - ask yourself what you will feel like showing your wedding pictures to people in a decade's time. You wouldn't want to hide your wedding pictures from your children, would you?
Make sure that your fashion choices don't make your wedding day one of itching, scratching, wild hair and toe-crushing shoes. And if celebrity wedding dresses can make the headlines, there is no reason why yours can't either.
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