Wedding Dresses & Bridal Wear...

I'd imagine my wedding as a fairy tale... huge, beautiful and white." Paris Hilton.

Buying your wedding dress is one of the most important purchases you will ever make. With such an array of stunning styles, colours and accessories to choose from, picking the perfect dress to walk down the aisle in can be a daunting task. Fashion and trends for wedding gowns change with each year and season. The look for 2009 can be categorised in the following main styles.

The Super-short wedding dress is the newest trend for Spring/Fall 2009. Designers have paid much attention to it to satisfy the needs of the most modern and young girls. Showing legs at the wedding ceremony does not look bad any more and designers are cateringto the fun-loving, youthful bride.

Floral embellishmentsare sophisticated and sweet. Bridal wear designers are adding eye-catching rosettes to adorn their collections, placing buds at the hip, neckline and shoulders. The versatility of this trend, means brides can pull off this look at a formal church ceremony but would look just as appropriate at a beachside wedding.

One Shoulder has become a dress trend this season and it is highly appropriate for wedding gowns as well. Toned arms and delicate necklines are ideal for sporting a spring 2009 wedding gown that dares to bare one shoulder. The one-shoulder gown is great for a “Location” wedding for example at the beach or outside. It simple with no fuss, but definitely not boring.

Pockets! While this style was introduced a couple seasons back, its presence can still be seen in spring 2009 bridal fashion. Pockets are the practical addition to the Bridal Gown, a Bride cannot walk down the aisle with a bag of purse, so it is the perfect place to keep that all essential tissue and lip gloss.

Ruffles and Layers.Whether it's tiers of silk organza, wispy tulle or feathers and chiffon - ruffles and layers are a definite "I do" for the bride who loves fantasy and lots of romantic elements this season. Ruffles add volume to an otherwise basic skirt, This style is ideal for the bride who wants to make statement on her wedding day!

Colour Yes, white is still the traditional favourite when it comes to wedding dresses but colour is the new trend for 2009. Not only will softer pastel shades be popular but warmer splashes of colour including scarlet red make their appearance. If this look is too overwhelming, you can add subtle colour by selecting a dress in a pale pastel such as lavender or by adding sashes of colour around the waist.

Veils and Headpieces Feathers are one of the hottest trends to emerge this season as an accent on dress hems, tops and headpieces as well as outrageous feather and flower combs. Headpieces are a strong component of the overall bridal look this season. Veils, hats and hair accessories are graced with feathers, silk leaves and petals. The vintage inspired look of the bridal gown is complimented by the use of includes rhodium or antique-silver hair accessories and jewellery, bird cage or visor veils. But you needn’t to be tied to fashion or the latest trends. You have a theme for your wedding, that will dictate the style of your outfit; if you are having a registry office wedding but have always dreamed of a full princess-style dress with a veil then there is no reason why you shouldn't have it. Similarly, if your wedding is to be a big church wedding or in another grand building that doesn't mean you need a big dress to match. You may not choose a dress at all, but instead you may feel more comfortable in a smart suit; the main thing is that you feel a million dollars on your wedding day!

When starting to look for your bridal dress it is a good idea to go with a completely open mind and try lots of different things on. Take a trusted friend along who will be honest about what suits you and, more importantly, what doesn't suit you.

To view collections of the latest inspirations in spring wedding fashion, make an appointment at your local bridal wear retailer. A choice of specialised local retailers can be found in our menu bar for you to look through.