The fastidious bride-to-be can find the perfect dress at any

Key Wedding Dress Trends to Look Out For in 2012

Choosing your wedding dress is something no bride should take lightly. With all eyes on you, and photos that last a life time, you need to look your best. Modern brides that are looking to mix tradition with fashion should take note of four key wedding dress trends this year:

1) Lace Capes and Cap Sleeves

2011 was all about the long lace sleeves in homage to Catherine Middleton at the Royal Wedding. In 2012 the sleeve has been replaced by a classy and flattering lace cape. This modest accessory is great for brides who would like a strapless dress, but are self conscious about their arms.

The trend for sleeves continues with small, cap sleeves. Reem Aarca showcased stunning cap sleeved wedding dresses at the spring 2012 Wedding Fashion Week. A dress with sleeves of this kind or a cape is hugely flattering.

The eyes are drawn upwards towards your face and elongate your body. This creates a flattering illusion of being taller and slimmer as it balances out the top and bottom halves of your body. Depending on the style, sleeves and capes will also mask bra straps if you need extra support.

2) Pastel Colours

While the tradition of white, ivory and cream dresses will never go out of fashion, it doesn't hurt to add an injection of colour. Seen on designers such as Vera Wang, soft pastel shades of candyfloss pink, lilac and even mint green are all over wedding dresses.

These dresses make a subtle statement and are perfect for young women looking to stand out on their big day. Many designers have also showcased dip-dyed dresses using a little less colour. This is a bold statement so is best suited to younger brides.

3) Embellished Bodices

In the style of dresses be Monique Lhuillier and Anne Bowen, embellished bodices are a huge wedding dress trend for 2012. Paired with a soft, plain skirt; these dresses really have the 'wow' factor. Bustier style wedding dresses are also popular. This sexy, lingerie style was featured heavily by Monique Lhuillier at Wedding Fashion Week.

Embellished bodices and bustier style wedding dresses are especially flattering for pear-shaped brides. The style will enhance your chest, clinch you in at the waist and skim your hips. This will create the illusion of killer curves.

4) Ruffles

If you have always dreamed of being a princess, there really is no better chiffon homecoming dresses time than your wedding day. Oscar de le Renta showcased striking romantic ruffle skirts this spring, perfect for fairytale weddings.

Believe it or not, ruffle detailing is actually extremely flattering on every figure. You can hide or accentuate your curves with the dramatic skirt to create the perfect shape for your body.

Designer Wedding Dresses The Couture Details Every Bride Wants Author Brandon Kamins

There are three things that every bride-to-be should consider before she goes shopping for her wedding dress. The first is her budget, the second is the season, and the third is the wedding theme. In this article we will discuss a few simple tips that will help you select the right designer dress.

Where to Begin?

Believe it or not, one of the most difficult decisions every bride-to-be must make is where to shop for her new wedding dresses for less dress. Almost without exception, she will be besieged by suggestions from friends and family about where she should shop. There are bridal boutiques, online boutiques, designer showrooms, department stores and virtual auctions to choose from.

The fastidious bride-to-be can find the perfect dress at any of the aforementioned. However, it may not be a great idea to purchase a dress before seeing it in person, i.e., on the Internet. There are simply too many unknowns, and even if the price is right, alterations are almost always required when you buy a dress online.

Most women who have never shopped for a wedding dress before have no idea how expensive it is to hire a seamstress to make even minor alterations. So, that deal that looked so good on your computer screen might end up costing you lots of extra money.

What a good alternative? Department and discount stores often offer a nice selection, but they are not specialists. The business that can cover all of your wedding day needs is a bridal boutique. Also known as bridal salons, they are the closest thing to a one-stop option the industry has to offer. Not only do they sell a full range of designer wedding dresses, but they also offer dresses and accessories for the entire bridal party, including the bridesmaids, the flower girls and the mothers of the bride and groom.

Designer Wedding lace bridal gowns with sleeves Dresses

Most women that want a more formal wedding order a designer dress. The cost of these gowns depends, of course, upon the reputation of the designer and the number alterations that must be made to the basic design. One reason that designer dresses are far more popular for formal weddings is because they take several months to complete. On average, it takes between four and nine months to deliver a designer wedding dress. That is why most shotgun and Vegas brides buy off the rack.

So, if you unique homecoming dress have always wanted a designer dress, you must plan ahead. Most recently engaged women begin by taking a trip to their local bridal store with a few of their friends/future bridesmaids. It may take several visits to finally decide on a design, especially if you don know what you want. Consider a few of these helpful suggestions.

Fabric

As you may be aware, most designer wedding dresses are quite heavy, even without a train. Now, this might be perfectly appropriate for a formal indoor wedding in the fall or the winter, but what if you have planned an outdoor wedding in the middle of August? Obviously, that heavy dress could begin to get a bit uncomfortable after a few hours.

Since summer is the most popular season for nuptials, it is often important to pay close attention to the fabric and materials. For a summer wedding, especially if it is being held outdoors, your best options include lighter, cooler fabrics like crepe and chiffon over velvet or satin.

Cut

As with any full gown, different body shapes and types are flattered by different cuts. Again, this is one of the main reasons bridal shops are preferable to a department or discount store. The experienced wedding consultants at these establishments will be able to tell you at first glance which cut will flatter your figure. Trying to do this on your own may result in a major fashion faux pas.

Motif or Theme

The motif or theme is almost always dictated by the setting, which is often dictated by the season. For example, if you have planned an outdoor wedding, then you will want a dress that is not too heavy or hot under the summer sun.

But the motif can affect more than just the fabric of your designer wedding dress. It may also influence the style. Sticking with the beach wedding example, a long flowing gown with a train would not work on sand, for obvious reasons. Therefore, the bride might opt for a much shorter hemline and maybe even a backless or strapless number.

Budget

The average designer dress costs between one and two thousand dollars, depending on the designer, of course. Another important consideration is the accessories. Many brides-to-be like to shine on their special day, and this may require special additions that must be hand-applied to the dress. Crystals, sequins and even pearls may be added to a designer wedding dress. As you might expect, this will also add a few hundred dollars to the final bill.

Finding the perfect dress for your wedding ceremony depends on many variables and any choice would be well served by plenty of diligent research.