Four Great Wedding Styles

Four key trends from the catwalks this season:

Drama

Bold styles and colours are key looks for 2012. Vivienne Westwood’s red finale dress and the pleated fans of silk from Marchesa at Browns Brides both drew gasps from the audience at The Luxury Wedding Show London. The National Wedding Show showcased a striking dress in black lace by Mori Lee at Fross Wedding collection and an Ian Stuart at Fantasia Design Room dress bedecked with organza ribbons. Monochrome was in evidence - black feather boleros twinned with white full skirts and boned bodices providing striking contrast.

Bridal coach Michele Paradise suggests: ‘Why not be a bit more adventurous and go for a non-white wedding dress and choose blush or even a black and white theme. It is very dramatic and elegant and, if followed through to the rest of the wedding decorations, will create an elegant and dramatic room.’

Vintage

Recent years have seen a growing trend for brides turning to the past to style their day and dress; silhouettes reworked from past decades dominated both shows. Seen at The Luxury Wedding Show London, The Goddess Dress from bespoke design house The State of Grace recalls chic 1930s evening wear, while the vintage-inspired collection from Charlotte Casadejus used original shapes and patterns and vintage fabrics to create spectacular modern designs.

Lucia Silver, Founder and Creative Design Director of The State of Grace, comments: ‘Women hark back to the 30s, whether for the draping of the fluid bias cut satin gowns, the beaded capes and shrugs or the irresistible deco jewellery.’

The Vintage look was also prominent at the ever popular Landmark Spring Wedding Fair in 2011, and you can see more in February 2012 when the fair celebrates its tenth anniversary. Bridal dress companies featured are Mela Mela Vintage Wedding in Teddington, Maid in Heaven from Ashford and Love Me Do Brides from Kingston. Enjoy the setting of the fair too - it’s in a former church and sets the scene beautifully!

Prom

1950s and 1960s prom styling has returned with a flourish! At The Luxury Wedding Show London, Butterfly Vintage Brides’ polka-dot creation flashed a hint of fun fuchsia trim, while the full-skirted ‘high society’ bridal/evening gowns from Candy Anthony were a fun alternative to a traditional full style. Angela Vickers’ lace-bodiced prom dress seamlessly blends classic with contemporary and Kula Tsurdiu’s flirty lace mini is a chic summer wedding suggestion.

Shimmer and shine

Both Luxury Wedding Show and National Wedding Show catwalks showcased beautiful beadwork and embellishments, with delicate diamantes and beading from Temperley London and Amanda Wakeley. Glamorous gems encrusted on striking gowns from Jenny Packham at Ellie Sanderson Bridal Boutique and David Fielden gave a stunning finish to their striking silhouettes.