Top Wedding Dress Trends for 2009 and 2010

by Cori Russell

Want to ensure a fashion-forward look for your upcoming 2009 or 2010 wedding? From sleek silhouettes to mini-dresses and tiered gowns, these latest looks for wedding gowns will help you put your best fashion foot forward to get you down the aisle in style.

Sleek Silhouettes

Slim is the silhouette of choice for the modern wedding dress - as sheaths, trumpets, and column wedding dresses ruled the runways. Don´t fret if you´ve always dreamed of donning a billowy ball gown, however, as this traditional style never goes out of style.

Colorful Details
Modern brides are experimenting with color to tie their ensembles into the color scheme. Adding a splash of color to the basic white gown remains popular through colorful sashes and appliqué details, or more dramatically through two-toned wedding gowns with a colored bodice against a white or off-white skirt.

High Hemlines
Not afraid to show a little leg, today´s brides are embracing the tea-length and mini shift dresses that have become de rigueur in nearly every wedding dress designer´s latest collections. The trend makes sense for destination weddings calling for laid back attire and brides opting to don a second dress for dancing the night away at the reception.

Tiered Skirts
Whether chiffon, tulle, organza, or even feathers - layers of fabric are the newest major detail designers are playing with to create soft, yet dramatic gowns. This flowing style is perfect for the bride who is a romantic at heart.

Floaty Fabrics
Dresses weighted down by heavy crepes, matte satins and silks are lightening up to fabrics like taffeta and organza. These airy fabrics are easy to layer and more comfortable for a gown worn for up to 10 hours. And for brides having a summer wedding, donning a lighter fabric will ensure they´re glowing - not sweaty and red-faced - on their wedding day.

One Shoulder
This asymmetrical look is a hot fashion trend that has crossed over into the bridal world to update the basic strapless gown. Carrying a simple, no fuss vibe, the one shoulder gown is a great option for a destination wedding. Bonus points for those blessed with toned limbs, as this neckline shows off the upper arms and shoulders.

Practical Pockets
Having graced gowns for a few seasons, pockets remain hot in 2009. The style lends a casual vibe for relaxed events, and - perhaps best of all - it´s practical too, allowing brides to keep essentials like lip gloss or tissues on hand throughout the day.

Get even more 2009 and 2010 wedding dress trends in this complete wedding dresses guide and photo gallery.

About the Author
Cori Russell is editor for Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine. Elegala.com is a complete weddings and wedding planning resource with a national directory of wedding venues and services, how-to guides, expert advice, checklists and photo galleries to walk brides and grooms through every step of the planning process.

Be a Beautiful Bride

by Caroline Husbands

Planning ahead is definitely the key to enjoying your perfect wedding. Unfortunately, all too often, it is the bride who suffers the most stress. Planning a wedding is very exciting but very soon it can become unbelievably nerve-wracking.

Numerous decisions have to be made, including choosing the venue, type of ceremony, flowers, guests and music as well as, most importantly, your perfect wedding dress. On your big day you will be wearing an exquisite dress, your make-up will be perfect and your hair, as well as you, will shine with health and happiness.

To look your absolute best on your big day you should consider making a few changes to your lifestyle right now. Small changes all add up to the perfect you.

Water and Food. This is one of the easiest changes to make. Commit to drinking up to two litres of water per day which will help to cleanse your system, and give you smoother and clearer skin. Secondly, promise yourself that you will watch what you eat. Planning a wedding can be very time-consuming and can mean you grab snacks or miss meals rather than eating well-balanced and healthy meals. If you don't enjoy enough healthy food with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables your skin will look sallow and you could look drawn and tired on your big day which is not a good look.

Lists and Delegation. Divide your wedding plans into stages and write down what needs to be done at each point along the way. By writing it down you will know you haven't forgotten it. Remember, you do not have to do everything yourself. Everyone will be good at sorting different things and will want to help you, but you do need to ask them.

Keep Well-Balanced. If problems do arise try stepping back from the situation a little and taking a few long deep breaths. In the long-run, nothing is ever as bad as it seems at the time and the more relaxed you are the more beautiful you will look. You are, after all, marrying the man of your dreams, and that is the most important thing. Also, don't become a wedding bore. Try to spend some quality time with your fiancé when you don't talk about the wedding at all. Even if it's only one night a week, make it special.

Your Health. If you smoke, then why not take getting married as your ideal opportunity to stop smoking, after all, you don't want fag ash dropping down onto your beautiful new wedding dress or have a coughing fit at the ceremony. Also, try to fit in some regular exercise which will help to keep you healthy and can also be a good form of relaxation.

Finally, ensure you have enough sleep. Sleep is a beauty secret many people overlook but it can heal and rejuvenate and help you look stunning. Have a beautiful wedding! Be a Beautiful Bride!

About the Author
Caroline Husbands is a Senior Bridal Style Consultant with Colour Me Beautiful, Europe's leading Image Consultancy. Bridal services include bridal make-up, hen parties and a new book, Be a Beautiful Bride.