Sarah Seven might be one of my new favorite up and coming bridalwear desgingers. I love her offbeat point of view, ethereal designs, and memorably titled dresses. I’m reserving complete and total adoration until I see the craftswomanship in the real world, but for the moment, she is at the top of a short list.

There’s nothing about this dress that I don’t love. (Except the fact that it would look terrible on me, I’m way too hip-y to pull off this much volume in that area!) The softly gathered ruffles around the bust are so sweet, and the delicate pleating in the bodice perfectly balances the girliness with structure. I love the tulip-shaped skirt, and the sheerness of the fabric. I can see this dress working for an earthy wedding look with the moss pillow and wreaths recently featured, or glammed up rock-n-roll style with some dramatic feather hair fascinator and white leather booties. Either way, or any other way for that matter, this dress is a dream. Available for $515 from Sarah Seven.

Photo Credit: Sarah Seven

Alexander McQueen is hands down one of my favorite designers. Unfortunately, he doesn’t really “do” bridal. But just because he doesn’t desgin fluffy cupcake wedding gowns doesn’t mean that some of his dresses aren’t totally wedding ready. Check out this gorgeous Spanish lace corseted gown.

This beautiful and unusual gown would make an amazing statement as a wedding dress. I’m crazy for the scalloped, off-the-shoulder bodice with molded cups and boning. But the skirt is really what makes this dress special. The short cut in front shows off your legs, but the long back has a gorgeous sweep to follow behind you down the aisle. Available for $998 on Gilt. You need an invitation to shop on Gilt, and if you click here, you’ll get one.

Photo Credit: Gilt

I’m totally crazy for short wedding gowns. I know they aren’t traditional, but the truth is that short styles are generally more flattery on us everyday sized girls. Tall women look best in long dresses. Of course there are no hard and fast rules about these things, and heels help, but for the most part, the shorter the dress, the longer your legs look.

This gorgeous Powdered Sugar Dress by Sarah Seven is truly confectionary. The multiple layers of organza create frothy volume. The ballerina styling is both traditional and modern, and Sarah Seven will make it to your measurements, which means that the cups can be fitted to even the most minimally busted girls, a real rarity in the world of strapless gowns. And best of all, the price is more than reasonable for a custom fitted gown. Available for $375 from Sarah Seven.

Photo Credit: Sarah Seven

Good morning, dear readers. I am super excited , because today is my wedding day part deux. Unfortunately, my grandfather (who is a spry 98 years old) was unable to make it to my first wedding in New Orleans, LA. So, today we will be restaging the shindig in Mount Vernon,VA for his benefit. But, fashion maven that I am, I couldn’t possibly wear the same dress twice. Here’s what I’m wearing today.

I wrote about this darling Hippolyte dress by Diane Von Furstenberg a few weeks back when I discovered the Nordstrom Wedding Shop. And then I couldn’t stop thinking about it. And then, of course, I had to have it. Luckily, my new mother-in-law was kind enough to foot the bill! I love the sweet hippie crochet, and the detailed edging.

I will be wearing this dress with strappy white slingback sandals, a daisy and baby’s breath halo, and almost no make-up. Wish me luck!

(Oh, and if anyone else out there loves  this dress, a word of advice: it runs large. I’m usually an 8 in DVF, but I definitely could have taken a 6.)

Available at the Nordstrom Wedding Shop.

Photo Credit: Nordstrom

I am really freaking out about Claire Pettibone’s new Rock-n-Roll Bride Collection of gowns for 2009. Don’t worry, it’s not what you think. There’s no leather corsetry or fishnet dresses or anything like that. It’s a line of couture quality gowns with offbeat, irreverent designs, unusual silhouettes, and ingenious textural combinations.

This Dawn gown utilizes a completely new combination of long and short layering that is almost budoir in its appeal. I love the lacey details. It looks like something that the very daring heroine in a Jackie Collins novel would wear, and yes, I do meant that as a compliment.

The Gothique gown is a fabulous melding of a sleek sheath with delicate lace overlay. The dark crystal enhanced bodice and sweet ribbon corset back are lovely touches that a lot of women will love.

This Midnight gown might be my favorite from the collection. The front of the gown is sleek and sophisticated, but what really kills me is the way the deep-v back is adorned by that gorgeous black rose.

This line is replete with sophisticated gowns with rock-n-roll touches that I think will appeal to a lot of women, even some that don’t love rock-n-roll. Available from Claire Pettibone.

Photo Credits: Claire Pettibone

When some women say, “I want my wedding day to be just like a fairytale,” they really aren’t joking. There’s a major surge in the popularity of theme weddings, and fairytale themed weddings top the list. And then there are some women who don’t necessarily want a whole theme wedding, but do want that dress that Cinderella wore. 

That’s where Fairy Fashion, a Canadian fashion house, comes in. These designers are 100% dedicated to making your fairytale wedding dress dreams come true. All of their gowns are made-to-order, and they also do custom designs. This amazing Cinderella gown really does look like the one from the Disney movie. I know, because I always thought that it’s what my own wedding dress would look like. I may have changed my mind, but you don’t have to.

This Sweetheart gown is a little less costume-y, but still on the ethereal side of wedding fashion. I love the delicate straps with the sweetheart neckline, and the back features fabulous corset-tie styling.

If Cinderella doesn’t suit your fancy, but you still want to look like a princess, perhaps this Princess gown is for you. The medieval styling is extremely figure forgiving, and I really like the authentic historical details, like the little ruffles on the end of the sleeves and the multi-layer skirt.

Fairy Fashion gowns begin around $1,200 and go up from there. Glass slippers not included. Available from Fairy Fashion.

Photo Credits: Fairy Fashion

Dear Splendicity Wedding Channel readers, I come to you with a query. Usually, I have no problem figuring out how I feel about a dress. I’m just kind of a thumbs up/thumbs down kind of girl. But the gown below has me feeling a little flummoxed. Having purchased my own gown from J. Crew, I have a semi-emotional attachment to the line, and usually think their clean, simple designs are spot on.

But this Silk Dupioni Rosette Gown, I’m just not sure about. I absolutely adore the material. The sheen of the dupioni is rich and lustrous, and the rosettes, in and of themselves, are lovely. But I’m not really sure I like them covering the entirety of a full-length gown. I think that, maybe, the rosettes take away from the sleek design of the gown, but on the other hand, there is something delicate and feminine about them that I find irresistible. 

Maybe it’s the thickness that the rosettes add to the dress? I wish that I could see the dress on someone besides a model, so that I could figure out whether or not it flatters the average Jane or no. So, if anyone out there has a real life picture of this gown, I would dearly love to see it. Available for $3,000 from J. Crew.

Photo Credit: J. Crew

I’ve been on the lookout for lightweight wedding gowns that won’t wilt in the hazy summer heat. I have written about several of them in comfortable cotton and short skirted styles, but I’ve had my eyes open for something a little more formal. Something with the beading and embellishment that brides want for an evening black tie affair, but nothing that will weigh you down. Here’s a gorgeous gown by Sue Wong that totally fits the bill.

The silhouette is a figure flattering combination of a sheath dress and an a-line, which is slim, but instead of hugging your curves, it drapes over them gracefully. I love the elegant sweep of the skirt, it looks like something Ginger Rogers might have worn. And while the spaghetti straps will keep you cool, the intricate beading on the bodice keeps it sophisticated. Available for $458 from Nordstrom.

Photo Credit: Nordstrom

There are so many elaborate wedding gowns out there that I find myself drawn towards more simple, modern styles. Only there aren’t really that many out there, yet. For a lot of reasons, I think that is changing. For one thing, the downturn in the economy makes the $2k dress minimum seem a little higher than it used to. Brides of all ilks are lowering their wedding budgets, and dresses that are more streamlined and minimal fit nicely into the pared down wedding package. 

The Nordstrom online wedding shop is a great place to find reasonably priced, well designed dresses in a lot of styles and sizes, minus the complicated ordering process at the bridal shop. There are long, sleek gowns like this gorgeous laser cut satin number by BCBG Max Azria. I love the multi-tiered look, and the way the laser cutting makes the layers lie close to the body makes it wearable for more figures.

There are also neo-bohemian crochet styles like this one by Diane Von Furstenberg. The short skirt and deep v-neck offset the modesty of the modest a-line cut. This would be a great dress for an outdoor wedding in the summertime, or just for a more casual affair. Nordstrom also carries a variety of styles for bridesmaids and MOBs. Check out the Nordstrom Wedding Shop.

Photo Credits: Nordstrom

Women in the South wear pearls. They wear hats to church, and they don’t go to the store without heels and make up. This blanket stereotype doesn’t apply to everyone at all times (including this particular Southern belle), but it does have a kernel of truth in it. People say that Southern brides take southern style to a whole new level in the form of enormous skirts, corsetted waists, and ruffles galore. Those people might be surprised at how modern and elegant Southern style can be.

This Chantal gown by Lara Hélène is an amazing interpretation of Southern bridal couture. Despite being designed by a damn yankee, or perhaps because of this, the Chantal is a gown that any modern Scarlett would adore. It has all the feminine charm and detailing of the South, minus the over-the-top frills and giant petticoats. The neckline is a little risqué, but I think a lot of girls could pull it off. The silhouette is poufy, but only slightly so, and it falls to the floor in a column rather than overflowing like a cupcake. Available from Lara Hélène.

Photo Credit: Lara Hélène