From Here to Maternity – Wedding Dresses to Flatter Your Beautiful Bump

Getting married with a beautiful bump needn’t be a hassle. There are plenty of designers out there catering for you. More and more women are getting married while expecting, and they don’t want to compromise on style. Figures for 2009 showed that 20,000 brides were pregnant when they tied the knot. Here are some designers catering for these women…

* Tiffany Rose offers beautiful dresses at fantastic prices. If you are preparing for a wedding on a tight budget, look no further! All the dresses beautifully accommodate your bump, without compromising on style and elegance. They also offer a range of styles,colours and fabrics. So whether you are planning a more traditional wedding, or something a little more daring, there is something for you. Below are my favourites…

Above – Asymmetrical wedding gown, £325. Sizes 8-18.

Above – Ayla lace wedding dress, £495. Sizes 8-18.

To top things off delivery is super cheap too! £5 for UK orders, delivered within 3-5 working days. If you can’t wait that long to get your mitts on the dress, then they charge a very modest £9 for next day delivery (Monday-Friday).

* Amelia Classics is a well established bridal wear retailer, offering a range of lovely maternity wedding dresses. Prices are slightly more expensive, but still very affordable. A variety of styles are available, so whether you want a Grecian style dress, or something more structured, they should have something for you. Unfortunately, some of the images on the site are really small, so you can’t really make out the details. However, below are my favourites…

Above – Futile dress, £375. Sizes 10-20.

Above – Gail dress, £550.

* Maternity Bride is a fabulous collection of eco-friendly bridal wear, designed without being stereotypically ‘eco’ or ‘maternity’, which is no mean feat. Every dress in the Summer 2011 collection is gorgeous and very feminine. The collection also encompasses shorter dresses, as well as the more traditional. However, all the styles are heavily draped, which looks great, and is also comfortable. It was tough to pick my favourites, but here they are below…

Above – Acacia Dress

 

Above – Holly Dress

Although this brand is based in Los Angeles it can be delivered to the UK for $89 USD. It is worth every penny as the company is carbon neutral and eco conscious, and donates 3% of profits to children’s and environmental charities. Go on, indulge!

Collection Overview – Oscar de la Renta Fall 2011

Wow, this beauty just dropped into my inbox courtesy of Brides Magazine and I had to share it with you. Oscar de la Renta’s Fall 2011 bridal collection , and every piece is so beautiful and elegant. So, if you are looking for your wedding dress and need a little nudge in the right direction, this is definitely worth a look.

Every piece is feminine, glamorous, sexy and, well, fabulous! Here are my highlights from the collection…

The one above is great if you are feeling particularly inspired by Kate Middleton’s gorgeous wedding gown

Visit the Oscar de la Renta website here

 

grab yourself a bargain! bridal designer sale – this weekend!

If you are free this weekend (4th and 5th June) then why not head on down to The Lancaster Hotel in London for the Bridal Designer Sale, and grab yourself a designer wedding dress at a smidgen of the original price. Being pitched as ‘the sale no bride can afford to miss!’, you get the idea that it might be a bit of mayhem. But don’t fear if you can’t make it for first thing on Saturday as I have heard that new stock will be arriving throughout the weekend.

With discounts of up to 70% from designers such as Amanda Wakeley and Caroline Castigliano (amongst many others) it is definitely worth a visit. To make sure you hunt for the right size you will be measured upon arrival, and advised as to what will be the best fit for you. There will be trained bridal wear advisors and consultants on hand to help you get the perfect dress with the perfect fit.

It is completely FREE so what have you got to lose?! Register here. Get rummaging!

Designer Spotlight on Johanna Johnson

Johanna Johnson is an Australian bridalwear designer, who has a penchant for designing beautiful dresses inspired by the 1930s, channelling old school glamour. Every dress is handcrafted in Sydney, Australia, using the finest fabrics and trims available. Every piece is created as an heirloom which can be passed down through generations. I think the fabulous dresses already look like timeless treasures which have been cherished over many decades, she manages to capture the essence of Art Deco opulence so beautifully.

Due to popular demand here in the UK, you can now purchase your treasure from Luellas Boudoir. Check the collection out online, or drop by the beautiful store in Wimbledon, London. You will not be disappointed!

Below are a pick of my current favourites available from Luellas Boudoir…

Vivenne dress – Reminiscent of the screen icon Vivienne Leigh. £5,400

Lottie gown – French embroidery lace over ivory silk satin. £5,800

And here are my picks of other items in her Templar collection…

And my top picks from her Trousseau collection…

P.S. You may have noticed the fairly hefty price tag, but I think it is worth it…

Summer 2011 Bridal Style Unwrapped

Wedding season is upon us, with couples up and down the country choosing to tie the knot with a summer wedding (fingers crossed for the sun!).

So, if you are planning to get married this summer and haven’t yet bought that all important wedding dress (or suit!) here are my pick of the top styles to opt for to be the centre of attention:

*POLKA DOTS

Above: Dress by Christos

 

Polka dots can be used in a subtle way, as illustrated by the gorgeous, dainty dots on the Christos gown. Or, they can be blown up and used to create a more quirky dress, which I think is perfect of a beach wedding.

* GRECIAN GODDESS

Above: Dress by Coast

Above: Dress by Kenneth Pool

Be a Grecian goddess with a gorgeous slinky number. The styles look beautiful on all shapes and sizes, and are especially flattering on larger women and I think look great with a pregnancy bump. The softly draped fabric suits summer weddings perfectly.

* 1930s

Above: Dress by Isabel Zapardiez

Above: Dress by Johanna Johnson

The 1930s was a period of time where bias cut dresses were in abundance. In all honestly, the style of dresses, in the slinkiest of silks, suit svelte women as they cling to the body. If you have a back to be proud of, these styles will be perfect for you, as many 1930s influenced gowns have the low back detail. However, you don’t have to take the style literally, little details can be taken and utilised in more structured fabrics.

* EMBELLISHMENT

Above: Dress by Amanda Wakeley

Above: Dress by Jenny Packham

Embellishment is a great way to transform a plain and simple wedding gown into something more intricate and unique. It can be introduced in a way to suit you and your personality – you may want the embellishment to be isolated to one area, or perhaps you want it to cover the entire dress. These dresses have a lovely bohemian feel about them

* SUITS

Above: Suit by Armani

Above: All-In-One Tuxedo by Alexander McQueen

If you are after something a little less conventional for your wedding day, how about a sharply tailored suit or all-in-one?  A chic suit is timeless and classic, and can be worn after your big day, if you so wish. If you are opting for a suit it is worth shelling out a bit to make sure it is beautifully cut, and tailored to you, that way you know that it will unbelievably flattering.