Here's what's new and hot in Wedding Gown trends for spring and fall of 2012.

GOWNS – 2012 the year of ROMANCE!

Compiled from the Bridal Runway shows of New York and Barcelona, and top designers around the world

*. The Romance of VICTORIAN GOWNS is huge. COLORED BLUSH GOWNS are also expanding into palettes like beautiful light sage green and into more muted earth tone colors. Even BLACK GOWNS for a sexy, sultry, sophisticated look. Soft and flowing elegance with textures and color palettes. SHORT is also making a come back!. Gowns that reveal everything are out, and making a comeback (thanks to the Royal influence) is veiling the skin in a subtle sexy way - its elegant, sophistication and modesty… many thanks to 1 youthful lady from London who happened to marry a prince. We see NIPPED-IN WAISTS intricate EMBROIDERED DETAIL, lots of LACE and a sprinkling of EMBELLISHMENTS along with TEXTURE-VARYING fabrics. The following COLORS are featuring on all the fashion runways: Turquoise, Coral, Black & White, Yellow, Fuchsia, Deep Red, Slate Grey, Purple & Latte.



The Trend: ILLUSION NECKLINES!

Sheer, delicate, and often embellished, illusion style necklines veil the skin in a subtly sexy way. From classic lace sleeves à la Kate Middleton to sleeker, gossamer-light fabric around the décolletage, it's suddenly cool to cover up. (Think of illusion as "strapless, with coverage," noting its power to transform a sassy, "look at my boobs" situation into something soft, elegant, and romantic.)
If you're in search of a refreshing alternative to the ubiquitous strapless gown, these are the dresses for you.










The Trend: VICTORIAN-STYLE BRIDAL GOWNS!
What says romance more than Victorian-style. Expect Victorian flair with lots of corsets and soft layered ruffles. Designers such as Vera Wang, Kenneth Pool, and the Pronovias Collection are putting a modern twist on a vintage fashion. I love the revival of intricate designs, lace details, and flowing fabrics mixed with a modern flair of high collars, ruffles, delicate sleeves, and layers upon layers of graceful fabrics. The unique combination of romance and modesty make an all together perfect and elegant design. A chic trend for a modern bride.

The Trend: LACE WEDDING DRESSES!
Lace has made a huge come back through celebrity weddings and is bound to be everywhere on the runway. This timeless trimming can be used for discreet details, like on Kim Kardashian’s strapless wedding dress, or more lavishly all over like on Kate Middleton’s wedding dress.








The Trend: TWO-TIERED SKIRTS!
Last season in skirts, there were three-dimensional florals. This season, designers focused on hemlines, creating skirts with two distinct tiers.
It's super flattering—the top tier is a genius way to camouflage wider hips.

The Trend: DROPPED WAISTS!
Combining a figure flattering fit with a fuller skirt, the bride can get the best of both worlds! Below are just a few dresses that show the dropped waist by designers like Ines Di Santo, Kenneth Pool and Maggie Sottero.

The Trend: SOFT SLEEVES!
Short, 3-quarter or even puffy sleeves will be everywhere. Brides who still want to go strapless (especially for the fall) will have the option of picking a bolero jacket that they can remove for the reception. The sleeves fabric will be solid (satin or organza) or transparent (illusion net, chiffon or lace).












The Trend: FEATHERS
Dainty, delicate and exotic, plush plumes and fluffy feathers tickled the fancy of bridal designers. The result? An opulent wedding look that's in full plume.








The Trend: COLOR & BLUSH!
Wearing a wedding gown in a non-white or ivory hue was, until recently, considered a pretty radical move. Then, a few seasons ago, we began seeing subtle pops of color—from the faintest hint of silver or lilac to bright lettuce green—but color was still the exception rather than the rule. This season, however, one of the boldest looks for bridal this season, comes in a full spectrum of color. From the faintest hint of silver and blue to bright lettuce green, bridal designers are going beyond the pale. Dazzling gowns also took a romantic turn in shades of blush, apricot and lilac meaning there's no better time to just hue it . Even black! Vera Wang’s 2012 fall line is all sultry beige and black tulle, these gowns are beautifully daring and unabashedly feminine at the same time.





The Trend: EMBROIDERED FLORALS and TEXTURED DETAILS!
Is there anything more fanciful than embroidered blooms? Wedding gowns are covered with couture-worthy details inspired by nature. From Oscar de la Renta's lilies of the valley to Carolina Herrera's feminine anemones and Elie Saab from Pronovias with exquisite floral additions, make these gowns are a garden of delights.
Texture-varying fabrics like organza and feathers, add surprise without sacrificing taste.














The Trend: SEPARATES!

One of the most directional takes on bridal for 2012 is the maxi skirt. The look is at once modern and an elegant take on retro. Pair the romantic separate with a cashmere sweater or simple tee and you've got a breathtaking and effortlessly chic big day look.





The trend: CHANGING GOWNS!
This is a typical tradition with some nationalities, but is now becoming a trend for Western weddings and this trend shows no sign of stopping. Many brides will choose to have a fuller, more ornate dress for their ceremony, and a short or more casual dress during the reception. It is clear that the latter should be much more relaxed and fun. Three of my brides this year had changes in their gowns from ceremony to reception.








The Trend: FANTASY DRESSES!
Princess like statement ball gowns are going to be hot. But the fantasy could go even further and include a more costume feel to personalize the wedding. Wedding dresses are going to tell us the bride’s story. Try old period gowns, old fairy tales, iconic movie looks – all tell a story.

The Trend: HALTERS & HIGH NECKS!
Halter Wedding Dresses with High-Necks Again, either part of the dress or the jacket, we are about to see wedding dresses with lavalieres, Claudine collars and Queen Anne necklines. Halter wedding dresses are perfect for this trend in order to keep the look modern and hip.

The Trend: SHORT DRESSES!
Suitable for some brides. There's no better time to sport a short wedding dress than summer, the season of leg-baring, body-conscious silhouettes. The recent runway shows were swept up in a wave of short options—including all the elements of the longer more traditional gown trends including feathers and ruffles, to beading and bows.

So we will see how these designers can top this for the 2013 bridal season. Somehow they always do!

Agatha

Kelowna Wedding Planner and Event Coordinator, your Okanagan Destination specialist.