A theme - or at least a congruence of style - typifies the modern wedding. Couples are increasingly opting for an extended affair with a specific look or ethos that is carried in every element from the dress to the venue.

Take inspiration from your sense of individualism and seamlessly blend the details together to create a unique and highly personalised aesthetic. It's more than making your stamp: you are the personification of the celebration - and your bridal look assumes the starring role.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Mori Lee

We've taken a look at five of the hottest wedding looks to fire your imagination for a wedding packed with character and style...

Traditional
The look: fairytale or formal
The setting: church, estate, castle
The celebrity couple: Prince William and Kate Middleton


wedding dresses Cornwall - Alfred Angelo

The recent marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge epitomised a modern traditional wedding. Horse-drawn carriages, military uniforms, a modern princess gown complete with train, and the observance of traditional etiquette and formality - royal weddings are a hugely time-honoured event.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Alfred Angelo

Canvassing an array of times, looks and themes, traditional can take many forms. From medieval to Victorian, period to post-modern, traditional weddings tend to follow certain styles and ideas closely linked to the original form and era.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Kathy Ireland by 2Be

Whether you wish to incorporate royal elements or not, the key is congruence. Fairytale and princess gowns are particularly in keeping with the theme, but consider the type of ceremony and setting to help establish style. For example, Eastern weddings will require traditional dress and customs, so themed celebrations drawing on a specific culture or place require similar consideration.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Ella

Otherwise, traditional can most readily be interpreted as romantic - so big skirts, bodices and dramatic veiling are box tickers. Alternatively, take a time or aesthetic to play out your day, such as the '90s minimalist/clean movement and pick understated decor, neutral tones and subtle, simplistic clean lines.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Kathy Ireland by 2Be

Boho
The look: hippie, earth mother, Greek goddess
The setting: garden cottage, country manor house, marquee
The celebrity couple: Kate Moss and Jamie Hince


wedding dresses Cornwall - Jasmine

With the eclectic repertoire of A-list musicians who performed at her recent nuptials, Kate Moss's mini Glastonbury-esque wedding reflected the supermodel's love of boho fashion that influences much of her personal style. Combining a country feel with a twist of English eccentricity, the Oxfordshire wedding was the ultimate nouveau boho bash.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Alfred Angelo

Brides can pick from an inspired array of designer offerings, from flowers to lace, vintage to classic. Mimicking 1960s style, long sleeves, lace appliques and long flowing fabrics all betray the modern hippie movement.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Ella

Greek goddess gowns, bias-cut satin, simple shifts and lacy columns all work beautifully for a garden party or countryside wedding. Take a playful approach to accessorising - think feather boas, lace or fur shrugs, a stack of pearl necklaces, oversized corsages or colourful accents.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Martina Liana

Vintage
The look: bygone glamour, kitsch romance, retro throwback
The setting: village church, dance hall, country house
The celebrity couple: Lily Allen and Sam Cooper


wedding dresses Cornwall - Sincerity

Lily Allen's Delphine Manivet wedding gown was the ultimate statement of her love for vintage and modern reworkings of bygone design. The vintage-inspired lace gown paired with an elaborate veil oozed the elegance of the roaring 1920s.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Jenny Packham

Vintage apparel can impress upon any setting, whether grandiose in a country estate setting, complete with chandeliers, banquet dining and acres of private grounds, or an intimate tea party celebration in a village hall.


wedding dresses Cornwall

Tap into your surrounds to enhance the look of the day. For example, a lavish hotel venue can spark some old-school Grace Kelly glamour while a rustic country house may inspire a 1920s jazz party.

The vintage look is all about adapting and updating old garments, replicating past fashions and fusing past and present in personalised ways. Borrow from one or several eras to pay homage to the glories and greats of timeless style.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Jenny Packham

Shape and form are important factors - and nothing denotes vintage glam as beautifully as the 1950s hourglass, so mermaid, trumpets and sleek bodices are brilliant bets.

Experiment with gloves and sleeves, such as pointed, cap or long, and consider your headwear - skullcap, cloche cap, pillbox and soft picture hats teamed with a pair of Mary Janes will guarantee head-to-toe va-va-voom vintage.

Beach
The look: casual, whimsical, oceanic
The setting: coastal venue, beach, cliff top
The celebrity couple: Seal and Heidi Klum


wedding dresses Cornwall - Ella

Annually renewing their vows, Seal and Heidi's original 2005 Mexican beach wedding saw Heidi, who was five months pregnant, wearing a Vera Wang gown in Chantilly lace with an empire waist. Their most recent celebration involved period costumes for a masquerade-themed ceremony where the bride adorned a white, strapless dress with tulle hoopskirt.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Alfred Angelo

Beach weddings tend to lend themselves to a more relaxed approach to attire. Hemlines shorten, styles simplify and convention wanes. However, with a setting that provides a versatile backdrop for fashions, fairytale frocks can stand up to the occasion just as fittingly as body-con sheaths.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Pearl Bridal

In keeping with the breezy, beachside look, dresses that typically work well are short skirts, flowing silks and strappy numbers. Dynamism adds a little daring into the mix, but with dramatic seascapes, brides are best advised to avoid billowing, wind-catching garments.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Kathy Ireland 2Be Bride

White works well, as does subtle ornamentation such as Swarovski crystals, floral embroidery, stitching and sequins. Capitalise on the fitted, flaunty frocks that are parading catwalks, as well as lingerie-inspired bodices and bandage dresses.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Sophia Tolli

Modern
The look: dramatic, romantic, edgy
The setting: hotel, villa, city hall
The celebrity couple: Michael Buble and Luisana Lopilato


wedding dresses Cornwall - San Patrick

Many modern couples are not content to say 'I do' just the once. Having originally wed in a simple civil ceremony last year then marrying again weeks later in Argentina, Michael and Luisana's third wedding celebration occurred at Vancouver's Pan Pacific Hotel. A lavish ceremony, Luisana's fitted cream satin gown with encrusted bodice contrasted with the tiered, ruffled Sylvie Burstin dress that she donned in Buenos Aires.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Ellis

With many modern couples opting for several different venues to get married, fashions will often be chosen to fit the setting. Alternatively, some brides are opting for a dress change mid-way through the day or celebratory period.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Pearl Bridal


wedding dresses Cornwall - Ronald Joyce

Take inspiration from the trends ushered by the New Romance wave: layers, frothy frills, ruffles and ribbons are all features of the attention-stealing look. Modern couture comprises sculpted, multidimensional and voluminous pieces for striking silhouettes, while long veils are the perfect statement-making finish.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Kathy Ireland 2Be Bride

Throw in some irreverence for a semblance of rock chick style, such as a shorter hemline, a dash of black or a twist of metallic, and the modern bride is well and truly born.


wedding dresses Cornwall - Ronald Joyce


Words Hannah May


Copyright WED Magazine 2011