Usually a woman's wedding suit, unlike a man's, is worn

Dark Alternatives to the White Wedding Dress

For that sophisticated look a sleek black wedding dress can be ideal. And, unlike many traditional white dresses, long black bridesmaid dresses the black wedding gown can be adapted to be worn on other occasions.

So how will the concept of a black wedding gown go down with family and friends? Is there still a prejudice towards anything other than the expected white or ivory, or will the black wedding dress represent an alluring and decadent option for the bride who wants to take her vows in elegant ebony? And is it perhaps time to change the old adage, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue," to read "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something black."

The white wedding gown isn the first choice for every bride, many women these days opt to marry in different coloured dresses. Yes, even black, but there still seems to be a school of thought that suggests it not everyone idea of the perfect dress. But if youe a bride to be and a dress as dark as midnight is your choice, youl want to know where to shop for the perfect mysterious black bridal gown.

New York City Bridal Boutiques are quite used to a wide range of requests when it comes to wedding dresses so if you ask for a wedding dress in black you won be thought odd, in fact there are Bridal Boutiques in New York City that carry ranges with black dresses as part of their options.

And it may surprise those who oppose the idea of anything but white for a bride to learn that up until as late as the 1930s some cultures only considered black as the colour choice for wedding dresses. But this was to do with practicality. A black dress would be more serviceable and could be used again, and kept as a best dress after the wedding.

So black is actually just as traditional in terms of its place in history, as white when it comes to the colour of a wedding dress. That little snippet of information might come in handy when the alternative plus size lace dress or even gothic bride wants to persuade a mom or aunt with fixed views of the merits of a gorgeous seductive black gown.

Although she wasn the first bride to wear white, Queen Victoria wedding to her beloved Prince Albert in 1840 had a huge impact on the collective consciousness. And since then the popularity of white wedding gowns continued to grow, especially in higher society. But if you really can turn your back on black, rest assured that the New York City Bridal Boutiques will be able to provide you with something truly beautiful that reflects the sophisticated side of your personality.

Changes In Wedding Dress Styles

Usually a woman's wedding suit, unlike a man's, is worn only the once. The most lavish and indulgent purchase for any girl is generally her wedding dress. Dreams from a young age of the fairytale wedding often centre around the perfect dress. The choices in wedding attire today are great and cater for the often vastly different bridal personalities. Many brides, however, choose to revert to the more traditional theme warranting a more traditional gown for the occasion, such as Lady Diana's silk, taffeta gown created by the Emmanuals.

White wedding dresses have long been accepted in society as a symbol of purity and innocence although today's brides often opt for a more flattering ivory hue. During the first part of the last century a white wedding dress, because it couldn't be washed and reused, was a sign of wealth. Coco Chanel reinforced this idea in the late 1920's with her short white wedding dress with full veil which inspired the acceptance of the white wedding dress worldwide.

The traditional wedding dress is likely to be a jewel encrusted luxury fabric such as duchesse satin, organza and silk. Wedding dress styles vary from the traditional A-line through to vintage lace styles. The traditional A-line style's popularity is due to its cream evening dress ability to disguise most imperfections in body shape, an essential requirement if the bride is to look her best.

Accessorising to complement your traditional or modern wedding dresses plays a crucial role in bringing the whole look or theme together. Satin pumps, jewel encrusted veils, sparkling tiaras - the range of accessories is vast and includes blue laced garter backless evening dress for the important 'something blue'.

Eggshell, ecru and ivory are just some of today's popular choices of 'white'. Additionally, in keeping with today's civil wedding ceremonies, most brides will choose an off-white gown of modern style. Fashion trends often dictate the style chosen by the young modern bride wishing to veer away from the traditional style of ceremony. The modern bride is likely to want a dress designed by people like Vera Wang or Maggie Sottero. Hand sewn embellishments and cutting edge design challenge the more traditional wedding gown.

Whatever the design - modern or traditional - the dress must be compatible with the bride's personality. Vera Wang's statement about a woman never being sexier than when she's comfortable in her clothes is so true for the day of your wedding.