THE dress

Every bride wants to look perfect on her wedding day

Meringue or empire line, frilly and fancy, or no fuss -- whatever the wedding dress of your dreams, it's a good idea to seek a second opinion, preferably professional. That way you can make sure that the final creation fits and flatters you perfectly, accentuating your good points and minimising the rest.

Whatever style you decide on, it's worth remembering that the back view is as important as the front for most ceremonies, where the guests will be behind you.

It's a good idea to choose crease-resistant fabric, so you don’t ‘do a Diana’ (whose royal wedding dress is generally considered to have needed a good going over with an iron). If you want to have a train, it's wise to make it detachable so that it can be removed (or hooked up) at the reception for dancing.

Talk to your fiancé to make sure that the colour and style of your dress are coordinated with him and all the attendants. There’s no need to reveal the finer details of the dress to the groom, as of course, he shouldn’t know what it looks like until he sees his bride, looking gorgeous, walking down the aisle towards him.

Why wear white?

Wearing white for a wedding is a symbol of purity and first became popular in the 18th century. But if white doesn’t suit your complexion or tastes, why not dress in your favourite colour? Wedding gowns in cream, pale gold, pale blue and pink are all quite usual now and there's been a recent move to much deeper colours in shades of green or even burgundy -- particularly stunning for a winter wedding.

When buying your dress, take someone along whose opinions and judgments you trust, as it's a big decision to make alone. It is best to try on as many different styles as you can at first and view them from all angles.

Specialist bridal shops and stores keep dozens of styles in a range of sizes and most provide a fitting and alteration service at a small extra cost. You may need to book an appointment in some of the most popular shops.

What goes with it?

Accessories may include shoes, jewellery, gloves, a veil and tiara and underwear. You should always wear your wedding shoes and underwear to your fittings to make sure the dress is the right length and fits in all the right places.

You’ll find tons of ideas for wedding dresses and accessories in our Fashion and Beauty section.