By Deborah Lindquist
It's not just a white dress anymore. Wedding dresses are inspired by the uniquely beautiful women who wear them.
Today, women are making new and different choices in what they choose to wear for the most romantic day of their life, their wedding ceremony. While the traditional white dress will always be considered a first choice for many, others are creatively, and sometimes boldly, circumventing tradition.
Here are some ideas to inspire your creativity in choosing your wedding dress, using your personality and attributes as a guideline:
The RomanticDo you love vintage things? Perhaps a bit of ornate fabric, a favorite heirloom or piece of jewelry you cherish? It can be incorporated into your wedding dress. Beaded or embroidered fabric can beautifully be transformed into the body of a bustier, as on the bodice of this pearl-embellished gown with vintage lace trim.
Superstition versus FunYou wouldn't want to plan your ceremony and forget something important. Whether it's superstition or just meant to make your life a little more complicated (blue, really?), think about the "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" rule. New is an easy one: chances are your wedding dress is new to you. The borrowed or old could certainly be "vintage something" incorporated into your wedding dress. And the blue? One of my very spunky and creative brides chose sparkly blue pasties with glitter. Now, that's fun.
Love Is a RoseYou're a colorful girl and wearing color makes you happy. Perhaps you'd like just an accent of color in your wedding dress, such as in the beading or sash on a dress. Or maybe a little more. Choose a pale rose color to reflect some of that already-there blushing bride glow onto your cheeks. An ombre dip-dye color at the bottom of your hem offers a bit of drama while still remaining feminine and subtle (think Gwen Stefani in her pink-dipped wedding gown).
She's Got LegsMaybe you have killer legs -- he loves to see you in a short(er) skirt with heels. Sometimes you do and notice how happily distracted he becomes. Hmm -- not a bad thing. A shorter wedding dress will show off those beautiful gams, or wear long for the ceremony and short for the reception. I like the idea of choosing a two-piece gown because that allows you to switch out the skirt: a bustier paired with a more formal long skirt for the ceremony, then switching just the skirt to a mini so you can dance the night away.
The Urban BrideYou're a feminine girl but you live in a big city and wear black. A lot. And you look and feel great in it. Your look is more "feminine with a bit of edge." So why not choose a black dress for your wedding ceremony? A dramatic black satin mermaid-hem dress is just the ticket to keep it modern and body conscious, with an edge of sophistication.
Rock and Roll BrideYou are one of a kind and he loves you for it. Music follows you both wherever you go. Maybe this purple hemp/silk satin-ruched skirt with a peacock feather and vintage lace-trimmed bustier is the most wildly nontraditional of all the choices. But it may be just the right choice for a vibrant, passionate, risk-taking woman. Whether you love harps or electric guitars, love is a powerful thing -- and this dress celebrates love!
As one of American's most sought after environmentally conscious designers, Deborah Lindquist creates exquisite apparel out of a mix of "reincarnated" and new Earth-friendly fabrics, such as cashmere, hemp, and bamboo. Lindquist's avant-garde apparel has been showcased in numerous publications including Elle, In Style, Lucky, WWD, Vibe, People, Brides, and Maxim. You can also catch her one-of-a-kind pieces during episodes of Lifetime's "How to Look Good Naked" and Access Hollywood's "Hollywood Green." She has dressed trendsetters such as Rhianna, Pink, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton, Keisha Cole, and Jessica Alba. Check out her designs at deborahlindquist.com and read her blog on Red Room.