- A basic dress can be embellished with embroidery, possibly

Dark Alternatives to the White Wedding Dress

For that sophisticated look a sleek black wedding dress can be ideal. And, unlike many traditional one shoulder long sleeve dress white 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 strapless evening 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 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.

Beach Wedding Dresses Don't Have To Be Plain Or Boring

Many couples are considering alternatives to the usual church wedding and for some, this means marrying on a beach. Beach weddings are intimate and highly romantic, but they also offer other wonderful perks which many people are a little surprised to discover.

One of the joys of a beach wedding is that everything gets to be scaled down to a more serene and unique level. With the beautiful scenery as background, you can spend more time working on the vows that you will be saying to each other. You can also spend more time choosing the wedding outfits, and for the bride that means finding her beach wedding dress! Whether you are marrying on distant shores or having a more casual affair at your local beach, choosing the perfect dress is every bit as important and deserves all the attention and consideration you can give it.

One of the best parts of a beach wedding is that no aspect need be expensive. As a matter of fact, when choosing your dress, the biggest question is probably what type of dress do you want to wear - do you go with a more traditional gown or summer short dresses something less formal?

Regardless of the type of dress you decide on, every bride wants it to be uniquely hers. It's the little details that will really make you fall in love with your wedding dress. Here are some creative ways you can incorporate to help coral evening dresses make your dress your own:

- Tie a wide silk ribbon, chiffon sash or cummerbund around your tea length wedding gowns waist. For a little added punch, use a color other than your dress color. For instance, if your dress is white, how about contrasting the waist band in ivory or champagne - you could even coordinate it with one of your wedding colors. This is a particularly good option for a second wedding when you don't want to wear a totally white dress.

- Try a dress of a different color other than white - like champagne, blush pink, baby blue, or even something vibrant like red!

- If an entire dress in red is too dramatic for you, but you like the idea, how about an accent of color around the neckline, hem or waist? This is really a great idea to play up the season of your wedding - red for winter holidays, maybe gold for fall, or turquoise for summer.

- A basic dress can be embellished with embroidery, possibly with a little pale color in the design. You could add some pearls, Swarovski crystals, sequins, colored rhinestones, or chiffon fabric flowers into the design.

- If you are adventurous, you could alter the hemline. A high-low design where the dress is knee length in front and floor length in back is a popular style for the flirty look of a tropical wedding dress. Out on the beach you might not want a full length dress, so perhaps you might consider shortening it to tea length for a more casual wedding dress feel.

You can truly be creative with your beach wedding dress and it can still be quite affordable. But, if you love the look of the basic little dress with only a smattering of flowers in your hair, then this should be what you wear.

Remember, your dress should be a reflection of who you are and it should also reflect the environment you are marrying in. A beach wedding embraces a love of nature and this should come through in your wedding dress.

There are no rules for a casual beach wedding dress, so feel free to express yourself and make your dress a special one, just for you.