Think of the last wedding you went to – surely there quite a few this summer. What do you remember about that day? The food? The drinks? The speeches? As a Girl of TO, one thing you undoubtedly remember was the bride’s dress. When she walked down the aisle on the happiest day of her life, you thought, ‘Oh wow!’ or perhaps ‘Oh no!’ Regardless, you remember the dress.

For me, I was fairly decisive in choosing my dress. After popping into a store or two, I ended up choosing my dress in one action packed, appointment booked day. I went in with a plan. I knew the theme of my wedding (Black Tie New Year’s Eve Bash), I knew what type of dress would look good on me and I knew the style that personified the way I wanted to feel on my wedding day. (Unfortunately, I can say anymore just in case my groom-to-be reads this…)

Even if you weren’t a child who played ‘Here comes the bride,’ your wedding dress (or outfit) is indicative of the type of bride you are. It should also suit the venue or theme (a ballgown may not be the best dress for a beach wedding but it’s up to you), be comfortable (you are wearing it ALL day) and it should represent your unique personality. Now, more than ever, it is easy to find a dress that does all these things and personifies YOU. For example, Disney has a line of dresses for one’s inner Disney princess, and designers such as Sottero & Midgley, Lazaro, Allure and Essence of Australia have numerous bridal lines that will satisfy the soul of any bride- and most importantly, are available in most Toronto stores.

As I’m sure you have noticed, lace is featured heavily in many bridal gowns this year, along with open backs and high necklines. Since Will & Kate’s wedding a few years ago, gown have drifted toward stunning long sleeves dress, full lace overlays and clean lines- a classic ‘Grace Kelly-esque’ elegance, if you will.

While the quintessential strapless gown remains, we have also welcomed the return of capped sleeves, detailed straps or straps/sleeves that sit just off the shoulder. Personally, I feel as though these dresses capture the perfect hybrid of aforementioned ‘Grace Kelly’ with the modernity of Oleg Cassini or Vera Wang: 20^th century marries 21^st century.

For some brides however, a long ivory dress isn’t their thing. A well tailored, beautiful white pant suit is a comfortable, unique and highly customizable alternative. Many bridal designers are offering pant suits as more and more brides opt for this sleek and sexy piece to express themselves on the big day. Contrary to popular belief, a white suit can look very feminine, chic and flattering for any bride.

For her big day, my fiance’s cousin wore one of the most beautiful dresses I have ever seen. Her dress was truly a representation of her vibrant, strong, fiery individuality while remaining classy and elegant- She was stunning. Her dress perfectly complimented her overall theme (think ‘Arabian Night’ in a Moroccan style tent under the stars), suited her personality and above all, was flattering and unique. No one in in the whole world, will ever wear that dress but her.

The best thing about any wedding look is the ability to customize. Perhaps your dream dress is a little bit Disney and and little bit Audrey. Perhaps your dress has pockets or a removable skirt or a plethora of colour as opposed to ivory. There are so many different options of what to wear on your wedding day. When deciding what to wear on your big day remember these three things:

• Be sure to feel confident in your look
• Make sure your dress suits the venue and/or theme
• Have fun

Who is your favourite bridal designer? What did you wear on your wedding day? Let us know in the comments below!

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