Spring 2013 collection by Carolina Herrera

Venezuelan-born American designer Carolina Herrera wanted to create a gown for every personality in her Spring 2013 collection. Her traditional styles were given a twist with added block colour and unusual accents. The princess dress was a major theme throughout -we can definately see Kate Middleton wearing one of these when she gets married in two weeks time!

Romantic Wedding Hair for 2013 Brides

The Classic Updo
The updo will always be a wedding classic, and is perfect for displaying a beautiful headpiece, tiara/headband or even a wedding veil, depending on the style/height of the hair. Make sure to bring your hair accessories along with you for your hair trial, so that your wedding hair stylist knows what he/she will be working with on the morning. Also remember that sometimes what we see in the mirror can be somewhat distorted, so take some photos from a couple of angles and pop some make-up on so that you can get a good idea of how the style will look on you and in photos.

These two 'messy updos' are great examples of semi formal hair dos. They will look beautiful on boho brides who don't like feeling too constrained or restricted but still want something 'bridal' and different for their big day.

The Top Knot, the Side Bun and Hair Accessories
The top knot (above right) has been a big beauty trend all year, both on the catwalks and on the aisle (in fact we loved the look so much we dedicated a whole blog post to it! Brides on Trend - The Top Knot) This look is perfect for hanging a long veil below, or for sporting a particularly beautiful bridal headband such as a hair vine. The side bun (below right) is a more casual, romantic take on the bun and provides a nice frame for brides who perhaps aren't used to wearing their hair off their face and fear feeling a bit exposed with a tradional updo. This look will go perfectly with one of Stacey Hannan's hair combs, or these striking twisting star flowers.

Sian Sharkey's gorgeous blonde bride (bottom left) needed a style to support a full veil, and we love this romantic look Sian did for her on the big day - the side swept fringe sat gracefully with a neat up do and complemented both the bride's style and hair colour perfectly. The more unusual but equally romantic hair style (bottom right) is one of our favourite formal dos as it also shows great movement and femininity in a hair style.

This style (top left) is a fabulously modern updo, for brides who want to look trendy without worrying if their style will age too much. The soft but structured look is balanced perfectly with a more fun element in the braid. If it's not for you, it's definitely a look to try on your bridesmaids!

2013 Night & Day Bridal Dresses Collection

Stephanie Allin is always a favourite with Irish brides. Her Dolce Vita and A Fine Romance collections both include quintessentially English designs that have become iconic in the wedding world. In Night & Day, Stephanie Allin's 2013 Collection,she recreates the celebrated Bardot dress by adding a floor length skirt, oversized bow and bringing it up-to-date and completely on trend with the Yasmin full lace, long sleeved cover up. Each piece has something new to offer the bride, whether she is looking for a delicate, subtle ballgown (Amber), a sexy and understated sheath dress (Mystical) or an out-an-out showstopper (Indi Rose), she is guaranteed to put a spell on everyone who casts their eyes on her.

Ivory-gold shimmer A-line dress with embellished floral bodice and matching shrug and full tulle skirt.

Silk white sheath dress with pearl embellished waist belt and gathered skirt.

Floor length silk sheath dress with sweetheart neckline. Scalloped lace floor length coat and natural ribbon tie.

Corsetted sweetheart neckline bodice, pale pink oversized silk bow and full tulle skirt with lace Yasmin cover-up.

Coffee dipped dyed sheath dress with coffee chiffon straps and oversized lace belt

Coffee dipped dyed sheath dress with coffee chiffon straps and oversized lace belt

The Most Beautiful Summer Weddings

Everyone enjoys a good wedding but there is something in the air at summer weddings that people just fall in love with. Whether it's the birds singing, the sun shining, the taste of freshly whipped ice-cream, the fresh air, the smell of freshly cut grass, the short sleeved shirts or even shorter hemlines - brides and grooms just can't resist having their first kiss as husband and wife in the sunny summery months.

The summery sweet shade of of the bridesmaid's dresses combined with the baby pink bouquets and the golden sand, makes you want to step into this moment and join this couple as they stylishly enjoy their big day.

The beautiful bride as she makes her way to her wedding ceremony on a gloriously sunny summer's day.

We love this casual, laid-back wedding party as they sit back and enjoy each and every moment with each other in the summer sunshine.

Being brought to the wedding reception by a tractor and trailer on a summer's evening will always be a priceless memory for the bride, groom and all of their guests.

No wonder Kate and Michael are so ecstatic looking, they were just pronounced husband and wife in a ceremony overlooking Balluta Bay in Malta

A yellow and grey colour theme, vintage drinking jars and one very beautiful bride = love!

Fun, laughter and a people pyramid with the bride on top - why not?

The confetti throwing image is always a good one, particularly if your strolling up a golden beach, hand-in-hand with you new husband.

You can't get much more romantic than strolling down a country lane with your brand new hubby in tow on a summer's day!

Philip and Paula were married in a bird themed wedding on a beautiful August day. This image is so fairytale-like and vivid you can almost smell the fresh green grass and feel the soft petals of the daisys.

Is it just us, or does running through a vineyard on your wedding day with all your bridal party just seem so wonderful?

Vintage Collections – Lover´s White Lace Magic

Lover  has launched‘White Magick, a new capsule collection which sees designers Susien Chong and Nic Briand re-envision some of the most coveted dresses from the brand’s 10 years in existence.

Each gown has been resurrected from the label’s archive and created in pure white or ivory lace, constructing the aesthetic of timeless romance that the duo does so well. The collection includes the iconic S/S2005 “Black Magick dress” – but strictly in white or ivory this time round.   Brides to be ..Take note

Top 10 Wedding Dress Trends for 2012

Last year we saw ruffles, vintage dresses, the one-shoulder dress, monochrome and plenty of pretty little bows. This year, lace sleeves are back in style thanks to one very hot Duchess, tea-length gowns and the little white wedding dresses are all the rage and off-the-shoulder and high-low hemlines are ruling the bridal catwalks.

We take a look at some of the hottest wedding dress trends for 2012, some you'll like, some you'll love, some you might even loathe, but we definitely have something to suit every type of bride-to-be.

1. Blush

It was once one of the most worn shades for bridesmaid dresses, but now blush is taking over as one of the most popular hues for brides. Blush is an elegant, feminine colour and offers something different to the brides who want to shun all things traditional, conservative and white! Of course, none other than the Queen of bridal fashion herself, Vera Wang does this trend best!

2. Lace Sleeves

Who can forget that dress in April 2011, and we’re not talking about Pippa! Kate Middleton’s frock by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen really helped revive the lace sleeve trend. Not only was this guna perfect for a Princess-to-be it also suited Kate’s ladylike persona down to a T – which is an important feature to remember when searching for your own wedding dress.

3. The Little White Dress

If you’re looking to avoid all the drama of a full-length bridal gown, then a short wedding dress is worth thinking about! It’s perfect for getting hitched in a registry office or in the back garden, which is very ‘right-now’ - See our Top 20 Wedding Trends for 2012! It’s also an excellent "change into" dress and one that you can definitely wear again!

4. Tea-Length Wedding Dress

Cute, kitsch and perfect if you’re a lover of decades gone by. Justin Alexander’s Collection is full of beautiful 1950s styles that will add a hint of playfulness to your overall look. It goes without saying that amazing shoes are a must, or even colourful ones if you want to be a bit more daring.

5. The Feather Look

This look is the epitome of femininity! The ball gown skirt is made up of a mixture of frayed organza and feather embroidery. The feathers will float and sway as you move, making sure that all eyes will be on you as you glide up the aisle. Not only will you feel like you’ve landed on Cloud 9, you’ll look like you have too.

6. Off-the-Shoulder Dress

This was once a very traditional look but now designers are pairing this shoulder-baring trend with a modern style bodice and skirt which is giving this neckline a new lease of life. This style flatters most body types and it’s a great way to show off your shoulders with a bit more coverage than a strapless style. Feminine, romantic and very sexy, plus your Granny will love it!

7. The Slit

The slit has made its way back onto the catwalk and it’s sexier than ever! A style that should be worn with a tight-fitting dress, the racy slit can still be very elegant and should be on the top of your list if you have great pins, but still want to wear a long dress. Your Granny probably won’t love this one!

8. High-Low Hemline

Dresses that are short at the front and long at the back are very popular for 2012! They will give you the best of both worlds and help add to the overall drama and romance of the gown. They are also the chicest way to show off an amazing pair of shoes and perfect for a modern city chic wedding!

9. The not-a-wedding-dress-wedding-dress

Maybe it’s your second-time round or you feel that a bridal gown is just not for you, whatever the reason, wearing something other than a wedding dress for your big day can still be very chic. You really can choose whatever you like - trouser suits, hats, short dresses, long dresses or pants suits - but do get something you absolutely adore, it is your big day afterall! This trend is also recession proof as you can wear the ensemble again.

10. Illusion Necklines

Sheer necklines are dominating the bridal runways at the moment! A sheer layer of fabric covers the skin, so you get a strapless look with some added coverage, as seen here with Reem Acra’s 2012 Collection. Designers are also adding embellishments to the neckline to give this soft, graceful look a more glamorous vibe.