Hot Off The Runway

Tampa Bay Weddings Picks for 2008 | By Candace Braun

Whether the walk down the aisle is housed in the chapel where your parents exchanged vows, or amidst wildflowers in the park where you first met, or on the beach overlooking foam-capped waves in the Gulf of Mexico, the perfect wedding gown for each venue shares one common thread: it must reveal the bride's inner goddess.

Rather than being weighed down by layers of tulle, today's brides are opting for lighter, diaphanous fabrics that create an ethereal presence. These gowns carry a soft, feminine appeal by gently embracing the bride's figure.

Flowy fabrics, such as chiffon and organza, tend to be popular for beach weddings because they feel more relaxed and flutter in the ocean breeze. For these and other outdoor weddings, gowns tend to have no more than a sweep train, which extends anywhere from 12 to 36 inches beyond the hemline.

Lace gowns have become a major trend in bridal gowns as well. They create a more delicate, romantic look, and when combined with lighter fabrics, will not make the bride resemble her grandmother's doily collection.

Monique Lhuillier has been really popular,
said Lindy Bengston, owner of Malindy Elene in St. Petersburg. She does a lot of lace gowns
and brides are really drawn to them. They have a vintage, antique style, yet they have a
modern shape.

Light fabrics and lace embellishments are not the only ways brides are updating their wedding dresses. Many are also choosing a variety of necklines to break away from the traditional strapless gown. Bengston said that v-necks, cap sleeves and straps of all widths are making a comeback, regardless of the wedding's venue.

The key this year is personalization. Rather than donning the same princess-style gown that's been ubiquitous at weddings over the past few years, the most captivating look for any bride is one that's uniquely hers, whether that includes lace detailing to channel old Hollywood glamour, a fit-and-flare gown to highlight her figure, or an off-the-shoulder sleeve for a fairytale-esque flourish.