The most anticipated moment of any wedding is, undeniably, seeing the bride - and the dress that she's wearing - for the first time. The dress says so much about the bride's personality and style that choosing the right gown can take months of searching. And, because grooms can spend nearly as long choosing their outfit, we turned to the experts for tips on this year's trends and which wedding looks never go out of style.
'Since last year, tulle has been really strong. It has an airy feeling, yet it's still very elegant,' says Carolyn Chow, a partner at Central Weddings and Occasions. 'We are also seeing some organza that has been made into 3D detailing. Vera Wang has structured organza folded and draped over tulle.'
Other designers, such as Monique Lhuillier and Christos Bridal, have incorporated details such as lace and small floral embroidery. For brides who dare to be different, New York-based Wang showed black wedding dresses in her autumn 2012 collection followed by varying shades of red for spring 2013. 'She went for strong colours, not just white, but black and nude-coloured dresses,' says Chow of the autumn 2012 looks. 'Black is not a traditional dress colour for Asians, so Vera Wang really made a statement there, as she always does.'
While one-shoulder dresses have been making an appearance, Chow says strapless gowns are still the most in demand. 'Strapless dresses have been popular for a long, long time. It's flattering no matter if you're big or flat-chested,' she says. 'And Asians like to wear jewellery, so this style shows it off.'
According to Dana Trang, co-founder and director at HITCH! in Sheung Wan, a variety of necklines are now in vogue. 'We have seen a lot of necklines, off-shoulder, strapless and boatnecks. Many designers are also doing lace sleeves, which seems to be influenced by the royal wedding last year,' Trang explains.
Another new look is the illusion neckline, Trang says, which resembles a strapless dress. However, the top of the dress is covered in a sheer fabric such as tulle or transparent organza, as shown in bridal wear by designers Rivini and Lela Rose.