By Tiffany Palmer
Summer is a popular time to hear wedding bells and a lot of preparation goes into creating the perfect wedding. One thing is essential to complete the perfection- the dress. Shapes, styles and designs of dresses are available for any taste.
'Very feminine styles are in,' said Pamela Weight, designer and owner of Gowns by Pamela. 'It''s so wonderful to see this graceful, feminine, womanly look.'
Weight said one of the biggest styles the designers are seeing this season are dresses with a full skirt.
'This season the big ball gown look is big,' Weight said. 'It''s more of a queenly look.'
Another option in a skirt is a kind of mermaid look in a dress, said Lisa Erekson, manager of Walker''s Bridal Emporium.
This dress is a streamline against the body all the way down with a flare at the knee similar to a mermaid, Erekson said.
The fitted skirt gives a more sophisticated look, Weight said.
Necklines are an important focus of a dress as well.
'Round and square necklines are in,' said MacKenzie Lawrence, a Russian major from Fresno, Calif. 'There used to be elaborate necklines but those are kind of out now. Very simple necklines are in.'
The most popular is a rounded square neck, Erekson said.
The sleeves on the dress do not offer too much variety, but there are a few different options.
The most popular style of sleeve for wedding dresses this season is cap sleeves, even in the winter, Erekson said.
Dresses can be styled and fitted to fit each individual bride.
Weight says one dress that is popular is the ball gown skirt with an empire waist.
'This dress is good for a girl who is short waisted,' Weight said. 'It makes her look longer and leaner.'
Also dresses are designed with more flattering lines this season.
'It is the Audrey Hepburn style right now,' Weight said. 'There are more simple lines which makes it more elegant and feminine.'
The opposite of the simple, smooth elegant lines are dresses that are gathered at the waist. They are the biggest style right now, Lawrence said.
Dresses are very various in style and design, but another way to add variety to the white wedding dress is the veil. Veils come in lengths to the elbow, fingers, knee and the cathedral, which is too the ground, Erekson said.
Beadwork and embroidery can add or take from a dress. It is a popular style to have design on the bodice of the dress or around the bottom.
'Simple styles are fine, but now they have more design lines on them so they''re not totally plain,' Weight said. 'There''s just something that gives it some pizzazz.'