Wedding Gowns & Bridal Gowns

I wasn’t too crazy about Claire Pettibone’s fall 2010 collection – I thought the Oriental tassels were a little out of place and the overall quality of the designs weren’t too impressive. But when I took a look at the Claire Pettibone bridal couture website, I fell madly in love with the dresses from her continuing collection. They have such an old-fashioned, timeless appeal that you don’t really find in many wedding dresses these days. If you’re looking for a wedding dress with character, elegance, and style, I suggest you check out my favorite picks below, or view Claire Pettibone’s continuing collection and fall 2009 collection for yourself.

Cecile is a breathtaking piece dominated by a silver and bronze corded lace sheath lined in pearl silk. The elegant crystal beading and train is very old Hollywood chic, and the deep v-neck and the laced keyhole back caters to a modern woman’s preference for showing more skin. I would definitely wear this dress down the aisle, and no conservative Catholic dress code can stop me.

What a gorgeous way to follow spring 2010’s trend on nature-inspired wedding dresses. Lalique features embroidered flowering branches on a tulle bubble skirt. The large silk rose is the perfect finishing touch. It would be overkill to carry a bridal bouquet in this dress. For wedding dresses with large floral details, consider carrying a frilly bridal parasol instead.

Yolanda features a delicate ivory cotton crochet lace over platinum silk charmeuse, while a lavender velvet and silk rose on a hand-dyed silk ribbon adds a splash of color. I can’t even begin to think of the amount of work and time spent crocheting this dress. The wrong gauge or a missed stitch can completely ruin the fit and shape, and you’ll need to undo everything to correct the mistake.

Winter brides will love how Kaelyn completely reinvents the sleeved wedding dress. This ivory strapless wedding gown is made of cotton and lace and features soft delicate ruched sleeves.

When we think of a long-sleeved wedding dress, we usually imagine the sleeves to be stiff, itchy, and warm. Not the sleeves of the Kaelyn dress. They look so soft and comfortable, I bet the wearer won’t even notice that she’s wearing sleeves in the first place.