Strapless trumpet gown with contrast sash overlaid with Alençon Lace.

Strapless A-line with pleated Taffeta midriff and asymmetrical Alençon Lace detail.
Back of gown features covered buttons and chapel train.

Strapless A-line with hand pleated detail at empire waist and hem.
Alençon Lace accents on sides of bodice, skirt and train.

Strapless Organza A-line with contrast band at natural waist and wide band at hem.

Strapless full A-line with pleated Organza and Alençon Lace detail at dropped waist.

Brenna by Christos

Alençon Lace trumpet gown with Tulle straps and pleating at bust.
Low dropped waist with Tulle skirt and chapel train.

Leila by Christos

Strapless full A-line with beaded Alençon Lace at midriff.
Skirt features back pleats and chapel train.

Peony by Christos

Strapless A-line gown with satin detail at empire waist and shirred Tulle at bust.

Penelope by Christos

Alençon Lace A-line gown with hand-pleated satin bust.

Whitney by Christos

Satin A-line gown with V-neckline and pleated Tulle cap sleeves. Crystal beading accents neckline and empire seam.

Aubrey by Christos

Strapless A-line gown wwith Alençon lace bodice and satin skirt. Buttons accent back of gown.

Renoir by Kenneth Pool

Empress Satin. Satin tip-of-the-shoulder ballgown with low scoop neck and dropped waist. Bodice features silver and crystal bouquet beading and satin draped accents. Double bustle train is adorned by satin sashes with beaded tails.

Strapless trumpet style gown with curved neckline and dropped waist. Crystal beaded bodice with rouched taffeta wrap detail.

Strapless Tulle A-line with crystal encrusted bodice and vine embroidered skirt. Curved neckline and low V-back with crystal buttons. Sweep train.

Vintage-inspired beaded Tulle gown with delicate embroidery and 3-tiered skirt. Bodice features empire waistline and beaded cap sleeves.

Strapless A-line with curved neckline and dropped waist. Bands of crystal beading embellish bodice with crystal buttons on train.

Strapless A-line with dropped waist and circle skirt. Bodice features wide scooped neckline, low back and scroll-inspired embroidery.

Strapless Tulle A-line with flourish-style embroidery and crystal beading. Full circle skirt with chapel length train.

Silk Faced Satin. Strapless ballgown with low dropped waist and scalloped neckline. Delicate heirloom beading adorns bodice and scalloped train. Glove button detail at back.

Silk Faced Satin. Satin tip of shoulder ballgown with elaborate gold beadwork on bodice, hem and train.

Delacroix by Kenneth Pool

Silk Duchess. Satin off-the-shoulder ballgown with dropped waist and crystal beaded bodice. Flat-front satin skirt is adorned with intricate crystal embroidery and scalloped Tulle trim.

Botticelli by Kenneth Pool

Silk Faced Satin/Tulle. Strapless ballgown with curved neckline and dropped waist. Satin bodice features elaborate crystal and silver beading. Scalloped beaded Tulle skirt is adorned with silver and crystal chandelier beadwork.

Degas by Kenneth Pool

Empress Satin. Strapless satin ballgown with low dropped waist and pleated satin detail at bust. Bodice features crystal beaded bands under bust and at dropped waist. Crystal buttons adorn train.

Vermeer by Kenneth Pool

Silk Faille. Strapless dropped waist ballgown with pleated crumb-catcher detail at bust. Crystal and pearl beading embellish bodice and chapel train. Glove button detail down back.

by Elie Saab Haute Couture

A silk-tulle, hand-embroidered fantasy gown showcases a crystal-encrusted bodice and a flared-godet glitter skirt, by special order, by Elie Saab Haute Couture, eliesaab.com. Earrings and bracelet, by Iradj Moini, iradjmoini.com.
Beauty note: Alabaster skin is in—so do the white thing with Max Factor's Colour Adapt Pressed Powder in Fair.

Bring on the bling! by Kenneth Pool for Amsale

A glorious beaded-satin ball gown with a full, gathered A-line skirt and bow detail suits the grandest white-tie wedding, about $5,800, by Kenneth Pool for Amsale, kennethpool.com. Blue topaz-and-citrine necklace, by Diego for Jaded, jadedjewels.com.

Graceful Gown by Michelle Roth

This two-piece wedding dress strikes a beautiful balance, pairing a crisscross-back Empire bustier top with a lean skirt featuring an asymmetrical draped tulle underskirt, about $7,500, by Michelle Roth, michelleroth.com. Earrings, by Elizabeth Blair, elizabethblairltd.com/contact.htm. Bracelet, by Apprecia Fine Jewelry, appreciafinejewelry.com.

Seven Unlimited by After Six

Beaded lace and tulle are happily married in this tea-length A-line with natural waist and satin belt, $399, by Galina, at David's Bridal, davidsbridal.com. Shoes, by Kenneth Cole, kennethcole.com. Headpiece, by Bel Aire Bridal, belaireveils.com. Veil, by Mirabella Headpieces, mirabellabridal.com.
On him: Seven Unlimited by After Six, aftersix.com. Shirt, by Thomas Pink, thomaspink.co.uk. Tie, by Tino Cosma, tinocosma.it. Shoes, by Allen Edmonds, allenedmonds.com.

A Dapper Duo by Alfred Angelo

Out for a stroll in vintage-style duds. Her strapless satin gown has a net-and-reembroidered-lace overlay with floral beading and flared skirt, about $649, by Alfred Angelo, alfredangelo.com. Earrings and necklace, by Elyssa B Design, elyssab.com.
On him: Groom's shirt, by Vestimenta. Pants, by After Six, aftersix.com. Tie, by Robert Talbott, roberttalbott.com. Hat, by Hats in the Belfry, hatsinthebelfry.com.

Slinky embroidered by Monique Lhuillier

Turn up the heat in this slinky embroidered halter sheath, by Monique Lhuillier, moniquelhuillier.com.

Sweet meets sexy by Angel Sanchez

Sweet meets sexy in this cap-sleeved gown featuring sheer floral-chiffon details, by Angel Sanchez.

Girlish charm by Vera Wang

For after-dark allure with girlish charm, wear a silk-georgette gown spotlighting a low neckline with pin-tuck trim and floral-ribbon sash, by Vera Wang, verawang.com.

Touch of romance by Monique Lhuillier

Sheer flutter sleeves add a touch of romance to this gauzy chiffon sheath, by Monique Lhuillier, moniquelhuillier.com.

Daring designs by Sully Bonnelly

This charming two-piece pairs a silk-and-duchess satin-embroidered bustier with bows, and a silk-organza ruffled skirt, by Sully Bonnelly, sullybonnelly.com.

by Carmela Sutera

The high-low look lives on in this silk-chiffon gown featuring a drop-waist gathered bodice and ruffle-edged skirt, by Carmela Sutera, carmelasutera.com.

funky fashion by Reem Acra

For the bride who likes her fashion funky, a '70s-style embroidered Chantilly lace jumpsuit featuring a halter neck is right on, by Reem Acra, reemacra.com.

Sultry Nights by Angel Sanchez

Go your own way in one of these daring designs

A corded satin-and-tulle embroidered strapless column is sheer seduction, by Angel Sanchez, angelsanchez.com.ve

by Romona Keveza

A lavish location calls for a frothy frock that really rocks the house. Crowning the full-blown English tulle skirt is a strapless peau de soie drop-waist bodice accented with a Swarovski crystal brooch, a satin ribbon and bow, and a trail of covered buttons, about $3,750, by Romona Keveza, romonakeveza.com.

Art Deco by Chanel

Art Deco rhinestone straps confer cool chic on a silk-twill gown with a circle skirt, about $4,990, by Carolina Herrera, 212-249-6552, carolinaherrera.com. Satin sandals, by Chanel, 800-550-0005, chanel.com.
Beauty note: For a heady fragrance with celestial cachet, try Angel Garden of Stars Violet by Thierry Mugler.

Part Spider-Woman by Sima Lor

Seductive gowns that meld modern artistry with saucy glamour

Part Spider-Woman sexy, part mermaid fantasy, this strapless beaded sheath with a curved neckline is a study in sensational, thanks to a splash of scalloped net-style beading, about $7,500, by Kenneth Pool for Amsale, kennethpool.com. Earrings by Sima Lor, simalor.com.

Edge of Night by CD Greene

Seductive gowns that meld modern artistry with saucy glamour

Mirrored crystals trip the light fantastic on the sheer tank bodice and layered tulle skirt of this ballet-inspired gown. Top, about $2,875, skirt, about $3,200, both by CD Greene, cdgreene.com.

Perfect by Elyssa B. Design

Take the matrimonial plunge in Reva Mivasagar's sleek silk-organza gown with a sexy lace-up-front bodice suggestive of a stylish swimsuit. The lightweight split skirt features alternating pleats and a multitiered train, about $4,400, revadesigns.com. Gold and Biwa-pearl earrings, by Elyssa B. Design, 310-273-6860. Silk flower in hair, by Leah C. Couture Millinery, leahc.net
Beauty note: Spritz pulse points with Truth Calvin Klein Lush Eau de Toilette Spray, a scent as warm as the season.

Romantic restraint by Vera Wang

This silk-tulle strapless gown—with a flirty flared skirt—shows romantic restraint, thanks to crisscross-ribbon detailing, by Vera Wang, verawang.com.

From simple to extravagant styles

Fancy blush-taffeta bands circle a strapless ivory-tulle cage gown to glorious effect, by Caroline Herrera, carolinaherrera.com.

Utterly sexy by Pronovias

Church-ready but still utterly sexy, this silk-taffeta ball gown features a fitted bodice with vertical panels, three-quarter sleeves, and a gathered skirt, by Pronovias, pronovias.com.

Retro style by Romona

Retro style seduces in this fab '50s-inspired dress cut in Italian silk-satin with a fitted sweetheart-corset bodice and full pick-up skirt, by Romona Keveza, romonakeveza.com.

Anna Maier/Ulla-Maija Couture

A windmill-shaped pleated bow adds breezy drama to a mixed duchess-satin gown featuring an embroidered silk-organza sparkle bodice and draped skirt. Anna Maier/Ulla-Maija Couture, ulla-maija.com.

Top Togs by Carolina Herrera

Ivory silk-faille is pleated to architectural perfection in a strapless ball gown, by Carolina Herrera, 2carolinaherrera.com.

by Kenneth Pool

Going to elegant extremes, a shredded-tulle ball gown pairs a voluminous beaded skirt with an embroidered strapless bodice, by Kenneth Pool, kennethpool.com.

by Christos

A strapless satin fitted bodice tops a simply smashing tulle ball-gown skirt, by Christos, christosbridal.com.