Such was the feeling of thousands of other women the moment they saw her in that nude dress from Reiss, the British fashion brand that’s been around since 1971. They were originally a menswear label but branched out to womenswear in 2000.

Wait. Let’s go back to Kate. Only about 1,000 Shola dresses were made by Reiss, which all sold out within hours of her wearing it. Their website also crashed as shoppers everywhere rushed to buy the dress. And there’s still a waiting list for the others who weren’t able to grab one, but founder David Reiss only had 600 more made when he could have cashed in on the event and had thousands more produced. But he doesn’t want cheap, mass-produced clothing.

And we agree. Reiss has that rare mix of luxury tailoring and a reasonable price tag—their pieces are always modern, youthfully elegant, but not loudly glam. And that’s why Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge is a loyal Reiss customer. She simply loves their dresses, and they have always been very private about it.

“She chose us because we are not always issuing press statements about who is wearing one of our dresses on the red carpet,” adds David. “She has shopped with us for years, and we never once let anyone know. We have always been very understated.”

Well, now we know where she shops! And we’re happy about it. Now let’s get on to the fabulous frocks they have online. These would be amazing as bridesmaids dresses…

“We’re a design-led, iconic, modern, sexy label,” says Reiss brand director Andy Burling. “We act and think as a luxury brand, and design that way, too.” Their design team travels the world for design inspiration, like they do at brands like Stella McCartney and Louis Vuitton.

Reiss is currently not stocked in Australia, but no worries, ladies. They are carried by stockists all over the world. And you can get around this by setting up a UPS postal address with a mail forwarding company. Easy, huh?

For more wedding attire inspiration, visit Reiss online.

{First image via The Mirror; all other images via ASOS}

Vintage with a modern touch, sweet and comfy, and simple but oh-so-pretty—Whitney Deal sure knows how to wow us! She studied at Parsons: The New School of Design, Savannah College of Art and Design, and North Carolina State University.

Check out these beautifully constructed wedding dresses…

These would be amazing for an informal wedding such as a garden or barn wedding, or, as Whitney suggests in her blog, maybe a secret elopement at city hall…

Hattie Dress

Strapless gown with boned bodice made of dupioni silk, embellished with delicate netted beading.

Ruby Skirt

Charmeuse-lined satin form-fitted skirt accents curves and elongates the figure.

Glea Blouse

Delicate silk georgette blouse adorned with a satin peter pan collar. Goes with the Ruby Skirt to create a simply gorgeous wedding outfit.

Faye Dress

Tapered and layered chiffon dress with a soft scoop neckline. Airy and lightweight, and comes with a gold belt.

Ollie Dress

Duchess satin gives this dress a subtle sheen. Pleating accents the bust and lower back.

Lucille Dress

Fitted silhouette dress in a leaf-pattern lace. High front neckline contrasts with deep scoop in back.

Pearl Dress

Super comfy yet stylish cotton-rayon dress with a boat neck bodice and open back held together by lace.

These bridesmaids’ dresses were an inspiration from Whitney’s own wedding, where she wanted but couldn’t find any printed dresses for her bridesmaids. Her solution? Make her own. We love the mix and match dress styles and the fact that everyone gets pockets! All dresses come in five prints to choose from.

Rosa Dress

Strapless dress with a boned bodice and fully gathered skirt with hidden pleats.

Viola Dress

Double-pleated waist detailing with a full skirt and a pointed collar makes this dress a classic dress with a modern take.

Bellis Dress

Simple, sweet, and comfy, with a fully gathered skirt.

Paeonia Romper

Tailored shorts come with a princess-seamed bodice and 3/4 sleeves. Select darker fabrics as this is not lined.

Whitney Deal ships internationally. For more wedding inspiration, visit her online shop.

{Images via Whitney Deal}

You see, he refuses to advertise his collections. He relies primarily on word of mouth and non-traditional marketing. Such as when he first opened his first stores in the late 1980s, he used to provide a laundry service for every shirt purchased. He also gives away Paxo stuffing for Christmas, chocolate bunny hotpot for Easter, and world-cup football cards. Every single piece of article he produces has his very own personality stamped upon it. That is why the slogan “No Ordinary Designer Label” has caught on very quickly with his brand.

Ted Baker is one of the fastest-growing lifestyle brands in the UK and has expanded to the USA, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Thailand, Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia, and Australia.

Here is the Ted Baker Men’s Suit Collection. These would be great as your groom’s attire, as each suit is the picture of sophistication and style…

For bridesmaids’ dresses and guests’ attire, here is the Ted Baker Womenswear Dress Collection. The dresses all have clean lines, simple but figure-flattering silhouettes, and those little details that add an elegant touch…

Ted Baker ships to different parts of the world. Check their shop for more details and other wedding ideas.

{Images via Ted Baker}

Not us, because we’re loving the Yumi Kim dress collection straight from New York! These are cute and hip, but definitely classy enough to wear to a wedding.

The designer, Kim Phan, has been into fashion ever since she can remember. Her brand, named after her little Yorkie, Yumi, combines vintage charm and urban appeal. She opened her first flagship store in New York’s Lower East Side in 2008 and her line is also stocked by premium boutiques and department stores in the States and abroad.

“I wanted the store to be a direct reflection of my personality and style,” says Kim. Her collections are nearly identical to the pieces found in her own closet—vintage dresses, jackets, boots, and accessories. The Yumi Kim style is fun and flirty, with a hip and quirky touch.

Here are our picks from the Yumi Kim dress collection for some wedding inspiration for those young urbanite brides who want to rock that hip and cool look on their big day:

Lanie – One-shoulder dress with double-ruffle detail and front hip pockets. Get a size larger if you have an ample bosom and hips as this runs quite small in the bust and hip area.

Jayne – Wrap dress with a v-neck fitted bodice and asymmetrical pleats.

Ariella – With a deep v-neck, self-covered buttons, and cinched waist, this dress flatters any shape.

Leon – The eye-popping color-block palette, mini tassel belt at the waist, and bias cut give this dress that polished yet chic look.

Left: Nyssa – Silk charmeuse maxi dress with a satin finish interior. With a drawstring waist, front hip and breast pockets, and vintage black buttons.

Right: Tess – Wear the drawstring straps as a halter or go strapless. With an empire waist, gathered elastic back, and bottom ruffles. In peach floral silk charmeuse.

Rizza – One-shoulder silk dress with strap ruffle detail and asymmetrical wrap skirt pleats. Comes with a curve-hugging fitted waist.

Browse their shop for more wedding ideas for your wedding dress or your bridesmaids’ dresses. Yumi Kim ships internationally.

{Images via Yumi Kim}

And, well, she is now living in the States and living, breathing, and dreaming about dresses. Having played dress up ever since she can remember, Sarah now creates vintage-inspired clothing—she deconstructs, recycles, and reworks pieces, while also leaving some dresses unaltered for selling. Now with a shop called Vintage Opulence at Etsy, Sarah does custom-made vintage dresses, tops, bustiers, chemises, and lingerie.

We’ll leave you now to get some wedding inspiration from her creations…

Tulle, lace, satin, and chiffon…Sarah takes pieces cut from the most luxurious fabrics she can get her hands on and makes magic…

Vintage Opulence ships internationally and accepts exchanges and alterations.

{Images via Vintage Opulence}

Lisa Brown had no formal training in fashion; her label was born from sheer passion and creativity. Lisa finds inspiration for unusual beauty and style in the most unlikely places, and in the early days of her designing, she was often asked where she got a particularly beautiful something that she was wearing.

Originally asked to do one-off pieces for here clients, word of mouth eventually spread the news about this budding talented designer. Today, Lisa’s hobby has become a burgeoning fashion empire with on-site and online stores all over Australia carrying her label. Her signature style is vintage-inspired and ultra-feminine, and there is something for every woman for all ages, shapes, and sizes.

Lisa’s creations have graced the runways of Sydney Fashion Week and won the Supreme Award at the NRA Australian Fashion Awards. But what Lisa values is that real women are loving her dresses and actually wearing them, helping them shape their own unique individual style.

Here are our favorites from the Lisa Brown Collection. These could be your inspiration for wedding dresses at a very intimate, informal setting – at the beach or at a garden. These dresses would also make for unique bridesmaid dresses.

The fabrics are gorgeous, fluid, and look like they feel as beautiful on the skin as they look on the body. The silhouettes are soft and billowy, not at all constricting, but still oozing with sensuality.

{Images via Lisa Brown}

We featured his bridal collection a while back here, and now we’re taking a peek at his lineup for spring next year.

Happy colours were all abloom during the recently-concluded Fashion Week, but it was the Angel Sanchez collection that caught our eye—with fresh teal, bubble gum pink, lemon yellow, delicate lilac, and other sweet candy colours, plus the soft silhouettes, layers, and ruffles. These frocks would be stunning as bridesmaids’ dresses!

Here are some of our favorites from the Angel Sanchez Spring 2012 Collection…

Angel says this collection was inspired by the roaring 1920s and ‘30s, with the look less structured than we’ve seen in previous seasons.

Angel Sanchez has also designed the wedding dresses of Hollywood stars Sandra Bullock and Eva Longoria. Here’s some trivia that Angel recounts, which we find quite amusing: “People in America call me ‘Angel.’ I always correct them and say, ‘Heaven and hell—Angel’.”

To view his complete collections and for more wedding inspiration, visit Angel Sanchez online.

{Images by Earl Gibson III via Zimbio}

Tulle, lace, and organza in pale, dusty colors are just the wedding inspiration some very romantic and feminine brides may be looking for. Detailed finishes such as intricate beading and hand-stitched embellishments add sparkle to the pieces.

Eva Huynh, founder and owner of Eva Q, is a young textile and fashion designer from Melbourne who recently graduated from the RMIT University in 2009. After university, Eva entered several fashion competitions and won the Student Designer of the Year at the 2009 NRA Australian Fashion Design Awards. She also won a scholarship in Paris at the Paris American Academy, where she was mentored by some of the most talented masters in the industry.

Her dresses are elegant enough to be worn to a special occasion like a wedding, yet flexible enough to be used again and again whenever you fancy yourself being a romantic young woman with timeless appeal and a modern outlook.

Here is the latest collection – Mementos Bestowed, Winter 2011…

Solitude Concealed, Autumn/Winter 2011…

Endless Sundays, Spring/Summer 2011…

And from her older collections, Sinful Romance, 2010…

This collection still has more of a glam, rock n’ roll edge…

Parisian Love Affair, 2009…

Eva Q also makes the commitment to reusing and recycling materials. Their wholesalers are sourced locally and most of the trims and finishes are found at markets, vintage shops, or from fabric scraps. All Eva Q pieces are Australian-made and owned, lovingly handcrafted down to the last stitch.

Eva Q has stockists in Perth, Brisbane, and Melbourne. For more details, visit their site.

{Images via Eva Q Design}

Elie Saab’s first-ever resort collection is bright but not overly so, fresh yet cut in timeless silhouettes, and just overall breathtaking. And these would be the perfect inspiration for your wedding attire. We’re seeing bridesmaids’ dresses and even your own wedding dress in white, off-white, or practically whatever colour you fancy.

Born and raised in Lebanon, this fashion genius began designing eveningwear and bridal gowns as a youngster. His talent and craftsmanship attracted such a wide following across the Middle East that even the Royalty wore his creations. In 1982, he opened his own flagship store in Beirut and has since then become much sought-after all over the world.

Elie Saab has held private fashion shows in Paris and Switzerland, and was the first non-Italian designer to present a haute couture collection at the Roma Alta Moda Week in 1997. His creations are often snapped up by some of Holywood’s A-listers, such as Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Halle Berry, and Sarah Jessica Parker, among many others.

Here is Elie Saab’s very own Resort 2012 Collection…

Pale lime gowns with intricate crystal detailing and touches of lace…

Black dresses in clean lines, and a crystal-studded gown with a fabulous drape…

These warmed fuschia pieces would look divine on any skin tone…

Eye-popping aqua in curve-fitting dresses…we love creative little details like the ruffles at the waist…

Artfully layered biscuit-coloured dresses look anything but boring…

A matador-red gown with clever lace finishing and dresses that ooze with sensual appeal…

Subdued teal in a show-stopping deep v-neck gown and adorable pencil-skirt dresses…

For more elegant wedding attire inspiration, visit the Elie Saab website. His ready-to-wear collections are carried by stockists around the globe, while his haute couture collections are available in France and Lebanon.

{Images via Style.com}

Their simple, elegant designs with luxurious detailing have appealed to such celebrities as Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Sharon Stone, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jennifer Garner, and Sarah Jessica Parker, among others.

The two met while studying at Parsons School of Design in New York and within a few short years had taken their brand to new levels, including a bridal collection. Here we see the Badgley Mischka Bridesmaids Collection, which are nothing short of glamorous. The silhouettes are streamlined, the designs timeless.

If you’re a bride who wants understated chic without the frills and the fuss, these just might be the bridesmaids’ dresses you’re looking for.

“Our style harks back to the glamorous Hollywood of the Forties,” says James Mischka.

These are giving you some wedding inspiration now, aren’t they?

Badgley Mischka is sold at Basilica Couture in NSW, Australia. Check their site for more details.

{Images by Mike Colon via Wedding Style Magazine}