Brides with a bump can still have gorgeous dresses

Choosing a wedding dress has got to be one of the most important aspects of getting married for many brides.

While some could have the perfect gown in mind after years of reading through magazines and gazing at the choices made by celebrities in anticipation of their big day, others may not have a clue what they want.

Trips to the dress fitters turn stressful, brides-to-be get flustered and they start to feel like they will never find the perfect frock to look stunning in as they walk down the aisle at the wedding venue to greet their future husband.

While this may seem bad enough, purchasing a wedding dress could be a completely different story for women who are pregnant when they tie the knot.

However, it seems as though things are changing for brides with a bump when their big day arrives.

A pregnant woman wearing white to get married was something that was frowned upon in the past, but as it becomes increasingly accepted, many designers are doing their best to accommodate these brides.

Take singer Alicia Keys, who recently wed her partner Swizz Beatz in a ceremony that took place in Corsica. She is due to give birth to her first child in November 2010, but still looked beautiful in her Vera Wang gown and jewelled, hippy-style head band.

Unfortunately not all of us have quite that much money to spend on our gowns and there are plenty of other issues to contend with.

Writing for Mom Logic, one woman described what it was like walking down the aisle with a baby on the way and well into her second trimester.

She explained how she originally considered empire-line dresses, however not all of these fitted around her stomach. Instead she wore supportive under garments including a push-up bra to create the illusion of a waist and make her bump appear smaller than it was.

"I have to admit, I was a little disappointed not to be that picture-perfect vision in white I had always imagined I'd be on my wedding day. But now, as my daughter nears her third birthday, it thrills me to know that she was at our wedding," she wrote.

However, the number of maternity gowns available for brides is continually increasing and they are more glamorous and beautiful than ever before. As Hello! Magazine points out, maternity fashion used to include layer upon layer of fabric and extra large sizes.

Now, "more and more designers are combining light, elastic fabrics with flattering, feminine designs, making it much easier to dress up a baby bump for weddings and other special occasions", the publication continues.

And it's not just the brides either. There's every chance one of the bridesmaids could be glowing when the big day arrives and many brands are also catering for them, too. Many firms provide alteration services to ensure the wedding party gets their outfits just right and if the group has their hearts set on a particular style of bridesmaids dresses, it may be simple enough to customise one for an expectant woman.

The Mom Logic author described how she worked with a seamstress to create a frock. Because they could not estimate how large her bump would be on the big day, she bought a dress that was too big and had it taken in three days before the event instead.

With so many options available, it is easy for pregnant brides to be big and beautiful in their wedding dresses on one of the most important days of their lives.