Your wedding day comes along, ideally, once in a lifetime.

Prom And Homecoming Dresses For The 2006 Season.

Now is the time to start searching for prom and homecoming dresses for 2006. Its nice to allow yourself plenty of time, so you can relax and enjoy checking out all those gorgeous dresses before you decide which one is going to be absolutely free wedding dresses perfect.

Before you begin searching for your prom or homecoming dress, you should have a clear idea in your mind of whether youre looking for a full formal, semi-formal or dressy casual style. Most high school proms are full formal, so its the perfect opportunity to wear that full length ball gown youve always dreamed of, or the kind of sophisticated formal dress you would reserve for the most glamorous occasions.

A homecoming dance or event will usually be less backless wedding dresses formal, but the dress code will depend on the event and on your particular schools tradition. The best way to get an idea of the kind of outfit which will be most appropriate is to just ask the senior students, or graduates if you know any.

Now is the time of year when the major trends are beginning to emerge for the coming season. There are a number of looks which are shaping up to be the big trends for 2006, so you have plenty of choice.

Prom and Homecoming Fashion Trends for 2006

Black is the new black. Of course, classic black never really goes out of style, but the sophisticated black dress will be one of the strongest trends for the 2006 prom season. Slinky shapes with glamorous floor length skirts are the main focus.

Bold, dramatic black and white will also be an important look, in particular the classic black and white paneled bodice with a solid white A-line skirt. Well also see solid black dresses with dramatic white detailing.

Winter white is still an important look, particularly with silvery beads and details.

Colors for 2006 will be bold and dramatic. Soft pastels have most definitely made way for striking rich reds, dazzling blues, sparkling golds, sunset yellows and even tangy citrus orange tones. If you like to be really daring with color, this will be the year for bold contrasts of two vera wang formal dresses or more strong colors.

The sexy Grecian style gown is tipped to be a particularly hot look for the 2006 season, after Kelly Clarkson really turned heads with the stunning gold silk dress she wore at the VMA Awards in August. If you have a sensational figure, now is the time to really show it off!

Strapless ball gowns were the main attraction at the Golden Globe Awards in 2005, worn by everyone from Kim Kattrall of Sex and the City to Friends favorite Lisa Kudrow, so well be seeing a lot of this fabulous celebrity style in the upcoming prom season.

Fabrics will be shining, lustrous and glamorous, with satin and silk the main focus. Well also see lots of flowing chiffon, classic taffeta and gorgeous organza.

Beads, sequins, rhinestones, glitter, embroidery and and specialty detailing will also be a major trend, so if you love a little glamour its definitely going to be your year. There will be lots of beautifully beaded necklines and embroidered bodices. Extravagantly romantic lace, ribbons, tie-backs and bows will also be very much in vogue.

Theres no single strong trend in hemlines; its really a case of anything goes, be it a full floor length skirt, tea length, short or daringly short. Well also see everything from cheeky handkerchief hems to classic A-line shapes, long skirts with trains, funky asymmetrical hemlines, sexy slit dresses, and even elegant ballerina skirts. Its really a matter of choosing the skirt shape and length which best suits your figure and shows off your assets.

Prom and Homecoming Accessories

Beads and embroidery will also be in very much in vogue for prom and homecoming accessories. There will be lots of beautifully designed beaded and embroidered purses and shawls to complement the seasons gowns.

You can never go wrong with strappy mid to high-heel shoes to complement evening wear. Bear in mind when youre choosing your shoes that you not only want to look sensational, you also want to keep dancing all night, so look for evening shoes which are comfortable as well as stylish.

An alternative shoe style which will make a surprise appearance in 2006 will be ballet shoes. There will be lots of prom shoes in ballet styles, but theres no reason why you cant wear real ballet shoes, which are inexpensive and easy to find. With the right dress, theyll look absolutely gorgeous.

And the hot tip for jewelry is chandelier earrings, which look great particularly worn with your hair up to show them off. This will be the year for bold, extravagant, sparkling jewelry, including brooches, necklaces, bracelets, rings and tiaras with every kind of jewel, from dazzling rubies and emeralds to classic diamonds and pearls.

Why Not To Trim Your Wedding Dress Budget

Planning a wedding is expensive, and finding ways to trim the budget is important to many brides. One area that you should NOT trim the budget, however, is the dress. That doesn mean that you have to spend an outrageous amount of money for your dream gown, but trying to take the cheapest possible route when it comes to your dress is not a good idea.

Here are some reasons why NOT to trim your wedding dress budget followed by a couple of ideas of where you can save some money on your wedding.

One Day

Your wedding day comes along, ideally, once in a lifetime. This is the day that your life changes forever, and your wedding dress is the most important garment that you will ever wear.

Photographs

When you look at your wedding photographs, seeing your dress should rekindle the feelings that you had as you donned that gown and walked down the aisle to meet your groom. If you were not happy with the dress, it is likely that you will not be as happy when perusing your wedding photos a few years from now.

Next Generation

For many families, a wedding dress is something that gets passed down to the next generation. When you consider that, you realize that the money that you spend on your dress is about more than just your wedding day. It is about passing on something that was very special to you to your daughter and to future generations.

If you purchase a dress that you don really love, the thrill of passing it down will be greatly diminished.

Feeling Like a Bride

Every bride wants to feel beautiful on her big day. Ask anyone who has found their perfect wedding dress and they will tell you that a certain feeling came over them when they put on their dream dress. Settling for less won make you less of a bride, but you may feel like less of a bride.

If you plus sized bridesmaid dresses need to find a little wiggle room in your budget, here are a few things to consider.

Holiday

Go a bit closer for your holiday. You can always take a fabulous holiday for your first anniversary ?and every anniversary thereafter! Trim a bit off of the budget for the wedding holiday and put it towards your dress.

Food

If you serve one less appetizer or have one less champagne toast, you can save some money that can be applied to your dress.

Other good areas to make some cuts are the wedding favours, the cake and the transportation for the bridal party.

There are plenty of ways to save money on your wedding without sacrificing the dress of your dreams.