No, that wedding dress you are looking at wasn't dipped in tie dye at Burning Man. The ombre wedding gown trend is one that is increasingly popular, and might be ideal for your wedding if tradition does not appeal to you or you want to do at least one thing a little differently. Learn something about this trend to discover if it's the missing ingredient to your Big Day.

Dip-Dyed

Ombre wedding dresses are dip-dyed to create the desired look. It is generally a DIY process, so scour the Internet for a tutorial you feel works for you. Some brides have blogged about their ombre dress dipping experiences, including Taylor Ann Linko of Taylor Ann Art.

“At first I was 100% sure I could do this. 20min into coloring, I thought I ruined my dress," she wrote in a blog post. "It took a few days for me to regain confidence and work on it again.”

The result? A beautiful, multi-hued ombre dress that matched her bouquet perfectly!

Airbrushed & Beyond

Air-brushing wedding dresses to achieve the ombre look is also possible, however many prefer die-dying (most likely) because of the control it offers. Look to Pinterest for ideas in addition to tutorials to inspire you and come up with the exact look you want. Remember, once a dress is dyed it can be challenging to change it without damaging the fabric or ending up with a hideous purple color you detest. Wedding dresses aren't known for being cheap, so take your time and do the research!

Is the ombre dress trend right for you? Keep in mind you can work with one or multiple colors depending on your taste and aesthetic. If you consider yourself an atypical bride who wants to make a lasting impression, give the ombre dress trend some thought.

If you are toying with the idea of wearing a short wedding dress, read on. Rocking a short wedding dress offers many fantastic benefits, all of which help you have a great time on your Big Day.

It's Comfortable...And Practical!

Wear a short wedding dress and never worry about falling over your train or your new hubby stepping on the gown during your first dance. Dance the night away without concern that your hemline will be soiled black the next day.  Short wedding dresses are ideal if your wedding is at the beach or a tropical destination, because you will stay cool and comfortable all day long. You also get to show off your legs!

The Shoe Factor

Enjoy wearing super-chic, super-fantastic heels on your wedding day when you go the short dress route. The prettiest heels are often lost on wedding days because they are completely and totally hidden by long dresses. If you are a shoe freak, consider a short wedding dress.

Less Fabric=Less Money

Spend a little to a lot less on your wedding dress if it's short. Less fabric generally makes short wedding dresses a lot less expensive...and they are also cheaper to clean and preserve. Now that's a win-win-win, yes?

Numerous Options

Choose from a variety of options when you "go short." Do you want a thigh-high dress? Mini dress? Ankle, tea, or knee-length gown? Short dresses provide a plethora of fantastic options to select from.

Unique Look

Go for a short wedding dress for a totally unique look. Most brides still opt for long, "traditional" dresses, yet short dresses buck convention and the status-quo. Why not say no to tradition and do the short thang?

Mull these reasons over before you go dress shopping...you might find the perfect short wedding dress that speaks to you instantly! Happy hunting!

The decision to rent or purchase your wedding dress is a question many brides have. Both feature pros and cons, and what works for one bride may not work for you. Help yourself make this important decision by reviewing the following information.

Renting Your Dress

Renting your wedding dress provides the opportunity to wear a designer-label dress for a mere fraction of its original price.  Most rental stores let you try on a variety of gowns to help you find your dream dress, and some even come with reduced-price or free dry cleaning. Additionally, you won't have to worry about a huge wedding dress taking up closet space once the wedding craziness is over.

On the flip side, it is unlikely you can make serious alterations to a rented wedding gown. There's also no saving it for your children or as a cherished garment from one of the happiest days of your life. You will  have the dress for a limited time only, so you will have to plan your wedding photos with that in mind. Renting a dress also means getting it back to the shop before you leave for your honeymoon.

Buying Your Dress

Buying your wedding dress is generally much more expensive than renting it, however it is yours to keep forever. Wedding gown preservation is another expense, but one that is worth it if keeping your dress is important to you. Make any alterations you want without worrying what the rental place will say. You also don't have to worry about getting the dress back to the shop on its "due date." If something stains the dress, you can have it professionally removed minus the stress of it being a rental.

Again, what works best for you depends entirely on your situation and how you feel about wedding gowns in general!

If you decided to clean your wedding dress yourself to save much-needed cash, read on. The following tips for DIY wedding dress cleaning will help you avoid a wide variety of mishaps.

Prep The Tub

Wash your wedding dress by hand as long as the material isn't silk. Clean the heck out of your tub first to provide your dress with an ideal cleansing environment. Fill your tub about halfway with warm water and a quality detergent such as Tide.

Clean The Dress, Including The Hem

Let the dress soak for about an hour before cleaning the hem with a white sock soaked in clean water and Tide. If the sock doesn't get the dirt out of your hem, use a soft brush. Examine the underarms, neckline, etc. for visible dirt, then rinse and hang your dress. Let the dress dry on a non-metal hanger.

Look For Wood Splinters

Inspect your dress for wood splinters. If you do find some, remove them as carefully as possible with tweezers. 

Steam The Dress

Steam your dress if desired to further remove wrinkles. Hanging the dress after cleaning it should remove the wrinkles, however if you want to steam it hang the dress in your bathroom after a super-steamy shower. This should help remove any leftover wrinkles.

Request Professional Stain Removal

Commission professional wedding dress stain removal if you still notice stains after cleaning your dress. Research wedding dress preservation companies and look for one that hand-cleans dresses on-premise and utilizes a careful stain removal process. Reputable wedding dress preservation companies also provide you with the perfect storage container--an acid-free box featuring acid-free paper. Such boxes are ideal for storing wedding dresses, as they protect gowns from yellowing and mildew.

Hope these cleaning and preserving tips help keep your dress in great condition! Good luck!

Whatever your reason for wanting to preserve your wedding gown, know quite a lot goes into it. Use the following tips to preserve your dress and subsequently avoid the dreaded "yellowing" issue.

Be Ready On Your Wedding Day

Help yourself on your wedding day by bringing items with you that contribute to gown preservation. Items include safety pins for broken zippers, straps, and bustle loops, and lighter fluid for makeup and grease stains. Test the fluid on an inconspicuous part of your gown first in case the fabric dye reacts badly. Baking soda or cornstarch helps disguise spots, while water works on--you guessed it--water-soluble stains. Know what your dress fabric can and cannot endure prior to your wedding day, and leave bad stains to the professionals rather than trying to clean them yourself.

Hang By The Loops

Hang your dress by its loops instead of the straps, no matter how sturdy they appear. Look for the loops on the inside of your dress that are attached to the side seams, not the ones attached to the shoulder seams. The side seams are much sturdier than their shoulder counterparts.

Find The Right Location

Store your dress in a location not prone to changing temperatures. This means the attic and the basement are out. Temperature control is necessary to avoid problems with humidity, extreme heat, and extreme cold...and subsequently the yellowing of your dress.

Forget The Plastic

Do not store your wedding dress in a plastic container or plastic vacuum-sealed bag. This may seem like a good idea, but plastic can trap moisture and result in dress yellowing or mildewing. Not good.

Get Your Gown Professionally Preserved

Work with a reputation gown preservation company if you want to ensure the longevity of your dress. Look for a company that provides individual hand cleaning performed on-site, as well as stain removal and acid-free boxes for gown storage.

If you are marrying for the second time or are simply not interested in the traditional wedding registry, review four fantastic alternatives. Each provides something special that just might pique your interest.

Honeyfund

Looking forward to your dream honeymoon? Have friends and family help out! Honeyfund is ultimate honeymoon registry, a cash registry that allows you to pick and choose what you would like to spend the  money on. Drinks at the hotel pool? A parasailing lesson? How about whale watching or a romantic night on a yacht? Use Honeyfund to make your honeymoon extra-glorious and romantic.

Deposit A Gift

This registry is ideal for couples who prefer to spend wedding gift money on charitable causes. Deposit A Gift makes it easy for friends and relatives to donate to your favorite cause, such as a women's rights organization, local animal shelter, environmental nonprofit, women's shelter, homeless shelter...you get the idea. If you already have everything you need, Deposit A Gift is perfect.

SimpleRegistry

SimpleRegistry makes it possible to put your entire wish list in one convenient space. For example, if you want that blender from Sears and sporting equipment from Modell's, you do not have to create separate registries. Put everything you want in one place...it also makes for easier gift shopping, as your wedding guests have a much wider list of choices to select from.

Card Avenue

Fan of gift cards? This registry is for you! Card Avenue makes it super-easy for guests to purchase gifts for you--all they have to do is buy gift cards instead of hunting down those tennis rackets you want. Additionally, these gift cards never expire so you can use them whenever you desire.

Discuss the above options with your partner to find the perfect registry for your wedding needs. Have fun!