Romona Keveza showed three collections for Spring 2012, Couture Bridal, evening wear and Legends.  The Legends collection which is always inspired by icons of fashion and legendary brides paid tribute to the royal weddings of 2011 — yes there are more than just one taking place this year.  The gowns were formal and elegant with lots of lace and traditional veils.

The evening wear collection was one of my favorites of the season because of the rich velvet fabrics and the use of matte gold antique sequins that added a unique detail to each dress it adorned.

Here are my favorite five dresses from all three collections:

1 – This silk shantung taffeta gown has a very flattering silhouette and features lace sleeves in an off-the-shoulder neckline.  The accompanying veil is trimmed with the same Point d-Esprit lace for a very classic look.

JLM Couture is comprised of five lines:  Jim Hjelm, Blush, Alvina Valenta, Tara Keely and Lazaro.  And in addition to wedding gowns they also design bridesmaid dresses.

The Fall 2011 collections have something for every bride, no matter what wedding-day look you’re going for — glamorous, romantic, dramatic, classic and even destination brides.

I divided the JLM post into two, so here’s post #1 with my top picks for the Jim Hjelm and Blush lines:

1 – Instead of full blooms adorning your wedding dress opt for scattered petals instead.  You get the same spring-y, garden feel but it’s more subtle and a sweet look.

(Style #8157)

Since first launching her bridal collection in 1996, Monique Lhuillier has become synonymous with an amazing attention detail and well-constructed gowns, specifically her corsetry.  You have seen her gowns on Hollywood red carpets and on celebrity brides — both Carrie Underwood and Reese Witherspoon wore gowns by Monique recently.

1 – At some point in the presentation of Monique Lhuillier’s Spring 2012 the royal wedding was mentioned as inspiration.  The “Catherine” Chantilly lace gown, shown here from the back, is one of the more regal gowns of the season.  The lace has a bateau neckline and a v-neck from behind.  The train isn’t as long as Princess Diana’s 25’ train, but it’s beautiful and is sure to attract oohs and ahhs from your guests.

Designer Ines Di Santo found inspiration for her Fall/Winter 2011-2012 Couture Bridal Collection from the city of Florence — both past and present.  Baroque beading evokes the cities grand architecture while mermaid silhouettes with dramatic bows were inspired by 21st century Florence.

The 24 gowns in the collection are a mix of voluminous ball gowns to sexy form-fitting silhouettes.  Take a look at these five breathtaking gowns:

1 – This fit-to-flare  taffeta gown has an Alencon lace overlay and from the front you can see a pink sash, which from behind features a large Obi bow.

Ever the fashion innovator, Vera Wang’s Spring 2012 collection is one of the most fashion-forward of the season.  Her deconstructed designs mixed with romantic gowns are always popular with editors and brides.

We saw a lot of celebrity brides wearing Vera Wang wedding gowns last year — Chelsea Clinton, Alicia Keys, Hilary Duff and Lala Vasquez – to name a few.  I’m sure some of the celebs saying “I do” in 2011 will be wearing wedding gowns from this collection.

Here are some of my favorite wedding dresses from the runway:

1 – This wedding dress mixes Guipure lace with stiff horsehair.  The lace bodice has a high neck and capped sleeve while the voluminous skirt is made from swirling honey comb tulle and horsehair.