2011 Style Verdicts: Best Dressed Blushing Brides

2011 was a huge year of wedding bliss! Among the many stars and royals celebrating their nuptials were Reese Witherspoon, Kate Moss, Kim Kardashian, Lily Aldridge, Miranda Lambert, Lily Allen, Anja Rubik, Abbey Clancy, Sofia Coppolla, Molly Sims, Charlene Wittstock, Princess Sophie of Isenburg, and of course Kate Middleton.

It was tough to narrow it down, but I think we could all agree that Kate Middleton‘s custom designed Alexander McQueen gown by Sarah Burton was a clear winner. Millions stayed up at bizarre hours just to watch the royal nuptials between the now Duchess of Cambrige and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.

Kate looked amazing in the ivory ball gown that featured a stunning floral lace overlay at the sweetheart neck bodice. The lace traveled out from a v-neck cut that lengthened into elegant long-sleeves. She dazzled in Robinson Pelham leaf and acorn diamond earrings that were striking with her Cartier halo tiara attached to a long ivory veil.

I was mostly excited about the fact that Kate wore long-sleeves; there are many that are beautiful, but I often grow tired of the constant look-a-like strapless and cap-sleeve bridal dresses. They’re not always flattering either.

Kate was one of two brides in 2011 that pulled off the new trend; she was our real life princess while Kristen Stewart took our breath away on film.

That’s right — I couldn’t choose one bride, therefore, I picked two.

The reveal of both the designer and dress of Kristen’s wedding gown in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″, was probably the best kept secret in Hollywood film fashion this year. It took nearly three months after the six month-long filming of “Breaking Dawn” was complete before fans learned that Bella Swan would marry her vampire love Edward Cullen (played by Robert Pattinson) in a gown designed by Carolina Herrera. But, did we get to see the dress? No. Aside from brief peeks in the theatrical trailer, the film stayed in wedding tradition and no one got to see the gown in full until the day of her wedding — when “Breaking Dawn – Part 1″ hit theaters.

From head-to-toe Bella looked beautiful. A braided chignon fastened with a sapphire and diamond vintage hair comb and Manolo Blahnik for Carolina Herrera crystal-beaded “Swan” pumps accessorized her fairytale ivory long-sleeve gown with Chantilly lace. I was enamored with the low-dipping waist surrounding a trail of buttons and the lace detail at the wrists. It took Ms. Herrera six months to create this handmade gown, and next year she’ll be taking orders of the dress from brides-to-be — which she will also hand-make.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Kate Middleton and Bella Swan will be two of the most memorable brides ever.