WHO said weddings are going out of style?

It may seem like thousands more couples simply live together these days rather than officially tying the knot.

But anyone at either the BEN's own successful wedding show at the Last Drop Village or among the thousands at the National Wedding Show at the Birmingham NEC last weekend knows differently.

Cleavage

Both were populated with (mostly young) women and their mums and friends, viewing all the latest wedding ideas. Among them plenty of opportunities for being untraditional and individual.

The NEC revealed the latest wedding dress styles to include a couple of Moulin Rouge "dresses" with plenty of cleavage and legs on full view. But, fun though they were in an excellent fashion show, no-one took the style seriously (at least, we hope not!).

Not that revealing toned flesh at your wedding is in any way unpopular. Current -- and near-future -- styles featured plenty of strapless, boned bustier tops, sparkling in diamante or plain and flattering, moving into frothy layers or sleek satin folds in skirts with and without long trains.

The effect, especially teamed with a shorter veil and tiara, was stunningly flattering for most brides.

There were still plenty of high necks, wide straps and medieval sleeves. Still plenty of hugely full skirts.

There were figure-hugging sheaths, empire-line and jewel-encrusted dresses, hoods and cloaks, gossamer coats with delicate flowers. Or, the bride could opt for red, with black and gold, in dramatic dresses a million miles from the usual white gown.

One constant, of course, was the high price.

Official figures show that the average wedding in this country today costs around £14,000. The dress must account for a sizeable chunk of that, although there are opportunities to cut cost.

The real result of these wedding shows, however, is that -- whatever terrible things happen in the world -- when it comes to weddings, the occasion means basically no expense spared. ALL WHITE: Traditional white was the choice for some of the brides at the BEN wedding show. Pictured (left to right), models Lesley Acheampong, Jon Haslam, Joanne Singer and Heidi Thompson FANTASY STYLE: Black and red "dresses" for a Moulin Rouge wedding were a highlight of the fashion show at the National Wedding Show at Birmingham's NEC