German brides want romance and a party proof dress

By Catherine Hornby

DUESSELDORF, Germany, Feb 14, (Reuters Life!) - Wedding dress designers in Germany see romantic draping and Hollywood glamour as the top trends this season, with lace, silk and ballroom-style gowns rated as the favorites.

But several brides-to be at one of the country's biggest wedding fairs in Duesseldorf wanted above all to find a dress that flattered their figure and would be easy to dance and party in without too much hassle.

Pastel pink and purple, pale green and striking red dresses were dotted among a majority of ivory and off-white gowns, while crystals, bows and flowers added to the romantic styles which festooned the TrauDich! fair this month.

"Romantic is the look this season, like a modern-day Cinderella," said Gabriele Reiss, designer with Honeymoon fashion house in Duesseldorf.

"Pearls, silk and glitter give the dresses a very ballroom-like impression," Reiss said.

Like in many Western countries, the fairy tale romance may be on the wane in Germany, if the marriage rate is anything to go by. But the penchant for romantic dresses rather than plainer styles contrasts with a more than 20 percent fall in marriages in Germany over the past 20 years.

Designers said romantic trends were fueled by dresses worn at the celebrity and royal weddings which regularly appear in gossip magazines across Europe and as women search for a similar style to their favorite stars.

But bride-to-be Cynthia Lemon said she did not care what the celebrities were wearing and had more practical considerations for choosing her dress.

"I want something that accentuates my figure, and I want to be able to move around without having to fiddle with the dress," said Lemon from Aachen in western Germany.

The 24-year-old financial consultant was trying on dresses for the first time ahead of marrying her Swedish boyfriend.

Like many other foreigners in Germany, he is having to climb a mountain of paperwork to comply with German marriage laws.

"He has to sort out a lot of documents. It takes months and we can't even set a date until the paperwork is ready."

But once he gets over that hurdle, he will also be able to join in the excitement of choosing a fitting suit. Designers said men's outfits were also getting a bit more flair.

"Before, men would buy a suit with a mind for using it again for work. But now we are seeing more frills and shiny suits, which wouldn't really work in the office," said Edgar Wagner, director of Cecile fashion center.

Service manager Rene Vieten, 29, who is getting married in July, said he was looking for something exciting.