June brides remain the majority, but when it comes to wedding fashion, many traditions are long gone, according to Betsy Robinson.

"Everything used to be basically the same dress," says Robinson, owner of Betsy Robinson's Bridal Collections in Pikesville. "Now, the great thing with bridal fashion is that anything goes."

"Anything" this season includes lighter fabrics, splashes of color and shorter lengths. And as wedding fashion takes its cues from street fashion, one of the biggest trends is a bit of a surprise.

"Originally I didn't realize the gown had pockets," says Meghan Meehan, a 27-year-old Kent Island native who will be wearing a Paloma Blanca silk dupioni gown from Gamberdella Salon for Brides in Towson when she gets married in November. "I was looking in the mirror and put my hands down and felt the pockets and pretty much squealed. ... Because it is a ball-gown cut, and the fact that it had pockets gave it a fun casualness that would work for my beach wedding."

"Everybody wants pockets," says Jill Andrews, a Baltimore bridal and gown designer and co-owner of Jill Andrews Gowns in Hampden.

Robinson also sees a big demand for pockets, but notes that if a bride wants them in her dress, she's going to have to go for a silhouette with a fuller skirt like Meehan's rather than something more fitted, like a sheath.

But these days, fullness in a bridal gowns doesn't mean you're stuck with a stiffer, more traditional fabric.

"Chiffon is going to be very popular this summer," says Andrews. "All the fabrics have been very crisp and luxurious like satins and taffetas. But chiffons are making a comeback following what was on the runway. Alberta Ferretti had lovely, soft chiffons. And instead of being translated in satins, the architectural look is being translated in organzas, which are sheer."

These softer fabrics have been particularly popular among brides having destination weddings, according to Mary Gamberdella, owner of Gamberdella Salon.

She pointed in particular to a line called Claire Pettibone, whose designer started out creating lingerie before moving on to wedding dresses.

"It's a soft, flowing kind of a dress, easy to travel with, easy to wear," she says. "And that's very popular."

Many of Gamberdella's destination brides are also showing a little more skin, as in legs. Amsale has a line called Little White Dress, a collection of "short, knee-length dresses in bridal fabrics, lace, silk satins and taffetas."

Brides are also making a statement by choosing dresses with a variety of textures.

"A lot of the skirts or bodices are embellished with beautiful three-dimensional flowers or designs with silk pleated ribbons," Robinson says. "Then they'll do these pretty organza flowers with the unfinished, frayed edges. ... Anything to give the dresses more three-dimensional feel and texture."

"I love texture," says Owings Mills resident Marnie Goldman, 37, who will be a June bride in an organza Watters & Watters gown embellished with fabric flowers from Betsy Robinson.

"This dress stood out from all the other dresses. I knew it would make gorgeous photos. At the end of the day, this dress is not only unique, but it looks like it's hand-sewn. I just thought, 'Wow,' " says Goldman.

Texture is also a major factor for fashion insider Jenna Gobeli. The 23-year-old Cockeysville woman, who will be an October bride, works as the assistant manager/stylist/merchandiser for Urban Chic's Annapolis store. Gobeli is going with a Lazaro gown that features a ruffly organza skirt and a flower at the waist.

"I don't like things that are simple," she says. "I like to make a statement. I like to stick with the trends. [The gown] was just something that really, really stood out to me. And makes a bold statement."

So how does one accessorize these statement-making dresses?

You'll see feathers used in focal points on a dress as a brooch or on a belt, as wisps sewn onto skirts, or in a headpiece. While tiaras are a bit on the wane, sparkles can still be seen in a bride's hair in the form of a crystal embellished flat headband instead.

Popular veils these days are those that add to a bride's look but don't cover it. Inspired by the movie "Coco Before Chanel," Gobeli is going for a headpiece of tulle formed as a flower on one side and sweeping across her face, a la 1940s veiled hat.

Most brides continue to go for light ivories and creams rather than white-white for their dresses. Andrews and Robinson also like the new look of layering an oyster or ivory lace or sheer fabric over a soft blush or flesh-colored fabric. Robinson says many brides are adding a pop of color with their shoes: hot pink, Caribbean blue, even emerald green and purples, are adding interest to bridal ensembles. Color is also showing up in other accessories; important components to the bride's total look.

"It's not just what they're wearing in their hair. They might do colored stone earrings and big chandelier earrings and pretty bracelets," she explains.

Or they might add a pop of color with their makeup, as Gobeli is planning to, using her Chanel-inspired headpiece as a cue.

"I'm wearing bright, bright red lipstick."

Beyond the bride

The bride's gown might be the most important dress in the wedding. But it's not the only one. Current fashion is also dictating what bridesmaids are wearing.

For the bridesmaid

"Bridesmaids' dresses right now are fabulous," says Robinson. "The trend is definitely toward short. Many of those have pockets. They love that. And a lot of very bright colors, like tangerine. There's still your group that are still doing black or navy blue. But [today's] dresses really have much more of a ready-to-wear look to them so these gals really can wear them again."

For the mother of the bride

Even mother-of-the-bride dresses have undergone some updating.

Gamberdella describes a line specifically for the mothers, Marisa Baratelli.

"They come in pieces; like a bustier, a skirt and a jacket," she says. "One mom got a full skirt with a blouse for the wedding. Then she came back and got a short black skirt to go with the blouse that she wore all through the holidays. [The line] is really popular because it's aimed at a fashion-conscious mother. It's not the old crepes with the jackets. And now we have so many young mothers."

After the wedding

Robinson says there's a new wedding trend that has brought another dress to the party — the after-party.

"Some brides will do another dress for the after-party. It might be the bridesmaid's dress in white or ivory — they'll stick with that theme — but they'll do a short dress for the after-party. And then, of course, they've got their hot-pink shoes on."