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Maternity wedding dresses 'on the rise'

More women are choosing to marry while pregnant.
Sales of maternity wedding dresses are rising as an increasing number of women decide to walk down the aisle while pregnant, according to new figures.

In 2008, an estimated 20,000 brides were pregnant on their wedding day.

This accounts for an unprecedented ten per cent of all first-time brides under the age of 45.

Naturally, retailers are adjusting their businesses in order to meet this growing demand for maternity wedding dresses.

Wedding dresses for pregnant brides are no longer a frumpy affair aimed at concealing the bride's bump, but are high-end, expensive and flatteringly cut, according to reports.

The figures from the Office for National Statistics show that most of the brides choosing to tie the knot while pregnant are aged between 25 and 29 and are around three to five months pregnant on their wedding day.

Specially tailored dresses are now fashioned to accommodate the baby bump and designers are trained to estimate the growth of the bump before the big day, with extra fabric added accordingly.

Tracey Wilkinson, founder of Expectant Brides in Chiswick, told the Daily Mail: "Before if a couple fell pregnant, they might have thought about postponing the wedding, but now there's so much pressure in our society, they don't think they'll have time after the baby to organise a wedding.

"A few years ago you'd have struggled to find a white maternity wedding dress. Now, you can find one easily - and people are much less embarrassed about wearing one."

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