The wedding day is one of the most fancy occasions in a woman's life. For nearly 200 years, women have worn white wedding gowns, but that's changing as more women are embracing high fashion, color, comfort and their personal style. With so many 2020 bridal trends breaking the mold of tradition, the hottest trend is arguably whatever look shows the bride's self-expression.

"The majority of my brides want something unexpected, be it a bright color like green or pale blue or blush pink," says Kpoene' Kofi-Bruce, creative director for Mignonette Bridal, an American-made collection of wedding gowns and separates for modern brides with vintage hearts.

Kofi-Bruce has been dressing brides since 2010. Bestsellers since 2016 have been the Mignonette gray and pink tulle skirts. Her clients also ask for gold embellishments, and occasionally, a completely gold gown. She loves seeing brides embrace color because traditional bridal white only started in 1840 with the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert. Before that, brides simply wore their best dress for the big day.

*Investment

Bridal attire is definitely an investment. According to The Knot survey of 27,000 couples who got married in 2019, the average price of a wedding dress was $1,600. Ninety-nine percent of female respondents wore a dress, with 95% purchasing a new one for the big day.

The wedding gown isn't necessarily the total cost of the wedding look. Brides can expect to spend additional money on alterations and custom additions, such as beading or lace. Accessories such as a veil, hat and shoes cost extra, too.

Additionally, many brides wear more than one dress for the special occasion. They may have one gown for the ceremony; a second, more comfortable dress for the reception (especially for dancing); and another for the after-party.

*Fashionable 2020 Bridal Looks

While more comfortable and stylish ensembles are typically reserved for the reception or after-party, many brides are choosing such nontraditional looks for their whole wedding day.

The Knot identified many untraditional 2020 bridal trends on the Bridal Fashion Week runways including short dresses, floral prints that add "whimsical visual interest" and tailored pantsuits.

*Color

While white has been the standard dress color for some time and colors like blush and champagne continue to be trendy, bold colors are popping up, too, as seen on many celebrities. In Martha Stewart Weddings, Chloe Gorman writes that actress Mandy Moore wore a pink, ruffled Rodarte gown; singer Jessica Simpson sparkled in a custom gold Carolina Herrera gown; and model and TV personality Chrissy Teigen changed into a fitted red Vera Wang gown for her reception.

*Patterns

Modern brides (and designers) are mixing things up with florals and prints, says The Knot. Look for dresses and pantsuits with textural 3-D embroideries and floral embellishments, metallic beading and more. Some of these dresses are white or ivory with accents, while others have pops of color.

*Shorter Styles

Dresses with shorter hems are perfect for casual "I do's" or an elopement. They're typically more comfortable to move around in than longer, more fitted styles. And they can be worn for other wedding-related events like your engagement party, rehearsal dinner and honeymoon.

*Pantsuits and Jumpsuits

Classic white pantsuits and jumpsuits work for modern brides who want to exude confidence and feel comfortable. Tailored suits can be very flattering, and there are countless stylistic choices including fabrics like lace and satin; draped sleeves; wide legs; low back; off-the-shoulder; and more.

*True to You

Whatever nuptial attire you choose, rock the look! "An unexpected take on bridal wear can be as high-fashion or traditionally-romantic as you want," says Kofi-Bruce. "It's all about styling the gown in a way that is true to you and to your big day."

When it comes to wedding dresses, honoring tradition can be special -- if that's authentic to you. Don't be afraid to break the mold and opt for a look that fits your style, comfort and self-expression.