Bridal trendsetter Kate Middleton's royal wedding dress influencing brides

Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, lived out most little girls' fantasy and married her Prince Charming (aka Prince William). And though they may not be marrying royalty, many brides are emulating the elegant lace gown worn by Middleton.

Lace -- whether it is chantilly, alencon, duchesse, guipure or ribbon -- has become just one of the hot bridal trends.

"Lace is coming back," says Sandy Schilling of Weddings and Parties Complete in Jackson.

But lace isn't the only element of Middleton's dress brides are emulating.

Sleeves are enjoying a comeback. Designers have debuted soft, romantic sleeves, including traditional cap sleeves in florals and tulle, modern silhouettes using vintage elements, sequin fringe and flutter sleeves, and romantic off-the-shoulder versions.

"I think we're seeing a very trickle-down effect of wanting something more with a sleeve," says Tonya Landewee of Precious Memories in Jackson. "They're not necessarily long (sleeves), but more girls asking for some sort of strap. I think the (sleeves) will go longer, is the general consensus. It runs in cycles."

Lauren Nelson, manager of Joy's Bridal and Formal Wear in Sikeston, Mo., says since the royal wedding, more brides are also exploring different necklines. "It's not all strapless," she says. "Some girls are wanting a keyhole back, for example."

While not for everyone, the use of color in wedding gowns has been growing in popularity. Rich and vibrant, or more subdued, color in bridal wear is everywhere. Some brides choose soft pastel colors, such as blush, rose or skin-tone. Others opt to wear vibrant hues of lavender, green and deep pink. Less bold brides are more likely to use hints of accent color on sashes, bows, embroidery, hems, necklines or beading.

"We're seeing a lot of colored shoes (for brides) to match the bridal party or for the 'something blue,'" Nelson says.

And for many brides, simpler is better these days. Landewee says brides are opting for dresses that have less of the elaborate beading, and leaning toward trumpet skirts or fit-and-flare silhouettes.

Another interesting new trend in bridal wear is short gowns, especially for brides choosing destination and beach weddings. While they may be short in length, these dresses are not short on style. Some offer sophisticated laces, chic feathers or multilayered organza miniskirts.

Whatever fashion trends a bride chooses, one that will never go out of style is a gown that fits well, is figure flattering and makes the bride feel like she's the most beautiful woman in the world on her big day.

ARA Content contributed to this report.