If you want to walk down the aisle with your head held high, you'll need to make sure you're wearing a dress that you're truly comfortable in. So, in addition to not eating a whole bar of Green & Black's every evening between the dress fitting and the run up the wedding, you might also want to try buying a dress which comes from an ethical supplier.

For London based brides-to-be, Wholly Jo's in Uxbridge offers dresses made from "peace silk", hemp and organic cotton. They also offer alterations and restylings for those who would rather recycle a dress than buy a new one. Gaiahouse in Sussex offers dresses made from peace silk, as well as a range of ready to wear dresses. Conscious Elegance in Durham makes all its dresses with 100% SKAL certified organic cottons and pesticide free silk and hemp/silk blends, with plans to offer cruelty free silk very soon. They also allow you to send in measurements and buy a dress without visiting the shop.