Vera Wang actually got her start designing skating outfits for top female ice skaters, then gradually moved into wedding dresses after having problems finding one that she liked when she was getting married in 1990. Usually she comes out with new styles twice a year, although her dresses never seem to go out of fashion. Most people can't afford her dresses, which can range anywhere from $2,500 to $50,000 or even more for those who can afford it. She has stores in 26 states across the country, yet most of her bridal collection is so exclusive that you can't even view wedding gown styles on her site without registering for an account. Her dresses are also sold in prime ticket specialty stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Nieman Marcus.

Many celebrities have worn Vera Wang's wedding gowns for their own weddings. Mariah Carey wore a Vera Wang dress for her first wedding at a cost of $25,000. Jennifer Lopez wore one for her wedding to Marc Anthony in 2004. Even Avril Lavigne wore a Vera Wang dress for her wedding in 2006, going for a simpler look than most Vera Wang dresses.

A Vera Wang dress will never look all that traditional, compared to many other dressed. She tends to favor off-the-shoulder elegance, mainly sleek dresses that will show off the brides form. However, she will go traditional in her own way by putting a lot of fabric into the train, almost antebellum style, while maintaining a slim silhouette. She's also not afraid to leave the traditional white color behind, and in fact has gone so far as to use very rich colors such as dark blues and purples.

Ms. Wang is obviously very passionate about wedding dresses, and, as often as she's been quoted saying ?I wanted to define the vocabulary of a wedding both visually and intellectually. The book is about more than weddings or wedding dresses. It's a metaphor for woman's lives, their creativity.?

Vera Wang is truly an original, someone who, on a whim, discovered a market that hadn't been tapped, even though weddings have been going on since the time of man, and was ahead of the curve in creating styles that women not only loved, but had to have. Although she has many other lines of clothing and accessories, she will always be known for her wedding gowns and the celebrities who have worn them.