In the past, apparel for the fall wedding party usually consisted of plain, floor-length dresses and black tuxedos. But these days, the fashions can be as unique as the couples walking down the aisle.

For bridesmaids, look for tea-length gowns for various times of day, regardless of tradition, said Lauren Williams, owner of Treasures Formals & Bridal in Roswell.

"Designers are taking the traditional and adding contemporary touches," she said. "[The customers are] very excited about the styles coming out in rich colors and fabrics."

Expect to see chocolate brown, orange and gold, as well as earthy green, eggplant, champagne and deep pink. While taffeta remains a popular fabric, silk shantung is gaining favor with many designers.

"It's a great silk fabric at a great price point that wears well," said Mandi Jackson, owner of Bella Bridesmaid in Atlanta.

Brides have several options in dresses for their attendants. They might choose a color and fabric, and let their bridesmaids choose the dress style. For example, one maid might wear strapless, while another wears a tank neckline. A third might select spaghetti straps.

"They can choose a different style to reflect their personality," said Nicole Blair, buyer for Etain Bridal Boutique in Tyrone.

Shoes also are becoming more fun, Williams said. Gone are shoes dyed to match the dresses. Instead, bridesmaids are sporting strappy heels in metallic colors such as gold, silver and bronze.

"They really are 'wear-again' shoes," Jackson said.

Flower girls often mirror the bridesmaids' styles. Instead of being bridal "mini-mes," flower girls are wearing white or ivory dresses accented with sashes to match the bridesmaids' dresses.

Although the wedding day is the bride's special day, the bride's mother is commanding a little attention by trading in the matronly look and going for a more youthful style, including adding some color.

"They're not wearing black anymore," said La Raine Devenie, owner of La Raine's Boutique in Atlanta. Some colors to look for this fall are bronze, champagne, chocolate, dark green and blue, she said.

"[The bride's mother] is really the third-most-important person on the wedding day," said Liz Cascio, special occasion buyer for David's Bridal. "She really wants to shine, too."

The national retailer features one- and two-piece styles in taffeta or shimmery organza fabrics. Embellishments such as crystals and beading are important.

"Anything that has a little bit of glitter but is not over-the- top, adds a little extra value to the dress," Cascio said.

Popular silhouettes include strapless styles with wraps or boleros, as well as mock two-piece dresses with 3/4-length sleeves, she said. Other interesting details on mothers' dresses include feminine cutaway collars, handkerchief hemlines, high-front/low-back cuts and tea-length skirts.

Grooms also are paying attention to their look.

"Groom attire is a total reflection of the wedding business in general," said Rik Ducar, owner of GroomStudio in Atlanta. Men's apparel is more unique and personal, he said.

For example, although black continues to reign at many weddings, color is now popping up more on the men's side of the aisle.

"A chocolate-brown tone-on-tone stripe is very popular this fall," said Arlene Walrath, president of Savvi Formalwear Atlanta. "It's been awhile since we've seen color like this in the full suit."

Ducar said he's also seeing a lot of blue/black suits in lighter fabrics. "Midnight blue is very popular," he said. "It can be reused for work or other events."

If the wedding is outside or at the beach, expect to see lighter colors such as tan and white in fabrics such as cotton, linen and seersucker. "A number of brands are addressing this trend and offering them year-round," Ducar said.

Men also appreciate new styles that are easy to wear, Walrath said. "Comfort is the issue, for the most part," so men should look for soft, fine fabrics.