Ask any bride what she dreams of wearing on her big day, and you can bet she'll say a Vera Wang wedding gown. For more than 20 years, Vera has been the reigning queen of bridal fashion.
In 1989, Vera's bridal empire was born from a bad shopping experience. While searching for her own wedding gown, Vera says she became frustrated by the poofy, Princess Diana–inspired dresses in stores. She took matters into her own hands and created a simplified, modern silhouette for her walk down the aisle. The rest is fashion history.
Today, Vera is still the top designer for wedding couture, with Toni Braxton,
Ivanka Trump,
Ali Wentworth and, most recently, former first daughter Chelsea Clinton as some of her celebrity clients.
Vera says the search for the perfect gown can be an incredible experience for some women. "It's about your life and your personal love and everything you look forward to in the future," she says.
Lashia is a young bride-to-be who's searching for a gown, but so far, she says finding the perfect man was a cinch compared to finding the perfect dress.
With her fiancé currently serving in Afghanistan, Lashia is planning most of the wedding herself and trying to stick to a strict budget. When it comes to details like her dress, Lashia says she fantasizes about having a Vera Wang gown, even if she can't afford one.
"Isn't it interesting that you are fantasizing about wearing a Vera Wang dress, the Rolls Royce of all dresses? And look who just happens to be sitting here," Oprah says to Lashia. Could it be a coincidence?
It turns out that Lashia isn't the only bride in the audience. Forty-nine other brides-to-be who dreamed of wearing a Vera Wang gown stand up and discover the
real reason they're all here. "Miss Vera Wang is coming to your rescue," Oprah says.
Vera introduces 11 gowns from White by Vera Wang, her new collection for David's Bridal. "All of these gowns were designed by Vera Wang, and you get to choose the gown of your choice!" Oprah says.
When these never-before-seen gowns hit stores in February 2011, Vera say they'll retail for $600 to $1,400. "These dresses will be available to so many more brides than I've been able to ever reach before," she says. "So it's a whole new world for us and bridal, with all the same aesthetics and design philosophy."
Preview 11 dresses from the White by Vera Wang collection.
This collection has the same attention to detail as Vera's couture gowns, which is something she's very excited about. "[I'm] totally committed," Vera says. "It's not ever only about a dress. It's about the service; it's about the knowledge and the help that David's is able to provide brides."
When the White by Vera Wang collection comes to David's Bridal stores across the country, budget-conscious brides can choose from dresses like this one-shoulder, crinkle chiffon-draped gown, which has a grosgrain sash that lays at a woman's natural waist. A matching sash will be included, and color sashes will be sold separately.
This White by Vera Wang halter-neck chiffon gown features a draped charmeuse bodice and floral corsage with grosgrain ribbon at its empire waist. Shown in blush, this gown will also be available in ivory and soft white.
This Vera Wang gown shows off a delicately pleated bodice in netting and chiffon. It also features illusion straps and a floral corsage at its dropped waist.
Brides can also picture themselves in this strapless chiffon and net gown that has a tucked bodice and is detailed with delicately gathered draping at the dropped waist.
This strapless taffeta, asymmetrically draped bodice features a sweetheart neckline and soft netting on a full ball gown skirt. It's shown here with an embellished sash that is sold separately.
Watch as Vera reveals her inspiration for this dress and more! 
This one-shoulder mikado and structured organza fit-and-flare gown features a dropped waist and swirling draped skirt.
The strapless structural organza fit-and-flare gown—inspired by Chelsea Clinton's wedding dress—has a dropped waist and swirling draped skirt. It's shown in blush but is also available in ivory and soft white. The sash, shown here, is sold separately.
Vera's strapless, satin-faced organza fit-and-flare long gown is detailed with lace appliqués and an asymmetrical pleated skirt. The matching sash will be included and color sashes will be sold separately.
This sleeveless net gown (front left) is detailed with an illusion-edged V-neckline and scattered lace appliqués. The featured sash will be sold separately.
This gown, which was inspired by Ivanka Trump's dress, features a short-sleeve, lace-illusion bodice with strapless, satin-faced organza full A-line skirt. It's also detailed with additional lace appliqués. The lace illusion bodice is removable to transform this gown into a strapless, full A-line gown. The sash, shown here, will not be included.
This strapless satin-faced organza ball gown has a diagonally draped bodice and an asymmetrically swirling draped ball gown skirt with floral corsage detailing. The sash will not be included.
Along with a dress from Vera's affordable bridal collection, Oprah tells the brides in the audience that they're also going home with a $250 gift card to Kohl's—which carries the Simply Vera, Vera Wang Collection—a $4,000 Marriott Hotels and Resorts gift card and two United Airlines travel vouchers. Happy honeymoon!
