Whether you're of Eastern European, African, Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, or Irish heritage, or a combination of many backgrounds, if you're looking to incorporate tradition into your wedding look, brides today have more options than ever before.

   While some religions are very strict when it comes to bridal wear, you can still bend the rules while still honor tradition. All it takes is a little creativity and research. For example, when Tina, a recent bride from Norway living in New York, decided to find a headpiece, she went with the traditional herb wreath but wore a modern up-do. Michelle, a Chinese bride, decided to add a modern spin to her wedding by wearing red and gold crystal hairpins to match her ceremonial red bridal dress.

   "I knew I wanted to incorporate the colors from the tartan kilt my fiancé was wearing," said Jennifer, a Scottish bride, "so I used blue and green flowers in my bouquet along with those colors in my tiara." Catherine wanted to remember her Spanish heritage by wearing a tiara with colored stones to match the embroidery to her Flamenco-style gown. "I wanted a different twist on the white dress and veil thing," she explains.

   If you're searching for inspiration, first try looking at old wedding photographs of grandparents and great grandparents to think of ways to add your personal touch. Some other ideas to jump-start your creativity:

• Use traditional colors or patterns in non-traditional ways, like using flowers or colored stones in your headpiece or tiara. Use accents of jade if you want to include some green, or rose quartz to capture the look of cherry blossoms, or tanzanite stones to capture the look of African violets.
  
  
• Look at old magazines from your grandparent's era for beading and accessory detail. Add Art Deco beading to your tiara or the front of your dress, and match it with an antique beaded handbag from a flea market or beaded shoe clips.
  
  
• Take your elderly relatives to tea and listen to their wedding stories. Ask them about their favorite flowers, colors or traditions. You might learn something!

   The point is to have fun mixing the old with new, and create your own tradition. Think of your wedding look as a marriage between the past with the present. Some day, an excited bride-to-be may find your picture and try to capture her grandmother's look.

Catherine Siroka is a headpiece and tiara designer. She can be reached at www.princessbands.com or via email at info@princessbands.com.