Brides-to-be are forking out increasingly large sums of money for their perfect wedding dress, according to a new study.

Last year, women spent a total of £112 million on traditional white attire for their big day, according to research from Mintel.

But the average cost of a new dress has risen by £201 over the course of the last five years and now stands at £826. In contrast, brides are spending less on alternative outfits with an average cost now coming in at £175.

And although many women believe 'weddings have become too commercial and expensive', over half of those surveyed want a traditional dress. Over a quarter of the brides who 'want a simple and inexpensive wedding', the iconic white dress is still the centrepiece of their wedding plans.

Claire Birks, senior market analyst at Mintel, said: "The market for wedding dresses is more often than not led by emotion and aspiration rather than rational decisions and financial constraints.

"As such designers continue to persuade more brides to trade up to increasingly expensive and luxurious dresses so pushing up the average price of a traditional dress."

The wedding market is expected to grow further over the next few years with women set to fork out an extra £100 by 2010.

Ms Birks added: "The outlook for the bridalwear market appears good, helped by the availability of low cost loans and the fact that couples are now prepared to borrow money to fund the big occasion."

"Additionally, more and more people are delaying their weddings until their late 20s or early 30s, which means that when couples do get married they are likely to be better off."