Virgo is an earth sign, and a down-to-earth gown that's feminine and simple brings out your natural beauty. There's no need to get too gaudy when a basic dress always looks so right on you. Classic silk, especially if the texture is a little raw, flatters Virgo women amazingly. A touch of lace, ruffle or brocade goes far, so keep it minimal. Stay elegant and proper—but never frumpy. The waist is the Virgo-ruled body area, so accent yours with a sash in a neutral color, ruching or clever details. A deep V-neck, even a kimono-style wrap, leads the eye to your waistline. You could even do sleeves or a jacket overlay, since you like to look polished and not too exposed. The top of your gown is where to make things interesting. A ball gown—style skirt, or at least an A-line, flatters your figure more than a narrow column dress. You might even be able to pull off the drop-waist mermaid style. Virgo, you can be a perfectionist, so make sure you shop early and leave plenty of time for tailoring. You'll want your dress to fit like a second skin and might consider having yours custom-made. Chances are you'll research options thoroughly and choose a dress based on well-considered data. Still, with your worrying streak, build in time for extra fretting, fittings and "buyer's remorse." Virgo is the sign of the "virgin," but that doesn't mean you have to wear white. You also look great in taupe, ivory or any cream hue. Earth-inspired accents look cool on you too—like a pretty bodice gathered to look like flower petals or a delicate vine pattern embroidered into the fabric. Incorporate a few traditional touches, like a simple tulle veil.

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This is your day to get glamorous—in a tasteful, sophisticated way. Classic Virgo film stars like Sophia Loren and Greta Garbo are a great inspiration for your look. Try matte red lipstick and fabulous lashes for some vintage va-va-voom. Less is more, Virgo, so don't cave in to overstyling, like your signmates Pink and Amy Winehouse. At the same time, don't be such a natural girl that you banish the mascara wand. It won't hurt to glam it up today! Keep your makeup light and dewy, in neutral peachy-pinks and browns. As an earth sign, you look great with an unfussy hairstyle. Weave fresh white flowers through your tresses, keep your locks long and flowing or try a loose bun with a couple stray tendrils. For short-haired brides, a '50s-style flip can look cute and Gidget-y. Your jewelry should be simple, and you can even wear long satin gloves. You love handmade pieces, so try a necklace made of pottery with an African or Native American feel.

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Your practical nature draws you to simple, well-designed jewelry. However, there's a "blushing bride" in every Virgo, and you want to feel like an absolute girlie-girl when you look down at your finger. You're the consummate researcher, so you'll want to know all the details about your ring, along with the ethics behind its creation. Jeweler Isaac Gottesman of Chicago's Dimend Scaasi (dimendscassi.com) recommends an Asscher-cut diamond, which is very clear, step-cut and old-fashioned. Gottesman suggests a halo setting, which features small diamonds and/or colored stones surrounding a larger center stone, which could even be a sapphire. He also recommends filigree—lacy patterned detailing in the band that will keep you fascinated for years.

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Receiving is the biggest challenge for Virgo. As a result, you'll drag your feet about arranging bridesmaids and may even skip this custom altogether. You're the sign of the giver, but you're deeply uncomfortable having others defer to you. It's a control thing and also your way of hiding how neurotic you can be. Relax, Virgo—we already know. Abbey, a Virgo bride, resisted having a bridal party until the last minute, thinking it would "put people out." When she realized that it was actually an act of giving to include her close relatives, she conceded. She chose black as the dress color and set her maids loose to pick their own outfits. This was not because Abbey likes black (after all, Virgo rules "virgin white"), but, as she plainly states, "Everyone has a black dress. And if they have to buy one, at least they'll wear it again." This kind of practical, considerate attitude is why you'll have more than a few people begging to stand by your side as you say your vows. Remember, refusing to let others support you can be as Bridezilla-ish as acting like a demanding princess. Enjoy a day off from fussing over everyone and just be the bride.

Virgo is an earth sign, and with your practical nature, you'll want something simple, elegant and real. Seize any chance for some indoor-outdoor action—or at least a gorgeous view. If you're doing a destination wedding, try a beach ceremony with the sand in your toes or marry on a gorgeous Southwestern rock formation. A botanical garden, orchard and national park are all great spots for a wedding in the wild too. You might even do a picnic in the park or get married in an old farmhouse (how about arriving at the altar on a decorated hay wagon?). If that's too much for the neat-freak in you, create a wedding arch from greenery and use potted annuals or flowerboxes full of daisies as centerpieces. River rocks, wheatgrass and other zen touches can appeal to your spiritual side, and they also look sophisticated in a natural way. That said, you may want to go all out for girliness with lots of pinks, whites and other pastels, savoring this day as a rare departure from your normally no-frills approach. Virgos love music, and you'll want to have a guiding hand in designing the playlist—you want everyone up and dancing! You might even hire a live band that plays something for everyone, since you'll want to please your guests of every generation. As the "helper sign," your biggest concern will be making sure everyone feels like a guest of honor. How to pull that off? Focus on the details and thoughtful touches. You've got an eye for those like no other sign, Virgo. Book a funky boutique hotel with cool amenities and greet your guests with an awesome welcome basket. If possible, arrange your tables in a semicircular configuration ("in the round"), which creates a heartwarming community feeling. Your guests, after all, will be the most important and moving part of the day for you. Set up the microphone for toasting and acknowledgments at the "heart" of your reception space—or at the very least, make sure you have ample time to breeze from table to table, welcoming and thanking everyone. Appoint a great wedding planner, a wedding-day coordinator (a more budget-friendly option) or at least a devoted maid of honor to make sure you eat, mingle and stay on cue. You'll be picky about details and costs, but know when to let go and just enjoy yourself, Virgo. This is your day to be the bride! Many Virgos are foodies—like Virgo chefs Rachael Ray and Mario Batali—so the menu is crucial. As the zodiac's health nut, create a delicious spread of fresh ingredients, locally grown fare, even organic dishes to accompany the not-so-healthy indulgences.

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You're such a natural girl, Virgo, so keep your bouqet sensual and earthy. Think hand-picked from the garden, rather than overly done or arranged. "Add romance with scented geranium leaves, lemony freesia, jasmine and white lilac," suggest the floral and event designers of Martin Jobes Design (martinjobesdesign.com). Don't limit yourself to flowers and herbs, either! Honor your autumn birthdate with a few touches of fall. "Mix gorgeous fruits, nuts and berries into your centerpiece," suggests the Martin-Jobes team. "Then, add charming botanical touches to your reception—think graceful bell jars over prettily tied sheaths of wheat or lavender."

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With your culinary finesse and eye for detail, you love a well-crafted dessert, Virgo. You'll probably schedule a slew of tastings until you find the perfect cake—call it decadence in the name of "research." Although you can scarf down triple-chocolate with the best of them, you also enjoy fresh fruit and savory herbs like mint, basil and lavender. Who says you can't add a spicy leaf or two for an exciting punch of flavor? Karen Rivera-Gorski of The Painted Cake (thepaintedcake.com) recommends a "simple but beautifully executed cake design that's chic and romantic," like a lemon cake with alternating layers of white chocolate and raspberry butter creams, dotted with fresh raspberries. Consider pale yellow frosting and a garnish of fresh mint sprigs. Virgo rules health and the digestive tract, and you often incorporate multicultural traditions into your diet. Help your guests finish off their meal with traditional Moroccan mint tea service, or set up a loose tea "bar" as an alternative to the standard coffee and dessert. San Francisco's Leland Tea Company (lelandtea.com) will work with you to create custom blends of amazing loose-leaf teas (many fair trade and organic), packaged in adorable silver tins. Create a tea in your names and give it away as a favor!

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Simple, straightforward and budget-friendly are the keys to your wedding-invitation style. You gravitate to earth tones, sensual textures and invitations that have a natural feel—like those printed on linen or handmade paper. Balance the frugal and frilly sides of your personality, for example, by using a modern sans-serif font with a swirly, ornamental border or motif. You're hands-on and crafty, so you may even want to put the invitations together yourself. (Bonus: It gives you more control over the end result, since you probably won't trust the printing company 100 percent.) One Virgo bride purchased—after extensive research, of course—a bulk set of unprinted invitations from invitationpapers.com. Then, she hand-printed them with a Japanese printing kit called the Print Gocco (gocco.com/gocco.HTM). Although she spent a couple of weeks on all the construction, the result was a gorgeous custom invitation that saved her hundreds of dollars. You'll want your guests to feel truly welcome, so choose a pocket-style invitation with room for thoughtful extras, like hotel block information, maps and a guide to local attractions.

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• Got style schizophrenia? Book a Style Statement consultation with Carrie and Danielle (carrieanddanielle.com). After an hour of amazing questions, they'll give you a two-word Style Statement that perfectly describes your personal style and will act as a guiding beacon for everything—dress, ring, decor, food, you name it.
• Instead of the typical guest book, opt for a bowl with note cards and a beautiful pen, suggests wedding planner Danielle Bobish of Curtain Up Events (curtainupevents.com). Invite your guests to write heartfelt wishes and share funny or sentimental stories. The result is instant gratification! You can read all the wishes and stories after the event and eventually place them all in a scrapbook to treasure over time.
• Since Virgo is so environmentally conscious, Bobish also suggests having a "green" wedding. Print your invites and programs on recycled paper with soy ink, have your reception in a botanical garden (the proceeds will go to the site) and light soy candles!

You're an earth sign, so an outdoor trip to the Southwest could really appeal to you. Head to Santa Fe for hiking, great Southwestern food, margaritas and naturopathic spa treatments. Many Virgos feel a kinship with the Native American cultures there too; you love the notion of living in harmony with the earth. Eco-tourism is a booming new industry and perfect for your sign. Wedding planner Danielle Bobish of Curtain Up Events (curtainupevents.com) suggests Costa Rica, where you can experience unspoiled rain forest, mountains, live volcanoes and gorgeous beaches. She also recommends Belize for sporty, nature-loving Virgos. You can tour the jungles, swing through the trees (literally!), surf, bird-watch and visit ancient Mayan ruins. The dusty, earthy palette of Africa also appeals to you. Head to Tanzania or tour a Kenyan safari. You'll likely balk at the idea, but consider a cruise, which one Virgo bride called "enforced relaxation." They're affordable, which Virgos love, and can actually be romantic. As this bride put it, "You go to sleep, wake up and you're at another island." Anywhere that forces you to unwind is worth considering!