Brides 'trash their dress'

There is a rather odd new style of wedding photographs emerging in the US, the Post-Crescent has reported.

According to the newspaper, Las Vegas photographer John Michael Cooper has began a trend of "trash the dress" wedding photos, where the bride basically ruins her gown by standing in a fountain for example.

Mr Cooper told the newspaper that even though most wedding dresses are only worn once, he has been able to dry clean all but one of the gowns he has photographed - one which got burnt.

Amy Gaerthofner of Ardent Photography offers a similar style of services, but calls them "fearless bride sessions".

She explained: "She goes into the session without any inhibitions. One of my brides said it's more about celebration than destruction - letting your dress go out with a bang rather than stuffing it in a box and never seeing it again."

Jennifer Strahm, who has posed for photos in one of these sessions, explained that she enjoyed the "rebellious" feeling as passers by watched in shock as she got in a fountain wearing her wedding dress.

Model Jerry Hall recently auctioned off the dress she wore to marry Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger, claiming it was therapeutic.