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The Duchess of Cambridge's younger sister Pippa Middleton is engaged it was confirmed today, in what will prove to a'Finally!' moment for the tabloids who have been speculating about her marital status for years. According to reports, her boyfriend of a year James Matthews proposed to her over the weekend on a walk in the Lake District.

At a London society event last night, the Miles Frost Fund Gala, Pippa kept her left hand hidden behind her floral L.K. Bennett prom dresses uk, which only served to further heighten the speculation that there is another Middleton wedding on the horizon. And this morning she appeared to confirm the news by smiling at photographers as she left her London house, proudly displaying a diamond ring on that finger.

Here on the fashion desk, naturally our focus has already turned to the question of who will design her wedding dress.

Pippa and big sister Kate have a similar approach to style, favouring ladylike and conservative pieces by British labels. Last night, Middleton wore a breezy silk dusty pink, daisy printed dress with a cascading hem and nipped in waist by L.K. Bennett, which looked like it might have been lifted straight from the Duchess's Kensington Palace walk-in wardrobe. The British high street brand has an unofficial 'Middleton warrant', as the Duchess of Cambridge is credited with causing a huge expansion of the brand due to her love of their nude court shoes and formal dresses.

It's safe to assume that her wedding day is the one time Pippa Middleton won't wear a dress like her big sister's. The Duchess of Cambridge's Alexander McQueen gown was custom-made over many months under the watchful eye of creative director Sarah Burton and designed to create a grand 'princess moment' as Kate married William at Westminster Abbey. Two million people watched the royal wedding and Pippa's sleek maid of honour dress, also by McQueen, drew almost as much attention as her sister's dress.

For Pippa, the wedding world is her oyster, with no traditions dictating the kind of wedding she'll need to plan.

Pippa Middleton at the Royal Wedding

But something tells us this wedding won't be a 'Hackney Town Hall and drinks at the local' affair. Not only will a number of senior royals be in attendance, but her fiance James Matthews is a Chelsea-based, Eton-educated millionaire, who is the chief executive of Eden Rock Capital Management Group. He is also the older brother of Made in Chelsea's Spencer Matthews, and if that reality show has taught us one thing it's that the Matthews family doesn't scrimp when it comes to parties. And let's not forget Pippa has written her own book about hosting,Celebrate: A Year of Festivities for Families and Friends.

So will Pippa decide on a traditional, lavish English affair? Or an exotic do abroad at the Matthews family hotel in St Barths maybe? Whatever the vibe, there's a designer dress for the occasion.

When it comes to OTT weddings, the socialite's go-to couture house is Elie Saab. The house creates fairytale tulle gowns dripping in custom beading and hand-sewn crystals, making them popular with the super rich brides like Khadija Uzhakhova and Salome Kintsurashvili who both chose Elie Saab creations for their jaw-dropping weddings this year.

“Thousands of hours goes into a dress like this,” James Lord, Founder and CEO of the Quintessentially Atelier has previously said to The Telegraph of the workmanship involved in a couture wedding dress like the Elie Saab above. “It will be entirely made by hand, with no sewing machines involved. If there are a thousand crystals, each could take up to a few minutes to sew on."

Jenny Packham is a Middleton family favourite, as the British designer has created a number of custom gowns for the Duchess of Cambridge. Packham has dressed her for some of her most important occasions, including when she left the Lindo Wing after giving birth to Prince George and Princess Charlotte and for red-carpet events, such asa recent fundraising dinner at Houghton Hall in Norfolk. The designer also created Kim Murray's wedding dress for her marriage to Andy in Dunblane last year. If Pippa turns to Kate for advice, then they'll be sure to pay a visit to Packham's studio.

The British option: Ralph and Russo

Couture house Ralph and Russo creates spectacular, money-is-no-boundary couture gowns fitting for grand Chelsea nuptials. "Our bridal pieces are extremely intricate and can take over 7,000 hours to make, with up to 24 couturiers working on the gown at any time," Tamara Ralph previously explained to The Telegraph. "The weight of the gown depends on the client’s fabric of choice, but where possible, we do try to reduce this so that the bride is comfortable when walking. We work very closely with every bride to ensure that they are completely happy and confident on their special day."

While her co-designer, Michael Russo, adds: "The embroidery alone for the SS16 bridal gown took over 50 couturiers 6,000 combined hours to create. We encourage clients to get in touch as soon as possible with bridal requests, and in general advise that six months be given for creation." Ralph and Russo would be a fitting choice given it is based in Mayfair and is the only British house to be elected to show at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week.

It's unlikely that Pippa would be a copy-Kate and chose McQueen for her wedding dress. But then again, she knows it works and that designer Sarah Burton has the design nous to create something seriously flattering and impactful.

Another of the Duchess' favourite designers, New Zealander Emilia Wickstead has carved out a reputation for creating modern designs for society women. Wickstead was not known for her bridal work until earlier this year when she created a grand gown for Lady Charlotte Wellesley's wedding to Colombian billionaire Alejandro Santo Domingo. The look was praised for its timeless simplicity. Something in this spirit would make a beautiful choice for a country wedding in Bucklebury (the Berkshire village the Middletons call home).

The form-fitting, simple Alexander McQueen dress which Pippa wore for bridesmaid duties at the Royal Wedding, was perhaps the most talked about look of the year, nay, decade, receiving almost as much as attention as Kate's own dress. It's clearly a silhouette that works for Pippa, and so perhaps she will opt for a more simple fit by Marchesa, available at BrownsBrides. Designed by Brits Keren Craig and Georgina Chapman, but based in the US, Marchesa is another red carpet hit so will be guaranteed to understand the nuances required for such a high-profile design.

Italian house Valentino is another likely option, especially if Pippa decides to go international; the label's refined, ecclesiastical dresses are a popular choice with European royalty and Hollywood elite, and have been worn by Nicky Hilton, Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Anne Hathaway and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.

If Pippa is looking to avoid comparisons to her sister's dress, she could opt for a low-key high street option by buzzed-about label Reformation. It's highly unlikely she will get married in a £295 dress, but the recent drop of gowns has a number of elegant, figure-hugging looks if she wants a silhouette similar to her Alexander McQueen bridesmaid dress. Plus, they're environmentally friendly.

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