Vanessa Minnillo: 'Choosing wedding dress was emotional'

Vanessa Minnillo has described the process of shopping for a wedding dress as "very emotional".

Minnillo tied the knot with Nick Lachey earlier this month in a ceremony held on Necker Island, which they described as the 'perfect venue'.

The actress told People that while the big day ultimately came together, choosing her gown made her miss her mother, who has not been in her life for over 20 years.

Minnillo recalled: "Normally this is something you do with your mother, and my birth mother hasn't been in my life since I was 9 [years old]. I have been okay with that up until now but for some unexplained reason, it really overtook me.

"I felt lost, confused and sad. It was very emotional... For the first time, I felt a little alone."

However, Minillo later allowed Lachey to choose her wedding look in order to alleviate the pressure of the decision and was happy with the result.

Minnillo and Lachey have said that they want to start a family immediately after marrying.

The couple's wedding will be televised in the TLC special Nick & Vanessa's Dream Wedding, which premieres July 30 from 9-11pm ET/PT.