Wedding gowns are entering a more experimental era, with styles moving beyond the traditional big white dress. This shift is influenced by celebrity choices and the emergence of new brands.
Last year, Charli xcx wore a minidress and sunglasses for her marriage. More recently in July, model Gabbriette married Matty Healy in a Victorian-style gown with a bustle and gothic makeup. Emma Roberts also incorporated an artistic lace veil into her wedding look.
A growing number of brands are catering to this non-traditional market. Dilara Findikoğlu, known for ornate corsets, launched bridal wear this week. Other brands like Weddings & Funerals and Wed also offer alternative designs, including short minis and dresses with transparent panels.
Designers and brides suggest that these styles allow women to express their personality on their wedding day. Gabbriette stated that "bridal is whatever you want it to be," a sentiment echoed by Findikoğlu, who noted that women want their bridal look to feel like an extension of who they already are.
While alternative bridal wear is not new, with examples like Elizabeth Taylor's yellow wedding dress in 1964, the current trend coincides with a period where marriage is less common. A February report from the Centre for Social Justice found approximately 224,000 marriages in 2023, a decrease from over 400,000 in 1970.