Quiet Luxury may be on the minds of many designers these days, but when it comes to bridal fashion, subtle elegance is not the focus for most fashion designers. Bridal fashion is more diverse and, some say, more glamorous than ever. “It’s becoming increasingly clear that today’s women want to stay true to their individual style, even – or especially – on their big day,” explains Patricia Maeda, director of women’s fashion at the trend research institute Fashion Snoops. Dramatic silhouettes, bold statements and colors made a return for the spring 2024 season – all beautifully wrapped in large bows, which were featured on many dresses.
Floral for spring
Flowers for spring may not be groundbreaking, but they’re a breath of fresh air on a wedding dress. While most designers have opted for pastel florals that blend with the ivory of the dresses, others have ventured into bold colors and bold prints that are sure to get noticed.
Josephine Scott and Madeline Gardner showed off flowers in soft pastels that bloomed on ivory and white dresses, while Randy Fenoli Bridal chose a daring sea of pink and blue blooms on a lavender dress with a high leg slit. Boho wedding dress brand Calla Blanche embroidered an array of colourful, summery florals onto a full skirt wedding dress, complemented by sheer off the shoulder sleeves.
Something blue
This season, fashion designers have taken the motto “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” to heart and have given brides with blue-colored wedding dresses one of the symbols of wedding tradition to take with them.
While designers like Madeline Gardner embraced two trends in one – adding a soft blue floral print to an otherwise ivory gown – Luxury Bridal Experience decided to buck tradition and sent a bridal gown with a light blue skirt down the runway.
Sarah Nouri chose rather small blue accents instead and added blue bows in different sizes to the classic wedding dresses.
Traditionally, many brides dream of an engagement ring that comes in the famous Tiffany blue box, and for Spring/Summer 2024 the color – or at least very similar tones – has been used as a striking accent. Reem Acra chose the striking hue for a dramatic long veil, while Lorena Panea added a large bow to one of her extravagant bridal creations.
Nicely wrapped in bows
“Big silhouettes include oversized bows,” explained Fashion Snoop’s trend expert Maeda. Indeed, this detail could not have been more prominent on the catwalks.
Most bows, although varying in shape and size, adorned the backs of dresses. At Pronovias, an oversized bow separated a high-necked lace bodice from a long A-line skirt, while at Randy Fenoli Bridal, a bow transitioned into a small train.
While bows are traditionally considered playful, some designers have opted for a minimalist twist on the trend. The two bridal brands Sophie Et Voila and Azenabor Bridal sent their versions of a wedding dress adorned with a large bow down the catwalk.
Morticia says hello
“Intrepid brides can be bold and experiment with black,” says Fashion Snoops’ Maeda. The dark colored wedding dresses came in all sorts of styles, giving brides-to-be almost as much choice as those who opted for their “purist” counterpart.
For brides wanting to emulate their inner Morticia Addams, designers like Demetrios and Modeca are bringing dramatic lace dresses with equally striking silhouettes to the Spring/Summer 2024 runways. While Demetrios chose a full skirt of white chiffon beneath black lace, Demetrios dedicated himself Modeca of darkness with a form-fitting black lace dress.
Other designers who have gone black this season also picked up on other bridal trends, like flowers at Marco Maria or a pretty bow at the neckline of a dress at Bentley Weaver.
Naked Facts
The “naked dress” trend has made its way from the world’s red carpets to the aisle. The brides who dare to reveal themselves have a huge choice of dresses, both in classic cuts and modern silhouettes.
Perhaps one of the most demure yet glamorous take on the revealing bridal gown was seen on Liz Martinez. The designer featured a beaded off shoulder dress with a mermaid skirt that slightly covered the bride’s legs, while the dress’s bodice gave the illusion of bare skin. Galia Lahav, on the other hand, embraced the sexiness of the trend with a high slit and corset bodice.
Even minimalist silhouettes prove that they can make an equally strong statement. Shimmering, sheer fabrics revealed the bodies of brides brave enough to wear them.
Contemporary Brides
While marriage is usually about bonding, this wedding season has also often been about convertible, versatile pieces – especially off the runway and as part of designer collections. In February, Albanian-born designer Nensi Dojaka launched a bridal collection with Mytheresa that will turn heads not only at the altar but at any party. 16 Arlington, which recently won the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, has also been on the bridal fashion scene since 2021 and convinces with pieces that brides can not only dance with at every wedding, but also at every celebration. Recently, the brand’s offbeat pieces have gained popularity, especially among social media-savvy brides.
“Such interchangeable pieces reflect the growing trend towards more functionality and versatility in bridal fashion, which is ultimately influencing the buying behavior of today’s brides,” explains Maeda. “They’re shopping for a complete bridal wardrobe, including looks for the hen party through to brunch the next day, but also pieces to wear after the big day.”