WORDS BY HOLLY MARGERRISON
Church bells are ringing, flowers are blooming and champagne flutes are clinking once more. It may look a little different to pre-pandemic celebrations, but wedding season is in full swing, and it’s time for your long-awaited moment trying on contemporary wedding dress options.
The phrase ‘good things come to those who wait’ has never been manifested more by brides and grooms across the world than over the last year — in the hope their delayed wedding days will be brimming with bouquets of seasonal scents, banquets of food and buckets of love soon.
As the world begins to peel back restrictions and lockdown eases in many areas, it’s left brides with the borderline bridezilla dread of, ‘Do I even like my original wedding dress anymore?’ For others, it has ignited the last-minute panic to choose what has been considered the most important part of the day — the modern bridal dress.
Voluminous skirt or swathes of fabric trains? Veil or hair clip? Statement heels or elegant flats? Sifting through the best modern wedding dresses leaves you wondering, ‘What are the different styles of wedding dresses?’.
If the last year has taught us anything though, it’s that change is inevitable — and perhaps the best way to face it is to embrace it with open arms and a positive attitude. Convention is getting a changeup, whether you’re tying the knot by the beach, down the aisle or in a hotel.
We’ve pulled together some alternative wedding day options, whether you want all eyes on you or to blend into the crowd post-registry office. Delve into our modern bride dresses and expect colorful options, sustainable wedding dresses, modern minimalist wedding dresses and modern bridal wedding suits — as well as the special occasion shoes no longer reserved solely for the day itself.
Leading by example, Carrie Bradshaw is living proof that bigger is not always better — an understated wedding suit at the registry office eventually outweighed the voluminous ‘It’ dress. No matter what modern, unique wedding dress or clothing option you decide to wear, we raise a toast to the happy couple and hope the honeymoon phase never ends.
Wedding dresses for the modern minimalist :
Often, less is more — and these modern minimalist wedding dresses are no exception to the rule. Strip your look back to basics and slip into styles that swish with the movement of your body, or give you freedom to float around the dancefloor post-ceremony.
Simple doesn’t mean without the details. Take Jacquemus as a prime example of breezy silhouettes and flowy dresses with stand-out intricacies. Think white linen fabrics, slender spaghetti straps and floor-sweeping mermaid skirts from the French label for a modern, elegant wedding dress.
Thanks to Jonathan Simkhai and Jenny Packham’s modern, classic wedding dresses, wearing an understated dress has never been more doable — there’s something almost sensual about the way their silk satin gowns kiss the skin. Exude elegance in Mônot’s modern wedding dress with sleeves whilst keeping any chills at bay — side leg slits, open-back detailing and boat necklines invite a sophisticated aesthetic into your look.
Midi and short wedding dresses:
Organic cotton, ruffle detailing and midi-length styles, Reformation ticks all the boxes for a trendy wedding dress. A specialist in sustainable dresses with a vintage feel, the Tide ruffle-detail midi puts a contemporary twist on a simple silhouette.
As for macgraw, corsage-style dresses with semi-sheer ivory fabrics and floral embroidery have all the details you could want on a contemporary bridal dress, whilst Loulou brings all the tulle designs on blazer dresses to steal the show.
Colourful and print wedding dresses:
Colourful and print wedding dresses mark a true celebration and the best way to break tradition after a year of rule-following.
Molly Goddard dishes out all the trimmings — expect flared feather-trim gowns in vibrant red hues for a modern, unique wedding dress and enjoy basking in the limelight all night. Watch as the hem on the Jacquemus leaf-print maxi dress twists and turns in synchronization with your body, or glide from guest to guest in Halpern’s emerald green flowy silk blend.
Modern bridal wedding suits:
Powerful, proud and prepared to marry the love of your life — this calls for a wedding suit.
Sometimes a dainty dress doesn’t fit the bill, and Tagliatore is here to lend a helping hand with slim-fit trouser suits. Paired with designer heels and accessories it adds an element of surprise to your special day for guests and your other half, whilst the timeless cut gives a polished finish. With side-flap pockets, you can even carry the essentials with you rather than trusting the maid of honor to hand you a tissue when the moment calls for one.
Not ready to fully commit to the wedding suit? No problem. Self-Portrait’s lace-trim blazer dress invites you to push the boat out, gently, when it comes to unusual wedding dress options.
Sustainable wedding dresses:
The ultimate love story that lasts a lifetime. With sustainability, ethics and the environment at the forefront of many people’s minds, choosing a sustainable wedding dress is the best way to care for our planet.
With its fitted silhouette and ivory silk fabric, VOZ delivers a simple style, but retains a heavy focus on improving social conditions for independent artisans in Chile. Emilio Pucci proves that minimalist is the new maximalist with floor-length shirt dresses made from certified viscose from responsibly managed forests, whilst Paris Georgia provides you with a modern classic wedding dress in pistachio green — made locally in New Zealand.
But the most sustainable thing you could do? Buy a designer dress or suit you can wear again and again — after all, who doesn’t want to relive their wedding day through their special outfit?
Special occasion shoes and modern bridal accessories:
Simple wedding dresses rely on designer accessories, designer bags and designer shoes to bring the look to life. Shake your hair around on the dancefloor and watch as your silver Jennifer Behr Czarina crystal headpiece shimmers under the lights, or put the focus on your feet with crystal-embellished Jimmy Choo open-toe sandals and satin-finish Manolo Blahnik pumps.
For modern veils, mesh veil bucket hats by Jennifer Behr ensures a nod to tradition whilst straying from convention.