And the bride wore… sequins.
In the vast world of bridal fashion, nothing ever stays the same. It might look like wedding dresses are one of those static categories that never seem to evolve, but look closely and you’ll find that, indeed, it’s making giant leaps forward. At least, that was the memo presented during New York Bridal Week, where designers showcased their collections for 2025.
There was no shortage of options for 2025 brides looking to make the traditional ceremony their own. With brides turning away from the usual white dresses and ballgown silhouettes, there’s more room to play for designers, especially in a year when weddings have more surrounding events than ever before. There’s also an uptick in designers looking to the past for inspiration, a move certainly influenced by celebrity brides like podcaster Alex Cooper and actress Kat Dennings opting for vintage dresses for their own nuptials.
From disco-appropriate frocks to dramatic capes, here are the defining bridal fashion trends for 2025.
Cape Action
Capes have become a defining trend of ready-to-wear for 2024 and 2025. So it comes as no surprise that these styles are also making their way into bridal fashion. Designers like Christian Siriano (through his new collaboration with Azazie) and Francesca Miranda offered new perspectives on this hero silhouette. While Siriano opted for a loop-sleeve cape, Miranda showcased a frothy version styled over a mini dress.
Ready to Party
If Bridal Fashion Week is any indication, brides are no longer waiting for a second look to embrace the party vibe. Designers like Kyha Studios and Viktor & Rolf showed ceremony-ready dresses that had disco-approved details, from sequins and sheer corsets to high-low hemlines.
Something Borrowed
The rise of vintage and archival fashion has certainly inspired bridal designers to embrace the past. Crinolines, late 19th-century necklines, and '80s-inspired sleeves were all visible during Bridal Fashion Week. Designer Jaclyn Whyte presented oversized crinoline skirts, while Marco & Maria gave an '80s flair to voluminous sleeves.
Blown Away
There's more than one way to deliver drama on a wedding day. And for brides who want to forgo the bigger-than-life ballgown skirts and long veils, designers are offering a new option: scarves. Take, for example, Nadia Manjarrez, who styled a traditional frothy gown with a delicate, breezy scarf, or Kyha Studios, which gave the look of a scarf through an attached sash hanging from an asymmetrical neckline. No shortage of drama here.
Grace Kelly Energy
More than 50 years after her wedding, actress Grace Kelly continues to be a main source of inspiration for the bridal world. And 2025 promises to be a year when hick-neck lace bodices will shine bright. Brands like Jaclyn Whyte and Emilia Wickstead presented numbers that looked straight out of Kelly's nuptials. While Wickstead's version displayed a strapless bodice with a high-neck, long-sleeved lace addition, Whyte offered a similar look through a cropped lace jacket.
