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Once upon a time, wedding season was a term intended to describe the temperate weekends from May to September. For wedding parties and wedding guests, a four-month period was expected to be spent deciphering dress codes, navigating gift etiquette and hoping the chicken option on the menu wouldn’t be too dry. Lately, however, it seems that fairy tale season has expanded into an ongoing year-long event. Winter and ‘off season’ weddings are becoming increasingly popular (probably a result of the post-Covid influx of delayed weddings) and with a change in timing comes a change in trends – the upcoming wedding dress trends for 2023 reflecting a renewed celebration of grandeur, the rise of the non-traditional bride and prioritizing silhouettes for the entire season.
As I write this trending story, I’m sitting in a small-town Pennsylvania coffee shop to attend the first of two consecutive November weddings on my calendar. Since I have yet to go through the process of choosing a wedding dress for myself (although I’m definitely looking forward to that happening eventually), I’m always eager to see wedding fashion at each ceremony. These November weddings fall right after Bridal Fashion Week and I’m excited to see if any of the upcoming trends below will emerge early. While I may not know the bride that well (I’m still in my “plus one” era), I think the wedding dress a bride chooses always gives a lot of insight into their style and personality.
To get a better perspective on the process of choosing a wedding dress and navigate bridal trends, I brought my dear friend and bride-to-be, Mary Grace Scully, with me to preview the 2023 bridal collections. Scully works tangentially with the fashion industry as the head of the Creator Program at The Nate App and has an incredibly refined understanding of her own personal style – she taps into trends but is never defined by them. Scully grew up in the South, currently lives in New York City and plans to get married next January in Los Angeles. Needless to say, she’s on the hunt for a dress that captures the influence each place has had in shaping her personal style – no easy feat! Fortunately, Scully seems to have a game plan.
“I describe my personal style in three words: sporty, sparkly and preppy. (Thanks to stylist Allison Bornstein talking about The 3-word method on TikTok!) That means I really like classic and conservative silhouettes, but like to layer and accessorize in surprising ways that balance feminine and masculine energy. Therefore, as I head into my wedding weekend (because let’s be real, it’s more than just a day), I want to balance traditional silhouettes with a modern style,” explains Scully.
Based on aesthetics, I think Scully straddles the line a classic and non-traditional bride—a combination that might have been hard to shop five years ago but is now the focus of many designers as brides try to balance trendy and timeless. Designers such as Viktor&Rolf, Elie Saab and Peter Langner all featured classic silhouettes in their 2023 collections but added trendy details such as oversized bows, sheer details or dramatic evening gloves to give brides an optional twist.
Courtesy of La Pointe.
Scully says: “It is absolutely possible to balance trendy and timeless! For example, feathers are obviously huge in fashion, and have made their way into bridal. I’ve had my eye on one white satin dress from LAPOINTE, it has long sleeves and detachable spring cuffs. I also noticed a lot of tulle in Andrew Kwon and Lela Rose’s collections, which got me thinking about different ways to include it, besides a classic tiered skirt.”
The (literally) clearest indication that Scully is strategically approaching her wedding shopping is the gorgeous aquamarine and diamond engagement ring on her left hand. The emerald cut ring is the perfect representation of Scully’s dedication to adding her personal style to her wedding day and serves as the cornerstone of all design decisions.
“I really want to lean into the ‘something blue’ tradition. I already bought the aqua crystal Manolo Blahniks (a classic with a twist) and will probably wear them with my wedding dress and for the reception look. I also recently found a vintage aqua sheer robe to wear when I got ready in the morning and plan to invest in a special aqua party dress for the reception,” explains Scully.
Courtesy of Mary Grace Scully.
Scully’s vision is right on the money when it comes to 2023 wedding dress trends—I can attest that she gushed over the delicate long-sleeved silhouettes featured at Lela Rose and was immediately drawn to a dramatic blue evening gown (complete with gloves and bow) at Andrew Kwon for a reception look. If you’re like Mary Grace Scully and are a bride looking for the best of both worlds on your big day, the 2023 wedding dress trends will suit—and if your budget allows, you’ll want multiple looks. Keep reading for the trends you’ll think of.
Eisenstein, Amsale, Viktor&Rolf; iMaxTree.
Go Big or Go Bow
Bows are the hottest (or cutest) built-in accessory in bridal wear for 2023. Whether they make a unique oversized statement or appear in multiples, the feminine details are on the rise in designer collections. A bow can be integrated into a wedding look without creature the whole look as it works with a variety of dress silhouettes. For example, Viktor&Rolf sprinkled an otherwise simple sheath dress in tiny bows, while Amsale Bride had a double bow as the sleeve of a mermaid dress. A bow can also be easily incorporated by adding a detachable belt or hair ornament.
Amsale Bridal, Enzo Miccio; iMaxTree.
Portable arrangements
Flowers are already a big focus on a wedding day and designers are encouraging brides to incorporate them into their wedding wardrobe. Floral motifs, embroidery and beading have grown in popularity in 2023. Unlike many of the other 2023 trends, floral details appear as the main focus of the garments instead of just a detail. For example, Enzo Miccio covered a princess-style dress with large embroidered roses. The flowers on most dresses match the white shade of the dress and therefore add a lovely texture without distracting from the rest of the look.
Sareh Nouri, Lela Rose, Badgley Mischka; iMaxTree.
Brides Of A Feather
By now, you probably own a piece of clothing that has a feather trim (or at least have worn a boa to a Harry Styles concert). Feathers instantly add a fun feel to casual wear while elevating the ensemble’s elegance. Designers are catching the growing popularity of changing into a reception look and are adding flirty feather mini dresses to their bridal collections. You can either go full feather with a heavy feather skirt as seen in the Badgley Mischka collection or opt for feather inspired fabric as seen in the Sareh Nouri collection.
Rivini by Rita Vinieris, Monique Lhuillier, Alyne by Rita Vinieris; iMaxTree.
Opera gloves everywhere
Opera gloves fit both “something old” and “something new” traditions of bridal wear. The classic evening gown style has seen a huge resurgence with celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Zoë Kravitz and Blake Lively wearing them to red carpet events and the look has translated to bridal. Opera gloves can be added to any dress (as long as it doesn’t already have long sleeves) and are an elegant way to create a stylized moment. Gloves are also a great accessory for a rehearsal dinner, cocktail hour, or just for cutting the cake.
Jason Wu, Zuhair Murad, Elie Saab; iMaxTree.
Some like it clean
Warning: the sheer trend may be NSFGP (not safe for grandparents) but boy, is it fun. A sheer dress, also known as a “nude dress”, is the trend for a daring bride and preferably an evening ceremony or reception. Sheer dresses are everywhere right now, and designers like Jason Wu have done an excellent job of creating realistically wearable versions of them. While you might not want to sacrifice your big white dress for a sheer slip, I think it’s a great after-party option if you’re planning multiple looks throughout the evening.
Agnieszka Światly, Peter Langner, Andrew Kwon; iMaxTree.
Tulle is the rule
This trend is for the maximalist brides – tulle is the ‘bigger is better’ of wedding trends and makes the best statement when incorporated into dramatic layers. Andrew Kwon created a standout strapless gown with a tulle skirt. The dress creates the illusion that the bride is floating as she walks across the room because it is that many layers.
