The Best Modern Wedding Outfits for Non-Traditional Brides

If your everyday style favours clean lines and minimal embellishment, there’s no reason why your wedding dress shouldn’t follow suit. Though you may feel pressured to go all out for your special day, a simple look can pack plenty of punch when it’s done right – as Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy proved with her iconic slip-style dress in the ’90s. Tove’s perfectly draped gown (pictured), for example, has a graceful one-shoulder silhouette that is effortless in its elegance.

If you’re a style maven with your finger on the pulse, let the aisle become your very own runway. The Spring/Summer shows were awash with white dresses, giving 2024 brides plenty to choose from in the ready-to-wear realm. Sculptural 3D florals and coquettish bows are a common thread of the season, a romanticism that lends itself perfectly to bridalwear – executed impeccably in Roksanda’s ruffled Radica dress. Of course, a fashion icon is never without her cult accessories. Underfoot, ballet flats and kitten heels are today’s chic shoes of choice, while a trending bag – like Simone Rocha’s pearl Egg clutch or Bottega Veneta’s woven Sardine bag – will cement your status as the fashion-forward bride.

If your main motive for getting hitched is to throw an elaborate knees-up, this may be the look for you. Steer clear of cumbersome silhouettes and make way for micro hemlines, spangled sequins and frivolous feather trims – all of which were made to shimmy onto the dancefloor. Alex Perry’s satin mini dress adds a flowing cape to its form-fitting silhouette, which perfectly elevates its thigh-skimming length for the occasion. A party look is nothing without its accoutrements, so be sure to amp up the glamour with a glittery L’alingi clutch or Mach & Mach’s embellished-bow pumps.

There can be few things cooler than playing it casual on your wedding day. Oversized ivory tailoring and sophisticated midi dresses are the blueprint for registry-office bridal style, exuding the kind of chic nonchalance you can never achieve in a floor-length gown. Róhe’s menswear-inspired suit subverts tradition but plays with contrasts when layered over a feminine cami, bringing in classic bridal details via delicate lace, beaded accessories and ladylike shoes.

Rejecting bridal white can be an empowering way to buck tradition, and vastly opens up the playing field when it comes to picking an outfit. Anything goes, of course, but varying shades of blush pink, icy silvers, pale blues and gleaming golds are popular choices for those opting for alternative colours. Think of the aisle as your red carpet – Pamella Roland’s glamorous halterneck gown was made for the spotlight with its cascading sequins and dusky-pink appliqué flowers. You are the star of the show, after all.