Wedding gowns enter experimental era, non-traditional designs on the rise

The traditional big white wedding dress may be a thing of the past as wedding gowns enter a more experimental era. Celebrities and new brands are influencing the trend, with designs ranging from minidresses to Victorian-style gowns. Charli XCX and Gabbriette are among those who have worn non-traditional wedding dresses, with Gabbriette saying 'Bridal is whatever you want it to be'.

Influential Designs

Designers such as Dilara Findikoğlu and Wed are catering to the non-traditional bride. Findikoğlu's designs are known for their ornate corsets and occult references, while Wed sells dresses that suit the coquette trend along with short minis and designs with transparent panels. Findikoğlu says her dresses 'carry our sense of rebellion' and are 'not perfectly polished' like conventional wedding dresses.

Alternative Bridal Wear

Alternative bridal wear is not a new trend, with Elizabeth Taylor and Yoko Ono having worn non-traditional wedding attire in the past. However, the current trend comes at a time when marriage is less common, with a report by the Centre for Social Justice finding that there were only about 224,000 marriages in 2023, compared to over 400,000 in 1970. Bridget Dalton, head of Truth Futures at Truth Consulting, says the trend allows brides to 'disavow the saccharine sacredness' of traditional bridal aspirations.