The year’s most wedding-proliferate months are upon us. And while nuptial celebrations may have sprung back to pre-pandemic numbers—approximately 2.24 million weddings occurred in 2023, a 62.5 percent increase since 2020, according to a Zippia report—wedding styles, and bridal dress codes, have notably changed. Perhaps as a direct consequence of the pandemic, many brides (and in turn, designers) have pushed back against rigid conventions, opting instead for fashion-forward bridal wear styles that showcase personality over the traditional.
From suiting and separates, to dresses and gowns that could be worn again (and again), some of the buzziest wedding dress designers and brands are reshaping the possibilities of wedding day attire. Just look to the number of ready-to-wear designers—including Rodarte and Richard Quinn, for example—who recently introduced their own bridal-specific collections.
Ahead, eight of-the-moment wedding dress designers who are skillfully carving out their own niches in the wedding space.
Valentine Avoh
Photo: Courtesy of Valentine Avoh
This Brussels-based designer, whose background includes stints at Alexander McQueen and Alexis Mabille, brings elements of couture—exquisite Calais lace, feathers, and hand-beaded embroideries—to her elegant, but youthful wedding gowns. Avoh primarily focuses on bespoke creations for her mostly international clientele (a sizable portion of her business is US-based), a closely-collaborative process she’s honed through video appointments, and an ongoing dialogue with brides-to-be.
Bernadette
Sloan Laurits