The Biggest Bridal Fashion Trends Include Party Dresses & Feathers

This year, wedding fashion is taking a turn for the glamorous. As evidenced by the New York Bridal Fashion Week lineups, casual slip dresses and minimalist suits are being traded for can't-miss trends that give brides-to-be their main character moment.

This year, we can expect the glittering styles and over-the-top silhouettes to get even bigger. Think: opera gloves, high-neck styles, party-ready fabrics, and ultra-high slits that make up for the minimalist stint we’ve witnessed since the pandemic put a temporary stop on large ceremonies and celebrations and gave rise to micro-weddings and elopements.

Ahead, take a look at some of the most exciting trends walking down the aisle in 2023.

While turtlenecks bring to mind autumn essentials, rather than wedding wear, this year, brides will be adopting this high-neck silhouette into their aisle style. Designs from brands like Katherine Tash, LaPointe, and Andrew Kwon varied from turtleneck tops to dramatic high-neck halter dresses.

Sure, sultry slits have been a staple of bridal fashion for years. But, if Bridal Fashion Week’s lineups are any indication, they’re about to get even more risqué, with designers like Dana Harel and Alexandra Grecco showcasing thigh-high slits that are anything but subtle.

You’ve already heard of versatile bridal mini dresses that can take brides from the altar to the reception. Now, designers are incorporating even more party-ready elements. Take, for example, the latex draped dress by Houghton, the iridescent gown by Nadia Manjarrez, or the flouncy bubble skirt at Lela Rose.

As bridal trends take a turn for the dramatic, it’s only natural that sleeves are becoming longer and more voluminous, giving brides an elegant, timeless look. Designers like Anne Barge, Honor, and Theia took on the classic silhouette this season.

With party dressing becoming a ready-to-wear trend, it was about time that feathers also joined the bridal realm. Designers like LaPointe, Houghton, and Eloquii explored the airy embellishment in unexpected ways on modern pieces like sheer blazers, crop tops, and pants.

Bridgerton’s impact on bridal fashion has been strong, with Regency-era styles like corsets appearing on wedding dresses in seasons past. So it was only natural that opera gloves would follow. This time, designers offered modern takes with sheer fabrics, beaded embellishments, and fingerless versions that made the accessory look anything but costume-like. See: Badgley Mischka who presented a "something blue" pair.

A staple of the 1920s, drop waist gowns are making their way into the 2020s, especially in the bridal fashion landscape. Brands like Sophie et Voila, Houghton, and Julie Vino are reimagining the lower waist silhouettes through corsets and loose-fitting styles that are anything but passé.