The Top 10 Wedding Dress and Bridal Trends of 2023: Accessories, Colors, and Throwback Inspired Styles

After postponed weddings from COVID finally happening during the 2021 and 2022 wedding season, brides and bridal designers are ready for something new in their dresses. The top 10 wedding dress trends of 2023 all stem from re-inventing the past and going bolder and bigger.

1. Vintage & Vintage Inspired Dresses

There is no doubt that vintage dresses and their styles are coming back into style. Check out this article to dive more in depth into the trends and how they stem from different decades, but we’re seeing lots of:

• Mock Necks
• Lace
• Statement Bows
• Puffy Sleeves
• Non-traditional Silhouettes
• Individuality

 

 

 

What about actually purchasing a vintage wedding dress in utah?

One of the things I want to point out is that actually purchasing and using vintage dresses is a trend on the rise. Not only is it sustainable, but it is a great way to keep price down or incorporate a loved one’s memories into your big day.

Wed Utah has noticed this is not as readily available for many people in Utah, as so many people donate to the DI and it is hard to fine high quality vintage clothing that is actually in style. We’re currently working on offering vintage and vintage inspired dresses for Utah brides–or at least finding you the best resources to find your perfect vintage wedding dress.

2. Sheer & Transparent Fabrics

For the NY Bridal Fashion Week in Fall 2022, sheer fabrics, including tulle, organza, and chiffon, were popular choices for many designers, with gowns featuring sheer sleeves, skirts, and bodices.

We’re seeing this extend into gloves, jackets, trains, and even corsets. Within the dress to give “illusionary cutouts.”

We anticipate to see this trend carry throughout the next few years, maybe even the decade because of the versatility it can provide with different levels of coverage.

 

 

 

3. Dramatic, Non-Traditional Silhouettes (AND ruffles… Lots of them)

What do we mean a non-traditional silhouette? Well think about if you were just a silhouette in your wedding dress—we would think a form-fitting, curvy style or a curvy, princess ball gown. When you add in large puffy sleeves, over-the-top tulle gloves, or tulle skirts with lots of ruffles—you interrupt that traditional silhouette.

This switch in silhouette styles is inspired by the freedom, individuality, and experimentation that we want now in 2023. We’re looking for ways to tell our stories in unique, personalized ways—and “over the top” is applauded for leaning into what you love, not what everyone else wants.

Kim Kass Courture, Amsale, and Kaviar Gauche all show how you can use ruffles and create unique silhouettes for your wedding dress.

 

 

 

As well, we see this as a reaction to the early 2000’s and “modern” movement of clean, simple lines. Who wants to be simple when you can be exaggerated and dramatic?

4. Detachable Sleeves

Look at those free-flowing bishop sleeves and TELL ME you aren’t in love? The romantic flow, the dramatic shaping, and freedom of movement. I mean even if these sleeves were attached, I would love them.

BUUUTT the biggest thing—versatility. With a simple 1-2, you can completely transform the look of your dress in a subtle (or even dramatic) way. As well, it wouldn’t be difficult to switch to a train, cape, jacket, or different sleeves for different parts of the day and different types of weather. We can see why detachable sleeves would be the perfect for the brides who want variety without committing to an entire wedding day of sleeves.

Breaking it down further here are some reasons brides are choosing detachable sleeves with a fast increasing popularity:

1. Comfort: Many brides prefer dresses with sleeves for comfort or modesty, but they may not want to wear sleeves throughout the entire wedding day. Detachable sleeves offer the best of both worlds, allowing brides to have the coverage they want for the ceremony or photos, but then remove the sleeves for the reception or dancing.
2. Style: Detachable sleeves can add a touch of drama or romance to a wedding dress. Brides can choose from a variety of sleeve styles, such as lace, tulle, or illusion, to complement the overall look of the dress. Detachable sleeves can also be used to create a different silhouette, such as adding a puff or bishop sleeve to a more traditional dress.
3. Versatility: With detachable sleeves, brides can change the look of their dress without having to purchase a completely different dress. This can be particularly appealing for brides who are having a destination wedding or a second wedding, as they may want to wear the same dress for multiple events.
4. Customization: Detachable sleeves can be customized to match the bride’s specific style preferences. Brides can work with a designer or seamstress to create sleeves that complement the dress and the overall wedding theme.

 

 

5. Color- Whether in Pops, Subtleties, or Full-on Blue

Color is making a come back in both subtle and more bold ways. Whether that is striking contrast with blacks and dark colors in the details, colorful floral embroidery, subtle details of color in the veil or other bridal accessories, or even full on colored dresses.

Full-on Blue and color is In!

Many brides have seen dresses taking a step away from the traditional white dress into champagne, blush, and pink-toned pastels. However, we saw a move into much more vibrant colors and steps away from pink tones such as yellow and blue.

The consensus though—blue is IN! Many forms of blue, especially the “regency era blue” (a more pastel, Bridgerton color) were seen on the runway at fashion week. And for the bride who wants to feel like royalty, you really couldn’t ask for a prettier color. I see this color spanning across all seasons, as it would pair well in Winter with snow, summer with greens and yellows, fall complementary to the orange turning leaves, and the blossoming of flowers in Spring.

You can see some blue examples from the past few (and most recent) Bridal Fashion weeks including designer Madeline Gardner, Ines De Santo, Amsale, and even a sea blue-green from Peter Langer.

 

 

 

 

I personally see lavender as the next contender for colored wedding dresses. It is soft, beautiful, and pairs well with warm or cool tones depending on how you approach it. You can even see a lavender dress already out in the wild from Amsale.

As a note, black dresses continue to rise in popularity but are still limited on many collections. Even though the number of people searching for them online has almost surpassed traditional white dresses, not every bridal shop is jumping on board. We’ll be working on providing local bridal shops that provide black options for our black-dress brides.

Vibrant Floral Accents

Florals and weddings go hand in hand, so embroidered florals or colorful tulle florals is emerging into the wedding dress scene. They help bring an earthy feel, yet lively color, to a dress in an elegant way.

Colored Veils, Gloves, and Accessories

Adding pops of color to your ensemble through veils, gloves, capes, trains, or other accessories is another easy way to integrate color in a non-dominating way (or could be dominating if you want).

Some designers have taken to full on colored veils, as seen here by Reem Aca. Personally I love this take, and could even see small florals or pearls being added for texture onto the color veils.

6. Gloves

Gloves are back in, yes they are. Again, these play into the retro inspiration for this year’s wedding trends. And they are the perfect way to play into transparency, color, and compliment the details of your veil, jacket, or gown. As well, they play into the versatility that brides are craving in their 2023 looks.

Two of the most noticeable differences in gloves from previous generations is texture and transparency. Adding lace and 3D elements (like pearls , bows, and flowers) to add texture to your gloves is a great way to break from a plain white glove. As well, still highlight your ring and maybe even go big with tulle or transparent fabric gloves.

Collections like Amsale to Vera Wang Bride sported gloves in their Fall 2022 Bridal Collections.

 

7. Capes & Detachable trains

To continue with the versatility, detachable trains and capes are also on the forefront of ways to completely change your look without much effort. You can have the voluminous ruffles that are in trend, and then pair down to a simpler, sleeker look in seconds for your reception.

8. Two-Piece Sets

With the trend (and ability) to add a detachable skirt, we can easily see where two piece wedding sets would come into play. Plus—let’s be real—not everyone wants to be stuck in a dress all night long.

From pantsuit-esque styles in bridal white to jackets paired with corsets and wide-leg pants, you can have a sleek, bridal look without the need of a gown. The details of the two-piece sets are what keep your style bridal and not tacky—so don’t skimp on cheap if you go this route.

LAPOINTE has a preview of some of their unconventional, yet jaw droppingly stunning two piece sets here.

 

 

 

9. 3d Flowers and Texture

A unique take into making your wedding dress more like a work of art, 3d florals are a wedding dress trend in 2023 that is not as rooted in past inspiration. Oversizing florals and making them stand out on your dress or in your accessories is a huge way to make a statement, or incorporate a statement piece. Reem Acra again shows us examples of color and bold 3D florals as an accessory, while Monique Lhuillier gives us lace flowers that give a subtle pop. And even more, some are taking the textured 3D florals to a more noticeable standpoint such as Amsale does.

 

 

10. Wedding Jackets

This may be more of a prediction, as it wasn’t necessary observed in fashion week or globally, but I really see with the trends of versatility, transparency, vintage inspired, and lace that wedding jackets are going to make a comeback.

Check out these vintage and retro wedding dresses for inspiration of how people have incorporated jackets in the past. And watch out for a unique take on bridal jackets that will become available specifically at Wed Utah.

The wedding dress trends of 2023 are about Individuality and expression

We’re seeing a throwback to the romantic, unexpected, untraditional and more in the wedding dress trends of 2023. And it makes sense, after a long recovery (and many still recovering) of the wedding industry following the COVID outbreak, brides are ready to stop pleasing others and do what makes them happy. At Wed Utah, we agree. Which is why we are all about these 2023 wedding gown and bridal trends–because we want to help you find the inspiration to bring out YOU and YOUR PERSONALITY at your wedding.