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Best Wedding Dress Trends in 2018

Wedding gown shopping is stressful, but any of these 2018 wedding dress trends ensure you'll look your best on your big day!

By April DemarcoPublished 6 years ago 5 min read
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Photo by Charisse Kenion on Unsplash

One of the most exciting parts of the wedding planning process is choosing the perfect wedding dress. Of course, with literally thousands of options, the fun can become overwhelming quickly.

Like the other wedding trends of 2018, some wedding dress trends come and go, but several new looks for the 2018 season seem to be here for the long haul. In order to make your wedding dress search more productive, take a look at some of the hottest trends in wedding fashion this year.

Tiers on Tiers

When it comes to weddings, tiers are typically associated with the cake. However, this season, the tiered wedding dress is back on the radar.

Taking inspiration from flapper-era dresses, these tiered gowns add volume and flair for a night of dancing. Typically cinched at the waist, these dresses flounce out in layers of three or four for an unforgettable look.

These multi-layered wedding dresses are especially flattering for brides with narrow silhouettes, as they add shape without relying on too much volume.

The Royal Treatment

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Following Meghan Markle's high-profile marriage to charming Prince Harry, more and more brides are asking for the "Meghan treatment." Although Kate Middleton went for a classic lace getup, Meghan surprised fans with a classic, yet undeniably modern sheath gown from designer Clare Waight Keller.

Markle opted for a contemporary look with a sleek silhouette and a wide cowl neckline. Although the new duchess avoided any glitz or sparkle on her wedding dress, many designers are bringing out the embellishment for 2018 brides hoping to have their own princess moment.

Brides looking for the royal treatment will find gowns with a mixture of classic elements and glitzy accenting. Tiaras and long trains are also in abundance!

Suit Up

Brides have the freedom to break from tradition now more than ever before, and as a result, designers like Naeem Khan, Mira Zwillinger, and Wtoo by Watters are introducing more and more bridal suits and jumpsuits.

Crafted from silk or done up in lace, the bridal suit is a bold way to stand out and express your contemporary style.

For brides who love experimenting with style but can't imagine forgoing the traditional gown, a daring jumpsuit is a great choice for the reception or after party.

Minimalist Chic

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Although it's easy to get caught in all the details required of planning a wedding, especially if you're planning a wedding on a budget, the wedding dress doesn't have to be one of them. In fact, clean and simple styles are more popular than ever.

Taking inspiration from '90s-era styling, several designers put out stunningly chic, yet simple gowns. These paired-back dresses emphasize the construction of the dress itself, and even better, they guarantee the bride won't be outshined by an ostentatious dress.

A simple gown also means brides can personalize their looks with bigger, more bold accessories.

Something Blush, Something Blue

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No longer are brides confined only to white gowns. The blush wedding dress trend has swept both runways and bridal salons in recent years, and it looks like the colorful trend is here to stay.

Even though blush wedding dresses are still all the rage, designers like Haley Paige and Vera Wang are introducing gowns in other shades of pastel, particularly pale purples and blues.

Regardless of if you're looking for a fairytale dress or an Avante Garde shocker, colorful gowns are here to stay.

Textural Textiles

Brides looking for a unique wedding dress who aren't into traditional bling have more options than ever. Although silk and satins will always be classic and timeless, designers are turning to a number of unique materials to create textural gowns.

On this year's runway, designers like Reem Acra debuted wedding dresses with plenty of layers of textured materials. From floral appliques to fringe and feathers, the options for a unique gown are truly limitless.

Totally Metallic

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One of the most surprising trends from this year's bridal runway was the introduction of metallic wedding gowns. Presented as the perfect combination of a colored and a textured dress, the metallic wedding dress is a guaranteed showstopper.

We see this trend working especially well for minimalist or industrial-chic style weddings where the bride's gown will always be the center of attention. As with bridal jumpsuits, a glimmering silver or gold gown would also make for stunning exit pictures en route to the after party.

If a fully metallic gown is out of your comfort zone, consider selecting a dress with metallic accents in the beading or a metallic hair clip to secure your veil.

Trains for Days

One of the other styles enjoying a resurgence after Meghan Markle's wedding is the long wedding train. Even though many traditional gowns have continued this trend, it wasn't until recently that the sprawling train made its way to the runway.

Once again, brides should take inspiration from Markle, who accented her more simple, refined gown with a grand flowing train.

Floral Frenzy

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If you love floral but the flower crown isn't quite your style, glam up the popular trend by searching for a floral printed gown. Statement ball gowns covered in blooms continue to appear on the runways, in addition to flowy, more bohemian looks.

From a massive floral statement accent to beaded floral bodices, floral-inspired styles are a chic way to celebrate your inner flower child on your big day. Brides will find a variety of flower styles from micro-prints to full floral embroidered overlays.

The Deep V

Whether you go for a baring deep V or an illusion plunge, bold, cleavage-baring gowns are still as popular as ever. A daring V-neck gown is one of the best ways to achieve a sexy, yet refined bridal look.

For brides who love the style of the deep V but aren't ready to take the full plunge, look for a gown will illusion netting. These dresses give the appearance of a bearing decolletage without actually showing skin.

Deep V gowns can also often be modified for a more modest plunge, or brides can add appliques from elsewhere on the gown for some added bling.

Ball Gown Beauty

Photo by Suhyeon Choi on Unsplash

Even though royals like Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton didn't go for ball gown dresses, they are still the quintessential princess dresses.

Brides looking for fairytale experience should be relieved to know the classic ball gown is almost always in style. This year's runway wedding dress trends featured several voluminous dresses in bright white.

From ruffles to pockets to lace appliques, nearly every designer is offering their own take on the timeless wedding dress.

fashion and beauty
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About the Creator

April Demarco

Proud mom of three chinchillas, hard core Justin Bieber fan, watches Unsolved Murders religiously

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