Looking for a wedding dress and don’t know where to start? It’s all about finding the best wedding dress style for your body shape. We looked at the trends from the 2022 Bridal Week catwalks for inspiration – discover the top wedding dress styles and trends for next year below.
Top Wedding Dress Trends for 2022
Next year’s bridal fashion verdicts are officially in: prepare to be dazzled by the new line-up of shapes, hemlines, embellishments, layers, colours and accessories. Wedding Ideas has brought together a hotlist of the key wedding dress trends, with inspiration straight from the catwalk from the Spring and Fall 2022 Bridal Weeks in one handy round-up to help style-conscious brides-to-be in your quest for The One. From boho brides and old school glamour to tailored suits, read on for 2022’s most covetable big-day looks.
Old-School Glamour
Glamorous, old school-style vintage dresses are going nowhere – think lace, beading and elegant silhouettes for a timeless look. Madeline Gardner showed us how it’s done in the New York Fall 2022 Fashion Week.
Get the Look:
This Jenny Yoo Valentina long sleeve bridal gown is the epitome of modern romance, with sheer sleeves and an organza ball skirt for a truly timeless, elegant and stand-out gown on your big day.
Corset Wedding Dress
The corset, an outerwear trend which first propelled into the fashion pages at the start of the 2010s, is here to stay – expect to see it everywhere going into 2022. It commanded the stage at the bridal shows and we’re simply loving the trend, like this gorgeous Morilee Collection gown.
Get the Look:
Coveted bridalwear designer Kate Halfpenny has a whole range of beautiful corset gowns – and one of our faves has got to be the Willoughby corset. Originally designed as a bespoke outfit for – you guessed it – Holly Willoughby, the cupped corset is made from soft tulle, with structure and silk organza flowers (shown here with the Ellie skirt).
Bridgerton Bride
Ever since the release of Bridgeton, the Netflix Regency-era drama with a dose of Ariana Grande thrown in, designers everywhere in the 2022 fashion weeks emanated the beautiful dresses in the show with the likes of bell and ballon puff sleeves for a dose of romance and drama, like this beautiful pastel-hued Mimosa number.
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This Savannah Miller Gayle dress pairs a crepe fabric and on-trend corset bodice with a draped tulle off-the-shoulder sleeve – on trend and understated with a touch of that 1800s Bridgeton glamour.
Two Piece Bridal Suits
Co-ords or clash? You decide. We love this subversively chic look – and if there’s one trend that has seen a stratospheric rise in popularity in 2020, 2021 and going into 2022, it’s the bridal suit. Following on from the rise of micro weddings thanks to Covid, tailored troos will take you from wedding day to dancing the night away in the most elegant and modern way possible, like this ultra-stylish Bijoux number seen at New York Fall 2022 Bridal Week.
Get the Look:
Be the chicest bride around in this Kinsale Set from Reformation, the cool-girl bridal shop. This two-piece pant suit is comprised of an on-trend oversized, drapey blazer and a wide leg pant, with front buttons and pockets to add to the laid-back look.
Love the two-piece trend? Here are some more options for super stylish bridal separates.
Ballet Bridal
One of the most popular looks on all the 2022 bridal catwalks was the ballet-esque gown. For ultimate romance and impact, infinite layers of tulle is still the way to go and for serious princess feels, next year’s brides really need to pump up the volume. It’s all in the texture: tulle is the essential ingredient for the maximalist bride. Think romantic ruffles, puff sleeves and glamorous fabrics and textures for a fairytale feel, like this gorgeous Elie Saab number.
Get the Look:
Make a statement with this tiered Coast number, perfect for brides who want the romantic ruffled look, while the black belt adds interest and a modern edge.
Colourful Hues
With the past (almost) two years seeing many weddings being turned on their heads, brides are more and more likely to move away from the norm and go for more unusual wedding trends. This translates into the all-important dress, too, with the upcoming season seeing an influx of pastel tones from designers like Allison Webb and Lazaro. The ever-popular white was swapped for blush and peach on many of the 2022 bridal catwalks, like this enchanting blush Charlotte gown from Lazaro.
Get the Look:
If the thought of going for a full-on colour other than white scares you, this Grace Loves Lace number is the perfect compromise. This beautiful subtle blush colour with its breathtaking beaded skirt ensures a dress your husband-to-be – and guests – will be wowed by.
Simple Silhouettes
As micro-weddings are predicted to continue to be popular into 2022, the clean, elegant silhouette is here to stay next season and is perfectly suited to a smaller, laid-back wedding. Think clean-cut, figure-hugging lines, like the gorgeous heavyweight fabric of this Romona Keveza number seen at New York Bridal Week Fall 2022.
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Perfect for the relaxed bride, this vintage-like Ghost ivory dress offers a button-through front and split leg, with its heavy satin fabric ensuring a flattering silhouette for your laid-back ceremony.
Short Wedding Dresses
Not every bride wants a ballgown, and shorter wedding dresses are growing in popularity as more and more brides-to-be choose to step away from tradition, from tea dresses and ballerina styles to 50s throwbacks and daring mini-dresses, like this pearl and sequin Allison Webb swing dress, seen at Spring 2022 Bridal Week.
Get the Look:
This beautiful textured, strapless dress from Lula Blanc features hand-embellished flowers and is perfect for taking you from cocktails at your wedding reception to dancing the night away.
Floral Gowns
Floaty, feminine florals are not just for spring – we saw them throughout the 2022 fashion week shows. Even a simple flourish of this touchy-feely texture adds opulence to classic bridal styles. As floral lace and embellishments reinforce their place in high-end bridal fashion for next season, they’re becoming more versatile, whether you want a full-on floral extravaganza like this Marchesa Notte gown or a more pared-back version.
Get the Look:
We’re obsessed with the all-over floral embroidery of this ASOS wedding dress, with its beautiful diamante and bead embellished skirt. The plunge neck and long sleeves make it the perfect combo of demure yet dramatic.
Boho Bride
Romantic, whimsical and effortlessly elegant, the boho vibe is here to stay. From gorgeous lace fabrics to tulle textures, a boho dress is a dreamy choice for a relaxed beach or barn wedding. Think carefree, effortless and unfussy. We heart this ultra-modern Nadia Manjarrez number, seen at the New York Fall Bridal 2022 show.
Get the Look:
Simple with a touch of drama with the tulle skirt and delicate embellishment, this Monsoon gown is a wonderful loose, flowy number for bohemian-style brides.
Micro-trend: Square Necklines
While scalloped and sweetheart necklines still remain popular, 2022 saw square necks have their moment in the spotlight, providing the ultimate elegant silhouette for stylish, modern brides, like this beautifully simple Allison Webb number.
Get the Look:
Hop on the square-neck trend with this beautifully embellished Monsoon gown, featuring a slim waist and maxi skirt with a softly flared finish. The sparkly sequin adornments make it a wonderful choice for an outdoor wedding.
Wedding Dress Styles: Your Ultimate Guide
From ball gown and boho wedding dresses to fishtail wedding dresses, here’s your ultimate guide to choosing your wedding dress style.
Ball Gown Wedding Dresses
Perhaps the most traditional of all wedding dresses, the ball gown provides the ultimate classic bridal look and a choice shape for brides with a straight body shape – a fuller skirt will give the illusion of wider hips if you have an athletic frame. With layers of fabric descending in a beautiful bell shape and brought together with a tight bodice, this is ‘the’ style for brides picturing the traditional fairytale wedding!
You are guaranteed to make an unforgettable entrance in this timelessly classic haute couture-inspired Demetrios Maylea gown from their 2022 collection. Luxurious, opulent and dazzling, this glamorous dress is everything a bridal gown should be.
Boho Wedding Dresses
Loose, relaxed and covered in lace, bohemian style dresses are the new go to style for a lot of summer weddings or weddings overseas. Perfect for creating an effortless, laid back, and free spirited look, bridal names are adapting a new found approach to designing – think white dresses with a touch of bridal!
Totally flattering and easy to wear, all of Grace Loves Lace‘s dresses are the ultimate in boho chic. Elegant and yet still free and easy, and with a hint of high fashion, they are the perfect blend for a laid-back, ultra-stylish bridal look, like their iconic lace Clo Dress.
RELATED: Want more Boho? The Grace Loves Lace Capsule collection will definitely satisfy your relaxed bridal style!
Colourful Dresses
A new trend on the block, coloured dresses have risen in popularity in recent years, offering modern brides the chance to express their individuality for an ultra-special occasion without taking away from the most flattering styles. Colour tints in champagne, dusky blue, blush, and even red have graced catwalks of some of the most prestigious bridal designers. You might find this selection a refreshing change from the impracticality of white!
This beautiful pink blush number from Lazaro offers refreshing take on a classic ballgown bridal dress. The traditional shape and delicate colour are elegant with just a little bit of extra sass – perfect for a bride looking for something a little out of the ordinary.
Column Wedding Dresses
The column fit dress follows your body’s natural shape, and is soft fitting and minimalistic for a more casual approach to the bridal look. This type of dress is perfect for petite brides who don’t want to drown in too many bulky layers if you still want your figure to look defined. These styles are often a little more understated but still bang on trend in line with more relaxed boho styles.
This Theia Cerulean column gown from their 2021 collection has Greek goddess vibes, proving that simplicity can often have the most impact. Flattering and flowing, this dress lets you wear it – and not the other way around!
Related: Can’t decide what style to go for? Take a look at our handy guide to choosing the right dress for your shape…
Fishtail Wedding Dresses
Fit and flare dresses are always a winner for pear shape silhouettes or hour glass figures. Something fitted all the way down to just above your knees will hug your curves and highlight the smallest part of your body – your waist. Otherwise known as the mermaid or fishtail dress because of the dramatic whimsical fanned skirt, choose from a wealth of necklines to complement your bust and frame.
This gorgeous Provonias Lansbury gown from their Hollywood Glamour collection fits beautifully in all the right places and makes your legs look as though they go on for days. The sweetheart, strapless neckline with the chiffon overlay is fabulously flattering and sexy.
Embroidered Wedding Dresses
If you find yourself longing for something little more daring, embroidered dresses come in a wealth of styles and sophisticated fabrics, layers and overlays. This is where embellishments really come into their own!
This heavenly Berta embroidered gown from their Como collection is full of sparkle and pizzaz. Sultry, sexy and uber-glam, the daring neckline is full of drama and the long sleeves add to the alluring quality of this shimmering fairy-like gown.
Related: Now you know what you’re looking, for it’s time to hit the shops. Here is your step-by-step guide to wedding dress shopping to get you started.
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