A wedding dress is the most expensive garment many women will ever own, and can be an extremely emotional purchase, creating a life-long memory. So the pressure to look gorgeous is definitely on. With all eyes on you as you make your big entrance, not to mention the photos that will be gracing your albums for the rest of your life, of course its imperative to look perfect on the big day.

So, whether you’ve been fantasising about your wedding since you were a child and know the exact specifications for your dream dress or you hadn’t given it a single thought, these top 10 trends for 2021 will give you something to think about.

Puffy sleeves

Having staged a comeback in a big way over the last few years, this trend seems set to stay with its transition to bridalwear. Though a wedding dress with large, puffy sleeves can sometimes leave you with visions of princesses in oversized ballgowns, designers for 2021 are positioning these statement features below the shoulder for a more laid-back look.


Feathers

One of the bolder looks for 2021, feathers can be incorporated as delicate touches on the shoulder or hem, or appear all over the dress in head-to-toe feathers for a true statement. No matter which way you choose to go, indulging in this trend will see you standing out from the crowd and makes for a memorable look you’ll cherish forever. 

Floral prints

With daring floral prints making an appearance in more than one 2021 collection, this trend can be interpreted in a multitude of ways; from subtle, pastel designs, edgy and oversized prints, textural details or 3D embroideries that immediately draw the eye, this trend is an easy way to add something new to a traditional dress.

Suits

Well-cut, tailored ensembles in a fresh white offer a flattering alternative to the traditional dress, and are extremely well-received this season. Dial up the femininity with lace details, metallic beading or floral embellishments to give the classic white suite an injection of contemporary style.

Short dresses

Whether you’re looking to show off your dazzling new shoes, going for a more casual wedding style or consider your legs to be your best feature, a short dress could be the answer you’ve been looking for. This trend is perfect if you’re looking to mix and match styles, with a short dress able to host a whole variety of shapes and designs.

One shoulder neckline

Giving off Grecian goddess vibes, this silhouette flatters the upper body and is perfect when you consider that the upper body is the main focus of the wedding photos whether you’re sat for the wedding meal, dancing with your new spouse or huddled together with your loved ones. This trend also works for almost every style, from heavy satin to glitzy tulle or a glamorous single long sleeve.

Ruffles

A staple in the wedding dress identity, ruffles are a softer, romantic approach in the face of the more daring designs. Whether you choose a full ruffle skirt for a dress in which you can dance the night away with your very own prince charming, or decide on it as an embellishment at the bottom of the more figure-hugging mermaid look, ruffles will add a dreamy quality to any dress.

Side splits

If you’re looking to show off a bit of skin but feel uncomfortable with the naked-illusion design that took over the runways of the last few years, then the side split is the way to go. Perfect for highlighting the shoes that may otherwise have remained hidden, this approach will have you feeling glamorous and looking divine, particularly when paired with a subtle material so that all of the focus will be on that split.

Airy dresses

With weightless fabrics like tulle and organza, light-as-air gowns took over the runways for 2021 wedding dresses, letting you feel like a princess in these puffy dresses without the additional bulk and weight that will have you dying to get out of the dress by the end of the day. No tripping on tiers or feeling weighed down by layers of satin makes this an easy trend to love.

Gloves

Once an absolute necessity, gloves are making a comeback in a big way for 2021; though this trend won’t work for every person or every style. A matter of personal choice and the overall theme of the wedding itself, gloves can add an air of elegance and sophistication to your big day or could show off a bit more of your personality than the traditional white dress allows.