The Best, Most Beautiful Wedding Dresses For Every Type Of Celebration (And Bride)

Embarking on the search for a wedding dress can be a daunting prospect. While it's a huge relief that there's now more choice than ever, the wealth of options on offer can feel somewhat overwhelming. You want something that suits your style but feels more special than your average outfit, something that's show-stopping but within budget and, most importantly, something that's just going to make you feel amazing.

Whether you're gearing up for an enormous celebration with every relative you can think of or want something smaller and more casual, you'll be pleased to know that your ideal bridal look is but a click away. Whether you're after a colourful wedding dress, a short wedding dress or a wedding dress with pockets, we've curated a selection for every bride.

Best wedding dresses at a glance:

Best wedding dress with short sleeves: Whistles Silk Dress, £699

Best short wedding dress: Emilia Wickstead Corrie Dress in Ivory, £2,120

Best lace wedding dress: Self Portrait Tiered Lace Dress, £480

Best off-the-shoulder wedding dress: Danielle Frankel Wool and Silk Gown, £5,000

Best wedding jumpsuit: 16Arlington Strapless Feather-Trimmed Jumpsuit, £995

Best colourful wedding dress: Vivienne Westwood Satin Gown, £4,800

Traditional brides, unconventional brides and even those who absolutely don't want to wear a dress – there are options for everyone. Weddings can be stressful enough at the best of times, so don't let what you wear become a nightmare. Instead, find your perfect outfit below...

The Best Wedding Dresses With Sleeves For Cool Brides

If you want to keep your silhouette fairly simple but still crave a stylish flourish, put the emphasis on your sleeves. Puff sleeves, bell sleeves, Juliet sleeves... there are endless options to suit all personal styles, from designer gowns to high-street wedding dresses.

Photo: @iamgdriver / @rosiemaykelly

You could even add embellishment to short sleeves, appliqué details or mix your fabrics. It's a great way to add a bit of drama without feeling OTT.

The Best Short Wedding Dresses For Modern Brides

Ever since Covid, searches for short wedding dresses have been on the rise. Perhaps it's because we're still embracing the good times whenever we can or possibly brides realised that, after lockdown weddings where anything went, there were no rules anymore. Kourtney Kardashian famously wore one during her Italian wedding to Travis Barker, and there's plenty more celebrity wedding dress inspiration where that came from.

Photo: @lorrainepascale

Either way, there are some fabulous mini options available now, whether you're looking for a short dress for your ceremony or as a day-before party look.

The Best Lace Wedding Dresses For Traditional Brides

If you're searching for something more traditional which still feels contemporary, a lace wedding dress is an ideal way of combining a vintage aesthetic with a modern ceremony. Daisy Hoppen, founder of DH-PR, was married in a bespoke Simone Rocha dress which perfectly fused all the romance of an antique lace gown with a cool, modern feel. This being a Simone Rocha creation, it was, of course, embellished with pearls and crystals, which Hoppen also wore in her hair.

Photo: @daisy_hoppen / @emiliewhitephotography

Designers have been experimenting with lace for a while now, creating truly beautiful dresses that will undoubtedly become the modern heirlooms of their time. From Christopher Kane's feather-trimmed gown to Simone Rocha's slip, it doesn't matter whether you're a minimalist or a more-is-more bride, there's a lace dress for you.

The Best Off-Shoulder Wedding Dresses For Romantic Brides

Off-the-shoulder wedding dresses are a great way to wear sleeves without losing that easy, romantic feel. Annie Vischer, Grazia's beauty director, opted for pretty sheer sleeves that fell off her shoulders and some bridal designers even offer the option of detachable sleeves if you want to shed them for the evening.

Photo: @annievischer / @vickiphoto / @lewisphoto

You don't have to choose long sleeves, however. Vivienne Westwood's Cocotte dress has impeccable structure without feeling fussy or too formal, while Danielle Frankel's fluid gowns offer both off-the-shoulder and cold-shoulder styles. The best thing? These dresses work for any kind of ceremony and setting.

The Best Colourful Wedding Dresses For Unconventional Brides

If big white dresses really aren't your thing, consider instead opting for colourful wedding dresses, a wedding dress with pockets, or dresses with different textures and prints.

Photo: @heartzeena / @theshannons.photography

Influencer Zeena Shah is known for her love of bold, bright shades and so turned to sequin aficionado Ashish when choosing a dress for her London wedding. Just think of it as the most important party dress you've ever bought – and, if you're looking to wear it more than once, choosing sustainable wedding dresses that you can wear again and again will be crucial.

The Best Wedding Jumpsuits For City Brides

If you don't feel entirely comfortable in dresses or are just looking for a more modern take on bridalwear, consider the wedding jumpsuit. Comfy, versatile and slightly unexpected, it's a great way to avoid dresses or as an option for more low-key celebrations.

Don't think you have to sacrifice any of the drama, however. Not only are there jumpsuits available, many brands also offer trousers if you're looking for the option of separates. Kate Halfpenny is the designer who's really been a pioneer in this respect, offering beautiful tops, skirts, trousers and capes that ultimately allow every bride to create their own combination.

Photo: @cazzleallen

Choose a striking jumpsuit or wear some trousers under a sheer skirt, which can then be re-fashioned later in the day or even for another ceremony (the three-day wedding is now officially A Thing, after all). Either way, it's possibly the most sustainable bridal look you'll find given how much wear you'll be able to get out of it post-wedding.

The Best Detailed Wedding Dresses For Fashion-Forward Brides

If you're looking for a wedding dress that's just a bit different from everything you feel you've seen a thousand times, influencer Thandi Maq will be your bridal inspiration. For her wedding day, she gave a traditional Xhosa gown a brilliant twist with a bold striped hem that was balanced out with delicate lace cap sleeves and a beautiful sheer back with embroidered overlay.

Photo: @thandimaq / @lovemadevisible

It's perhaps impossible to start looking for an unexpected dress, for obvious reasons, but worth considering styles like the below if you want to surprise your guests (and your partner). You could, like Thandi, go for a bespoke creation but if you'd rather buy a finished piece, here are some lovely options. From surprise oversized bows to stunning silhouettes, any of these dresses would make for an inspired choice...

The Best Sheer Wedding Dresses For Daring Brides

A somewhat surprising bridal trend that's emerged over the last year or so involves translucent silks, sheer skirts and barely-there beaded gowns. While a sheer wedding dress may not be the most conventional choice, brides like Camille Charriere and Tish Weinstock have made it look effortless.

Photo: @camillecharriere / @morganelay

Charriere, in fact, had two dresses for her wedding. The first, a semi-sheer Celine dress and the second is an exquisite transparent lace creation by Harris Reed, proving that see-through comes in all forms.

If you're drawn to these sorts of fabrics but don't want to show anything off, look for thicker fabrics or try a short slip underneath. You could opt for sheer panels – on sleeves, for example – and even wear something over the top – a cape, for example, or even tuck a mini dress into a sweeping skirt – and then shed layers for the evening.

How much should a dress for a wedding cost?

Short answer - it depends. According to hitched.co.uk's 2023 wedding survey, the average amount spent on a wedding dress in the UK was £1,300. Having said that, your wedding dress could be more or less expensive, depending on what you're looking for.

Brands like ASOS, Reformation and Revolve offer affordable high-street wedding dresses for as little as £300. However, if you're looking for a bespoke dress from a designer, £2,000 may be more realistic.

How many months before the wedding should you buy the dress?

When shopping for a wedding dress, you need to strike a balance between not shopping too far in advance, but also not leaving it too last minute. Shopping too far in advance could mean a change in trends as well as personal preference while leaving it for a few weeks before can lead to unnecessary stress. The sweet spot? Around eight to 12 months before your wedding day. This will give you time for multiple fittings, as well as alterations, which typically take around three months.

Where can I sell my wedding dress?

Selling your wedding dress is a great idea for a few reasons. Firstly, you'll be extending the lifecycle of the garment by passing it on to another bride, and you'll also be making some extra cash for the honeymoon. A few of our favourite second-hand retailers to sell pre-loved clothes are Vestiaire Collective and Vinted.

How much are wedding dress alterations?

Depending on how minor or major the tweaks are, your alterations could cost anywhere from £80 to £400.