This year, we see feminine wedding dresses inspired by the classics in the collections of many of the world's leading wedding fashion brands.

Let's look at the wedding dress trends straight from the runway.

A wedding dress inspired by the old times

A wedding dress is a gown that has historically played an essential role in a woman's life. It is not for nothing that a wedding is an event where a woman permits herself to wear a gorgeous and voluminous outfit that she would no longer wear in other events today. Thus, wedding dress designers draw inspiration from different periods of history. From the timeless princess silhouette in various interpretations to Art Deco aesthetics and pearl embellishments, all this can be seen in wedding dress collections.

This year, the romance of bygone times is combined with modern silhouettes. Corsets and dramatic proportions are played out in the wedding dresses, not forgetting the generous embroidery and gorgeous lace.

Kim Kassas is on the verge of decadence in the brand's latest collection. These wedding dresses are distinguished by gorgeous details. You get the impression that the dress itself is like a spectacular and luxurious bridal jewellery piece. Kim Kassas' latest collection features everything - a classic mermaid silhouette that seems to have just emerged from the sea of pearls and no shortage of corsets or lace.

Although the dresses are opulently adorned with embellishments, they do not discourage the bride. For example, mini dresses in the collection are complemented by a long train in one variation and made airier by the edging of ostrich feathers. Other details, such as an airy bolero with lace sleeves or shimmering silver fringe, add lightness to your outfits.

The power of femininity

The trends of wedding dresses in 2024 are inspired by femininity. This year, emphasis is placed not on masculine and minimalist visual images but rather on gentle, sensual, romantic femininity. But that doesn't necessarily mean these ethereal characters are naive. Not at all. This year's wedding dresses reveal the immeasurable power of femininity through romance and sensuality. This theme is played out by many designers.

Galia Lahav's latest collection is inspired by Carmen and her passionate love. The result is an untamed collection that highlights the passionate and loving nature of women and encourages everyone who wears this brand to follow their heart.

Katherine Tash has interpreted the various emotions emanating from the woman in her latest collection, with an emphasis on the positive, the ethereal and the joyful. Thus, the flowy and flattering silk outfits have free-falling silhouettes that come to life in motion and highlight every expression of a woman.

Anne Barge also brings out sensual femininity in her gowns. From mini to voluminous silhouettes, there's no shortage of lightness and softness in any of these outfits. Nadia Manjarrez takes a similar approach. It is through sensuality that she shows a woman's strength – such outfits adapt to and emphasize, and don't limit a woman's movements and even gestures and emotions.

Wedding dress that makes the bride blossom like a flower

Flowers in wedding fashion are a topical theme year after year. From stylized and minimal to realistic and voluminous, they transform every time. This year, the floral motif takes the middle road – they are realistic and noticeable enough but not exaggerated. For example, Madeline Gardner's brides thrive as flowers themselves, adorned with floral skirts. Mira Zwillinger takes a similar approach when covering a wedding dress with floral motifs, but in her interpretation, floral appliqués delicately infuse into lace patterns.

Nardos uses floral motifs not only in applications and decorations but also plays with them in the silhouettes of the outfits. The skirt part or sleeves of the wedding dress are like beautiful florals. Victor & Rolf does the same. Their wedding dress silhouettes take on stylized forms of peculiar and unusual flowers.

For those who wish to add colour accents to their wedding dress, more and more often tonal floral embroidery is found in wedding fashion. For example, Savin London has added realistic and colourful floral embroidery to its latest collection, which makes a gorgeous meadow bloom on the wedding dress.

Modern interpretations of the classic bridal image

This 2024 wedding dress trend peculiarly takes further the aforementioned inspiration from historical costumes and silhouettes. However, the emphasis here is on the deconstruction of this image. This year's collections of wedding fashion brands feature many seemingly classic outfits at first glance, but, by taking a closer look, we see that unexpected twists and unusual details have been implemented.

It can be a distinctively modern silhouette combined with classic adornments or, on the contrary, a spectacular silhouette without decor that speaks for itself. This actuality of wedding dresses can play out in a wide variety of ways and will be especially suitable for brides who love classic values.

Designer Rami Al Ali creates wedding dresses that play with classic silhouettes but somewhat radiates a modern romantic vibe. These outfits are impressive but not too heavy because the volume is created by flowing lines. This designer vividly reflects on the overall theme of this year's bridal fashion – wedding dresses are romantic, sophisticated and impressionable, but in no case heavy and suppressive of the bride's personality.

No matter how chic or voluminous the wedding dress is, it should not be stiff, and it should adapt to the movements of the bride, and not vice versa. Such a skilfully sewn wedding dress will convey every gesture of the bride for something noble and graceful.

Ines Di Santo plays with a variety of airy layers that create volume. The wedding dresses are complemented by embroidery, adding another dimension to it. Halfpenny London takes a similar approach in a slightly dramatic way. Their gowns combine seemingly opposites – airiness and structure. The silhouettes feature graphic lines complemented by proportionally exaggerated but airy volumes that draw attention.

Naeem Khan, on the other hand, offers innovation for the classic bridal image through a creative and contemporary approach to the costume décor. They skilfully improvise with a wide range of ornamentation and embroidery techniques. Naeem Khan gowns come in a variety of textures, from romantic lace to airy feathers and the country-style fringe that shapes these diverse outfits. The brand also uses silhouettes, which may not initially be associated with the wedding outfit, but they get this festive and unique feel in their hands.

Wedding dress from the future

It's not about bringing futurism into wedding fashion. Rather, the concept of a wedding dress continues to transform, change and expand its boundaries. For example, the well-known wedding fashion brand ELIE SAAB strikes once again with a fresh perspective on the wedding dress. This year, wedding dresses are just as noble, complemented by filigree embroidery, flowers, lace and beads. The gowns are undeniably opulent but not heavy. Describing ELIE SAAB wedding dresses in one phrase – there are like spring-blooming flowers.

CINQ, on the other hand, returns to its roots in a very peculiar way. In these wedding dresses, you can feel almost something spiritual. At first glance, these are modern designs, but when you look closer, you can see that they carry a legacy and, consequently, a message of ancient times.

This is also how the wedding dress becomes a symbol. On the wedding day, there is a family union, which can also be reflected in the gown and give it an extra dimension of meaning. CINQ wedding dresses consist of a structure surrounded by airy layers, which, in turn, create an atmospheric effect.

Dana Harel also plays with the traditional wedding dress in its various variations. This brand addresses the hot topic of wedding fashion – the bride's wardrobe. More and more brides choose not to limit themselves to just one outfit but to choose different outfits for the ceremony and the reception. If any pre-wedding or post-wedding events are planned, then various outfits are selected accordingly. As a result, the bridal gown has become more diverse and often transformable.

A bride from the future is a bride who dares. And daring in wedding fashion has always been associated with black. This year too, designers have played down the color. For example, the Chosen by KYHA presents glittering silver and sophisticated black wedding dresses. In turn, Monique Lhuillier plays with contrasts, connecting the black and white blocks in the wedding gowns.

Micro-trends – bows and colours

Whether bows are still in trend could be debated. Already in 2023, we saw bows everywhere – both in wedding fashion and decorations. Some believe that, in 2024, bows will continue to be in their zenith of fame, but some – that they are destined to decline.

Anyway, bows are an element that, like flowers, have always been in wedding fashion. Whether to put an accent on them this year is up to each bride. Bows are still a topical choice, but since they are nothing new and unexpected, it is desirable to choose special and unusual bows to surprise. The biggest impression will be made by oversized or exaggerated proportions of bows.

Every year, a shade of colour also comes into bridal fashion. If last year it was a baby blue shade, then this year it is all kinds of pink and purple shades – from completely light pastels to more saturated and brighter shades.

Wedding dress – from history-inspired silhouettes to emotional nuances

This year's collections of wedding fashion brands confirm that a wedding dress is more than just an outfit. It is an emotionally saturated symbol capable of expressing femininity in all its facets and nuances. That's why this year's wedding dress celebrates not only love but also femininity, and wedding fashion designers have made sure that every bride's wedding dress expresses her personality.

From noble old-time-inspired grace to the sensuality of flowy silhouettes and soft pink romance - this year's trends confirm that wedding dresses can be varied, just like femininity.

Author: Renāte Berga

Designers: Madeline Gardner, Kim Kassas, Galia Lahav, Halfpenny London, Ines di Santo, Katherine Tash, Mira Zwillinger, Monique Lhuillier, Naeem Khan, Nardos, Rami Al Ali, Savin London