Wedding Dress Trends from Spring 2020 Bridal Fashion Week

spring 2020 bridal fashion week trends

There's more to Bridal Fashion Week than meets the eye: Season after season, designers debut new wedding dresses that not only delight the modern-day bride-to-be, but also indicate how bridal fashion is changing. Our best marker of this shift? Bridal trends, which showcase the styles that every bride should bookmark as she shops for her future big day. We have some good news for women just starting their search. If the following common threads are any indication, brides getting hitched in 2020 and beyond have so many unique, romantic options to choose from.

Ahead, you'll find the five most noteworthy trends to take away from Spring 2020 Bridal Fashion Week. It's impossible for us to choose a favorite (we'll leave that to you!), but it's safe to say that the following styles speak to the many facets of the contemporary woman—someone who is bold, but romantic, refined, but natural. From half-skirt overlays (these bring dramatic ball gown vibes to slinky sheaths) and gowns with green motifs (perfect for garden weddings!) to ballet-inspired silhouettes and t-shirt shirt bodices (we're loving the idea of casual elegance), these trends are definitely new to the wedding scene; we haven't seen dresses quite like this before. There is, however, one notable style that's better defined as a comeback: the drop waist. We saw this unique cut in nearly every new collection, indicating that this tried-and-true silhouette is back at the forefront of couture—and here to stay.

Though they're all vastly different, the following trends share this key attribute: They don't feel trendy or fleeting at all. In fact, they feel so distinctly bridal that we expect to see them reimagined season after season, ingrained in the new age bridal oeuvre.

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Half-Skirts

spring 2020 bridal fashion week half skirt wedding dress trend

Good news for brides searching for subtle drama: The half-skirt, which dominated runways this season, offers both the volume of a ball gown and the slinkiness of a sheath. Most commonly seen as a sheer overlay, the half-skirt encircles the back half of a shift, simultaneously defining the waist and adding another layer of visual intrigue to the gown. The best part about these accents? They're often removable—which makes transitioning your wedding dress from ceremony to reception a breeze (no second garment needed).

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Half-Skirts

sheer lace scalloped edging off-the-shoulder long sleeve a-line wedding dress Oscar de la Renta Spring 2020
Courtesy of Oscar de la Renta

Wedding dress by Oscar de la Renta

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Half-Skirts

mira zwillinger plunging neck skirt overlay wedding dress spring 2020
Courtesy of Mira Zwillinger

Wedding dress by Mira Zwillinger

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Half-Skirts

strapless sweetheart lace scalloped edge tulle skirt a-line wedding dress Gala by Galia Lahav Spring 2020
Greg Swales

Wedding dress by Gala by Galia Lahav

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Half-Skirts

thick spaghetti strap v-neck lace overskirt a-line wedding dress Lazaro Spring 2020
Courtesy of Lazaro

Wedding dress by Lazaro

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Half-Skirts

semi sweetheart beaded mermaid wedding dress Amsale Spring 2020
Courtesy of Amsale

Wedding dress by Amsale

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Half-Skirts

strapless sweetheart lace overskirt a-line wedding dress Isabelle Armstrong Spring 2020
Randy Brooke

Wedding dress by Isabelle Armstrong

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Half-Skirts

halter strap tulle ball gown Morilee by Madeline Gardner Spring 2020
Dan Lecca

Wedding dress by Morilee by Madeline Gardner

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Half-Skirts

lee petra grebenau belted strapless wedding dress with overskirt spring 2020
Courtesy of Lee Petra Grebenau

Wedding dress by Lee Petra Grebenau

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Half-Skirts

off-the-shoulder sweetheart neck a-line romona keveza collection spring 2020
Courtesy of Romona Keveza Collection

Wedding dress by Romona Keveza Collection

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Ballet-Inspired

spring 2020 bridal fashion week ballet inspired wedding dress trend

When you think about, weddings have plenty in common with the ballet—they're beautiful, carefully orchestrated productions that require lots of planning and skill. It makes sense, then, that your big-day attire could model a ballerina's. More and more designers integrated this connection into their Spring 2020 bridal collections—and we're loving their translations: Gowns with leotard underlays and full, tutu-inspired tulle skirts were definite focal points this season. Slip into one of the ahead numbers and you'll be ready for your pas de deux in no time.

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Ballet-Inspired

high neck sheer short sleeves fringe crimped ball gown Wedding Dress Naeem Khan Spring 2020
Courtesy of Naeem Khan

Wedding dress by Naeem Khan

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Ballet-Inspired

vera wang plunging neck ball gown wedding dress spring 2020
John Guerrero

Wedding dress by Vera Wang

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Ballet-Inspired

leanna marshall long sleeve deep slit bodice ball gown wedding dress spring 2020
Courtesy of Leanne Marshall

Wedding dress by Leanne Marshall

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Ballet-Inspired

mira zwillinger sheer embellished wedding dress spring 2020
Courtesy of Mira Zwillinger

Wedding dress by Mira Zwillinger

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Ballet-Inspired

glitter beaded spaghetti strap and bodice sweetheart a-line wedding dress Lazaro Spring 2020
Courtesy of Lazaro

Wedding dress by Lazaro

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Ballet-Inspired

beaded sheer cape and sheath wedding dress Reem Acra Spring 2020
Courtesy of Reem Acra

Wedding dress by Reem Acra

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T-Shirts

spring 2020 bridal fashion week t-shirt wedding dress trend

If your favorite white t-shirt is part of your daily uniform, you're in luck—t-shirt-inspired bodices defined many a silhouette this season, which means you can now integrate the very best parts of this beloved staple into your bridal look. We noticed both short- and long-sleeved options across multiple designers' new series—but were more intrigued by the way each creative rendered the trend. While some, including Amsale, offered actual t-shirt-like garments (re: separate lace pieces that go underneath a gown), others, like Jenny Packham and Naeem Khan, kept the piece's structure in mind when reimaging traditional bodices. We're loving the results of both approaches: Casual, comfortable elegance.

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T-Shirts

jenny packham shimmery floral applique illusion high neckline sheath wedding dress spring 2020
Courtesy of Jenny Packham

Wedding dress by Jenny Packham

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T-Shirts

carolina herrera long sleeves a line wedding dress spring 2020
Courtesy of Carolina Herrera

Wedding dress by Carolina Herrera

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T-Shirts

nouvelle amsale lace long sleeve sheath wedding dress spring 2020
Courtesy of Nouvelle Amsale

Wedding dress by Nouvelle Amsale

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T-Shirts

plunging v-neck puffed short sleeve lace semi mermaid wedding dress Lihi Hod Spring 2020
Courtesy of Lihi Hod

Wedding dress by Lihi Hod

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T-Shirts

dust rose illusion neck glitter beading short sleeve a-line wedding dress Reem Acra Spring 2020
Courtesy of Reem Acra

Wedding dress by Reem Acra

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T-Shirts

short sleeve jewel neckline Wedding Dress Naeem Khan Spring 2020
Courtesy of Naeem Khan

Wedding dress by Naeem Khan

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T-Shirts

illusion jewel neck cap sleeve lace Amsale Spring 2020
Courtesy of Amsale

Wedding dress by Amsale

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T-Shirts

gracy accad short sleeve tea length wedding dress spring 2020
Dan Lecca

Wedding dress by Gracy Accad

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Drop Waist

spring 2020 bridal fashion week drop waist wedding dress trend

If we had to choose the most popular silhouette from Spring 2020 Bridal Fashion Week, we'd stand by drop waist. The unexpected cut is back in a big way—with a contemporary twist, of course. Designers didn't just lower waistlines—they wrapped them with gauzy tulle, added flattering curves, and even made them sexy (Jenny Packham and Galia Lahav's numbers are proof that the often-demure cut looks incredible when paired with a sheer skirt). Versatility is arguably the best part of this trend—a drop waist number can feel either shockingly bold or impossibly classic, depending on the rest of the ensemble.

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Drop Waist

lela rose wedding dress bridal market spring 2020 high neck long sleeve lace exposed boning
Taylor Jewell

Wedding dress by Lela Rose

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Drop Waist

off-the-shoulder tulle exposed boning trumpet wedding dress Ines Di Santo Spring 2020
Courtesy of Ines Di Santo

Wedding dress by Ines di Santo

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Drop Waist

drop waist deep v-neck lace tulle skirt wedding dress Danielle Frankel Spring 2020
Lara Jade for Danielle Frankel

Wedding dress by Danielle Frankel

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Drop Waist

steven birnbaum spring 2020 wedding dress a-line square neck
Courtesy of Steven Birnbaum

Wedding dress by Steven Birnbaum

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Drop Waist

off-the-shoulder straight across tulle ruching trumpet wedding dress Oscar de la Renta Spring 2020
Courtesy of Oscar de la Renta

Wedding dress by Oscar de la Renta

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Drop Waist

gracy accad a-line floral applique wedding dress spring 2020
Dan Lecca

Wedding dress by Gracy Accad

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Drop Waist

jenny packham beaded spaghetti strap sheath wedding dress with slit spring 2020
Courtesy of Jenny Packham

Wedding dress by Jenny Packham

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Drop Waist

illusion neckline lace exposed boning ball gown wedding dress Amsale Spring 2020
Courtesy of Amsale

Wedding dress by Amsale

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Drop Waist

galia lahav illusion trumpet jeweled wedding dress spring 2020
Greg Swales

Wedding dress by Galia Lahav

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Drop Waist

carolina herrera strapless tulle ballgown wedding dress spring 2020
Courtesy of Carolina Herrera

Wedding dress by Carolina Herrera

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Green Motifs

spring 2020 bridal fashion week green wedding dress trend

We saw green this Bridal Fashion Week, but in the best way possible. The signature color of the season, green is undoubtedly here to stay. And for good reason: Green-and-white color palettes have dominated the modern-day wedding sphere—bridal gowns are now following suit. Intrigued? Consider one of the following ensembles, which featured lush verdant motifs. Both printed and embellished vine details (we're looking at you, Monique Lhuillier!), hand-painted jade florals, and green 3D rose accents added bold statements to these numbers.

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Green Motifs

puffed long sleeve off-the-shoulder ball gown Monique Lhuillier Spring 2020
Jennifer Massaux

Wedding dress by Monique Lhuillier

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Green Motifs

vera wang green sheer overlay wedding dress spring 2020
John Guerrero

Wedding dress by Vera Wang

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Green Motifs

pink and green floral print spaghetti strap large back bow trumpet wedding dress Isabelle Armstrong Spring 2020
Randy Brooke

Wedding dress by Isabelle Armstrong

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Green Motifs

high-low floral applique semi-sweetheart Monique Lhuillier Spring 2020
Jennifer Massaux

Wedding dress by Monique Lhuillier

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Green Motifs

vera wang chocolate champagne wedding dress spring 2020
John Guerrero

Wedding dress by Vera Wang

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