A designer bridal gown, beautifully made with exquisite detailing is hard to beat. And when you find ‘the one’ (and I’m not talking about the groom here) you will just know. It’s a rite of passage and may feel like a fairytale come to life. So live the dream, in a gorgeous designer wedding dress. Here is my pick of this season’s most beautiful gowns, where to find them at the right price and my top tips on buying new or pre-loved.
Strapless designer wedding dress with bow detail by Sassi Holford
Buying new
We are no longer limited to the choice of gowns in our nearest bridal boutiques, these days there is a wealth of gowns to see and fall in love with on the web. It pays to do your research online at fashion sections of websites like Confetti.co.uk and then visit a stockist from there.
While you could buy your wedding dress online, there is still nothing better than seeing, touching and trying on dresses, making a day of it and perhaps even meeting the designer of your very special bridal gown.
Caroline Castigliano
Buying second hand
There’s a growing market for ‘pre-loved’ wedding dresses and many places to find them. Still White is a website dedicated to selling on second hand gowns and there are many to be found on ebay and PreLoved.com plus our own Confetti Forums.
The main thing to consider when buying second hand is how well the dress has been cleaned and how good a fit it is on you so do try to see it before you part with any cash.
Justin Alexander
UK bridal designers
The UK has a wealth of stunning bridal designers catering for all tastes and budgets. Among my personal favourites are Suzanne Neville, Caroline Castigliano, Sassi Holford and Justin Alexander.
Justin Alexander‘s Signature Spring 2014 collection has reinvented elements from the golden age of Hollywood, modernized for the 21st century bride. Classic ball gown, unusual Peplum, flattering A-line and stunning fishtail silhouettes offer jaw dropping gowns that are created in amazing metallic silk, silk cotton, satin, silk dupion and luxurious laces.
Vintage style bridal gown by Suzanne Neville
Famous global designer
Vera Wang is an American bridal designer based in New York and now one of the most famous wedding dress designers in the world. She is known for her wide range of bridal and bridesmaid gown collections, and also for her celebrity clientele.
Her designs are exquisite and arguably more cutting edge than her contemporaries, her signature style being a curiously relaxed combination of layering and intricate draping of luxury fabrics.
Vera Wang
Where to get designer dresses at lower prices
The best place to look for designer gowns at lower prices is at designer sample sales which feature end of season lines at very affordable prices. Wedding shows and fayres are also good places to see, touch and try on gowns and you can often get an exclusive show price if you buy that day.
So if you have dreamed of wearing a designer bridal gown but thought you could never afford it, smile because you can.
See more beautiful designer wedding dresses in a range of styles by a variety of designers at Dresses and Style.
So, what’s your style: classic princess or BoHo, city bride or vintage, and which is your favourite design of my the dresses featured here and why?
