The non-traditional bridal dresses for the unconventional bride

Organza gown, $4,990, Christopher Kane

Credit: Christopher Kane

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Since launching its bridal collection in 2020, the British label hasn’t slowed down. Skip the floor-length gowns and opt for this organza mini-dress, with a ruffled skirt that flairs out. Its added mock neck with matching ruffled trims sweeps over the shoulders and ends just below the dress’ hem – an all-in-one modern play on a bridal dress and veil.

Silk and tulle jumpsuit, price upon request, Andrew Kwon

Credit: Andrew Kwon

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Afraid to stray too far from tradition? Andrew Kwon’s 2022 bridal collection, titled Dreamer, combines the softness of traditional wedding gown materials with a 21st Century twist. The jumpsuit bodice is reminiscent of a traditional wedding dress, delicately draped with tulles, adorned with 3D flowers, but its satin bell-bottom pants are simple and sleek.

Collections from the 2022 bridal collection range from US$5,000 to US$10,000 (S$6,953 to S$13,906). While the atelier is located in New York City, it also offers video call consultations for international clients.

Cotton and lace blazer, €1,392 ($2,028), Blaze

Credit: Blaze

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As the brainchild of three former magazine stylists, Blaze focuses on clean, loose-fitting silhouettes in the form of blazers and billowy trousers. This cotton blazer is designed in what it dubs an ‘everyday’ cut (naturally, for everyday wear), with lace detailing subtly added on top for a bit of wedding flair, so that you can go straight from the streets to the ceremony.

Tulle mini dress, USD 9,600 ($13,336), Cucculelli Shaheen

Credit: Cucculelli Shaheen

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Nothing screams “alt-wedding dress” like one that doesn’t follow the traditional all-white rule. New York-based brand, Cucculelli Shaheen experiments with patterning inspired by mythology and art. This tulle and chiffon mini dress is embroidered with opal grey crystals, creating a reflective finish to the look. The matching cape, which retails for US$18,000 (S$25,000) adds a celestial edge to the entire dress.

Satin and lace pantsuit, USD 3,890 ($5,404), Danielle Frankel

Credit: Danielle Frankel

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The New York City label likes to play with contradictions – think traditional bridal elements but with modern cuttings on top of intricate detailing paired with simple silhouettes. Take this pantsuit, which incorporates bridal components for its lace and Chantilly lace bustier. Draped tulle cascades down the hips to mimic a wedding dress, but the straight cut white pants is a much sleeker look. Selected bridal wear by Danielle Frankel are also available on net-a-porter.com.

Lace midi dress, price upon request, Hermione de Paula

Credit: Hermione de Paula

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Designer Hermione de Paula pictures each creation as a memory of a moment. This is perhaps why her bridal designs range from traditional to alternative – every bride is different. Her recent Kado collection, celebrates flowers. On this dress, flower outlines are added onto the slit skirt’s ruching while floral-patterned lace appear on the dress’ drop-shoulder sleeves.

The design is all about wedding motifs, but its mid-length cut is practically fit for any fancy occasion. For international orders, Hermione de Paula offers virtual wedding dress consultations.

Silk gown, price upon request, In-Grid

Credit: In-Grid

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UK-based wedding studio, In-Grid creates wedding dresses that call to mind a different century. Victorian-era nightgown silhouettes are combined with meticulous tailoring to create this off-shoulder floor-length dress with ruched layers that balloon out below the waist.

Dresses are made-to-order, starting from £2,000 (S$3,404), with In-Grid offering consultations both locally in the UK and internationally. If you don’t enjoy the hassle of numerous bridal fittings, look forward to the label’s ready-to-wear collection, which is currently in development.

Silk mini dress, $8,500, Markarian

Credit: Markarian

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With clientele like Kate Hudson, Constance Wu, and Lizzo, Markarian has become a fan favourite for its romantic and elegant designs. Its bridal collection is filled with the usual stunning, sensual white gowns, but for something just as classy and much more practical, this Regina Duchess mini dress checks all the boxes. This strapless dress is adorned with white bows with beaded detailing at the top.

Cotton voile dress, £3,000 ($5,105), Molly Goddard

Credit: Molly Goddard

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This recently launched ready-to-wear bridal line is quintessential Molly Goddard, with puffed sleeves, plenty of layering, and voluminous silhouettes, dressed in white. This hand-smocked dress boasts an open back and frill-detailed top with side panels, inspired by an archive style from Goddard’s Spring/Summer 2018 collection.

Embroidered mesh dress, price unavailable, Naeem Kahn

Credit: Naeem Kahn

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Since launching in 2013, Naeem Khan’s bridal line has been peppered here and there with alternative wedding wear, like jumpsuits and short dresses. His Spring 2022 bridal collection incorporates motifs and designs from culture and architecture around the world (Khan himself is a third-culture kid, raised in Mumbai and spending his teenage years in the United States).

This sequinned white, flapper-style party dress with a beaded fringe at the hem is all the glitz and glamour of a traditional wedding without the stiffness. Celebrate your wedding in this dress a la The Great Gatsby’s Daisy Buchanan. Selected bridal wear from Naeem Khan can also be found at Belle & Tulle Bridal at Paragon.

Crepe mini dress, US$970.41 ($1,345), Roksanda at Net-A-Porter

Credit: Net-A-Porter

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Serbian-born brand Roksanda combines architecture with design, creating a label which prides itself on clean and sharp designs for the modern woman – and that includes bridal. Roksanda’s Dima dress is a pleated crepe mini dress with an elegant A-line silhouette, and is exclusively available on Net-a-Porter.

Mesh mini dress, price upon request, Oscar de la Renta

Credit: Oscar de la Renta

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Oscar de la Renta is a namesake when it comes to bridal wear, but that doesn’t mean the Dominican fashion designer can’t churn out some non-traditional wedding dresses every once in a while. Among the extraordinary tulle ballgowns and mermaid-tail lace dresses in the Fall 2022 bridal collection is this sheer mini dress. White cut-out flowers litter the mesh mini dress, creating the illusion of being dressed in flowers.

The bridal collection is only available at Oscar de la Renta boutiques, which are located in California, New York, London, and Paris. If you ever find yourself abroad, be sure to make an appointment and check out their collection. All dresses are made-to-order, and prices begin at approximately US$8,000  (S$11,120).

Chiffon and lace midi dress, £400 (S$678), Self-Portrait

Credit: Self-Portrait

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Malaysian-born designer Han Chong, founder of Self-Portrait, believes in creating contemporary designs for womenswear, which is also translated into his ready-to-wear wedding edit. This sleeveless midi dress marries functionality with femininity on your special day. The top half of the dress features a sleeveless collared top, belted at the waist, with a pleated and lace skirt.

Crepe cape-effect top and pants, price upon request, Taller Marmo

Credit: Taller Marmo

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Milan-based label Taller Marmo exudes clean luxury with draping silhouettes and kaftan dresses. Its bridal line, Sposa 01, is all about alternative-style wedding wear. This crepe fabric top and pants combination is designed in an off-white hue. The material is manipulated at its cape-cut to cascade down in curls.

Selected pieces, both from the Taller Marmo bridal collection and regular collection, are available on Net-a-Porter and Far Fetch.

Silk babydoll dress, price upon request, Viktok & Rolf

Credit: Viktok & Rolf

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Glamorous and avant-garde, Viktor & Rolf dresses are known for its dramatic Haute Couture collection. The artistic silhouettes are translated into its Fall/Winter 2022 bridal collection, especially in this white off-shoulder babydoll frock rimmed with organza flowers.

Dying for this particular non-traditional bridal dress? Viktor & Rolf ships worldwide. If you’re just curious to see what other bespoke pieces are available, check out their stockist, Belle & Tulle Bridal at Paragon Shopping Centre.

Wool jacket; satin corset with crystal and pearls; and matching pants, price upon request, Vivienne Westwood

Credit: Vivienne Westwood

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In an homage to one of the most iconic unconventional wedding fits of all time, this jacket, top, and pants combo is inspired by Bianca Jagger’s Yves Saint Laurent wedding suit from 1971. The design is elevated with strings of pearls draped across the top and pants, and embellished with the brand’s signature Vivienne Westwood orb made from crystals. Sling on the double-breasted white jacket for a finished look.

You’ll have to travel abroad to view the bridal collection in-person at its boutiques in London, New York and Los Angeles, but the good news is that the brand also offers virtual consultations for its bridal line.





This article was first published on Female.