From neck scarves to OTT veils, how to style 2025’s wedding dress trends
From one 2026 bride to another, you’re going to want to start wedding dress shopping right about now. And with London, Barcelona, and New York Bridal Fashion Week firmly behind us, we have a clear idea of the wedding dress trends that are defining the 2025/2026 bridal season.
The past five years have been transformational for bridal fashion. We’ve seen wedding gowns and even bridesmaid dresses move away from traditional styles and embrace versatile pieces that can be worn well beyond the big day. Where once upon a time bridesmaids would wear a uniform of identical dresses, you’re now much more likely to see bridal parties wearing completely different dresses in a complementary hue like pastels or a bright, painterly palette.
As for wedding dresses, I have my eyes glued to the internet looking for inspiration for my own bridal gown, and wearing a non-white wedding dress is one of the more surprising micro trends of 2025. Think: creamy pastels like buttermilk yellow, off-white, or wearing your something blue for the welcome drinks or after-party. And speaking of bridal events, the rising popularity of a carefully curated wedding wardrobe is an unexpected macro trend considering how expensive everything is lately.
A few other 2025 wedding dress trends I’ve been seeing all over moodboards are Basque and dropped waist hemlines, South Asian-inspired neck scarves and ties, dramatic Spanish-style mantilla and cathedral length veils, and matching sets that have style mileage beyond the wedding day. In addition to being a professional shopper I’ve consulted the most influential bridal designers – Kate Halfpenny, Justin Alexander, and Galia Lahav – for their expert insights.
“When I first joined [Justin Alexander], the trend was all about clean lines with bubble hems, pickups, sweetheart necklines, dropped waists, and Basques. Lace began to dominate after a few years, likely influenced by Princess Catherine’s iconic lace bodice and long sleeves,” Justin Alexander Warshaw, CEO and creative director of Justin Alexander, tells Cosmo. “While lace and natural waistlines have held sway for years, we’re now seeing a shift towards alternative waistlines and sleek, modern styling. Brides are seeking looks that balance timelessness with contemporary flair.”
Basque and Drop Hemlines
“Drop hems have been incredibly popular with our bespoke brides, it gives a cool and relaxed feel to a bigger silhouette with the added drama of a full skirt! It inspired me to create the Giselle gown which has a shredded silk skirt and corseted bodice – it’s by far my favourite look from the Twenty Collection!” Kate Halfpenny, designer and founder of Halfpenny London, tells Cosmo.
De La Vali Sentido Mini Dress
The Own Studio Duchesse Satin Drop Waist Gown
For Love & Lemons Nara Gown
Neckties and Neck Scarves
“In 2025, we’re seeing brides embracing neckline modesty with elegant options like cat eye, scoop, and square necklines, replacing plunging and V-necklines,” says Justin. With brides embracing more elegant neckline options, neck scarfs and neck ties – like those inspired by South Asian Dupattās – have become very popular amongst brides-to-be.
Reformation Oren Silk Dress
Statement Veils
According to Pinterest’s 2025 wedding report, interest in statement veils has skyrocketed. Spanish mantilla veils are seeing a +640% increase while searches for cathedral length veils are up +218% since 2024.
Kate Halfpenny cosigns this trend, “Lately I’ve seen a huge demand in veils – brides are really embracing them and in true Halfpenny style we have reinvented them with our ‘Kerry’ veil which attaches to the bride’s hair and flows down into puffed sleeves. You can also remove the veil from the hair, and clip it to the back of your dress to transform the look to a jacket. It’s such a dynamic, exciting piece available in silk organza and French lace appliqué, and a trend I think we’ll see more and more in 2025/26!”
Clio Peppiatt Chantilly Tulle Veil
House of CB Leone Tulle and satin veil
Sets and Separates
“We’re seeing a major rise in Basque and drop waists, structured corsetry and removable elements like neck scarves, veils, overskirts, and capes. This allows the brides to wear a variety of looks with just one gown,” Galia Lahav, founder and designer of her namesake label, tells Cosmo. “Sets and separates are also growing in popularity, giving modern brides versatility as they can possibly re-wear the look after the wedding, while still maintaining a couture feel. Our brides are always craving individuality and these trends allow for self-expression while still feeling elevated and new.”
Agent Provocateur Scarlie Corset
Galvan Amalfi Draped Satin Maxi Skirt
Whistles Ivory Andie Wedding Blazer
The Wedding Wardrobe
“Brides are becoming more confident when selecting their bridal gowns; even choosing multiple looks! They’re thinking less about how timeless pieces should be and more about being a maverick on their wedding day by showcasing their individuality, personality, and ensuring their bridal style truly encapsulates who they are at this moment in time,” Kate says.
Meanwhile, Galia traces the rise of the wedding weekend wardrobe.“The past five years have brought an increased demand for looks that transition throughout the wedding weekend, not just for the ceremony. Brides are also no longer just shopping for a wedding dress—they’re curating an entire wedding weekend wardrobe.”
Monday Swimwear Palermo Maxi Dress
Away That Day Monaco Cut-Out Swimsuit
Ecommerce Editor, Women’s Lifestyle
Kara is the Ecommerce Editor, Women’s Lifestyle at Hearst UK. Leading Cosmopolitan’s digital shopping strategy, she shares style advice for life’s big moments, reports on the latest fashion collaborations, and creates beauty reviews across skincare, makeup, and haircare.
Kara’s most popular guides include ‘Affordable Jewellery Brands to Shop’, ‘Ski Wear to Shop, According to an Editor’, and ‘The Best High Street Wedding Dress Brands’, while covering deals events such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. When she’s not behind a laptop screen, she’s hosting shopping videos and livestreams for Cosmo’s TikTok Shop. Kara also creates shopping content for Red and Prima, and was previously contributing Fashion and Beauty Ecommerce Editor at ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar.
Since starting her career as a journalist in 2018, she has held the role of Fashion Content Editor at NET-A-PORTER’s Porter Magazine, Associate Editor at PopSugar, and written for Refinery29 and LOVE Magazine, where she covered fashion and beauty news, trends, and features. An experienced interviewer, Kara has spoken to Zendaya, Alicia Keys, Simone Biles, and Tyla about life, work, and style. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Kara lived in Toronto, Canada before moving to London.
Follow Kara on Instagram @kara.kia
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