‘Anti-brides’ ditch wedding gowns at the altar for pantsuits and nudity

Brides are saying “I do” to unconventional wedding dresses.

Embellished with feathers, gems and mesh, nontraditional wedding attire is the latest bridal trend sweeping chapels and runways. Two-piece sets, cocktail dresses and jumpsuits have transformed blushing brides into an unforgettable vision of beauty.

Eager to stand out, brides are ditching blasé ballgowns for eye-catching numbers fit for the modern woman.

“In general, the white bridal gown, to some women, is considered a bit dated and unoriginal,” Ranu Coleman, chief marketing officer of wedding-wear retailer Azazie, told The Post.

“I think a lot of women are sort of challenging these traditional gender roles,” added Coleman, who has seen an uptick of newlyweds adding a flare of personality into their gowns. “And I think they’re expressing a lot of that through their wedding attire.”


Azazie white jumpsuit
“I think a lot of women are sort of challenging these traditional gender roles,” said Ranu Coleman, CMO of gown retailer Azazie.
Azazie

Black wedding gown by Azazie
Colored gowns are among the many variations of alternative wedding attire on the market.
Azazie

At the recent New York bridal fashion week, bridal couture ushered in a new wave of marital chic that’s a far cry from reality TV’s “Say Yes to the Dress.”

At the October iteration of the four-day event, Lapointe introduced edgy, ivory pantsuits adorned with fragile feathers or stiff tulle. Meanwhile, Sophie et Voila’s short skirts dazzled with bejeweled fringe and ballooning sleeves.

During April’s bridal week, texture and sheer nakedness reigned supreme. While Liz Martinez and Lihi Hod debuted daring mesh bodices, other luxe gowns toyed with vibrant color, glistening gems and floral embroidery.


LAPOINTE bridal studio online showing multiple outfits
Lapointe’s bold bridal suite shows pantsuits with plumes and a ton of tulle.
shoplapointe.com

For years, bridal couturier Danielle Frankel has been meeting the needs of nontraditional brides after recognizing “there was room for opportunity and newness,” the celebrity designer told Elle.

Her pieces feature her creative take on the eloquence of the modern woman: frocks draped in sheer beaded lace and gowns with exaggerated silhouettes, jutted at the hips or elongated with a drop waist.


Bingham on TikTok looking at unconventional dresses, the one shown in the screenshot is a floor length white gown with a ruffled underskirt
Bridal stylist Kennedy Bingham regularly works with brides leaning toward “nontraditional” fashion, she told The Post.
gowneyedgirl/Tiktok

Bingham on TikTok looking at two piece set with cape
Known for her bridal content, Bingham touts more than 1 million TikTok followers.
gowneyedgirl/Tiktok

Kennedy Bingham, a bridal specialist in Los Angeles, noted that this trend is neither new nor fleeting — designers are just finally acknowledging their customers’ needs.

“I think the main reason why we’re seeing more brides wear unconventional wedding outfits is simply because there are more options,” Bingham, 27, told The Post.

The bridal industry, which has long been so “traditional,” according to Coleman, is being forced to follow trends, pay attention to runway couture and cater to a diverse swath of brides.


TikToker wears lilac sheer gown on wedding day
Sheer garments are also en vogue, playing up the “naked” fashion trend that has skyrocketed in popularity.
bambsworld/Tiktok

“A lot of these ‘trends’ aren’t really trends — they’re things brides have wanted for years and could never find,” added Bingham, who touts more than 1 million followers on TikTok.

But an unorthodox style isn’t reserved for the catwalk. On TikTok, the tag #nontraditionalweddingdress has scored more than 18 million views, as stylists and brides-to-be showcase jet-black gowns and “naked” dresses.

One lovebird donned a sheer purple frock complete with a thigh-high slit and three-dimensional floral patterns, while another flaunted a lilac pantsuit and a matching veil.

The unconventional fashions coincide with a larger trend of ditching tradition that has swept the bridal industry.

From mismatching bridesmaids’ dresses to showstopping second looks, modern brides are abandoning tradition for playfulness on their ceremonious day.

“It just says a lot about the bride in terms of what she thinks of herself,” Coleman said. “I think it shows more of their individuality and it really shows their personality as well.”