Wedding Dress Trends for 2014

Wedding season is upon us! If you’re getting married this summer, odds are you already have your dress, but if you don't, behold: a guide of wedding trends for 2014. Or more importantly, proof that there are gowns out there that aren’t just the standard white floor length number we grew up seeing.

The bridal industry has undergone a bit of an overhaul, so to help narrow down what to look for when wedding dress shopping, or to help you talk wedding lingo to a friend who’s getting married, here are ten of the trends we found that are set to dominate the next few months.

1. Headpieces, Not Veils

We may be seeing a lot of vintage throwbacks, but the traditional veil has been replaced with the statement headpiece. (So when we say “vintage” we mean “nothing from the ‘80s or ‘90s.”) That means 1920s beadings and even Edwardian-inspired hats are replacing the look from years back, meaning nobody’s face is being concealed by fabric you will 100% curse as soon as dinner starts.

2. Black And White

Thanks to Vera Wang this year, we took even more of a step back from standard formal wedding attire, thanks to her decision to combine black and white on certain styles. She also wasn’t the only one: Maggie Sottero did the same thing, while Olia Zavozina incorporated a black belt (so brides can officially say they have one).

3. Dresses On A Budget

Here’s something important to know: wedding dresses do not have to cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. While you can pick up a simple white or cream dress at literally any store that sells dresses, even designers like Vera Wang (you have to mention Vera Wang at least 14 times in wedding stories or dresses stop existing) and BCBGMAXAZRIA offered styles this year for under $500. Breaking the bank is so . . . well, was it ever really even in?

4. Two-Piece Gowns

Should we be surprised that we’re looking to two-piece wedding dresses in 2014, now that everyone who grew up in awe of Bianca’s prom dress from "10 Things I Hate About You" are adults? (No.) So, enter: the two-piece wedding dress, 1) as a means for a bride to semi-design it herself, or 2) as a way to capitalize on the crop top resurgence. Weddings are supposed to be fun after all, so you might as well have some fun with what you wear.

5. Cut-Outs

We’ve been seeing cut-outs across the fashion board for the last couple of seasons, so obviously the trend had to begin impacting the wedding industry sooner rather than later. In this case, cut-outs have shown up in designs by the likes of Angel Sanchez (in terms of more mainstream looks), and on the independent front, in Etsy shops by Anya Dionne and Sunjin Lee.

6. Gold

Honestly, if we’re going to be inundated with metallics everyday anyway, we might as well apply them to the wedding front. Taking a break from the traditional white (which I think we can all understand – that is one tired look), gold’s stepped in to offer a little more depth to a relatively standard aesthetic. Jesus Peiro went for it in his Fall/Winter 2014 collection, while the Gibson Bespoke shop on Etsy boasted a blush gold Old Hollywood gown. Layer with bling accordingly.

7. Lace Sleeves

And speaking of Old Hollywood (or “classic” or “vintage” or “sleeves are the best”), lace sleeves are a big presence in the wide world of wedding dresses, with the likes of Grace Kelly’s gown being more than a little influential. Regardless of season (arguably, you can wear lace sleeves in spring, summer, fall, or winter – who’s going to stop you?), we’re living in a world in which the strapless trend has fallen a bit by the wayside. And as an avid champion of sleeves in any capacity, we applaud this.

8. Detailed Back

But don’t let the sleeves fool you – to balance out the cover-up effect of 2014, detailed, plunging backs showed up in collections by Ines Di Santos, Monique Lhullier, and Carolina Herrera. Baby got back, you guys.

9. Pants

That’s right, we said it: pants. As in when we say we’re embarking on a momentous journey away from the confines of traditional wedding wear, we're not joking. Rosa Clara’s 2014 silk pant suit provided the perfect example of how to combine new and old elegantly (as well as that taking a risk on one’s wedding day doesn't need to be terrifying).

10. Black Wedding Dresses

And the bride wore black! (Is what they’ll say about you if you adopt this 2014 look.) Romona Keveza, Vera Wang (it’s the rule of three – we must say her name three times), and Rami Kadi all went for dark, dramatic looks, meaning that the days of superstition are over. Now you just wear what you want.