Go big or go home tends to be the mantra when it comes to choosing your wedding dress - and why not? It's not every day that you get married. But what, I hear you say, about the minimal bride who doesn't want bells and whistles? Well, the good news is that, as of late, we're seeing simple wedding dresses becoming increasingly popular. More and more brides are side-stepping extravagant gowns, with intricate embellishment and trains that require a four-strong entourage, instead opting for classic dresses characterised by minimalist designs and clean cuts. The memo? Understated elegance. In essence, there's nothing wrong with simple. In fact, it's where it's at this spring.
One of the reasons a simple wedding dress is a good idea for your big day is their versatility. Quite simply, a relatively straightforward dress can not only be worn in a variety of settings, from beach weddings to more formal church nuptials, but can be easily accessorised to create different looks for day and night (ideal if you don't want the hassle of having to buy another dress for the evening festivities). A simple wedding dress can be dressed up with statement jewellery, a veil or a dramatic hairstyle or kept more relaxed with minimal accessories and make-up.
Nicola Peltz Beckham, who is celebrating her second wedding anniversary this month, became the pin-up woman for simple wedding dresses in 2022, wearing a square-necked gown that was simple but effective from Valentino. And of course, since her marriage to Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan Markle has been practically synonymous with simple, elegant wedding dresses, thanks to her gown made by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy.
If don't know where to begin your search, believe it or not, scanning the high street wedding dresses is a good place to start. Scroll to see the best simple wedding dress inspiration we have right here.
Best simple wedding dresses at a glance:
Editor's choice: Galvan Grace Bridal Dress, £1,895
Best high street simple wedding dress: Reiss Atelier Daphne Open-Back Bridal Maxi Dress, £645
Best silk simple wedding dress: Reformation Ronda Silk Dress, £748
Best midaxi simple wedding dress: Ghost Mari Satin Midi Dress, £149
Shop: The Most Beautiful Simple Wedding Dresses
RevolveThis off-the-shoulder gown is a beautiful pick to switch into for your wedding after-party!
ASOSThis is the perfect high street buy if you're after an affordable one-shoulder fishtail dress. And P.S. ASOS has a wealth of affordable wedding dresses if you don't want your big day to break the bank.
ReformationAdjustable spaghetti straps, a low cowl neck, and fluid satin skirt - this dress is a dream. We can see it paired with pearls and slingback heels.
Reiss Atelier's square-necked maxi dress with oh-so-slender spaghetti straps and an elegant open back looks a lot more expensive than its price tag of £645.
Whistles' wedding dress selection is superlative, majoring in the kind of clean lines that let each silhouette, whether it features a square neck or a slight cowl, shine.
This Rebecca Vallance midi dress, with its sharp off-the-shoulder neckline and elegant calf-grazing length, is ideal if you're looking for something a little shorter than floor-sweeping.
Taller Marmo's gowns usually come with a spray of feathers at the hemline. This simplified version, with the brand's signature waterfall sleeve, is just as eye-catching.
Reformation has an expansive selection of simple wedding dresses, including this spaghetti-strapped and full-skirted style, the Icelynn.
Famous for its minimal occasionwear, Galvan's bridal range is equally pared-back (aka, perfect for the no-fuss, no-muss bride).
Perfect for a sultry beach wedding, Staud's almost backless maxi dress is a simple, sexy option.
Looking for a strapless wedding dress with no bells and whistles? Safiyaa's crepe design fits the bill to perfection.
This sequinned midi dress is just one of the simple wedding dresses offered by Rixo.
Now on sale, Monsoon's pearl-embellished gown with a modest train is a perfect 10.
J.Crew flared linen midi dress is a suitably relaxed option for the beach-orientated bride.
COS, Square-Neck Knitted Slip Dress
With its no-frills square neckline and modest ankle length, this knitted slip dress might be too simple for some brides. If that's the case, however, it would make a lovely night-before-the-big-day outfit.
Massimo Dutti's oh-so-simple maxi dress has an elegant criss-cross detail at the back that will photograph beautifully.
Ghost has one of the best selection of bridesmaid dresses in the business, but its bridal selection is also worth a browse if you're looking for a simple wedding dress made of its signature satin.
Jersey dresses are having a moment and, while the fabric might not be your first thought for a wedding dress, Ralph Lauren's effortlessly draped gown is as chic as it is comfortable to wear.
A Grecian-style column dress, Mango's take on the minimal wedding dress couldn't be chicer.
Simple Wedding Dress inspiration
Perhaps because they spend significantly more time than your average person in red carpet-worthy looks, a surprising number of celebrities have decided to wear a simple wedding dress instead of a big energy gown. What they prove, however, is that simple doesn't mean boring. For her wedding reception, Issa Rae's Vera Wang gown had a simple neckline that was balanced out by a layered tulle skirt. Perfection. Katherine Schwarzenegger, meanwhile, wore a strapless dress designed by Giorgio Armani, complete with a voluminous veil-slash-train that trailed on the ground to dial up the drama.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress is perhaps the most famous simple wedding dress of all time. The Duchess of Sussex chose a simple boat-neck gown for the wedding of the century by Clare Waight Keller, sparking a trend for just-off-the-shoulder necklines that hasn't waned since her wedding in 2018.
Is it ok to wear a simple wedding dress?
It's more than ok, a simple wedding dress is bang on trend (ahem, Nicola Peltz Beckham). But even if it wasn't on trend to forgo a traditionally frou-frou wedding dress for something more understated, the most important thing is that your wedding dress should feel like the essence of your personal style. So if you're a dyed-in-the-wool minimalist, who perhaps wants to be able to rewear their dress by styling it differently, then a simple wedding dress is the way to go.
Renee Washington, Grazia's Digital Fashion and Beauty Assistant, lives online. With a penchant for wispy lashes and streetwear, she writes about the worlds of fashion and beauty from the viewpoint of the modern fashion girlie.
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