2021 Wedding Dress Trends

The party doesn’t start 'til the bride walks in—wearing the wedding dress of her dreams. The ideal bridal gown doesn’t have to be the puffiest or the most shimmery one; the dress should make the person wearing it feel confident and beautiful. After all, as designer Kang Chun Lin said, "It’s the bride who makes the dress, not the other way around."

But selecting a gown is still a big decision and an emotional process. Choosing the perfect dress is not just about going to a fitting—it’s a memory in the making. It’s what you’re going to wear on the first day of your happily ever after, which is why it’s an essential step for planning a wedding. 

The Wedding Dress Trends To Know In 2021

If you’re exchanging vows next year, check out the 2021 wedding dress trends and prepare to say “I do” to your dream dress (and your partner, of course). From backless gowns to layered skirts, fresh and state-of-the-art bridal looks are emerging on the runways and there just might be one for you.

1. Cape Is The New Veil

Capes made a strong comeback to the runways starting in the fall/winter 2018 season. Now, they’ve made their way to the aisle. With minimalistic gowns taking over the wedding dress trends, brides started incorporating a touch of poise to add flair to their elegant presence. Not only does a cape defy the laws of tradition, but also doubles as the conventional veil and train.

Winnie Couture, a Beverly Hills bridal shop, was quick to popularize the cape and stock up its store with the 2021 wedding dress trend. Taking your style up a notch, a cape gives you the privilege of feeling like royalty on your special day whether you’re having a micro wedding or a regular one. 

2. Eat Crepe, Wear Crepe

Light and laid-back yet classy and sophisticated, the crepe wedding dress trend is for brides who believe that less is more. The comfortable fabric is exactly what you need on a busy day full of celebrations. As an understated look, the lightweight and modern crepe dress shows that a woman doesn’t need over-the-top accessories to make her stand out—she’s just as beautiful in a minimalistic dress. The Sacramento clothing brand David’s Bridal has dazzling gowns sewn with the luxurious fabric for the 21st-century bride. 

3. Daring And Classy Bishop Sleeves

Thanks to Kate Middleton, sleeves are once again welcome in the bridal fashion world. But regular sleeves have evolved—inspired by the puffy sleeves of the 80s, bishop sleeves are among the 2021 wedding dress trends. Fitted at the sleeves and flared at the shoulders, bishop sleeves are the extra pizzazz your bridal look needs. Although not as theatrical as its predecessors, this version is all about romantic statement details. Canadian designer Rita Vinieris has several stores in Southern California where you can try on a dress with bishop sleeves and feel boho-chic. 

4. Business In The Front, Party In The Back 

Donning a dress with a super-low back is a classy way to dazzle your guests and life partner while walking down the aisle. Giving us major Y2K vibes, backless dresses are the hottest wedding dresses of the season. Providing a graceful and intricate feature in an unexpected place, they manage to create a jaw-dropping moment as soon as the bride turns around; it's as if she's wearing two different dresses in one look. With two bridal salons—one in Walnut Creek and another in West Hollywood—Kinsley James Couture Bridal has various designs of the eye-catching trend.

5. Figure-Flattering Pants

Remember what we said about challenging customs and traditions? Why limit yourself to skirts and dresses when you can be equally stunning wearing trousers? Pantsuits; jumpsuits; flared trousers; sharp cigarette pants—all of these ensembles make you feel like a total boss bride who’s ready to take over the world.

We’re all for this 2021 wedding dress trend, and the San Francisco bridal shop Jin Wang is also on board. With collections from Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Lela Rose, and the unparalleled Zuhair Murad, this boutique ensures you'll find the perfect outfit in no time. Plan a sustainable wedding and reward yourself with an eco-friendly celebration and an unmatched outfit.

6. Layered Skirts

Trains are too long and you don’t want to drag them around all day. Puffy skirts are too extra and take up too much space. How do you become the center of attention without being excessive? Minimize your bridal look with the ultimate 2021 wedding dress—one that involves a layered skirt.

There are so many styles with a tiered design: avant-garde, gentle waves, dramatic tutu layers, you name it. Add volume and dimension to your gown without looking exaggerated. LOHO Bride, an artfully curated made-to-order bridal boutique with locations in Los Angeles and San Francisco, brings the tiered gown of your dreams to life. Your wedding planner wants you to know that you’re never overdressed when wearing the hottest wedding dress.

7. Two-In-One Wedding Dress

Hear us out: Many brides are now going for multiple gowns—one for the ceremony, another for the reception—so why not combine two different looks in one? The wedding dresses of 2021 are comfortable, creative, and flexible; the two-in-one gowns embody these three elements.

With adaptability becoming the ideal option for brides, women can now rock various bridal looks with the help of one dress. Whether it’s removable sleeves, detachable skirts, matching toppers, or any other on-the-spot custom changes, this 2021 wedding dress trend can be embraced in countless ways. JINZA Couture Bridal adopted the fad and included several designs of the adjustable style.

8. Ruffle, Ruffle, Ruffle

Let your inner ultra-feminine side come out as soon as you put on the perfectly ruffled wedding gown. Minimalism may have captivated many women, but we know that the wedding of our dreams includes lots of exaggerated ruffles. The ornamental frills don’t necessarily have to be on the skirt—ruffle tops, ruffled mermaid silhouettes, and even frilled sleeves make a statement of fashion forwardness.

Nailing this 2021 wedding dress trend is effortless; all you need is confidence and the right boutique to boost your morale. San Francisco’s Bridal Galleria has all the ruffled wedding looks you’re looking for. Featuring everything from Ines di Santo to Monique Lhuiller gowns, this bridal boutique makes it possible for you to end your hunt for the perfect gown.

9. Bold Bows

While we’re on the topic of dramatic looks, brides are not holding back when it comes to their love of bows. These lovely features look beautiful on any part of the dress—back, shoulders, neck, waistline, or side—whether they’re understated or larger-than-life. The fanciful and feminine element allows you to live out your fashion fantasies on your wedding day without looking like a flower girl.

Shop for the hottest wedding dress with a bow as big as your love for your partner at The White Flower, San Diego’s top-rated bridal boutique. Live out your fairytale fantasies and say “I do” to the love of your life.