The Dress

Courtesy BleuBelle

The Details

You’re engaged! You’re thrilled. You’re in love. You’re ... overwhelmed. Whether you’ve dreamed of the big day your whole life or never thought about it until the moment you said yes, the actual process of planning your wedding is uncharted territory. Let this guide be your road map — and leave the details to us.
Ah, the wedding dress — the dress you’ve dreamed about since you were a little girl, pinned on your Pinterest board and pined for since the moment you got engaged. Shopping for a wedding dress is a true rite of passage, and in recent years the process has been considerably streamlined.

Even before Meghan Markle floated down the aisle in a crisp, modern boatneck dress, wedding gowns were already becoming less about frills and more about form, striking the right note between elegance and simplicity. Kaitlynn Thayer of Modern Trousseau in Savannah says that fit-and-flare silhouettes and A-line full skirts are popular right now, both of which allow brides to live their princess moment without the fussiness (and heat) of a ball gown. Crepes and silk fabrics make wedding dresses feel of-the-moment without being overly trendy, and anything with a strap or a sleeve is in, says Thayer.

Courtesy Modern Trousseau. Photo by Bud Johnson Photography

Still, the most important part of the wedding dress is how it makes you feel, says Heather Burge, owner of BleuBelle in Savannah. “Whether you’re having a casual outdoor wedding or a more traditional church wedding, it’s important to feel like you,” says Burge. “You want to feel like the most beautiful version of yourself on that day.”

While wedding dresses are moving towards minimalism, this doesn’t mean the accessories are following suit — in fact, wedding accessories are having a bit of a moment. Thayer says that brides are adding a waist-nipping belt to their dress for a more current feel, and hair pieces are becoming ever more popular to finish the look. Burge notes that most brides choose a pair of statement earrings over a necklace, and rose gold is a favorite choice for a modern aesthetic. Thin, beaded headbands tucked into a romantic twist of soft curls can lend an ethereal, glamorous element to a bride’s hairstyle, and chapel or cathedral-length veils with delicate lace trim make for an impressive entrance and exit. Whatever look you choose, just don’t forget those bits of borrowed, old and blue!