Brides are beginning to shop for wedding gowns the way they shop for everything else — online. And they’re not just buying one dress anymore, but multiple outfits for the Big Day, and then some for the ceremonies to follow. Take newlywed Sophie Turner for example, who wore a white jumpsuit to her shotgun Vegas wedding to Joe Jonas before donning a bespoke Louis Vuitton gown at the couple’s private ceremony in France; sister-in-law Priyanka Chopra wore at least eight bridal outfits for her extravagant wedding to Nick Jonas.
While it’s true that there will still be plenty of made-to-measure gowns for brides-to-be, the convention of ordering a dress one year in advance is outdated for today’s see-now-buy-now culture. Who has the patience to wait that long for one dress? Especially when you have so many choices available at the touch of a finger via these online retailers.
Net-a-porter
E-commerce giant Net-a-porter’s What To Wear Wedding Day edit curates the best designer pieces for your big day including everything from bridal dresses and veils to lingerie and beauty products. You’ll find plenty of emerging talents such as Jenny Packham and Danielle Frankel, as well as niche fine jewellery labels such as Pomellato and Spinelli Kilcollin.
Moda Operandi
For the best access to trunkshows and pre-orders, head to Moda Operandi’s The Wedding Shop during Bridal Fashion Week to browse the latest designer collections before they hit the mainstream market. In addition to helping you find your wedding gown, the shopping edit covers everything from engagement party dresses to honeymoon outfits. The “Lauren’s Closet” label is a nice sartorial seal of approval from co-founder Lauren Santo Domingo. Head to the For the Bride edit for off-season pieces.
Reformation
Call it the Millennial’s bridal shop. Reformation has made a good name within the online shopping world for offering flattering, feminine silhouettes in a bevy of colours and prints at an accessible price point. The Reformation Weddings section has gowns for the bride and collections for the bridesmaids and guests. Romantic silhouettes, feminine prints, sustainable fabrics, and styles that you can wear time and time again.
Harrods
Luxury superstore Harrods’ Bride-to-Be online selection is a curated edit of wedding dresses, jewellery, accessories and shoes. Expect to find new season gowns from Giambattista Valli and Stella McCartney, and the finest jewellery from Bvlgari, De Beers and Boodles.
Selfridges
British retail favourite Selfridges’ The Wedding Boutique has a neat selection of bridal gowns from emerging designers such as Huishan Zhang, Peter Pilotto and Roksanda. You’ll also find shopping sections for guests and the mother of the bride, as well as Selfridge’s wedding gift list service.
BHLDN
BHLDN, pronounced “beholden,” is Anthropologie’s online platform for all things bridal. Its in-house label offers a wide range of wedding dresses in various styles and its user-friendly experience provides ample photos and videos of the dresses to ensure you find the right fit.
Mother of Pearl
Sustainable fashion label Mother of Pearl’s bridal collection, Pearly Whites, is a capsule range of wedding silhouettes handmade to order in their studio and shipped within 10-15 working days.
Self-Portrait
The Self-Portrait bridal collection offers a selection of wedding dresses that combine traditional elegance with contemporary flair. Expect to find intricate hibiscus laces, pearl trims, sheet panels and delicate pleats.
Editor
Joanna Fu