If you thought Kate Middleton’s wedding dress made a mark on the bridal world, you haven’t seen the Meghan Markle effect. From Theia, to Rivini, to Monique Lhuillier, and Morilee, you could feel the royal wedding‘s influence all over this Bridal Fashion Week. Tiaras, capes, and sharp pantsuits (hello Meghan Markle’s signature style!), all gave us serious royal wedding vibes. There were also sexy plunging necklines, contrasted with modest (dare we say Victorian) high neck and long sleeve styles, and just a hint of lavender to give us a bit of color this season.
Getting married in 2019? Scroll through for the only wedding dress trends you need to see.
Courtesy of Theia
Royal Wedding Fever
Looks like we’re not the only ones suffering from royal wedding mania. Meghan Markle hasn’t even walked down the aisle yet, and we’re already seeing her effect on bridal fashion. From glittering tiaras, to regal styles that felt very similar to some of history’s most iconic royal brides, most of the collections we saw had something fit for a princess.
Above: Wedding dress by Theia
Greg Kessler for Kessler Studio
Wedding dress by Monique Lhuillier
Courtesy of Theia
Wedding dress by Theia
Courtesy of Oleg Cassini for David’s Bridal
Wedding dress by Oleg Cassini for David’s Bridal
Dan Lecca
Wedding dress by Morilee by Madeline Gardner
Courtesy of Reem Acra
Wedding dress by Reem Acra
Photo by Sarra Fleur
Wedding dress by Anne Barge
Courtesy of Romona Keveza
Wedding dress by Romona Keveza
Taylor Jewell
Wedding Jumpsuits
Like bows, jumpsuits have become part of the bridal vernacular. Sweet pants are no longer just for courthouse weddings, with many brides opting to change into a reception outfit, and going for a chic, modern jumpsuits.
Above: Wedding pantsuit by Lela Rose
Courtesy of Naeem Khan
Bridal jumpsuit by Naeem Khan
Courtesy of Viktor & Rolf
Bridal jumpsuit by Mariage Viktor & Rolf
Courtesy of Danielle Frankel
Wedding dress by Danielle Frankel
© DAN AND CORINA LECCA
Jumpsuit by Mira Zwillinger
Dan Lecca
Jumpsuit by Gracy Accad
Courtesy of Rivini by Rita Vinieris
Jumpsuit by Rivini by Rita Vinieris
Courtesy of Rivini by Rita Vinieris
Jumpsuit by Rivini by Rita Vinieris
TAWFICKESPRIELLA
Jumpsuit by Francesca Miranda
Masato Onoda
Jumpsuit by Wtoo by Watters
Courtesy of Galia Lahav
Jumpsuit by Gala by Galia Lahav
Courtesy of Alexandra Grecco
Jumpsuit by Alexandra Grecco
Courtesy of Amsale
Clean and Simple
This season’s minimal aesthetic felt like an homage to Amsale Aberra. Clean lines, simple tailoring, and just a hint of 90s nostalgia had us falling in love with these gowns.
Above: Wedding dress by Amsale
Courtesy of Jenny Packham
Wedding dress by Jenny Packham
Courtesy of Reem Acra
Wedding dress by Reem Acra
Courtesy of Theia
Wedding dress by Theia
Dan Lecca
Wedding dress by Gracy Accad
© DAN AND CORINA LECCA
Wedding dress by Justin Alexander
Masato Onoda
Wedding dress by Willowby by Watters
Courtesy of Jenny Packham
Lavender
Pantone’s color of the year may be violet, but it was all about light shades of lavender for the latest crop of wedding dresses. Pastels popped up in many collections, including Vera Wang, Jenny Packham, and Hayley Paige.
Above: Wedding dress by Jenny Packham
Courtesy of Vera Wang
Wedding dress by Vera Wang
Courtesy of Hayley Paige
Wedding dress by Hayley Paige
Courtesy of Leanne Marshall
Wedding dress by Leanne Marshall
Greg Kessler for Kessler Studio
Mock Turtlenecks
While the naked dress still found its way into many collections, a more modest aesthetic reigned supreme at almost every collection. Mock turtlenecks were everywhere this season, from modern and sleek at Monique Lhuillier, to in full on lace at Reem Acra.
Above: Wedding dress by Monique Lhuillier
Courtesy of Reem Acra
Wedding dress by Reem Acra
Dan Lecca
Wedding dress by Gracy Accad
Courtesy of Amsale
Wedding dress by Amsale
Courtesy of Allison Webb
Wedding dress by Allison Webb
Courtesy of Viktor & Rolf
Wedding dress by Mariage Viktor & Rolf
Courtesy of Elizabeth Fillmore
Wedding dress by Elizabeth Fillmore
Courtesy of Theia
Metallics
These are the days of disco as far as wedding dress designers are concerned. Metallics—so much gold and silver—ruled the runways, and are the perfect statement for a bride who’s all about glitz and glamour.
Wedding dress by Theia
Courtesy of Galina Signature by David’s Bridal
Wedding dress by Galina Signature for David’s Bridal
Courtesy of Galina Signature by David’s Bridal
Wedding dress by Galina Signature for David’s Bridal
© DAN AND CORINA LECCA
Wedding dress by Mira Zwillinger
Courtesy of Rivini by Rita Vinieris
Wedding dress by Rivini by Rita Vinieris
Masato Onoda
Wedding dress by Wtoo by Watters
Courtesy of Galia Lahav
Wedding dress by Galia Lahav Couture
Courtesy of Elizabeth Fillmore
Wedding dress by Elizabeth Fillmore
Taylor Jewell
Regal Capes and Trains
The longer the better when it came to trains this season. Designers also continued to double down on the cape trend—princess vibes are on the rise, if you haven’t heard. We loved this trend in whisper thin tulle at Anne Barge and Alexandra Grecco, and in all of its regal glory at Lela Rose.
Above: Wedding dress by Lela Rose
Courtesy of Romona Keveza
Wedding dress by Legends by Romona Keveza
Courtesy of Yaniv Persy Couture
Wedding dress by Yaniv Persy
Courtesy of Naeem Khan
Wedding dress by Naeem Khan
© DAN AND CORINA LECCA
Wedding dress by Justin Alexander
Photo by Sarra Fleur
Wedding dress by Anne Barge
Courtesy of Viktor & Rolf
Wedding dress by Mariage Viktor & Rolf
Photo by Mike Colon
Wedding dress by Berta
Courtesy of Alexandra Grecco
Wedding dress by Alexandra Grecco
Courtesy of Galia Lahav
The Return of the Ball Gown
The Royal Wedding effect keeps trickling down this list of trends. After seasons of lithe sheaths, and a-line creations dominating the runways, many designers welcomed the return of the full figured ball gown. Princess brides are having quite a year.
Above: Wedding dress by Galia Lahav Couture
Greg Kessler for Kessler Studio
Wedding dress by Monique Lhuillier
Courtesy of Reem Acra
Wedding dress by Reem Acra
Courtesy of Viktor & Rolf
Wedding dress by Mariage by Viktor & Rolf
Courtesy of Vera Wang
Wedding dress by Vera Wang
TAWFICKESPRIELLA
Wedding dress by Francesca Miranda
Courtesy of Reem Acra
Heavy Embellishments
Designers weren’t shy about covering wedding dresses in oversized, 3-d, heavy floral embellishments.
Above: Wedding dress by Reem Acra
Taylor Jewell
Wedding dress by Lela Rose
Masato Onoda
Wedding dress by Willowby by Watters
Masato Onoda
Wedding dress by Watters
Courtesy of Viktor & Rolf
Wedding dress by Mariage by Viktor & Rolf
Taylor Jewell
Statement Bows
If we had any doubt bows were here to stay, Spring 2019’s wedding dresses wiped that right out. Oversized, statement bows were everywhere, and make for a perfectly ladylike wedding day look.
Above: Wedding dress by Lela Rose
Dan Lecca
Wedding dress by Morilee by Madeline Gardner
Courtesy of Viktor & Rolf
Wedding dress by Mariage Viktor & Rolf
Greg Kessler for Kessler Studio
The Super Plunge
The deep v is getting deeper and deeper. Designer snuck in some illusion netting into the décolletage and took v-necks almost to the navel this season. The result: an ultra sexy bridal look that still feels appropriate.
Above: Wedding dress by Monique Lhuillier
Photo by Mike Colon
Wedding dress by Berta
Photo by Mike Colon
Wedding dress by Berta
Courtesy of Alexandra Grecco
Wedding dress by Alexandra Grecco
Courtesy of Reem Acra
Wedding dress by Reem Acra
Courtesy of Viktor & Rolf
Wedding dress by Mariage by Viktor & Rolf
TAWFICKESPRIELLA
Wedding dress by Francesca Miranda
© DAN AND CORINA LECCA
Wedding dress by Mira Zwillinger