The Wedding Dress Trends That Will Define 2026—and Beyond

Peplums, Thoughtful Volume, and Cinematic Details

Few names in bridal fashion evoke as much excitement as Hayley Paige, who’s making her highly anticipated return to NYBFW. Having designed gowns for more than 10,000 brides (including stars like Kelsea Ballerini and Carrie Underwood), Paige says this year’s collections are about fashion with feeling. “2026 is shaping up to be the year of intentional drama—not volume for volume’s sake, but emotion you can wear and sense," she explains. "The trend isn’t a 'look' so much as a language: bridalwear as memoir."

What this translates to is thoughtful moments of dramatic (occasionally cheeky) volume and detailing, like punchy peplums and bubble skirts. "It’s no longer about dressing for a trend," says Paige, "It’s about dressing for your own cinematic moment."

A Focus on Fabrics

That sense of intentionality extends to the materials themselves. According to Jaleigh Friend, founder of The Friend Club, a next-generation wedding planning platform connecting couples with top vendors and brands, texture will reign supreme in 2026. “Texture, texture, texture,” Friend says. “Soft ruching, micro-pleats, airy organza, and subtle appliqués—effortless, chic, and romantic.”

At the fabric level, it’s all about tactility and transformation. Paige points to laser-cut motifs, peekaboo cutouts, and transparent overlays that promise depth and dimension sans overwhelm. "Silk faille is being reborn with modern edge; duchesse satin, sculpted with architectural precision," she says.

It's worth noting that these luxe fabrics also pair beautifully with more minimalist styles and silhouettes. As bridal gown industry expert Kunal Madan says, "silk crepe, duchess satin, and soft chiffon allow the fabric itself to be the statement."

Corsets and Rewearable Pieces

Friend predicts a wave of elevated yet wearable designs that combine form and function. “Sculptural corsets aren’t new, but now they’re designed to live beyond the wedding day," she says. "Similarly, separates like detachable sleeves, coordinating skirts, and even gloves—it’s part style, part sustainability. Brides want real utility from their wedding wardrobe."

That desire for versatility—and longevity—reflects a broader cultural shift toward more meaningful fashion. "Detachable sleeves, overskirts, bows, capes, and playful veil shapes let you flip the look from ceremony to dinner to after-party without a full outfit change," says Friend. "A lot of these pieces are designed to be re-worn after the wedding. The theme across the board: tactile, easy to style, and deeply personal."

A Vintage Revival

While modernity is the mood, designers are also dipping into the archives—with attitude. "The 2026 bridal collections are steeped in curated nostalgia, with designers reimagining classic silhouettes with modern edges," Madan explains. "The drop waist has been a major hit with brides lately, as it can make brides feel taller and quite confident." Madan also references Jazz-age aesthetics, Victorian-era corsetry, square necklines from the Renaissance era, and 1990s A-line silhouettes as all being present in 2026 wedding dress designs.

"We are seeing a wave of nostalgic fashion with a modern take on vintage and past-era timelessness," adds Friend. "Think vintage-inspired lace, crochet, Juliet caps, pleated skirts, high necklines, and even turtleneck tops." Couples are also exploring the world of secondhand bridal fashions, thrifting for pieces by Ralph Lauren, Chanel, and Dolce & Gabbana, Friend notes. "More brides are sourcing one-of-a-kind vintage and runway-archival pieces."

Heirloom-Worthy Designs

Per our industry experts, bridal fashion is mirroring a greater desire for authenticity. "There’s a collective longing right now—for softness, for ceremony, for something honest," says Paige. "In the aftermath of creative burnout and digital overexposure, brides are gravitating toward dresses that feel like artifacts of the heart or heirlooms."

Madan points to recent celebrity weddings demonstrating the shift: "Lana Del Rey embraced Victorian revival in a custom gown from boutique design house Cinq. She worked with a smaller atelier rather than a mainstream designer, which was quite intimate and personalized. On the more opulent end, Becca Bloom’s custom Oscar de la Renta gown was embroidered with laser-cut blooming peonies, a deeply personal nod to her Chinese heritage and childhood home."

Infusing such personal details allows for these special fashion pieces to tell a story. "Brides want dresses that transcend trends, pieces that feel just as stunning in 50 years as they do today," says Madan. "And from a preservation standpoint, that makes perfect sense. When couples invest in timeless, well-constructed gowns using quality fabrics like silk crepe, duchess satin, and French lace, they're creating true heirlooms worth preserving for future generations.”