No doubt, the dress is the detail of all details. One of the most magical moments of the big day is when guests gasp at the first glimpse of the gown. Every bride knows how she wants to look, how she wants to feel and how she wants to be remembered. In 2014, brides turned to ultra-girly, fairytale-worthy styles. We saw pink, ruffles, lace, ball gowns, sleeves and tulle — all dream-worthy dresses.
Here are a few of our favorite looks from 2014:
1. BEAUTIFUL BALL GOWNS: Designers (Hayley Paige in particular) are mid-ball gown renaissance. But the new era of ball gowns swaps the typical bell shape for sweeping bends, ruffles and full, bouncy skirts synched by embellished bodices. Truly princess-like, there’s nothing like how a ball gown cascades from the altar, twirls during the first dance and creates a memorable exit in the getaway car.
2. ILLUSION NECKLINES: What’s even sexier than baring it all? Not baring it all — as evidenced by one of last year’s biggest trends — illusion necklines. Both dainty and demure, the thin veil of fabric characteristic of this style gives just a peek of the bride’s décolletage. A classy look that’s hard to compete with.
3. BLUSHING BEAUTY: Yes, brides were still majorly crushing on blush in 2014, a trend we think will continue to gain momentum as more and more brides feel empowered to step outside of the traditional ‘white’ box. We’re no longer just talking about a blush underlay, either. Ruffles, embellishments and tulle have all turned rosy, making dresses (like the ones below) feel like fluffy French pastries floating through the air. For us, it’s no longer a crush on blush. We’re in love.
4. DROPPED WAIST & LACE: Last year, the era of mermaid/trumpet/dropped waist-style dresses went strong. Also big? LACE. Brides are continuing to lust after the traditional trim. We love how Spanish designer Pronovias uses lace on the dress below, trickling down the modified ball gown skirt and fluttering above the dipped neckline.
5. TWO PIECES: Was it just us, or was 2014 the year of the crop-top comeback? Enter two-piece wedding ensembles. Fashionista Olivia Palermo made waves with the two-piece trend when she sported the look for her own nuptials last year. We love this fun and flirty take on bridal fashion — it’s edgy and modern yet still feels bridal. We expect the two-piece trend will be even hotter in 2015.
