Choosing the perfect wedding dress is one of the most important decisions for any bride. But while the process can be a lot of fun, it can also be tricky to know where to start. Which is why we’ve created this go-to list of the finest bridal designers, from classic couture to boho, frothy tulle and slinky silk. All you have to do is say “I do”.
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Halfpenny London
The label was founded by the stylist Kate Halfpenny in 2005 after she was tasked with creating a show-stopping wedding dress for her close friend the actress Emilia Fox. The brand, which combines a lush maximalist aesthetic with British quirkiness, has since been worn by Kate Moss, Erin O’Connor and Cate Blanchett.
Halfpenny takes a stylist’s mix and match approach, and transformed the bridal landscape when she introduced wedding dress separates, including brilliantly frou-frou sleeves, shrugs, belts and capes, which remain some of her most popular pieces today, particularly with brides who want to wear elements of their wedding outfit afterwards. Operating out of a beautiful showroom on a Dickensian street in Bloomsbury, central London, all Halfpenny’s gowns are manufactured in London and sustainable practices are key. That’s why the flowers and hearts in the latest collections are made from silk organza offcuts that would otherwise have gone to waste and all packaging is recyclable.
From £2,500; halfpennylondon.com
Danielle Frankel
If you are a bride-to-be but don’t fancy a traditional tulle creation, Danielle Frankel might be the designer for you. The New York-based brand is the epitome of the “cool girl” bridal aesthetic, which means pleated silk gowns, lace bustiers with tuxedo trousers and tailored co-ordinated skirt sets.
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Founded by Danielle Frankel Hirsch in 2017 after a stint designing for Vera Wang, the brand was created as a fashion label that does bridal, rather than the other way round. Zoë Kravitz wore a custom Danielle Frankel crochet pearl dress to her wedding rehearsal dinner in Paris in 2019, with cycling shorts and a strapless bra, while Joe Biden’s granddaughter, Naomi Biden, wore a sleek trouser suit for her rehearsal dinner at the White House.
From £2,246; daniellefrankelstudio.com
Simone Rocha
While Simone Rocha’s ultra-feminine tulle designs may lend themselves perfectly to the world of weddings, the Irish designer doesn’t have a dedicated bridal offering — or not yet, at least. But based on the number of brides who have been putting in orders for her dramatic fairytale pieces over recent years — the London fashion PR Daisy Hoppen and the artist Laila Gohar among them — we have a feeling it’s not too far off.
Despite being known for its fairytale aesthetic, a Rocha dress always comes with a subversive edge, whether that’s in the form of a puff sleeve, an oversized bow or see-through lace. Her recent turn as guest designer for Jean Paul Gaultier couture, when she sent whimsical ruffled gowns and satin corsets down the runway, is bound to mean those designs in hot demand come wedding season.
From £795; simonerocha.com
Jacquemus
If you are a Parisian bride, or just want to look like one, then Jacquemus is the designer for you. The French label has been responsible for some of the coolest modern wedding looks over recent years, from the author Bella Mackie’s pastel yellow gown at her 2018 London wedding to the spaghetti-strapped white dress the supermodel Vittoria Ceretti wore to her laid-back wedding in Ibiza in 2020.
Jacquemus doesn’t have a specific bridal offering, but elegant white dresses always make up a large portion of each collection. In its latest, entitled Les Sculptures, you will find draped mermaid gowns, slinky sheer slips and disco-dancing micro minidresses. The label’s founder, Simon Porte Jacquemus, knows a thing or two about creating a show-stopping moment. It was at his south of France wedding in 2022 that the singer Dua Lipa went viral for wearing a sheer white gown from his Le Papier collection.
From £465; jacquemus.com
Chanel
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Nothing says haute couture like a Chanel wedding dress. The maison is known for creating some of the most jaw-dropping bridal looks of all time, a tradition started by the former creative director Karl Lagerfeld, who would always close his couture shows with a wedding gown modelled by a well-known face (Claudia Schiffer, Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevingne have all been Chanel brides over the years).
Everyone from Keira Knightley to Charlotte Casiraghi has said “I do”’ while wearing Chanel. Meanwhile, Sofia Richie wore not one but three custom Chanel dresses for her 2023 nuptials at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, ranging from a high-necked lace gown scattered with sequins to a white minidress emblazoned with Coco Chanel’s favourite flower, the camellia, for the after-party.
POA; chanel.com
Dolce & Gabbana
The Italian fashion house is known for its gloriously over-the-top aesthetic and that is doubly true when it comes to its wedding dresses, which feature lashings of lace, waist-whittling corsets and impossibly long trains.
Perhaps the most famous of all the D&G brides is Lady Kitty Spencer, who called on the design duo to create the sumptuous gown she wore for her 2021 wedding in Rome. Featuring an intricate floral lace design with a high neck and corseted bodice, as well as a dramatic cathedral-length veil, it is one of the most memorable bridal looks of all time.
POA; dolcegabbana.com
Louis Vuitton
Not many brides have had the honour of walking down the aisle in a bespoke Louis Vuitton wedding dress, but since the Games of Thrones star Sophie Turner did just that in the summer of 2019, women have been clamouring to get their hands on their own LV wedding design. Turner worked directly with Vuitton’s creative director, Nicolas Ghesquière, to create the dress for her wedding in the south of France, complete with a plunging neckline, silk cummerbund and full lace skirt embellished with tiny crystals.
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Those keen to follow suit will have to get in touch with Ghesquière directly, because the French fashion house does not officially offer wedding dresses. If you cannot quite stretch to a custom look, there are plenty of off-the-rack options from this season’s collection that would fit the bill, including an off-white floor-length silk satin gown with a hand-embroidered bead trim and a pleated silk crepe de Chine dress with a tiered skirt.
POA; louisvuitton.com
Phillipa Lepley
When it comes to couture wedding dresses, Phillipa Lepley is the undisputed grande dame of the London scene. Best known for her corsets and detailing — think lace and hand embroidery — she has dressed Alice Naylor-Leyland and Lady Emily Compton. The Princess of Wales is a fan of her elegant eveningwear too.
Every couture creation is designed from scratch, so you can expect to have as many as eight fittings in the Chelsea store’s light-filled conservatory. The level of detail is extraordinary, from miniature paper figures that show exactly where each pearl should be placed to bespoke embroidery that can feature everything from your family’s coat of arms to your pet’s paw prints.
POA, phillipalepley.com
Browns Bride
Opened in 2004 by Caroline Burstein, whose parents founded the celebrated Browns Boutique in South Molton Street in 1970, the Marylebone outpost stocks sought-after international designers, many of whom are exclusive to Browns. Big couture names such Elie Saab and Galia Lahav can be found alongside the cool New York-based designer Danielle Frankel, who dressed Zoë Kravitz for her 2019 wedding, and the Italian-based Peter Langner, who learnt his trade at Dior and Lacroix.
A team of stylists is on hand to guide you, and the shop is big enough for you to bring along your entire bridal party.
From £3,100, brownsbride.com
Oscar de la Renta
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In the 1960s Oscar de la Renta began dressing the US first lady Jackie Kennedy. Stints at Balmain and Elizabeth Arden followed before he started his eponymous label in 1965, with his bridal range following in 2006. Since then the brand’s wedding dresses have been worn by everyone from Amal Clooney and Naomi Watts to Countess Olympia von und zu Arco-Zinneberg.
De la Renta bridal gowns are known for making a statement, whether that’s with a full A-line skirt, head-to-toe lace, appliqué detailing, over-the-top bows or the addition of fanciful feathers. Get the full experience by booking an appointment at the flagship boutique on Mount Street in Mayfair.
POA, oscardelarenta.com
Suzanne Neville
Neville launched her fashion business more than 30 years ago when she was only 19, after graduating from London College of Fashion. Her first bridal collection was immediately bought by Harrods and since then she has been the go-to British designer for those looking for a red carpet-worthy look (she’s as well known for her glamorous eveningwear as she is for her wedding dresses).
What really sets her dresses apart is the use of clever cuts and skilled corsetry — so good the wearer can drop a dress size. Her clean, modern silhouettes are crafted from the finest fabrics, which are sourced from Italy, France and Switzerland and always cut by hand. Neville still oversees every aspect of the business: book an appointment at her atelier in Knightsbridge and you’ll likely be greeted by Neville herself for your first toile fitting.
From £3,000, suzanneneville.com
Pronovias
One of the best-known bridal brands in the world, with outposts in New York, LA, Milan and Paris, all well as Bond Street in London, this Spanish label has become a go-to for discerning brides including Pippa Middleton, who chose a Pronovias gown for the reception of her 2017 wedding to James Matthews.
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The brand offers a range of collections, from the romantic Pronovias Privée to eco-friendly wedding dresses made from sustainable fabrics. But its most exclusive line is the haute couture Atelier Pronovias, which is handmade in Barcelona. Over the years the brand has collaborated with designers including Vera Wang and Elie Saab and, most recently, Marchesa, the label by the British-born designer Georgina Chapman.
From £2,000, pronovias.com
Sassi Holford
Holford got the royal seal of approval when Autumn Kelly chose one of her bespoke gowns for her Windsor Castle wedding to Peter Phillips in 2008, and since then she has become the designer of choice for brides looking for a classic, quintessentially British look. Self-taught Holford launched her business when she was 18, and four decades later she has a team of almost 50 based in the company’s Somerset atelier.
Having the brand’s pieces made in Britain has always been hugely important to the designer and she follows a “less-is-more” approach to dressmaking, letting clean lines and sumptuous fabrics do the talking. The brand has ateliers in South Kensington and Taunton.
From £2,400, sassiholford.com
Vivienne Westwood
For brides seeking a punk edge, a Vivienne Westwood wedding gown is the obvious choice. The great maverick designer introduced wedding gowns into her collections in 1992, and they quickly became the antithesis to the more twee, buttoned-up bridal look largely available at the time. Celebrated for their deft draping and fine corsetry, Westwood gowns reached peak fame after Sarah Jessica Parker’s character Carrie Bradshaw chose a voluminous Westwood dress for her wedding to Mr Big in the first Sex and the City film.
From £3,100, viviennewestwood.com
Caroline Castigliano
This British-born designer with more than 30 years’ experience in the business is known for her classic, clean lines. Castigliano’s dresses are meticulously hand-crafted in the UK and she sources the highest quality fabrics available, from silk organza to lace inlaid with intricate beadwork. A visit to her Knightsbridge atelier on Brompton Road is always an occasion. There you’ll be able to pick out your dream made-to-measure gown, with couture-trained fitting managers taking at least 20 measurements to ensure the perfect fit.
From £2,499, carolinecastigliano.com
Emilia Wickstead
As one of the Princess of Wales’s favourite designers, it’s hardly surprising that Emilia Wickstead has carved a niche for herself creating gowns for society brides. The London-based fashion designer started making wedding dresses after designing her own in 2011, officially launching her bridal line in 2017. Since then she has dressed India Hicks and Philippa Cadogan, among others.
The brand’s flagship store on Sloane Street has its own bridal salon, complete with marble floors and silk-lined walls. Every design is produced by hand in London and uses Italian fabrics, including duchess satin, silk zibeline and embroidered lace, to create its couture-like architectural silhouettes.
From £2,995, emiliawickstead.com
Hermione de Paula
The east London-based designer Hermione de Paula studied at Central St Martins, and from 2008 worked at Alexander McQueen and Christian Dior Couture. She launched her wedding range in 2015, describing her creations as “bridal art”. Her whimsically romantic couture gowns come with appliqué layered blooms, crystal butterflies and botanical-themed embroidery. Each of her dresses takes months to paint by hand and often includes specially designed artworks or messages such as memorable dates or pet portraits. The brand’s immersive Astrobotany Atelier in Islington is delightfully wacky, featuring a “moon beach”-themed fitting room with sunset lighting.
From £2,250, hermionedepaula.com
