Jacquard wedding dress by Anne Barge

Every year, Bridal Fashion Week brings even more action to New York City. I was lucky enough to take a quick break from photographing weddings to head up to NYC and attend the runway shows as the official photographer for some of the best, most sought-after wedding dress designers. While photographing their behind-the-scenes magic ahead of the Fall 2024 wedding bridal fashion season, I spotted five of the most popular new trends in bridal fashion that brides need to know about for their upcoming weddings.

As a high fashion bridal photographer working backstage at many of this year’s fashion shows, I had the honor of seeing first-hand the newest bridal trends before they walked the runways. I’m sharing the top five bridal fashion trends that I saw repeated throughout many of the new wedding dress collections from the top bridal designers. Brides will be able to see these emerging trends pop up in bridal stores all across the country as the new bridal dress styles make their way from the fashion runways of New York to the bridal boutiques to the wedding aisles of brides-to-be everywhere.

Fall 2024’s top five bridal fashion trends that brides need to be on the look-out for when they make appointments to try on their wedding dresses are (in no particular order, because who can choose a favorite trend!?) wedding dresses with bows, bridal capes, dresses with feathers and fun textures, wedding dresses with statement lace, and last but certainly not least, little white wedding dresses. Read on as I share photos that I took of each new bridal trend on this year’s runways.

Before I dive into it, here are some of my favorite moments that I captured behind the scenes at Fall 2024’s New York Bridal Fashion Week as models were prepped and ready to walk the runways in this year’s hottest wedding fashion shows.

Ethereal designer wedding dresses by Alexandra Grecco

Wedding dress with removable sleeves by Ines Di Santo

Lace and pearl wedding dresses by Sareh Nouri

Modern feminine wedding dress by Alexandra Grecco

Statement lace wedding veil and ball gown wedding dress by Nardos

Beaded wedding dress by Alexandra Grecco

Sparkle wedding dress by Elie Saab

Modern off-the-shoulder wedding dress by Sareh Nouri

Strapless ball gown wedding dress by Anne Barg

 

New Bridal Fashion Trend: Bows

Bows were everywhere at Bridal Fashion Week! From massive statement bows on the back of wedding dresses to bows added throughout the dresses on sleeves and necklines with more delicate and subtle detailing, bridal fashion with bows is growing in popularity. You had me at sparkle beading, crystals, and pearls hand-sewn in the shape of a bow across the bodice of a ball gown-style wedding dress!

Bows are a wedding trend that I personally really love for an extra special bridal detail. As a fashion photographer who also photographs weddings in addition to the runways, I can’t wait to see all of the bows coming down the aisles!

Here are a few of my favorite trending bow details from this year’s runways:

Beaded bow wedding dress by Elie Saab

Blush pink bow sleeve wedding dress by Anne Barge

Statement bow wedding dress with feathers by Nardos

Modern bow bodice wedding dress by Elie Saab

Wedding dress with blush pink bow cape by Sareh Nouri

Colorful floral wedding dress with something blue bow tie straps by Anne Barge

Pearl encrusted wedding dress with bow ties down the back by Sareh Nouri

New Bridal Fashion Trend: Capes

Que a take-your-breath-away moment at weddings with this newest bridal fashion trend! The runways were full of bridal capes. Capes are certainly not new in fashion, but this year’s bridal capes were unique in their styling and detailed in their designs with tulle and floral appliques. Bridal capes are perfect for brides who want to make a fashion statement. I love the layered look of a bridal cape and the versatility they offer brides who want to have a dramatic reveal, or quickly and easily change up their bridal look on wedding day.

Brides getting married in any season can wear a cape for their wedding ceremony and then transform the look of the wedding dress by removing the cape for the reception. It’s a 2 in 1 wedding fashion moment that will have your guests doing a double take! A bridal cape will certainly add a bit of drama and elegance to any wedding day look.

Here are a few of my favorite bridal capes that make a statement down this year’s bridal fashion runways:

Dramatic floral detailed wedding cape by Nardos

Sheer tulle wedding cape by Nardos

New Bridal Fashion Trend: Feathers & Fun Texture

The most playful bridal fashion trend on showcase this season is feathers and fun textures without a doubt. From feathers to ruffles to 3D floral appliques, unique textures, and whimsical elements were on full display from many bridal designers.

What I appreciate the most about wedding dresses with feathers and lots (and lots!) of texture is that these details give yet another element of surprise to each wedding dress. When the dress itself moves and creates interest as it walks down the runway or aisle, it’s every photographer’s dream! From short mini wedding dresses to dramatic extra-long trains, feathers, flowers, and layers upon layers of fabric, this year’s bridal designer did not disappoint in the texture department.

Here are a few of my favorite feathered and textured wedding dresses to walk the runways this year:

Feather and sparkle bridal jacket by Elie Saab

3D floral appliques wedding dress by Nardos

3D floral appliques mermaid style wedding dress by Ines Di Santo

Ruffled skirt wedding dress with 3D applique bodice by Nardos

Beaded fringe and sparkle wedding dresses by Nardos

Ruffled tulle wedding dress with extra long train by Nardos

New Bridal Fashion Trend: Statement Lace

From sleeves to the bodice to peek-a-boo illusion to all over, lace is always going to be trending in bridal fashion. This bridal fashion season brought bolder lace patterns, particularly in floral patterns, and lace incorporated into the bridal dresses in never-before-seen ways. Three-dimensional lace elements were seen in many of the new bridal designs as well as illusion lace used throughout designs. I spotted lots of lace floral detailing on wedding dresses and bridal accessories like wedding veils

While lace is never ever (ever!) going to go out of style from the runway to the wedding aisle, I was happy to see lace incorporated in new and interesting ways. I was also excited to see how lace was used to carry out a few of the other must-see bridal fashion trends from this year’s runway shows such as texture, capes, and bows. And of course, who doesn’t love a lacey little white dress!

Here are my favorite statement lace moments from this year’s bridal fashion runways:

Feminine illusion lace wedding dress by Berta

Floral illusion lace wedding dress by Elie Saab

Drop waist floral wedding dress with corset top by Ines Di Santo

Floral lace wedding dress with short sleeves by Nardos

Dramatic floral lace wedding veil by Nardos

Long sleeves floral lace wedding dress by Sareh Nouri

Colorful floral lace reception bridal dress with tulle underskirt by Sareh Nouri

All-over lace wedding dress with short sleeves by Nardos

Floral lace long sleeves wedding dress by Sareh Nouri

New Bridal Fashion Trend: Little White Dresses

This year’s bridal designers delivered in a big way on the little dresses! Short and mini wedding dresses have been growing in popularity in the last couple of years as brides want to make more of a fashion statement on their wedding day. I love a little white dress for a reception bridal dress outfit change, or a send-off outfit to hit your wedding’s after party. I even love a little white dress for your engagement party, bridal shower, or rehearsal dinner. Although I’m partial to a dramatic bridal dress moment walking down the aisle, who can resist an adorable and ultra-chic little white dress moment on the big day?!

I saw so many unique little white, and not so white, wedding dresses coming down this year’s bridal runways. As brides are embracing the opportunity to curate and style their wedding day look with multiple dresses, I’m happy to see the dress designers are giving them lots of options with short, mini-style wedding dresses in all shapes, sizes, detailing, and textures.

Here are some of my favorite little white dress moments from this year’s bridal fashion week:

Strapless and classic little white dress by Anne Barge

Hi-low hem colorful reception bridal dress by Sareh Nouri

Beaded pearl encrusted little white dress by Sareh Nouri

What do you think? Which bridal fashion trend is your favorite? Do you think you will be trying on any of these bridal fashion trends when you shop for your dream wedding dress? I can’t wait to see all of these amazing wedding dresses and bridal fashion coming down the aisle in the next year or two!

All photographs in this post are credited to Sarah Bradshaw Photography.