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Six High-Fashion Trends from New York Bridal Fashion Week

High-end and designer luxury bridal fashion lovers unite as I share the top wedding fashion trends that I spotted coming down the runway at this season’s designer shows in New York City. The spring season brings warm sunshine and blooming gardens, and I always get excited for the change of seasons as I look forward to another trip to New York City for the best high-fashion bridal event to kick off spring. The Spring Bridal Fashion Week is the unofficial kickoff to spring wedding season for bridal dress designers and bridal stores alike.

I was lucky to be able to take a quick break from photographing weddings to attend the runway shows of some of the best bridal designers on the market right now. As an official fashion photographer for these high-fashion wedding dress designers, I was able to witness all the behind the scenes action as well as the top new bridal fashion trends for the upcoming seasons that brides will soon see popping up in bridal stores all across the country.

Across the many designer runway shows I attended, there were six main trends that I saw repeated in bridal fashion and bridal accessories. I can’t wait to see how brides-to-be will take these emerging trends and make them their own as they walk down the aisles at their weddings.

Top Bridal Trends Revealed

The top six wedding fashion trends I am most excited about are wedding dresses with bold prints and colors, dropped waist wedding dresses, wedding dresses with belts, unique and fun textures, floral wedding veils, and romantic design elements.

For a more detailed look into the emerging bridal fashion trends, Destination I Do shares their top wedding dress designs. I was honored that Destination I Do shared my images in their profile on this year’s spring bridal market. 

Designer BTS

No trip to the bridal market as a photographer is complete without sharing those truly special, behind-the-scenes moments that happen before the dresses make their way down the aisle…I mean runway! Backstage watching and experiencing the hustle and bustles is one of my favorite times for photographing any designer runway fashion show. In these chaotic moments as last-minute prep is being done on the dresses and the models and being prepped – this is when you really get to see the dresses and experience the details of the designs up close and personal.

As a photographer, I’m honored to be able to share these intimate behind-the-scenes moments with you. Before we dive into all the amazing new bridal fashion trends, I want to share a few of my favorite behind-the-scenes and rare backstage runway moments from Spring 2024 Bridal Fashion Week in NYC that I was able to photograph:

Models behind the scenes at Anne Barge Runway Show. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.Textural wedding dresses Anne Barge.

Textured floral lace wedding dress by Elie Saab. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.

3D floral lace appliques wedding dress by Elie Saab

Models heading to the runway at Galia Lahav. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Floral lace wedding dresses by Galia Lahav.

Bold lace patterned wedding dress with long sleeves by Galia Lahav. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Bold lace wedding dress by Galia Lahav.

Off the shoulders wedding dress with crystal embellished tights and sleeves by Idan. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Off the shoulders wedding dress with embellished tights by Idan.

Mermaid fitted wedding dress with metallic embellishments by Ines di Santo. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Metallic mermaid wedding dress by Ines Di Santo.

Architectural neckline strapless wedding dress by Justin Alexander. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Architectural neckline wedding dress by Justin Alexander.

Floral lace wedding dress with bow at waist by Mira Zwillinger. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Floral lace wedding dress by Mira Zwillinger.

Models prepare for the runway at Sareh Nouri. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Last minute model touch-ups at Sareh Nouri.

Models prepare for bridal runway at Sareh Nouri fashion show. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Textural wedding dresses by Sareh Nouri.

Backless wedding dress with long train by Savannah Miller. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Backless wedding dress by Savannah Miller.

New Bridal Fashion Trend #1: Bold Prints & Colors

One of the most exciting new bridal fashion trends to hit the top designer runways is bold prints and colors on luxury wedding gowns. The top bridal designers are using fun florals and pops of colors in new and exciting ways on their high end wedding dress designs that are a perfect fit for brides looking for a wedding dress that is a bit non-traditional. From watercolor-inspired florals to embroidery details to bolder uses of color and statement lace patterns, unconventional wedding dress designs with a wow-factor are only growing in popularity.

Here are a few of my favorite wedding dresses with bold prints and colors from this year’s runway:

Large floral lace patterned wedding dress by Ines Di Santo. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.Statement lace patterned wedding dress by Ines Di Santo.

Large floral lace patterned wedding dress by Ines Di Santo. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.Something blue wedding dress by Ines Di Santo.

Colorful reception bridal dress with embroidery by Ines Di Santo. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Metallic embroidered dress by Ines Di Santo.

Colorful bridal ball gowns by Ines Di Santo. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.Pastel colored ball gown bridal dresses by Ines Di Santo.

Black and white graffiti inspired wedding dress by Justin Alexander. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Black and white graffiti inspired wedding dress by Justin Alexander.

Wedding dress with bold red roses painted on by Justin Alexander. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.Red roses painted wedding dress by Justin Alexander.

Watercolor inspired floral wedding dress by Lara Knight. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.Watercolor floral wedding dress by Lara Knight.

Bold floral lace patterned wedding dress by Lara Knight. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Bold floral lace wedding dress by Lara Knight.

Bold floral lace wedding dress by Mira Zwillinger. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Bold floral patterned wedding dress by Mira Zwillinger.

Colorful garden inspired wedding dress by Nardos. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Colorful garden-inspired bridal dress by Nardos.

Something blue wedding dress with floral appliques by Nardos. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.Blue floral appliques wedding dress by Nardos.

Statement lace patterned wedding dress by Nardos. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.Wedding dress with statement lace pattern by Nardos.

New Bridal Fashion Trend #2: Dropped Waist

Taking inspiration from historical fashion, dropped waist wedding dresses were seen at multiple runway shows across NYC this season. A basque waist, or dropped waistline, dips down lower than a traditional wedding dress’ waistline and accentuates the length of the torso, allowing for more volume at the hips. It’s a feminine design touch that traditional brides will love.

Here are a few basque waistline wedding dresses from this year’s runways:

Floral lace basque waist wedding dress by Galia Lahav. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Floral lace basque waist wedding dress by Galia Lahav.

Floral lace ballgown with basque waist by Lihi Hod. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.Basque waist lace wedding dress by Lihi Hod.

No lace, minimalist wedding dress with basque waistline. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.Minimalist wedding dress with basque waistline by Lihi Hod.

Minimalist, no lace wedding dress with basque waistline by Sareh Nouri. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Minimalist basque waist wedding dress by Sareh Nouri.

Short wedding dress with basque waistline by Savannah Miller. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.Little white dress with basque waistline by Savannah Miller.

New Bridal Fashion Trend #3: Belts

What might seem like a small design element for wedding dresses, belts were making a statement across the New York City runways this year. Cinching the waist or adding a decorative bow, wedding dresses with belts are making a chic, feminine statement with many of the top bridal designers.

Belts are a simple yet stylish way to create definition at the waist of a wedding dress, and I, for one, can’t wait to see this chic bridal detail come down the wedding ceremony aisles!

Here are a few wedding dresses with high-fashion belts from this year’s runways:

Simple wedding dress with bow on belt by Anne Barge. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.Bow belt wedding dress by Anne Barge.

Wedding dress with two bow belts by Markarian. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.Double bow belted wedding dress by Markarian.

Floral appliques wedding dress with belt by Elie Saab. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Floral appliques belted bridal dress by Elie Saab.

Belted ballgown wedding dress by Elie Saab. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.Belted ball gown wedding dress by Elie Saab.

Minimalist wedding dress with bow belt by Anne Barge. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.Minimalist wedding dress with bow on belt by Anne Barge.

New Bridal Fashion Trend #4: Rich Textures

Possibly my favorite new bridal fashion trend seen on the runways this year was the unique use of rich textures. I saw beaded wedding dresses, rich textural lace dresses, bridal dresses with layers of ruffled tulle, three-dimensional appliques, and even pearl-studded bridal dresses. Texture on a wedding dress provides a great deal of interest and intricate detail so much so that these designer dresses make a statement from every angle – truly a photographer’s dream!

Here are a handful of my favorite textural wedding dresses coming down the runways:

Floral embroidery wedding dress by Anne Barge. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography.Floral embroidery wedding dress by Anne Barge.

3d floral appliques and metallic wedding dress by Elie Saab. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Floral appliques wedding dress by Elie Saab.

Beaded wedding dress by Elie Saab. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Beaded wedding dress by Elie Saab.

Beaded and floral appliques wedding dress by Elie Saab. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Appliques and beaded wedding dress by Elie Saab.

Something blue, floral appliques wedding dress by Galia Lahav. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. 3D floral wedding dress by Galia Lahav.

Ruffled tulle wedding dress by Idan. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Wedding dress with ruffled tulle skirt by Idan.

Textural lace wedding dress with long sleeves by Lihi Hod. Textural lace wedding dress by Lihi Hod.

Quilted textural wedding dress with matching cape by Markarian. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Quilted wedding dress with a matching cape by Markarian.

Pearl studded wedding dress by Nardos. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Pearl studded wedding dress by Nardos.

New Bridal Fashion Trend #5: Floral Veils

Trending designer fashion doesn’t apply just to the dresses! Bridal designers were showing off their latest bridal accessories too! Floral wedding veils were popular styles across many of the top luxury bridal designers. A floral detailed wedding veil adds the perfect feminine and whimsical touch to any bridal style. I saw delicate embroidered floral lace edged veils to veils with cascading floral appliques. A floral bridal veil can match the wedding dress with it’s detail and design, or compliment it – either way, I’m here for it!

A few of my favorite floral wedding veil looks from Bridal Fashion Week:

Floral lace edged wedding veil by Idan. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Floral lace veil by Idan.

Floral embroidery wedding veil by Sareh Nouri. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Embroidered wedding veil by Sareh Nouri.

Floral appliques wedding veil by Sareh Nouri. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Wedding veil with floral appliques by Sareh Nouri.

Floral embroidery wedding veil by Rime Arodaky. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Floral embroidery wedding veil by Rime Arodaky.

Floral lace wedding veil by Mira Zwillinger. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Floral lace wedding veil by Mira Zwillinger.

Delicate lace edge wedding veil by Lihi Hod. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Floral lace edge wedding veil by Lihi Hod.

Long wedding veil with floral appliques by Lihi Hod. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Wedding veil with appliques by Lihi Hod.

New Bridal Fashion Trend #6: Romantic & Drama

Last but not least, bridal fashion week brought the romance and the drama! Many bridal designers were upping the romance in their latest collection with delicate floral accents and lace detailing. Bridal capes added a fun romantic twist to traditional silhouettes and I couldn’t get enough of the texture and detail on the new designer bridal dresses. The bridal designers brought it this season with show-stopping designs and ethereal details that will create unforgettable moments ton this year’s wedding aisles.

Here are a few of my favorite romantic wedding dress and dramatic bridal details coming down the runway:

Floral lace wedding dress with matching cape by Galia Lahav. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Lace wedding dress with matching cape by Galia Lahav.

Chic wedding dress with sheer cape by Savannah Miller. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Romantic chic caped wedding dress by Savannah Miller.

Wedding dress with floral embroidery sleeves by Rime Arodaky. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Embroidery sleeves wedding dress by Rime Arodaky.

High neck lace wedding dress with long sleeves by Lihi Hod. Long sleeves, high neckline lace wedding dress by Lihi Hod.

Romantic lace ball gown wedding dress with off the shoulders sleeves by Lihi Hod. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Romantic lace ball gown bridal dress by Lihi Hod.

Floral embroidery wedding dress by Ines Di Santo. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Romantic floral embroidered wedding dress by Ines Di Santo.

Pearl studded bridal cape by Ines Di Santo. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Pearl studded bridal cape by Ines Di Santo.

Romantic silhouette wedding dress with removable sleeves by Idan. New York Bridal Fashion Week Spring 2025. Sarah Bradshaw Photography. Romantic removable sleeves wedding dress by Idan.

That wraps up some of my favorite trending bridal fashion styles from the latest runway shows. It is hard to pick just one as a favorite! I can’t wait to see how some of my brides will incorporate these new trends into their wedding day fashion in the next year or two.

As you’re shopping for your dream wedding dress and booking your bridal appointments, be sure to look out for these new high-fashion bridal trends in your local bridal boutique.

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

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about sarah

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With nearly 20 years of experience behind the lens and a portfolio that spans four continents, Sarah brings a refined, story-driven approach to the events of a wedding. Her work has published in Brides, Martha Stewart Weddings, Southern Living, as well as print & digital outlets around the globe.

Sarah Bradshaw is an internationally recognized wedding & event photographer. Combining a background in international photojournalism, a love for classical art, and a genuine interest in people, Sarah creates images that are at once iconic and intimate, effortless and intentional, in the moment and intended for a lifetime.