Here comes the bride – and her dress is bigger and better than ever before.
While backyard chic and small destinations weddings had their moment, wedding experts are predicting that large celebrations to commemorate one’s nuptials is back – and opulence is the new DIY.
The upcoming Fall/Winter 25 and Spring/Summer 26 season will see brides walking down the aisle dressed in The Essence of Bridal Elegance – the theme at Rome Bridal Fashion Week held in Italy.
Designers at the glitzy event showcased their new styles for brides-to-be, including the award-winning New York-based bridal designer Justin Alexander Warshaw who predicated a surge of dramatic dresses for upcoming brides.
Justin is the CEO & Creative Director of his family-run international bridal wear fashion house, which was founded by his grandparents back in 1946.
Almost 80 years later, the business has become an in-demand powerhouse for brides searching for the right wedding dress for their big day.
DailyMail.com caught up with Justin at his Delivering on a Dream event in Rome, where he hosted a luxurious, Italian-inspired ‘faux’ wedding in the opulent Castello di Torcrescenza.
From voluminous bridal gowns to dramatic veils and shape-shifting waistlines – we discovered the new trends that will help brides say ‘I do’ in style, and of course the fashion faux pas they should avoid.
Wedding experts are predicting that large celebrations to commemorate one’s nuptials is back – and opulence is the new DIY
Bigger the better
‘What’s exciting for me is with COVID you saw some brides going bigger for their dress and more drama with the designs a little bit,’ says Justin.
He continued: ‘There was this craze for backyard weddings and destination weddings.
‘And what I see happening now is people are embracing celebration again and dresses are getting bigger.’
He adds: ‘At trunk shows, brides are asking us to make a dress with a 20-foot train.
‘A lot of it is about the drama, the photos, and making a statement about what you’re wearing. So, I think extended trains are such a great way to do that.’
Elaborate traditional veils
As a bride walks down the aisle it’s her veil that will command attention from guests.
Justin recommends brides-to-be look to traditional veil designs to help make a statement alongside their wedding dress.
‘The day and age of the raw edge tulle veil is what has been in right now, but there’s a resurgence of some fashions that we haven’t seen so much,’ reveals Justin.
He explains: ‘In terms of veils, we get more and more requests for blushers and in this next season there will be a return to traditional mantillas.’
Also, he adds that brides should ‘now incorporate an all-over pearl veil or all-over lace veil.’
Justin recommends brides-to-be look to traditional veil designs to help make a statement alongside their wedding dress
Let your dress shine in crystals and drip in pearls
Long gone are the days when brides just wore pearls on their necks, as Justin predicts opulent bridal dress jewelry will be on trend down the aisle.
‘For many seasons it has been about subtle embellishment – like clear or ivory beadwork accenting clean dresses,’ he says.
‘But brides now want dramatic silver embellishment and statement accent jewelry on the dress.’
He adds: ‘Rhinestones, crystals and pearls also give off a vintage-inspired feeling when it comes to bridalwear, and it’s a perfect statement of what’s hot right now in bridal and what is coming.’
Alternative waistlines
Waistlines on bridal gowns are now in a transitional phase. As Justin reveals: ‘For so long it’s been a natural waistline, but I think alternative waistlines are really popular right now, whether that be a rounded, drop or Basque waist.
‘A classic natural waistline is straight across at where you’d wear a belt, for example.
‘It was a big trend for brides but if you go back 10 to 15 years ago, it wasn’t that, it was a variety of waistlines.’
He explains: ‘Now there’s just this movement back to where waistlines are dropping lower, at least by two to four or more inches down.
‘I find that drop waists and Basque waistlines are super flattering on so many figures including curvy women. It reveals more of the full waist and then a bit of hip and it’s very flattering.’
The expert said: ‘But brides now want dramatic silver embellishment and statement accent jewelry on the dress’
Bridal fashion faux pas
Before saying yes to the dress, Justin has also delivered his verdict on the potential fashion faux pas a bride-to-be can make.
Don’t take the plunge – and ditch V necks in favor of something new.
‘People are moving away from plunge necklines,’ says Justin. ‘A plunge is great because it can elongate the torso, but they’re a little less popular than they were.’
He explains: ‘I think there’s a little bit of a return to modesty. Consider an alternative neckline to a plunge.’
‘V-neck bridal dresses have been done death,’ says Justin. ‘Let’s refresh and try a new neckline, like a cat eye or a scoop or a square.’
He adds: ‘We work with brides, but we also look at the analytical side and the numbers, and for so many years, V neck has been it.
‘Now we’re seeing more scoop, the cat eye neckline, which is basically like a scoop without a strap. What’s nice is that it covers up an area that women like to cover but it’s super elegant, classic, and it’s gorgeous.’
According to Justin, one thing he always tell brides to you want to pick a dress that’s timeless and will stand the test of time.
According to Justin, one thing he always tell brides to you want to pick a dress that’s timeless and will stand the test of time
Comfort and quality are key
While most weddings tend to be a costly affair, Justin recommends not cutting corners when it comes to your bridal gown.
‘You’re going to be in this dress all day so avoid dresses that have been designed cheaply,’ says Justin.
‘Look out for the quality of the corsetry, as well as the materials that have been used, and that the embellishments are in the right places that don’t scratch.’
He adds: ‘The laces can be scratchy if they’re not of high quality, they won’t be comfortable and it’s not soft to the touch.’
While most weddings tend to be a costly affair, Justin recommends not cutting corners when it comes to your bridal gown, urging brides to be comfortable
‘For the corset themselves, look out for the number of bones, the material on the inside, is it soft? Is it delicate to the touch? Is there a good cup shape? Those things are important.’
His final piece of advice is to avoid buying your wedding dress online if you can help it.
‘I believe that the bride, her bridesmaids, or family members should visit a store and have an incredible experience and the time of their lives shopping for a dress,’ says Justin.
He adds: ‘Go to a shop that has experts and stylists that know how to get you the right fit and dress.’
