The Who What Wear Podcast: WWW Weddings 2025: The Definitive Guide to This Year’s Bridal Fashion and Wedding Planning Trends

0:10Kristen Nichols:Welcome to the Who What Wear podcast, your direct line to the designers, stylists, beauty experts, editors, and tastemakers who are shaping the ever-evolving world of fashion. I'm Who What Wear's co-founder and chief content officer, Hilary Kerr, and today on the podcast, our Associate Director of Special Projects, Kristen Nichols, and Senior Fashion Editor, Anna LaPlaca, are giving you the definitive report on all things weddings. Kristen attended the Spring 2026 Bridal Fashion Week in New York earlier this year, and she's analyzed all of the bridal fashion trends to know, from chiffon capes, to grand, dramatic skirts, to the return of peplum silhouettes.

0:54Kristen Nichols:And Anna has been talking to experts in the wedding industry about everything beyond the dress. Think settings, decor, food, and stationery. They're covering all of the biggest trends to know, how the bridal industry reflects the larger fashion landscape, and which emerging designers to keep an eye on. It's all coming up on Who What Wear.

1:22Kristen Nichols:Hi, Anna. Hi, Kristen. So excited to be on the pod again and so excited to talk about all things weddings today.

1:30Anna LaPlaca:Yes, I'm going to give the rundown on the fashion trends I noticed from the spring 2026 Bridal Fashion Week that took place in New York earlier this year and how we're actually seeing those trends play out across the bridal industry. and Anna is writing a report on the larger themes around weddings overall this season. So she's going to break down what we're seeing across decor, food, destinations, and much, much more.

1:57Kristen Nichols:Kristen, should we start with wedding dress trends? Remind me what we're seeing in terms of bridal fashion trends this time last year. And then I'm curious if those trends have endured or if they've evolved or maybe even disappeared?

2:12Anna LaPlaca:Yes, I was trying to think back to what we were seeing last year, but we always do a really great annual wedding report. So I revisited it. And last year, some of the biggest trends we saw were a lot of drop wastes, this return to timeless elegance, and also the resurrection of a lot of archival looks as brides wanted to source these unique, rare, vintage pieces. And then we also saw a lot of thoughtful looks for pre-wedding events and after party looks as people have started to build out their wedding weekend wardrobes more so than just their actual wedding dress. And a bride who did it all was Alex Cooper, who really incorporated elements of all of those trends into her wedding wardrobe.

2:58Anna LaPlaca:I actually almost want to avoid using the word trends because a lot of these are very classic pieces, which is something I think we're seeing evolve in fashion overall as people really return to this kind of more timeless fashion. But it's especially making an impact in the wedding space. And then in terms of trends, there are a few that are kind of slowing down. I think last year was all about these neck scarves, also these dramatic floral appliques. But I think we've seen those slow down a little bit. And another one in that accessory space that we were kind of picking up on last summer are these chiffon capes.

3:33Anna LaPlaca:But I'm actually starting to see more and more of those. So I think that's something we'll have to keep our eye out for.

3:39Kristen Nichols:Oh, I love the idea of a chiffon cape. I think that also kind of mirrors what we're seeing in the ready-to-wear space as well with a lot of these cape tops in the summer and even in the winter. So I love the idea of that flowy movement type of piece as an evolution to all of the neck scarves of last year.

3:59Anna LaPlaca:Yeah, I think it's like a way we're seeing brides and non-brides really accessorize more evening looks. I think we saw Rosie Huntington-Whiteley just last week wear a look with that element on her summer family trip in Italy. And then I've seen Elsa Haas wear an element of that that's kind of like Grace Kelly inspired. So I think it does also harken back to that sense of like elegance and timelessness that's reinterpreted in a very modern way.

4:26Kristen Nichols:What about newer trends? Is there anything that feels especially fresh for this season that you're really excited for?

4:34Anna LaPlaca:Yeah, I think one of the things that made the biggest impact during Bridal Fashion Week specifically were these very grand gowns with voluminous skirts that are coming back in a big way. I think we saw gowns finish with these giant bubble skirts and Basque waists, really impactful looks. And I think it's perhaps a nod to the 80s glamour and lavishness that's also been taking over the runways. Anthony Vaccarello did this so well on his last runway show with giant bubble skirts that are very editorial, but just create a very impactful, maximalist moment that can also be very romantic at the same time.

5:12Kristen Nichols:Yes, I love all of those A-line moments. It feels very old school and timeless in a way.

5:20Anna LaPlaca:We saw this play out with pieces that felt a lot more traditional than things we've seen in past years. We saw this almost like 1950s, mid-century inspired design with the lace sleeves and a high turtleneck, which we saw Amelia Wickstead as well as Anne Barge pairing these lace covered top moments with full skirts that were actually very similar, if not inspired by what Grace Kelly wore for her wedding in 1956. Also, Markarian showed a slew of 1950s inspired looks as well. That really kind of was a range of styles from that era, whether it was a peplum jacket, or a very kind of like Dior new look A-line skirt.

6:05Anna LaPlaca:So I thought that was interesting. And then even like newer designers on the wedding market, like Tanner Fletcher had these very nostalgic looks. So I think there's a lot of looking back in fashion overall and in the bridal space specifically as well.

6:21Kristen Nichols:Yeah, absolutely. I think the 1950s and maybe even a bit of the early 60s are two past eras that we keep talking about. So on that note, I'm wondering how you see sort of this broader fashion landscape impacting what we're seeing in the bridal space. Is there anything in particular you've noticed?

6:41Anna LaPlaca:We really are just seeing this nostalgia sweep the fashion world right now in the wedding space. It's specifically this kind of golden age of style and the real celebrity moments or even bridal moments from the 1950s. I think we're seeing this in ready-to-wear as well, as I mentioned, whether it's looking back to the 80s at Saint Laurent, even with Jonathan Anderson's first ideas at Dior, there's this sense of looking back to the heyday of American sportswear, which doesn't necessarily translate it all to bridal. But I think overall, we're just seeing this sense of looking back in nostalgia. So I think we'll see that in the bridal space for a while.

7:21Kristen Nichols:It's been a very exciting time where I feel like designers are sort of reinterpreting these heritage moments from the past in fresh, modern ways. Well, speaking of designers, Are there any bridal designers to watch who are really running the show right now? Are there any classics that you think are always sort of leading the way and any newcomers that we should have on our radar?

7:46Anna LaPlaca:I would say for classics, a lot of brides still turn to Oscar de la Renta or Vera Wang and some of those kind of tried and true designers. Vivian Westwood is also very popular amongst the fashion set. And then I think really the name that every fashion person utters when they speak about weddings is Daniel Frankel, which is a brand that just continues to be the most coveted dress designer in the bridal space. Especially in recent seasons, we've started to see pieces that feel even more editorial and push the envelope even more. She's really setting the tone in terms of what directional bridal style looks like and whether or not you want to wear the very editorial piece or something perhaps more classic, she has a little bit of everything.

8:35Anna LaPlaca:But then there are also some newcomers that have been on my radar. The brand Lean, which has ready-to-wear and bridal, but has just like the most beautiful pieces. The Own Studio does a lot of custom and has just really, really beautiful pieces as well. And then Widerhoft and Tanner Fletcher are very talked about, especially on the New York fashion scene. And those are brands carving out a space in the bridal world, which is exciting.

9:02Kristen Nichols:Yeah. I particularly love the latter two that you mentioned. I think both of them are pushing things in such a new and experimental direction and it's been so exciting to see.

9:12Anna LaPlaca:Yeah. And even the format of their shows or lookbooks or presentations is kind of outside the box and rethinking the traditional wedding format. And then I also think there's just been this real rise in archival fashion, both in the wedding space as well as major runway moments. I think people are interested in sourcing items that are very unique and rare and perhaps one of a kind. So there are a few boutiques that specialize in this, for example, Tab Vintage and Happy Isles really cater to the bridal market. And I've just been seeing more and more people that have been going that route, if not for their actual wedding dress for the wedding weekend looks.

9:51Anna LaPlaca:And I think it's just so fun to add that really unique vintage element. And perhaps it's the one that got away and you spotted it years before and now you have an excuse to hunt it down.

10:03Kristen Nichols:Both of those that you mentioned are personal favorites of mine to follow on Instagram because I always want to see what they're sourcing and the references from the runways that they're sharing.

10:12Anna LaPlaca:It's always so exciting. Yeah, and I'm seeing a lot of brides turn to stylists who are kind of experts in this. For example, Vittoria Ceretti, well, it wasn't for her own wedding. She wore some wedding guest looks for a recent wedding that were all vintage. And Alex Cooper, as I mentioned, had a lot of vintage looks and they were sourced by her stylist. So I think it's really kind of this like niche area in the wedding space in general that's really fun. And I like, I'm so curious where everyone's finding everything.

10:41Kristen Nichols:Exactly. It's like putting an even more personal spin, I think, on the whole personal style element of bridal and even just wedding guest attire. But for those who might be looking for something forward and on trend, but aren't necessarily wanting to drop a ton of cash on either a custom piece or a lot of these archival looks that we've been talking about, are there any brands or maybe just avenues that you would suggest shopping in terms of like that lower or sort of like mid-priced range?

11:15Anna LaPlaca:I always recommend just looking for pieces from non-bridal ready-to-wear brands. I think so many brands create beautiful pieces that are in a white palette or a cream palette or very like wedding aligned design. And because they're not bridal, they don't necessarily have the high price point. A lot of the bridal pieces have attached to them. So I think that's always a great place to start, especially if there's a brand that you're aligned with wearing in your everyday life, I imagine they'll have something that would be suitable for a wedding as well. So I think that's a great avenue. And then I do think vintage is a great option too.

11:53Anna LaPlaca:Obviously, there's some specialized boutiques that have some very unique and perhaps high-priced vintage items, but I think you can pop over to some other vintage sources and there are so many great pieces to be found for lower price points that still have that craftsmanship or quality you might be looking for for a special day like your wedding.

12:15Kristen Nichols:I love both of those, but especially shopping from non-bridal brands that just happen to make dresses or looks in a white or ivory palette, I think is such an underrated hack because as anyone who has attempted to shop for bridal has realized, as soon as you put the word bride or wedding in front of anything, the price just tends to skyrocket. And I think that shopping from a brand that you already follow and love is just another way to kind of make sure that it's still a look that you feel like yourself in and that is really authentic to you. So I love both of those tips.

12:53Anna LaPlaca:Yeah, there's always different avenues to explore depending on your budget and style and what you're looking for. but beyond the dress I know you've been chatting with a number of experts about all of the wedding planning trends that are yet to unfold and would love to know who you've been

13:14Kristen Nichols:chatting with yes I have been speaking with a number of the top wedding planners in the industry and a few of the standout names include Jesse Toomes who is a wedding and event planning veteran They most recently worked with Kid Cudi for his stunning South of France wedding that, if you haven't glimpsed, just came out in Vogue. So highly recommend flipping through that. Really beautiful imagery. And then I also chatted with Mindy Weiss, who's the planner behind both Haley Steinfeld and Demi Lovato's weddings this year. And Suna Yasin and Molly Jones-Hennis of the firm Bash Please. and speaking of Alex Cooper and her highly documented nuptials last year they were the masterminds behind that beautiful destination wedding in Mexico.

14:07Anna LaPlaca:It's so interesting chatting with some of these experts because they really have a way of pushing weddings forward in a way that I never would have imagined and coming up with new ways to make all the wedding weekend events really exciting and fresh. After hearing some of the bridal fashion trends do they mirror what you've been seeing in terms of the wedding planning itself and what is the general vibe going to be?

14:31Kristen Nichols:Totally. I'm so glad you asked because there's so many different ways that there's a crossover between the two. And I loved what you were saying earlier about that timeless nostalgia and just sort of going back to references from the 1950s and a few of the ways that we're seeing that play out in terms of like the actual wedding planning, for starters would be stationary. So many of the planners I spoke with all echoed that there's something happening with invites and stationary where they're taking on this very classic and old school mood. And so they are largely inspired by these social invitations from the golden era.

15:15So think thick, buttery,

15:18Kristen Nichols:ivory paper, really deep letterpress printing that leaves that like 3D indentation and it just feels so luxe in your hand. Spot calligraphy and even using those wax seals for finishing off letters and envelopes. Something luxurious that you can really hold in your hand that feels special.

15:41Anna LaPlaca:I feel like it was the era of the Evite for so long and this is kind of the opposite of that. It's like really setting the tone from the very early stage of the wedding and you kind of get a little taste of the wedding you're about to head to.

15:54Kristen Nichols:Yeah, absolutely. One thing that some of our wedding planners mentioned was that Save the Dates are going more digital, but the actual invites themselves are almost going in the exact opposite direction. Instead of being this ephemeral fleeting invite, they are something that's so thought through that you might even want to keep it. And then one other way I thought things were sort of mirroring what's happening in bridal fashion was through the overall mood and aesthetics of weddings. And so in terms of like the color palette, one thing these planners called out was that the mood is getting much richer and, well, moodier, to be frank.

16:37Kristen Nichols:So some of the tones they called out were like oxidized copper, French navy, mossy green, and even oxblood. And then florals too are going in this much more structural and contemporary direction. So less of those traditional like peonies and garden roses and a lot more ikebana and almost like sculptural. So I think that's some of the directions aesthetics are moving.

17:05Anna LaPlaca:It's interesting because that's something I've also started to notice at brand events. And I love that that's translating to the wedding space as well.

17:12Kristen Nichols:Yeah, I think there's actually a lot more crossover than you might think in terms of fashion and wedding space, whether it's some of these event planners actually having a hand in some fashion events, or maybe just having that overall influence or pulling from the same references, there is definitely a through line there. So interesting.