With celebrations officially back underway, we’re so thrilled to be spending our weekends with our couples once again. We love catching glimpses of first looks, witnessing ceremonies, and watching as friends and family reunite throughout the night. Of course, we also love seeing the details up close, especially our favorite one – the bride’s wedding dress.
Wedding dresses are iconic, and we never tire of seeing them or talking about them. So, we thought we would catch up with a few of our favorite boutique owners and designers in Philadelphia to talk about a topic we all know and love – wedding dress trends. Over the next few weeks, we’ll introduce you to three area pros we know you will love. In order for you to get to know each, we’ll share their answers to our most pressing questions from 90s trends to their gown picks for classic, modern, and garden brides.
Today, we’re thrilled for you to (re)meet Ivy Kaplin! She’s the owner of Lovely Bride Philadelphia, and you may remember her from her Styled Spotlight feature. We adore Ivy to this day, and our brides do too. So, keep reading below as she answers our six most pressing questions about wedding dresses in 2021 and beyond.
What wedding dress trends are you most excited to see in 2021?
My favorite wedding dress trend of 2021 is definitely the square neckline. It is flattering on so many shapes and sizes and works well for both fuller and fitted skirts.
How are fashion trends, like ’90s style, influencing wedding dresses?
We’ve seen a lot of spaghetti straps on wedding gowns recently. This is a huge 90’s influence. A few years ago, brides would find spaghetti straps to feel too casual, but we see people really embracing them! The thin straps have such a nice feminine feel. Add a cowl neck or cowl back, and we are really embracing the 90’s! This and this are two of our fave gowns right now that have a little 90’s inspo.
Are brides who hosted (or are hosting!) micro weddings purchasing a second dress if they’re now planning to celebrate more than once? If they’re planning to wear the same dress, what’s the best way to create two unique looks?
I think one of the best things that has come out of the pandemic is that we are all embracing that there is no “norm.” So for our micro wedding gals who are planning something bigger later down the line, this rings true. We’ve seen brides do all sorts of things. Clients wearing (or plan to wear) the same gown twice. Some brides wear their original gown for their micro wedding and want something different for the big shebang, and we’ve also seen girls wear something more simple to the micro wedding and save their original gown to show off in front of a bigger crowd.
For those that want to wear the same dress to both events, we love the idea of styling it two different ways. Hair, makeup, and jewelry can play a big role in this. Changing from an updo to wearing your hair down in loose waves can completely change the feel of one’s look. We love the addition of a big tulle overskirt on top of a fitted dress. This really gives two looks while letting you still wear that gown you truly love to both events.
If you had to style a modern bride, a classic bride, and a bride celebrating in a garden, which dress from your collection would you choose for each?
Oooo….this is fun!
- Modern Bride
- Giovanna by Sarah Seven is super chic. The side cutouts are both flattering and very modern.
- Classic Bride
- The Kitt gown by Watters is classic and timeless. The full skirt with buttons going all the way down the train is the epitome of bridal.
- Garden Wedding Bride
- Azalea says it all in the name! The gown is meant to be floating outside. The floral applique and soft tulle skirt would fit perfectly in a garden setting.
What are the current must-have wedding accessories?
Lots of our clients are embracing dramatic veils, and we LOVE it! You get to wear a veil once, so go ahead and make it special.
We are also seeing lots of pearl details. Hair pieces, jewelry, veils, and even some gowns have beautiful pearl details.
What is your top tip for brides currently shopping for their wedding dresses?
My biggest tip for brides shopping for wedding gowns is to do a little homework first. Look at images online and make notes of designers that you are drawn to. Then look up the stores in your area and see who carries those designers and styles. Each bridal shop carries specific designers, so book with the store or stores that match your vibe.
Make sure to follow along with Ivy and Lovely Bride on Instagram, and see more of Lovely Bride’s collection online! We’ll be back with our next wedding dress trends feature. Stay tuned!
