The Quiet Wedding: Dresses for People Who Hate Veils
Short, long, white, not white. A guide to wearing what feels like you on the day.
Not every wedding needs a veil, a train or a tiara. A growing number of couples are choosing simpler days: smaller guest lists, shorter dresses, suits in unexpected colours. The clothes have followed.
If you are planning something quiet, here is what we would suggest:
- Pick the setting first. A registry office, a garden and a village hall each ask for a different kind of outfit.
- Wear something you can sit in. You will be sitting, eating and dancing. Comfort matters.
- Think beyond white. Ivory, cream, pale blue and soft rose all photograph beautifully.
- Choose shoes you can stand in all day. Flats are not a compromise.
- Wear it again. A dress that works for a second occasion is a better investment than one that lives in a box.
The best bridal outfits we have seen did not look like costumes. They looked like the person, on a very good day.
Written by
Imogen Vale
Fashion director. Writes about tailoring, the economics of getting dressed, and why most people already own enough.