We’re getting to the pointy end of the year, guys, and you know what that means… today we’re counting down (in no particular order) your top 10 most loved bridal looks of the year. And we say ‘looks’ not ‘dresses’ because gone are the days when bridal meant strictly gowns. No, these days it’s all about wearing what you love, what looks amazing and – above all – whatever makes you feel heckin’ gorgeous. That might be a gown, and we’re here for it – but it might also be a pantsuit. Or a mini dress (it makes dancing that much easier… #justsayin). Perhaps it’s a jumpsuit or a kaftan or, heck, why not wear wedding shorts if that’s your vibe? Seriously, folks, this is your day, done your way, and the mix of looks that have hit our top 10 this year are proof that picking an outfit that’s truly ‘you’ never goes out of style.
In amongst these looks – all bloody gorgeous, btw – you’ll find some downright delightful designs from the likes of Prea James Bridal, Hope X Page, Luci Di Bella Design House, Grace Loves Lace and Karen Willis Holmes to name just a few. You’ll find elegance, classic cuts and modern takes; lace, tulle and plenty of sparkle. You’ll find unique structural pieces, whimsical details and fairytale romance. Basically, there’s a little something for everyone in our 2021 Bridal Looks Roundup, with pics by camera geniuses like Miranda Stokkel, One Spoon Two Spoon, Zoe Morley Photography, Janneke Storm, Lauren Campbell, Ali Bailey, Alexandra Cohen and so many more.
By the way, if you haven’t checked them out yet, take a look at the rest of our roundups for 2021 when you’re done with all this finery – we’ve got the best in cakes, bouquets, event styling, wedding party looks and grooms’ gear to get you nice and inspired for your own big day. Enjoy!
BONNY & ANDREW, WA
It must be said: the folks at Grace Loves Lace know their way around a wedding dress. Bonny’s slinky, silky gown was the first dress she tried on… and the last! “I wanted something simple and timeless with a low-cut back,” she explains of her pick. “I found this beautiful silk gown whilst scrolling through Instagram and I knew I had to have it. I flew my mum over from Sydney to show her and we both knew it was the one straight away, I didn’t bother looking anywhere else. I added a touch more detail with a pearl back piece.” The elegant Grace Loves Lace number was the perfect partner for Andrew’s M.J. Bale suit, with another HM fave, Alexandra Cohen, snapping pics on the day (get in touch with her here). Gorge!
DEMI & JAMES, NSW
Okay, stop. Just stop everything. It’s not just the freakin’ stunning wide-leg pant and structured blazer two-piece that we’re loving here, it’s that incredible floaty veil, too. What a shot! (Snapped by the ever-so-talented Zoe Morley Photography, in case you were wondering.) Both the sweet suit and that ethereal swathe of tulle are by the brilliant Karen Willis Holmes. “I was on a photo shoot when I found my perfect outfit,” shares model Demi. “As soon as I put it on I felt so incredible, I didn’t want to take it off. I knew it was what I wanted to wear on my special day. The girls at Karen Willis Holmes were amazing as well. We had such a fun time in the showroom together and they made my experience a dream.” Teamed with a pair of Meggan Morimoto heels and this look is officially modern-bridal heaven. (Psst – click here for more from Zoe Morley Photography.)
XANTHE & MARK, NSW
When a bride heads to one of Hello May‘s favourite boutiques and picks out a little something by one of our top designers, you know you’re going to get something a bit spesh and that’s just what happened with Xanthe headed to Hope x Page and picked out a Prea James Bridal skirt and top for the big day. “I wore the Cecile Blouse and Tyler Skirt,” she shares, adding that the experience at Hope X Page was “amazing”. Alex and her team “were so lovely and easy to deal with. They would be so excited and happy the minute I’d walk in the door, which gets you so excited.” We’re loving those long sleeves with the bell details over the hands, not to mention the stellar job Justin Aaron Photography did documenting the whole day. Check out all his snaps from the wedding here (and here’s his directory listing to boot!). Obsessed with the look? Get in touch with Prea James Bridal, stat.
TYLER & BEN, NSW
Before she joined team Hello May as Fashion Market Editor, Ty proved she knows how to pull a look together – just check out that dreamy J. ANDREATTA gown. Paired with pure white Spring Court sneakers, Ty was serving edgy-cool fairytale-romance-meets-street-chic bridal vibes when she and Ben tied the knot. “I used to stop and stare at the window displays at J. ANDREATTA, so that’s where I headed!” she spills. “I had my sights set on one of Jessica’s most romantic and flirty dresses but tried them all on just to be safe. In the end, though, it was that first dress that had me feeling like a teenager in love.” Lei Lei Clavey is to thank for these delicious shots, snapped in the Art Gallery NSW (what a venue!) – check out all the rest of the pics over here.
TASH & JOEL, ACT
This right here, folks, is where art and fashion collide and when Tash found her incredible structural dress in online Italian boutique Ivo Milan, she had to have it for her big day. “I’m not someone to typically wear dresses so I knew going in that I didn’t want a traditional wedding dress. As soon as I laid eyes on the dress I knew it was the one. It just had this amazing structure and sculptural silhouette and was so aesthetically breathtaking, that I knew I wasn’t going to look any further.” The dress in question is a Junya Watanabe x Marimekko Comme des Garcons number purchased from Ivo Milan, which “specialises in avant-garde clothing (or radical fashion – in their words)”. Lauren Campbell is responsible for the stunning pics and if you’re loving that impressive bouquet, you’re not alone – the Laurel & Lace creation made it into our 2021 Top 10 Bouquets Roundup (a must-click, if we do say so ourselves).
NICOLA & BLAKE, QLD
We mentioned how much we love a wedding mini, right? Nicola nailed the look in her cute Harriette Gordon dress – though believe it or not, it wasn’t her first pick. “I had planned to wear a beautiful long silk gown made by Harriette Gordon,” spills the bride – but after a last-minute decision to elope, she changed her mind, feeling the “original dress… wasn’t suited to the elopement we had planned”. Luckily, Harriette came through with this cute number! “I felt so beautiful in it and it really complimented the style of elopement… She is a dream to work with and I can not recommend her enough!” Blake sourced his suit from our friends at M.J. Bale and Paris Hawken Photography caught all the best bits on camera.
LIV & ANDREW, VIC
“It only took a couple of wedding dress appointments for me to decide Luci Di Bella Design House was the wedding dress designer for me,” spills Melbourne bride Liv of her cute-as-heck dress. “It was my first wedding dress appointment, which was direct with the designer – and that was the deciding factor for me!” Dishing out tonnes of advice based on years of experience (“not all trends suit all brides!”), Luci created the exact dress Liv had been dreaming of, from those sweet sheer sleeves to the whimsical tufted skirt. “Luci De Bella was incredibly fun and easy to work with to create the dress I had envisaged for the day! I absolutely loved it.” The talented Ali Bailey was in charge of photos on the day, and if you want to see more (we know you do), check out all the snaps of Liv and Andrew’s big day – which, just quietly, also made it into our Top 10 Styling Ideas for the year.
JESS & TOM, VIC
A whole bunch of Hello May‘s friends came together to work on this wedding, from Miranda Stokkel behind the camera to Pomp and Splendour on the flowers, Josue Films making cinematographic magic and Zena Lythgo Celebrant making it official. But today we’re talking about dresses, and dang, this Hera Couture gown is a beauty! “I tried numerous dresses, but nothing was quite like the Venezia gown from Hera Couture,” gushes Jess of her classic look. “I fell in love with the high neckline, the delicate and intricate flower embellishments, and the open back with soft tulle. I felt elegant, confident and myself.” With Tom rounding out the day’s fashionable fits in M.J. Bale, this was one well-dressed wedding. (Psst – see more Miranda Stokkel’s magic over here.)
BELLE & SHUBHO, VIC
With Shubho making it into the year’s Top 10 Grooms’ Styling list and Belle popping up right here in 2021’s Best Bridal Looks, it’s clear we have one seriously well-dressed couple on our hands here folks. After spending a day traipsing around bridal stores, Belle couldn’t find ‘the one’… until she hit up Georgia Young Couture. “I booked an appointment as soon as I could,” she shares. “Honestly, I could have chosen multiple gowns from Georgia’s collection. She was also absolutely gorgeous to work with and has the best laugh.” With a motto of “trust the expert”, this bride also got Georgia’s take on jewellery and a veil for the big day, for a result that was next-level stunning. One Spoon Two Spoon was on hand to make the mems last a lifetime and those bloomin’ beaut botanicals were the work of none other than Pomp and Splendour. Swoon.
ZIMMERMANN ATHINA & BRODIE, QLD
Finding the right dress wasn’t easy for bride Athina, who discovered ‘the one’ on a second-hand site but missed out when the whimsical Zimmermann number sold before she had a chance to add to cart. But don’t worry – the story has a happy ending (as you can clearly see in these shots by our very talented mate Janneke Storm). “Although I shopped around, I searched for almost a year before finally finding the dress in my size again – just an hour down the road – being sold by a fellow bride who had worn it to her elopement. I’m so happy I found it and am now looking to pass it onto the next person who will love it.” We love a bit of pay-it-forward action.
