Words like French lace, tulle and white beading roll off of every bride’s tongue when they take on the mammoth task of choosing a wedding gown. At GG, we just wrapped up Bridal Fashion Week and the gowns that made their way into our dinner conversations definitely weren’t the conventional ones that blurred together by the third show. Here are 50 of the most unconventional bridal gowns from New York Bridal Week 2018.

Vera Wang
Courtesy of Vera Wang

By Sophia (YiRui) Liao

Vera Wang infused rich colors into her gowns and the etherealness of her Vermeer-inspired silhouettes made our jaws drop. Monique Lhuillier sent a high-necked gown with an exposed back around a room at The Lotte New York Palace Hotel and suddenly, more was more, modesty was hip and an unexpected detail could send the in-laws into a frenzy. At Galia Lahav, plunging necklines, an exposed leg and a silver gown were made for an independent woman whose wedding is just another day of following her own set of rules. We’ve rounded up our favorite unconventional looks for you to daydream alternate wedding scenarios about. Better yet, erase all of your preconceived notions and plan your ultimate wedding completely around the element of surprise.

Vera Wang Spring 2019 Bridal
Wang looked to the master painter Vermeer for influence which manifested in her dresses’ rich colors, soft volume and delicate movement. Hand-painted by Rebecca Moses, the frottage detailing was time-consuming but nevertheless perfect for setting a bride apart from the pack. Wang also found inspiration in the Ballets Russes costumes which explains each of her gowns’ ability to strike a different mood under variating lighting.
Courtesy of Vera Wang
Courtesy of Vera Wang
Courtesy of Vera Wang
Courtesy of Vera Wang
Courtesy of Vera Wang
Courtesy of Vera Wang
Courtesy of Vera Wang
Courtesy of Vera Wang
Courtesy of Vera Wang
Courtesy of Vera Wang

Galia Lahav Spring 2019 Bridal

Lahav is the master of lace by transcending expectations to how and where it is used on a gown. The details have to be seen in person for the true effect of their brilliance.

 

Courtesy of Galia Lahav
Courtesy of Galia Lahav
Courtesy of Galia Lahav
Courtesy of Galia Lahav

Monique Lhuillier Spring 2019 Bridal

Lhuillier melded both sculptural volume with fitted lace and sexy sheer panels for a timeless collection. The goal was to create pieces that are kept in the family for generations to come and in our opinion, the collection entirely fulfilled that promise.

Courtesy of Monique Lhuillier
Courtesy of Monique Lhuillier
Courtesy of Monique Lhuillier
Courtesy of Monique Lhuillier

Isabelle Armstrong Spring 2019 Bridal

In Remy Quinones’ (CEO and Ceative Director) own words: “My feminine side went for full-on frilly, yet my more reserved side went for a quiet tailored vibe. I think this juxtaposition speaks to a lot of us who feel the push and pull of what it means to be a woman in the world today.” Paneled lace godets commingled with tulle while sexy lace slip dresses and a t-shirt gown threw us for a bend.

Isabelle Armstrong
Courtesy of Isabelle Armstrong
Isabelle Armstrong
Isabelle Armstrong
Isabelle Armstrong
Isabelle Armstrong
Adam Zohar Spring 2019 Bridal
Adam Zohar’s debut collection showed at Industria Studios in the West Village. Underlying the idea that weddings are open celebrations, the garage door was left open for passerby to watch the show.
Courtesy of Adam Zohar
Courtesy of Adam Zohar
Courtesy of Adam Zohar
Courtesy of Adam Zohar
Courtesy of Adam Zohar
Courtesy of Adam Zohar
Courtesy of Adam Zohar
Courtesy of Adam Zohar

Justin Alexander Spring 2019 Bridal

Alexander’s pieces juxtaposed modern minimalism in the form of clean lines with traditional opulence which manifested in intricate beading. Sometimes being unconventional means embracing the best of all styles instead of compromising one ethos for the other.

Courtesy of Justin Alexander
Courtesy of Justin Alexander
Courtesy of Justin Alexander
Courtesy of Justin Alexander
Courtesy of Justin Alexander
Courtesy of Justin Alexander
Courtesy of Justin Alexander
Courtesy of Justin Alexander
Gracy Accad Spring 2019 Bridal 
The details were all in the movement of the dresses. Accad’s first art was ballet so she looked to naturally running lines, angles in motion and quiet but strong elegance for her modern romantic collection. 
Courtesy of Gracy Accad
Courtesy of Gracy Accad
Courtesy of Gracy Accad
Courtesy of Gracy Accad
New York Bridal FASHION WEEK April 2018

Reem Acra Spring 2019 Bridal

Reem Acra’s gowns were the pinnacle of romanticism. Whether your wedding is situated in Big Sur or in a traditional English garden, the gowns will make you fit right in with your natural surroundings. The flower crowns are an additional testament to the power of nature.

Courtesy of Reem Acra
Courtesy of Reem Acra

Mira Zwillinger Spring 2019 Bridal

In true understanding of their show’s title “Queen of Ice”, Mira and Lihi, the mother-daughter duo behind the couture house, perfected all the gleaming details on their gowns. Sparkle mesh and tulle, silver leaf, Swarovski accents and sequined embroidery caught the light beautifully and reminded us that reservedness is no longer the norm for the modern bride.

Courtesy of Mira Zwillinger
Courtesy of Mira Zwillinger
Courtesy of Mira Zwillinger
Courtesy of Mira Zwillinger
Courtesy of Mira Zwillinger
Courtesy of Mira Zwillinger

-GG