The Best Wedding Dresses Worn by Real Brides in 2023

A Voluminous Ruffle Ball Gown

There’s nothing more bridal than a voluminous ruffle ball gown, which is why Tobi’s Atelier Pronovias ensemble makes the list as one of the top wedding dresses of 2023. “When I finally tried it on, I was overwhelmed with emotion, on the verge of tears,” she said. “The dress perfectly embodied my personality—fun, unique, and elegantly simple. I felt like I was floating on cloud nine.”

A Royal-Inspired Creation

For her royal-inspired wedding in Barcelona, Kevwe decided to take matters into her own hands and custom design a wedding gown that had retro and regal vibes—and we're glad she did! “I am very inspired by '90s fashion and really wanted to have a beaded column dress with an exaggerated cape or train,” she shared. “I have been designing suits and jewelry through my brand, Koviem, for years and thought this would be an amazing way to personalize my wedding even more!” Not pictured: A gorgeous one-shoulder column dress that she wore for her welcome party and a striking feather mini that she donned for her day-after brunch. 

A Vietnamese Ensemble

Though Bao-Tram (BT) walked down the aisle in a breathtaking lace and sequin-encrusted gown, it was her ivory Vietnamese áo dài—a look she changed into after the ceremony was over—that truly stole the show. Enlisting the help of designer Thai Nguyen, BT created a custom ensemble that featured bell sleeves, floral beaded lace, and silk pants to honor her culture.

A Timeless Beauty

Amber’s mermaid wedding gown, by designer Leah Da Gloria, makes the list for its timeless and chic aesthetic—one that perfectly encapsulated the theme of her glamorous black-and-white wedding in Cincinnati. The ensemble was composed of Italian mikado and featured a tiered and ruffled mermaid hemline. When describing why she selected this look, Amber shared that “it gave sexy, elegant and, most importantly, timeless” vibes.

A Unique Vintage Find

Nothing says "New York City" quite like intimate neighborhood restaurants, brownstone-lined streets, and vintage fashion. Naturally, that's everything Hannah had at her dinner party wedding in Manhattan. For the occasion, she wore a vintage Dolce & Gabbana Couture wedding gown—a look she purchased from London without trying on—that featured a bateau neckline, an A-line silhouette, and bows on the back of the straps. “I wanted something vintage and unconditionally timeless,” Hannah told Brides of her look.

An Italian-Inspired Getup

Not many brides are willing to take risks when it comes to the silhouette of their wedding gowns, but when they do, it makes for an unforgettable statement. Case in point: Karen’s Monique Lhuillier dress, which featured a high-low hemline. “As soon as I saw myself in it, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I loved how it wasn’t traditional,” the bride shared of her Italian garden-inspired getup.

A Special Custom Hue

While wedding dress shopping for her big day, Niki knew she wanted to wear a nude A-line dress with exposed boning. Her vision officially came to life when she found this gorgeous Oscar de la Renta piece, which was designed in a custom nude-wheat hue specifically for her. “The fact that I not only felt amazing in it, but I was the only one in the world with that dress in that color was just dream-worthy,” she shared about her gown. 

A Change of Heart

We're still in awe of the elegant and simplistic beauty of Carolyn’s strapless, trumpet gown. Not only does her ensemble serve as a perfect example for modern brides to follow, but the story behind how she found “the one” offers a bit of encouragement for those who are currently apprehensive about wedding dress shopping.

“I hate being the center of attention, so standing on a literal pedestal with all eyes on me was something I wasn’t looking forward to,” Carolyn shared. However, once she slipped into this gown, all of her reservations disappeared. “I wanted everyone to see me in it. I think that is how I knew I had found the one," the bride said.

An Ethereal Dream

There are only two words that can appropriately describe the magnificence of Elyssa’s wedding dress: romantic and ethereal. “I knew my dress was the one because it reminded me of my relationship: beautiful, sexy, delicate, and romantic,” she shared. Between the sheer sleeves, floral appliqués, open back, and plunging neckline, Elyssa’s look, which she wore to her vineyard wedding in Portugal, is one we'll remember for years to come.

A Blush Bridal Lehenga

We absolutely can’t get over Sangeet’s custom blush bridal lehenga designed by BZAI by Natasha Aror. The look—which was one of five outfits she wore for her four-day celebration in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico—featured intricate beading and an organza skirt. “I loved how lightweight the skirt was in comparison to traditional bridal lehengas,” Sangeet shared about her look.

A Dark Floral Masterpiece

Not many people can pull off a non-white bridal ensemble, let alone a dark-hued wedding dress, but that's exactly what Sarah did for her romantic wedding in Guatemala. As seen above, the bride sported a striking black and floral strapless gown by Monique Lhuillier. The most surprising part about her bold look isn’t the color, however: She never originally intended to wear a colorful gown when dress shopping. “It seemed to match the vibrant culture of Guatemala,” she explained about her final decision to purchase the look. 

A Classically Elegant Ball Gown

To pull together her elegant museum wedding in Florida, Tori chose to wear a classic strapless ball gown with a cathedral train. While the silhouette is completely striking on its own, what we truly love the most is the way she chose to style her ensemble—wearing just drop earrings so the dress could have its own moment to shine.

An Auspicious Selection

It was always in Priyanka’s plans to wear a traditional red dress on her big day. What she didn’t expect? Not trying on her ensemble before actually purchasing her look. “Because of scheduling, my mom went to India to purchase all of our wedding attire,” she shared. “She FaceTimed me with several options, and we both agreed on the one we liked the most.” Luckily, the lehenga was a perfect fit once she received it!

An Editor's Perfect Creation

When Brides’ senior social media editor, Jessica, got married, finding a dress proved to be an unexpected challenge. “Working at Brides, I see beautiful dresses every day. It was so hard to find something that felt different and fresh, but also fit my more classic bridal style,” she shared. 

Ultimately, she decided to work with Monique Lhuillier to custom-create a one-of-a-kind piece that was special to her. “I wanted to be in a wedding dress that I haven’t seen a million times before, and these customizations made me feel like I had my own special dress that I didn’t see all over Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, and of course, the designer pages on Brides.com.”

An Unexpected Beaded Dream

For her French-inspired summer wedding, Carly chose a breathtaking Ines Di Santo A-line gown—a look that took her by surprise during her dress-shopping experience. “If you had told me at the beginning of the process that my dress would have tulle and sparkle, I’d have told you to GTFO, but there was something about this dress that was special,” she playfully shared. “I truly hadn’t (and still haven’t) seen anything like it. The shape of the beading reminded me of something slightly vintage and Art Deco, which played nicely with our venue.”

A "Cool-Girl" Bridal 'Fit

Lauren truly personified the term “cool-girl bride” when she wore this silk column gown, which featured a corset bodice, to her modern wedding in Florida. The best part? She chose her dress based on her gut instincts. "I didn’t have tears of joy trying on this dress or a Say Yes to the Dress moment with my crew,” she explained. “But I gave a walk around the store, felt super comfortable, and had the gut feeling that this felt right.” 

A Princess-Worthy Gown

While we’ve seen our fair share of sparkles and tulle throughout 2023, this Oscar de la Renta gown, worn by Maya, lives rent-free in our minds. The intricately embroidered, three-dimensional appliqué, exposed boning in the bodice, and tulle skirt are only but a few stunning details that make this getup one-of-a-kind and a favorite for this year. "It was so me and exactly what I dreamed of,” Maya shared of her ensemble. 

A Gold and Sequin Sari

What happens if your dream gown isn’t available to try on while dress shopping? If you choose to follow Hira’s lead, the answer is simple: Take a risk and buy it anyway. Her risk, thankfully, paid off, and she looked incredible while wearing an organza gold and sequin sari by Sabyasachi. “I wish I had a more traditional shopping experience, where I could try lots of pieces on and have options to choose from, but I was very happy with my sari and felt like myself in it, which was important to me,” the bride shared.

A Striking Sleeve Moment

Rachel’s Monique Lhuillier gown stands out for so many reasons, which is why it makes our list of top wedding dresses for 2023. Specifically, the three-dimensional sleeves make a huge statement without detracting from the overall look; the off-the-shoulder neckline perfectly frames her face; and the trumpet hemline provides a classic touch to an otherwise modern design. “For a few nights in a row, I would wake up in the middle of the night and just think about this dress and its gorgeous sleeves,” she reflected.

A Bold, Asymmetrical Silhouette

For her Brooklyn winery wedding inspired by streetwear and good music, Kiera wore a Vera Wang ball gown that featured an asymmetrical silhouette. “I loved the asymmetry, and I felt like a bride," she gushed about the gown. However, what really took her ensemble to new heights were the Brother Vellies cowboy boots—a tribute to her grandfather who couldn’t make it to the wedding—that she styled with her gown. “They were perfect because it was like he was walking with me down the aisle with my mom, and they were a reminder of him the entire day,” the bride shared.