The Style Issue

Ask ten different people what “style” means to them and you’ll get ten different answers. As it relates to a wedding, I tend to think that style is all-encompassing. It’s not just about the gown or suit you wear; it’s about how every choice you make on the big day—whether that’s in terms of fashion, food, or flowers—speaks to your overall vision. When I re-joined the Brides team this year (I first worked at Brides from 2013 to 2017, alongside the brand’s former editorial director, Anna Price Olson, who helped us bring this issue to life!), I couldn’t believe my good fortune that my first-ever digital issue would be themed to style, which I passionately believe every couple should have the chance to show off on the big day. The fact that Gabourey Sidibe, who starred in one of my all-time favorite television shows, The Big C, was already slated to be our cover star was just the icing on the proverbial wedding cake. 

As a two-time bride myself (like so many of you, my now-husband and I were forced to postpone our 2020 wedding due to the pandemic), I understand just how hard it can be to find “the one” when shopping for wedding attire. In the end, I had to do it twice: Three months after I purchased my dress, the world officially shut down. Two months after that, I was rescheduling my large wedding, preserving my gown, and ordering a midi dress for our family-only micro-wedding. Finding attire that suits your wedding vision and your personal sense of style isn’t always easy. For many of us, it’s actually quite difficult. And even if you are lucky enough to only have to navigate this process once, it’s an experience that is almost always filled with a mix of emotions.

Inclusivity in wedding fashion—from the bride’s wedding dress and her accessories to groom’s suits and guests’ attire—is something the team here at Brides believes is critically important, and we were thrilled to partner with Nine West, a brand that feels similarly, on our latest digital issue. Everyone deserves to feel like their best self on the wedding day, and that’s true whether it’s your wedding, your child’s, or a friend’s. Finding the pieces that help you express your style, whatever it is, should be simple, and we have the advice and inspiration you need to make the process seamless.

— Gabriella Rello Duffy, Editorial Director