Beautiful Pearl Wedding Dresses & Accessories

Pearl Wedding Dresses

Bridal Gown With Pearls by Dream and Dress

Pearls are nothing new to bridal style, but they’ve recently come back in a big way and are making a truly gorgeous fashion statement! Pearl wedding dresses have been all over the bridal runways, from delicate sheer gowns with pearl details to heavily beaded gowns studded with pearls and crystals. And it’s not just about wedding dresses with pearls. Pearl wedding accessories are also super hot right now. Bold pearl headbands, belts, boleros and capes, veils… you name it! What I love most about the pearl wedding dress trend is that it manages to be classic and chic as well as contemporary and cool – the perfect combination for a bride! If you love the look as much as I do, then read on for my pick of the best pearl wedding dresses and pearl bridal accessories from Etsy.

*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

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15 Chic Black Wedding Dresses for Bold Brides

15 Chic Black Wedding Dresses for Bold Brides | Calypso Nightfall Black Tulle Bridal Gown by Mywony Bridal

Calypso Nightfall Black Tulle Bridal Gown by Mywony Bridal

*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive commission for any sales made.

Who says you have to wear white on your wedding day? With today being the spookiest day of the year, I’m taking the opportunity to showcase some seriously gorgeous black gowns that are sure to please an edgy or alternative bride. But even if Gothic isn’t your vibe, you might still want to consider a black gown. After all, the designer credited with bringing black to the bridal runway is none other than Queen Vera of Wang, and celebrities including Shenae Grimes, Ellen Pompeo, and Avril Lavigne have all rocked black wedding dresses on their big day. The key is to keep hair and makeup very soft and romantic, and choose gowns with beautiful textural detail, so the look is romantic and ethereal instead of harsh and Halloweeny. There are some absolutely BEAUTIFUL black (and other alt-coloured) gowns on Etsy, where I find designers are often both fashion-forward and accessible price-wise. I’ve rounded up 15 of the most gorgeous I could find!

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Statement Bridal Veils

Statement Bridal Veils

CARMEN Juliet Cap Veil by Tania Maras

*UPDATED FOR 2021* Dramatic statement veils are a huge trend right now! And these days it’s not just length that makes a statement (although we do LOVE a cathedral veil!) – the new statement bridal veils are all about embroidery, embellishment, and colour! Whether you choose flowers, stars, or pearls; flecks of copper, silver, or gold foil; a soft wash of blush, blue, or grey; or unique lace edging, each one of these beautiful wedding veils will accessorise the right gown to perfection. Let’s un-veil (haha) 20 of our statement veil favourites!

*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

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20 Beautiful Mermaid Wedding Dresses

BONITA Mermaid Wedding Dress by Ange Etoiles

If you’re looking to cut a sexy silhouette on your wedding day (or if you’ve always dreamed of looking like a Hollywood starlet), then look no further than the mermaid wedding dress. This slinky style hugs you in ALL the right places, beautifully enhancing curves, and making a very sophisticated statement! It’s super flattering for hourglass shaped brides and column shaped ladies (where it creates the illusion of sleek curves) – the only body type where it’s not really recommended is pears, where the style can emphasize rather than balance out full hips. But what actually IS a mermaid wedding dress style? A classic mermaid hugs the bust, waist and hips, before flaring out into a wider shape, just like a mermaid’s tail (and haven’t we all wanted to be an actual mermaid?). The flare itself can be slim or dramatic, providing lots of variation within the style. A similar silhouette is the trumpet wedding dress, which is often used interchangeably with the mermaid dress, but in fact a trumpet flares higher up (mid-thigh), while the mermaid usually starts to flare around the knee. The con to this is that a mermaid bridal gown can be a little constricting to sit in. The pro is that not only does it look amazing, but it’s great for shimmying around like a goddess on the dance floor! We’ve rounded up 20 mermaid dresses from Etsy – which is your fave?
Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

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The 2019 Wedding Dress Trends Brides Need to Know

So you’re shopping for your wedding dress! Exciting! And while you want something classic and beautiful, you also want to make sure you’re not wearing the same dress as every bride at every wedding you went to last year, but rather something fresh and fashionable. Lucky for you, the bridal runways are teeming with brilliant ideas at the moment – new takes on old silhouettes, exciting embellishments, and dreamy fabrics. We’ve looked into our crystal ball to predict the ten wedding dress trends that will be making a splash with brides in 2019. You will have already seen some of these gracing celeb weddings, and others on the bridal catwalks – we can’t wait to see them in our real weddings inbox! Which of these 2019 bridal trends speaks to you the most?
*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

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Lilac & Lavender Wedding Dresses

Lace Wedding Dress by Luv-Luv

Lace Wedding Dress by Luv-Luv

*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

It’s official: lilac is the new blush! With bold Ultra Violet being the colour of the year and the bridal runways featuring some beautiful lavender and lilac gowns in the last shows, purple is definitely having a moment right now. And while I’m not always the biggest fan of bright purple, I am LOVING the softer shades of the spectrum on brides right now! It’s like blush, but a little more grown up and sophisticated, and it reminds me of fields full of lavender in Provence, or soft purple pastel blooms. SO pretty. We’ve rounded up 20 of our fave lilac and lavender wedding dresses from Etsy to inspire you.

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What’s Your Bridal Style?

What's Your Bridal Style?

SERAPHINE Couture Silk Paillettes Gown by Gibson Bespoke

*UPDATED FOR 2021* Time for some styling inspiration! Choosing all the elements of your wedding design can be a challenge. What if you’re in love with ALL the things? The best place to start is with your wedding style. Picture your big day. Is it casual or formal? Glam or romantic? Maybe boho or colourful or full of handmade DIY touches? Maybe it’s in a far-flung location, whether that’s a tropical beach or under the Mediterranean sun. Perhaps it’s in your parents’ backyard or in a game lodge in the South African bush. Sometimes it takes just one element to unlock it, whether it’s your location, wedding venue, stationery – or, of course, your wedding dress! To get you inspired, I’ve narrowed down five popular bridal styles and created a styling scrapbook for each one, including some truly spectacular gowns. So the question is: which kind of bride are you?

*Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

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Love in the Fynbos Bridal Inspiration

We’re closing out our week with some seriously amazing, truly South African bridal inspiration, set amongst the Overberg fynbos. Not only are the gowns just perfect for a free-spirited boho bride and the models all absolutely stunning, but the images and styling are so on point – I have to tell you guys, I’m a little obsessed with these pics. They make me want to jump in a Landie and head for the hills, to soak up some of the wild beauty that is our beloved corner of the planet. Gorgeous work by the team, which included photographers Nina Zimolong and Zach Louw, and MUAH artist Taryn Vogl!

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Beautiful Bridal Capes & Capelets

bridal capes

Palais Crystal Snowflake Cape by Gibson Bespoke

*UPDATED FOR 2020* Hands down my favourite current trend is bridal capes! This trend has been brewing on the catwalks for some time, but this is the season where I feel like the trend for bridal capes and bridal capelets has really come of age, and WOW but there are some gorgeous options for you to buy right now! Whether you want a cover up for church, to add a little bit of drama to a simple gown, or as a veil alternative, this is a look that has plenty of drama but at the same time looks super classic and beautiful! Here are some of our faves from Etsy – the only problem is picking just one!

Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

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Embroidered Wedding Dresses

Embroidered Wedding Dresses

Wildflower Gown by Natalie Wynn Bridal

*UPDATED FOR 2020* Embroidered wedding dresses are officially a thing! The runways at NY Bridal Week were full of them, with an especial leaning towards embroidered floral dresses. And I have to say, I personally love this look. It adds a special handmade element to any gown, as well as a touch of colour, and something unique. Perfect for a bold bride who wants something a little different, or a boho bride who loves a bit of a folksy feel. Etsy has also reported a surge in search for the term ‘embroidered bridalwear‘ too, and in researching this trend, I found it was one of the best places to source gorgeous embroidered dresses. So of course I had to round up my faves. And if you love the look but want something more traditional for yourself, I’ve included a roundup for embroidered bridesmaid dresses at the end too!

Links in bold denote affiliate links. The cost to you remains the same, but SBB may receive a commission for any sales made.

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