Author: Gracie Pritchard
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Not every bride dreams of walking down the aisle in an embellished, frothy white gown. There are plenty of brides who want a low-key minimalist wedding dress for their big day. In some cases, less is more. If this sounds like you, than there are plenty of beautiful simple wedding dressesout there to suit your timeless, chic style when dress shopping.
However, simple doesn’t have to mean zero details or embellishments at all. Typically it means classic silhouettes, effortlessly elegant, silk fabrics and subtle details that enhance the wow-factor of the finished look. We’d love for you to take some inspiration from our top 60 best simple wedding dress styles for 2023, from high price tag bridal boutique bestsellers to the finest-looking high street gems.
5 Top Tips For Feeling a 'Million Dollars', In a Simple Wedding Dress
1. Shapewear
Whatwill you wear underneathyourdress? Allbridesdeserve to look and feel their best. Shapewearis a personal choice and completely optional. However, confidence is key when walking down the aisle, so, the last thing abride shouldhave to worry about is visible panty lines. Majority of simple dresses are often crafted from fabrics such as satin or silk, to give you the look as seam-free underwear or alternatively shapewear can offer a smooth silhouette, which is best for for deep-v necklines or opt for some spanx or a low-back/ mid-thigh bodysuit.
2. Veil
Why not add some wedding accessories to your simple wedding dress with a full-length romantic veil or a diamond, sparkly tiara to add those finishing touches to your overall bridal look. Veils are always a great way to make a romantic statement and add a bit of elegant drama to the final look!
3. Shoes
Style your outfit with a pair of stunning, sparkling bridal shoes. Why not opt for a pair of brightly coloured shoes, ‘something blue’ or splash the budget on your favourite designer wedding shoes? An easy way to upgrade the simplest of bridal looks on your big day for that chic vibe.
4. Jewellery accessories
At For Better For Worse, we love to use wedding accessories to not only compliment your wedding dress but to make a statement with small details. From exquisite, elegant diamonds to chic pearl jewellery, adding jewellery to your final wedding look is like the cherry on top of the perfect cake. It’s still beautiful without it, but it’s just the finishing touch that can never go wrong!
5. Hair
Whether you want a prettysleek bridal up-do or a half-up-half down hairstyle for your wedding day, simple dress styles allow you the option to be flexible with the hairstyle which best suits you. And surprisingly, the way you decide to style your hair can completely change your look. Simple doesn’t have to mean boring!
And as promised, here are 60 simple dresses that are perfect for 2023:
1. Melba Bardot Wedding Dress, Whistles, £649
Lace wedding dresses are as elegant as they are timeless. With a dramatic but effortless statement worthy of a boho goddess, this beautiful dress from Whistles’ bridal collection packs a punch. And we love the off the shoulder neckline too, so flattering!
2. Tanja Embroidered Dress, Monsoon, £499
Effortless yet sensual, lace and light-as-air fabrics combine to create simple silhouettes that will give you the perfectbohemian bride look. This cream bridal gown from Monsoon is ideal for a beachwedding, although it would look just as great in any setting.
3. Raya Satin Gown, Jenny Yoo in Selfridges, £335
Feel inspired in this 1920s, Great Gatsby inspired wedding gown from Jenny Yoo in Selfridges. The roaring twenties era is full of glitz and glamour fashion. Bridal trends may come and go, but the allure of the 1920s continues to influence designers today.
4. Gayle Dress, Savannah Miller, Price Upon Request
Opt for an off-the-shoulder sleeves dress like the Gayle dress from Savannah Miller’s bridal collection. The versatile neckline flatters the décolletage and can be adapted forany silhouette, from a fitted mermaid gown to a grand ball gown. You can also wear this design no matter what your wedding style.
5. Orelia Hi-Low Dress, Little Mistress, £75
Whether you’re eloping, planning a casual ceremony, or just looking for a good excuse to show off a killer pair of shoes, short wedding dresses are the style for you. This minimalist, hi-low style dress from Little Mistress is the perfect dress for simple with an effortless, modern twist.
6. Mia Square Neck Dress, Whistles, £499
Bridgerton fans, you’ll be pleased to know that square necklines have made a recent comeback! These styles were originally popular in the Renaissance and then Regency eras. With a more modern spin, this wedding dress from Whistles takes square necklines to the next level – and we’re obsessed!
7. Mikado Strapless Sweetheart A-line Gown, Justin Alexander, Price Upon Request
Sweetheart wedding gowns incorporate classic elegance while staying on-trend. These romantic wedding dresses featured include mermaid, fit and flare, ball gown, and A-line dresses. With flowing chiffon, satin, or lace-covered tulle you’ll be able to find a sweetheart neckline dress style that you’ll love, perfect for your big day. This sweetheart dress from Justin Alexander is a great example!
8. Pleated Plunge Wedding Dress, ASOS Edition, £127.50
Wedding dresseswith high slitsmake for the perfect minimalist fashion pieces. These types of dresses are ideal for garden and beach weddings. We love, this stunning, timeless dress from ASOS Edition’s bridal collection.
9. Satin Kaftan Maxi Dress, Little Mistress, £44
Timeless, vintage-chic inspired bridal gowns are still one of the most sought after bridal style wedding dresses. This dress design continues to offer brides a timeless, classic look, with a nod to the vintage stars that we all know and love. Little Mistress knows how to do modern vintage just right!
10. Galvan Dress, Net-A-Porter, £895
Another stunning, elegant piece that you can get your hands on from Galvan’s bridal collection. This time, with a nod to the fashion of a few of our favourite stars from the 50s. We’re getting big Marilyn Monroe inspired vibes from this one – simple but stunning!
11. Fit and Flare Dress with Keyhole Back Detail, Justin Alexander, Price Upon Request
We’re obsessed with the neckline on this one! And the keyhole backing is such a gorgeous detail that takes a simple dress to the next level. With simple dresses, it’s all about the hair, makeup and accessories, and dressing up this gown would be a pleasure!
12. Cowl Back Wedding Dress, Chi Chi London, £165
Chi Chi London knows what they’re doing when it comes to stunning, simple bridal gowns – and this cowl back piece is no exception. Wear your hair up with this one to show off the beautiful backing of the dress as you walk down the aisle. Just wow!
13. Ruffled Knitted Maxi, Selfridges, £58
Another fantastic Chi Chi London gown, except this time from their Selfridges collection (if that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about it we don’t know what will). And the material of the dress is absolutely to die for, perfect for a winter wedding!
14. Mia Square Neck Dress, Selfridges, £499
Square necks are all the rage as of the end of this year. And to be quite honest, we think this is a trend that might stick around for a while, so why not implement that into your big day. For such a good price too, how could you possibly say no?
15. Scarlet Embellished Lace Corset, ASOS Edition, £108
This strappy gown from ASOS Edition’s bridal range is gorgeous and quite frankly, we can’t get enough of it! The embellishment detailing is just on the cusp of simplicity in the best way possible and we think it is stunning!
16. Sleeveless Pleated Dress, Selfridges, £180
The bridal gowns at Selfridges are second to none, and this dress is a great example of that! If you’re a fan of sleeveless wedding dresses, simple frocks then look no further – and how amazing is that puffy skirt!
17. Bardot Bridal Midi Dress, Monsoon, £231
Another beautiful vintage-inspired gown that we couldn’t help but add to this list, and for good reason too clearly! The Bardot styling is super flattering and even better in combination with the flowy skirt – just wow!
18. Callista Scoop Neck Dress, Selfridges, £465
Jenny Yoo is the queen of keeping it simple but classy, and her bridal gowns at Selfridges proves that, including this amazing, strappy number. Again, paired with some gorgeous accessories, we KNOW this would look stunning as you walk down the aisle, no matter where that might be!
19. Bridal Strapless Lace Midi Dress, Chi Chi London, £135
We’re in love with the effortless frilled, sweetheart neckline on this stunning gown, it’s like prom night in the 50s but taken to the next level with a beautiful, modern twist. Imagine waltzing around the dancefloor on your wedding night is this number!
20. Maria Halter Lace Dress, Selfridges, £599
Halter necks are fantastic pieces to add to your wardrobe at the best of times, let alone when it’s as beautiful as this floor-length Maria gown from Selfridges. Obsessed isn’t the word for this one!
21. Gillian Embellished Bridal, Monsoon, £370
We simply can’t get enough of Monsoon’s bridal range, and they know how to do simple just right! As you can see with the amazing Gillian embellished bridal gown – simply stunning!
22. Lyra Ruched Bandeau Dress, ASOS Editions, £90
As soon as we see or hear the word ruched, we know we’re in for a treat. And so are you with the magical bandeau piece from ASOS Editions. Well and truly a gown fit for a princess, and how amazing is that bandeau top!
23. Junin Square Neck Satin Dress, Selfridges, £550
As we’ve already mentioned, square necklines are in right now, so this is a dress that you should be adding to your basket – and for such a good price too! Plus, satin is one of the most comfortable, luxurious materials you can wear, so what’s not to love.
24. Poppy Feather-Trimmed Dress, Selfridges, £1,295
Simple with a twist! If you’re looking for a bridal look that is simple with a slight dramatic flair then look no further, this could be the dress of your dreams. And we couldn’t be more obsessed with that feathered trim.
25. Catherine Ivy Maxi Dress, Little Mistress, £96
If you’re a fan of winged sleeves, you’ll fall in love with this stunning gown from Little Mistress – the MASTERS of elegance for a great price. Can you believe this dress is less than £100, neither can we!
26. Florence Halterneck Dress, Selfridges, £1,095
Live out all of your wildest Y2K fantasies in this amazing piece from Selfridge’s bridal range. You don’t often come across a strappy halter, but when you do, it’s only right to add it to your basket and take it home with you. And we’re obsessed with the length of this gown too!
27. Salvador Scoop Neck Gown, Selfridges, £1,695
Who doesn’t love a good scoop neck gown? This piece from Selfridges’ bridal collection is the epitome of class, elegance and sophistication, perfect for the most luxurious of weddings. So get your hands on it while you can!
28. Button Sleeve Bridal Maxi, Monsoon, £231
There’s something so traditional about this piece, yet it practically screams modern timeless, perhaps it’s why we can’t seem to look away from it. The puffy sleeves in combination with the fitted bodice of the dress is a nod to our mother’s and the style of the 80s too!
29. Bari Sequinned Midi, Selfridges, £1,925
We know what you’re thinking, sequinned doesn’t exactly fit into the category of simple when it comes to wedding dresses, but the style and fit of this gown do, so we couldn’t help but add it to the list. You can thank us later!
30. Geranium Dress, Reformation, £435.75
If you know anything about For Better For Worse, then you know we’re the biggest fans of Reformation’s bridal collection, and this dress is the perfect example of why! Talk about simple in the front, party in the back, that open-backed detailing is to die for!
31. Leanna Dress, Harrods, £825
Alongside Selfridges, Harrods also top the ranking for the best luxury department store bridal collection, as you can probably tell by how stunning this piece is. The Leanna dress from RIXO is a gorgeous, simple piece with bow detailing along the neckline, and quite frankly, we couldn’t be any more obsessed!
32. Sleeveless Satin Bridal Dress, Chi Chi London, £195
You had us at satin, how luxurious does this sleeveless dress from Chi Chi London look! Plus that fitted waists and high neckline? Talk about the dress of dreams. And it’s available in a wide variety of different sizes which is fantastic.
33. Gatsby Dress, Reformation, £371.25
How gorgeous is that twist detailing along the waist of this dress? Such a simple, stunning piece that flatters a wide range of shapes and sizes due to the stunning twisted detailing. Obsessed isn’t the word!
34. Celine Gown, Harrods, £1,250
Look at that stunning structured, corset waistline and button detailing, how could we not have added this to the list! Harrods know what they’re doing when it comes to bridal style and this only goes to show just that!
35. Long Sleeve Lace Dress, Monsoon, £231
Perfect for a winter wedding no doubt, this stunning long sleeve dress from Monsoon is the most gorgeous mix of classic and modern styles! We love the lace detailing along the neckline too – such a romantic looking gown!
36. Stars Dress, Reformation, £326.25
Live out your ‘Little Women’ dreams with the stunning Stars dress from Reformation. The traditional fit and cut of this dress is a nod to our amazing ancestors, with a modern twist of course! And it’s the perfect mix of simple with a dramatic flare too!
37. Feather-trim Hortense Gown, Harrods, £2,995
If there’s one thing about us, we love a good feather detailing when it comes to wedding dresses! And we think the feathered sleeves in combination with the structured fit of this gown is a thing of dreams -we’ll take two, please!
38. DAWN Cowl Neck Dress, Little Mistress, £54.99
Here at For Better For Worse, we love a good cowl neck, they’re just so flattering and the most gorgeous detail to add to a dress. This is why we fell in love with this strappy piece from Little Mistress – wow!
39. Unbridled One-Shoulder Gown, Harrods, £2,290
How dreamy is this one-shoulder gown from Harrods bridal collection? We’re OBSESSED with the cut and style of this dress. Yet it’s still elegant and simple enough to pass even the pickiest of brides (we’ve all been there, no judgement here)!
40. Tess Embellished Bridal Dress, Monsoon, £231
Does anyone else almost scream with excitement at the mention of embellishment (no, just us?)? Well, if you do, then you’ll fall in love with the Tess embellished bridal piece from Monsoon. And it’s just the right amount of added embellishment too!
41. Lecce Dress, Reformation, £326.25
Wow, wow, WOW! A truly stunning piece from Reformation that’s perfect for a bride looking for a more c fit and style when it comes to their simple wedding dress. And the pleated skirt is gorgeous too!
42. Ksenia Maxi Dress, Harrods, £400
We weren’t bluffing when we said that Harrods is giving the other dress companies a run for their money with the pieces they have available as part of their bridal collection. And the Ksenia maxi from Misa Los Angeles is no exception. That plunging neckline in combination with the subtly tiered skirt is simply stunning!
43. Helen Bridal Maxi Dress, Little Mistress, £195
Affordable AND stunning? Little Mistress knows how to make their brides happy, and we couldn’t imagine feeling anything but in this gorgeous, embellished piece from their bridal range!
44. Tullamore Dress, Reformation, £401.25
Taking the simple slip dress to the next level, the Tullamore dress from Reformation is just about the perfect piece for ANY wedding. But, we can’t help but imagine how amazing it would look at a beautiful, beach wedding too (did someone say Pina Colada?).
45. Classic Trumpet Dress, Essence of Australia, Price Upon Request
The first of many stunning pieces from Essence of Australia on this list, and for good reason too! This is the perfect piece for brides looking for a more classic look with a gorgeous, modern twist. That bow detailing is beautiful!
46. Deja Square Neck Dress, Monsoon, £186
Yet another gorgeous square neck dress on this list (there’s a pattern here), but we couldn’t help but add this amazing piece to the list. It is one of our faves after all! And that structured bodice is absolutely everything and more!
47. Melita Dress, Reformation, £262.60
Reformation just knows how to put together the perfect, simple piece and the Melita dress is the perfect example of that. Thin, spaghetti-style straps, a fitted bodice with a sweetheart neckline and an A-line skirt with a sexy split for added drama. To die for!
48. Simple Boho Dress, Essence of Australia, Price Upon Request
If there’s one thing that Essence of Australia knows how to do, it’s put together stunning pieces, fit the most beautiful of boho weddings. So, if that’s the style you’re going for, this may just be the dress of your wildest dreams!
49. Daniela Ivory Tie Strap Dress, Little Mistress, £77
How magical do those tulle-esque tie straps look on this stunning piece from Little Mistress? And we just can’t get over how great that price is for the product you receive, yes, please!
50. Lissa Dress, Reformation, £213.75
A ruched top AND a pleated A-line skirt, Reformation know how to spoil their brides! If you’re looking for a simple, bandeau piece with a little added extra flair, then look no further!
51. Simple and Sleek Boho Dress, Essence of Australia, Price Upon Request
Essence of Australia have it down when it comes to creating simple dresses with a beautiful, boho vibe, and this dress only goes to show just that! The button detailing on the sleeves in combination with the flowy top and fitted skirt is beyond breathtaking.
52. Butterfly Dress, Reformation, £213.75
Reformation never disappoints when it comes to their bridal range, and this butterfly dress is no exception. A truly whimsical gown that is just the right amount of simple with a dramatic twist. Imagine this paired with some nude heels!
53. Emma Satin Flutter Sleeve Dress, ASOS Edition, £112.50
Flutter sleeves are the perfect addition to any simple dress to give it a little bit of a dramatic flair, without being too extra! And this stunning piece from ASOS Editions is the perfect example. We love the keyhole panelling along the midriff too – very chic!
54. 16Arlington Feather Trim Strapless, Far Fetch, £825
Another feathered piece on the list (gasp)? Who would have thought (we did)! We just couldn’t resist adding this stunning little strapless piece to the list. In our opinion, it’s just the right mix of simple and dramatic!
55. Melony Cape Bridal Gown, Little Mistress, £365
Who doesn’t love a good cape to add a bit of sass to an otherwise plain white maxi? Now don’t get us wrong, we love a plain maxi as much as the next person, but we think the cape detailing just adds that little bit of drama that’s perfect for a wedding!
56. Mônot Open Back Dress, Far Fetch, £939
If the term ‘open back’ doesn’t get you excited, we don’t know what will! Stunning isn’t the word for this piece from Far Fetch, we’ve been rendered speechless (shock horror, never thought we’d see the day). We think there’s only one word for it: WOW!
57. Hannah Bardot Bridal Dress, Monsoon, £260
Another ridiculously stunning piece from Monsoon’s bridal collection (are we even surprised at this point) that we’re obsessed with. There’s just something about a simple, twisted Bardot that we can’t get enough of you!
58. Solace London Off the Shoulder, Far Fetch, £450
If you’re looking for simplicity with an unusual twist, look no further, Far Fetch have you covered in the best way possible! This gorgeous, ruche detailed piece is simply, stunning, and the dramatic sleeves in combination with the A-line skirt is a stroke of genius – wow!
59. Twist Halter Maxi, ASOS Design, £38.40
If there’s one thing that ASOS are good at, it’s putting together a stunning, simple wedding dress, and this twisted halter from the Editions collection is no exception! And that revealing, keyhole detailing at the front of the dress is amazing too!
60. White Off the Shoulder Maxi, Little Mistress, £40
Who doesn’t love a little off the shoulder piece, especially when it’s for a price as good as Little Mistress are offering for this stunning gown? Less than £50? Yes please – no one will ever know when it looks this good!
Final Thoughts
This list of stunning, simple gowns only goes to show that simple doesn’t have to mean boring. And we hope that you found your dream dress, without the added drama, amongst this blog. And it’s also worth a reminder that nothing HAS to be simple, especially when paired with gorgeous, minimalist accessories! Make sure you wear what makes you happy over anything. Happy shopping!
That’s all for our list of 60 simple but stunning wedding dresses. Looking for more wedding inspiration? Check out 33 beautiful blue bridesmaid dresses or 60 of our favourite mother or the bride dresses!
