The Best Wedding Dresses of 2018 (2024)

Whether you've been dreaming of your wedding dress since you were a little girl or only started considering bridal fashion after you got engaged, there's a lot that goes into choosing a big-day gown. For some women, it only takes one appointment (and maybe even one dress!) to know they've found "the one." For others, the process involves trying on countless different styles, silhouettes, and designers before they feel equipped to make a decision. That's why we firmly believe that finding a wedding dress you love is an occasion that should be celebrated.

In that spirit, we took a look back at all of the real weddings we featured in 2018 and kept our attention on each bride's attire. What we saw was a collection of beautiful, fashion-forward gowns worthy of revisiting, but because we couldn't resurface every single dress again, we challenged ourselves to choose the styles that were truly worthy of a second look. In the end, everything from ball gowns and sheaths to tea-length numbers and looks with unique accessories caught our eye again.

One thing that may come as a surprise to you is that white gowns were on the decline in 2018—more brides than ever before walked down the aisle in statement-making color. That doesn't mean you shouldn't expect to see any classic gowns, though. Take the Made with Love Bridal wedding dress that Charla, seen here, wore for her Texas wedding, for example. The illusion laser-cut lace gown caught our eye thanks to its pretty pattern and incredible train.

No matter what kind of wedding dress you're considering, it's important to walk down the aisle in something that makes you feel like the best version of yourself. When you do, that confidence will shine through in your photos—that's exactly what you'll see in the image ahead. But don't just take our word for it. Click through to see all of our favorite wedding dresses from 2018 here.

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Guipure Lace Wedding Dress

Chelsea wouldn't have found her incredible Oscar de la Renta wedding dress had it not been for bad weather that pushed the designer's trunk show back to the day of her appointment, but the stunning lace gown—and its statement bow—was a perfect fit for her timeless Palm Beach wedding.

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Pink Floral Wedding Dress

When all of the women in your family have walked down the aisle in something colorful, you're bound to do the same. That's how it was for Francesca, at least. Her grandmother wore light blue, her mom wore hot pink, but she chose something in the middle for her North Fork wedding: a petal pink floral gown from Monique Lhuillier.

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Traditional Wedding Dress

"I was drawn to the royal looks of some of India's finest designers," says Alpana of her Tarun Tahiliani lengha. The intricate number was a stunning choice for the bride's Hindu and Sikh wedding in California.

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Architectural Wedding Dress

Madison's silk-faille Carolina Herrera wedding dress was classic in the front, but cool and architectural in the back. It featured an origami-style bow with raw edges, and the detail made a major statement at the bride's Ohio nuptials.

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Victorian-Inspired Wedding Dress

Before Lauren could commit to her Vivienne Atelier wedding dress, she needed her nephew's stamp of approval. Luckily, he gave it, and she walked down the aisle at her Texas nuptials in a dress that made her feel like "a princess for the day."

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Slip Wedding Dress

Looking for an example of how to go understated with your wedding attire? Just look to Kaily's sleek A la Robe slip dress for inspiration. We can't get enough of the simple, elevated style she wore for her Los Angeles celebration.

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Two-Piece Wedding Dress

Two designers are to credit for Vanessa's cool-girl wedding attire. She chose a crop top and cape from Alexandra Grecco and a skirt from Otaduy, and the pieces all came together flawlessly at her backyard wedding.

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Classic Wedding Dress

After trying on 100 different wedding dresses (seriously!), Jessica worked with her seamstress at Vera Wang to alter the neckline on this otherwise perfect Chantilly lace number. They modified the gown's intended high neckline to become strapless, and based on the final result, it's clear she made a great choice for her New York wedding.

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Custom Wedding Dress

If you can't find anything you love at a bridal salon, don't be afraid to go custom. Based on Diana's experience, it's a great idea. She worked with Classic Tina Bridal Shop to create this incredible two-piece look for her wedding in Budapest.

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Traditional Wedding Dress

As a nod to her husband's Indian background, Jenna wore a traditional lengha from the Grand Trunk at her Napa Valley wedding. We're obsessed with the rich colors and ornate detailing.

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Detailed Wedding Dress

If you love detail, you're bound to be attracted to Elle's beaded Lihi Hod wedding dress. "I wanted something that was unique, form-fitting, and that I would want to stay in all night long," the bride says of her criterion for her big-day attire.

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Pale Pink Wedding Dress

Amanda first tried her Vera Wang wedding dress on in classic white, but once she saw the rose-hued version online, she kne it was just right for her rustic Tennessee wedding.

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Homemade Wedding Dress

Emme was pregnant during her engagement, so she decided to wait until after the birth of her daughter to choose a wedding dress. Ultimately, she couldn't find what she wanted available in store, so she trusted her family members to make the perfect gown for her California wedding. "I found the perfect fabric at a specialty fabric store with tulle mesh and beading that went perfectly with our stationery. Our whole family, including my sister-in-law, pitched in to sew the dress before the wedding," she says.

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Caped Wedding Dress

To get her dream bridal look, Natalie chose pieces she loved from three different bridal designers. When it was time to walk down the aisle at her San Francisco celebration, she wowed guests in a beaded bodice by Lihi Hod, a Houghton skirt, and a BHLDN cape. Each piece paired seamlessly with the others.

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Tea-Length Wedding Dress

There's something so effortless about Leila's tea-length Elizabeth Fillmore wedding dress. It's not just the hemline we're attracted to, though. We can't get enough of the pretty lace appliqués or the pockets. The sweet, relaxed style was perfect for her destination wedding in Tuscany.

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Nontraditional Wedding Dress

"I loved how unique and nontraditional this gown was, and the detailing was stunning," Ashley says of the Limor Rosen wedding dress she wore for her spring nuptials. We couldn't agree more.

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Painted Wedding Dress

Because Christina's Charleston wedding had a blue-and-white color palette, it was only fitting that she wore a dress that matched. Natalie Taylor Humphrey painted the birds and flowering branches that adorned the bride's Kate McDonald Bridal wedding dress directly onto the fabric!

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Customized Wedding Dress

Daniela had been saving a photo of a wedding dress she loved for years, so when she was able to tweak this Martina Liana ball gown to suit her long-time vision, she was sold. Her decision to add a lace bodice and sleeves is one we fully support, and one that meant also her gown was appropriate for her church ceremony.

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Blush Wedding Dress

Katie always knew she'd wear a colorful wedding dress on her big day, so it came as no surprise to her when this pale pink Lara dress caught her eye. The off-the-shoulder gown featured trailing floral embellishments.

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Ball Gown Wedding Dress

We love the drama this beaded Ines Di Santo wedding dress brought to Tillie's Malibu wedding. And that was important for this ceremony—it took place on a helipad, after all! If that type of venue doesn't call for a statement-making ball gown, we don't know what does.

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Wedding Dress with Cape

Cassandra worked with her friend, Elizabeth Dye, to customize a discontinued wedding dress she found hidden in the back of a bridal salon. One of the details she loved most about the gown she wore for her Washington wedding? The dainty tulle cape, which she chose in place of a veil.

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Custom Wedding Dress

Velonia Boutique & Tailoring was responsible for both the bride's wedding dress (made from oyster leavers lace with a hint of metallic thread) and her sister's garnet-hued gown. Such stylish dresses were essentially a must-have for bride Kae's bold wedding in the Pacific Northwest.

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Illusion Wedding Dress

A wedding in Washington, D.C., calls for a classic wedding dress, and Melissa's Sareh Nouri gown fit the bill. Even more fitting? The gown's name—"Gardenia"—which was a convenient nod to the couple's flower-filled celebration.

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Chic Wedding Dress

"I loved the dress the moment I tried it on," Jamie says of the chic J. Mendel number she wore for her Boulder, Colorado, wedding. The structured gown featured a fun cutout, which the bride had altered from a deep v-neckline.

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Lace Wedding Dress

Colleen tried on 113 wedding dresses, so when she tried on this lace Dolce & Gabbana gown, she knew nothing would top it. The understated silhouette was exactly what she wanted for her Newport, Rhode Island, wedding.

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Ready-to-Wear Wedding Dress

Wedding dress fatigue is a real thing, and Leah, who tied the knot in North Carolina, will be the first to admit it. Once she realized she wasn't interested in trying on another white gown, she started looking beyond classic bridal collections. In the end, she chose a colorful floral option from Monique Lhuillier's ready-to-wear collection.

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Beaded Wedding Dress

After trying on around 20 wedding dresses, Sze knew she found "the one" when she slipped into this beaded Berta gown. It's glittering criss-cross pattern was appropriately glamorous for the bride's destination wedding in Greece.