Bridal Stylist’s Guide To Wedding Dress Shopping
7 min

Bridal Stylist’s Guide To Wedding Dress Shopping

Say yes to the dress without stress! Wedding dress shopping can be one of the most exciting and overwhelming parts of getting married – so we brought in backup. Wedding Wingmen Monica and Tori, stylists at Platinum Bridal, are here to share how they have helped hundreds of brides pick a wedding dress. In addition to their wedding dress shopping tips, stay tuned to learn about lead and alteration times and when to start wedding dress shopping.

Meet Your Wedding Wingman!

Monica & Tori are the sister team behind Platinum Bridal. The wedding planners-turned-bridal stylists enjoy being a part of the most important event in a couple’s life. They joined Wed Mayhem to educate brides on how to shop with confidence for a dress that complements their unique style, personality, and silhouette.

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9 min

20 Destination Wedding Dresses Under $1000

Destination wedding

Your destination wedding is calling you and you must go! When it comes to choosing a wedding dress, your venue’s location and how far you have to travel for it are important factors to consider. Make sure to do some research such as looking at the typical weather during the season of your wedding and what the venue has in store for you. Do you need a dress suitable for walking down the aisle on the beach or an elopement wedding dress you can hike through the mountains in? Remember, it’s your wedding your way, so if you fall in love with the dress, it’s meant to be. Say “I do” to these 15 wedding dresses ranging from $92 to $995 for your destination wedding. 

01

One Shoulder Feather Sleeveless Thigh High Slit Beaded Gown

One Shoulder Feather Sleeveless Thigh High Slit Beaded Gown
Courtesy: Dillard’s

This dress brings all the glitz and glamor. All eyes will be on you with the beaded embellishments, the asymmetrical hemline with the feather trip, and the thigh-high side slit. Ring in your marriage in this dress with a champagne toast on a New York City rooftop with the lights of the skyline glimmering in the distance.

02

Molinetto White Lace Ruffled Tiered Sleeveless Maxi Dress

Molinetto White Lace Ruffled Tiered Sleeveless Maxi Dress
Courtesy: Lulus

Next up is this budget wedding dress we love because it looks way more expensive and has inclusive sizing ranging from XXS to 3X. Whether you’re packing this dress for frolicking through Martha’s Vineyard or taking it internationally to a private villa in Tuscany, the lined lace fabric will keep it wrinkle-free. This classy dress features a tiered maxi skirt with a plunging V-neckline! The icing on the cake for this dress is all dresses ordered from Lulus come with a branded canvas garment bag perfect for storage and protection during your travels.

03

Embroidered Puff Sleeve Empire Waist Wedding Dress 

Courtesy: BHLDN

This dress is perfect for the garden goddess bride getting married in a beautiful outdoor venue. Romantic floral embroidery trails down the wedding dress featuring sheer puff sleeves, an empire bodice, and layered tulle skirt. For those looking for a plus-size wedding dress, you can find this dress in sizes 0-30… LOVE!  

04

Adore 2 Way Dress

Adore 2Way Dress
Courtesy: Revolve

With a destination wedding, you get the best of both worlds, a vacation, and a wedding. This dress is also a two-for-one as you get a chic strapless dress with a detachable train with a statement bow. The boned bodice takes this little white dress up a notch, and the bow is a tasteful yet playful element. We love that you can wear this dress even on the same vacation and make it look totally different! 

05

Azazie Amaryllis Wedding Dress

Azazie Amaryllis Wedding Dress
Courtesy: Azazie

Beaches are one of the most common destination wedding locations, so make sure to check out our blog 20 Beach Wedding Dresses for Every Type of Bride. We choose to highlight this one as we love the tropical nod of the leaf detailing on the bust of this dress! Padding and boning are added so you don’t have to worry about bra straps! A chapel train is just enough to balance the dress and a slit allows you to show off your legs. 

06

Bailey Off-The-Shoulder Sweetheart Neck Cap Sleeve Sheath Dress 

Bailey Off-The-Shoulder Sweetheart Neck Cap Sleeve Sheath Dress
Courtesy: Dillard’s

Sometimes a destination wedding lends itself to more casual attire. While we wouldn’t necessarily call this dress casual in any category besides bridal, its shorter hem makes it easy to pack away in a suitcase and still gives a classic bridal vibe perfect for a modest church wedding and more! We love the off-the-shoulder cap sleeves paired with the sweetheart neckline. We love that this dress is machine washable and definitely something you’ll be able to wear again! 

07

Ronda Silk Dress

Ronda Silk Dress
Courtesy: Reformation

This slinky number is absolutely perfect for the altar, no matter the location. We’re obsessed with the one-shoulder look, and the unique asymmetrical neckline. The cowl neck detailing also just adds the perfect amount of drama to make this dress look effortlessly cool. We love that the simplicity of this dress makes it great for other fancy occasions. Bonus points for being sustainable! 

08

Off-The-Shoulder Jumpsuit with Bows In Ivory 

Off-The-Shoulder Jumpsuit with Bows In Ivory
Courtesy: Adrianna Papell

We love it when brides step out in a jumpsuit. This strapless jumpsuit features a wide-leg silhouette and feminine bow accents. The lightweight woven crepe material is great for warmer climates and even better for packing in a suitcase as the rough crinkled texture of crepe hides the appearance of wrinkles. We love a jumpsuit moment for some cathedrals in Europe that require more modest attire. 

09

Sola Satin Dress

Sola Satin Dress
Courtesy: Reformation

Step right out the seventies and down the aisle in these groovy heels. The natural color reminds us of a straw beach hat. The 3.5 inch chunky heel is super comfy and will help your dress not drag in the sand. We also love that these heels come in a suave gold and metallic purple for a pop color.

10

Dolly Strapless Sequin Feather Maxi Dress

Dolly Strapless Sequin Feather Maxi Dress
Courtesy: Bergdorf Goodman

Destination weddings are all about having fun on vacation and this sequin number is definitely playful. The strapless ostrich feather neckline with the thigh-high slit is sexy but wedding-worthy. Finding a dress you can wear all night is key for destination weddings as you can skip packing two dresses. We can just picture a bride eloping in Vegas then hitting the slot machine in this dress or having a ball at your Nashville wedding and continuing the party with all your besties in this dress on Broadway. 

11

Azazie Devonna Wedding Dress

Azazie Devonna Wedding Dress
Courtesy: Azazie

Continuing our love for lace (and its wrinkle-free texture) we bring you the bohemian dress of your dreams. We love this dress for getting married in a barn or on a farm. Our favorite part of this dress is not only does it have inclusive sizing (sizes 0-30), but you can send your specific measurements to Azazie to have the dress custom-made to fit your body at no additional cost.

12

Amur Oriel Top + Skirt 

Amur Oriel Top + Skirt
Courtesy: Anthropologie

This romantic two-piece set is perfect for packing! The ruffled top is such a fun textural element paired with a skirt featuring curved tiers of pleated layers waterfall from a fitted waistband. While this set is a bit on the pricey side, you’ll get your money’s worth by being able to wear each piece individually time and time again. We can already picture the top being dressed down and paired with jeans for brunch! 

13

Romantic Wedding Dress Tveisiya With Puffy Sleeves 

Romantic Wedding Dress Tveisiya With Puffy Sleeves
Courtesy: Olivia Bottega

Embrace your childhood dreams of becoming a princess in this dress! The gorgeous a-line silhouette features a satin bodice with a deep v and an open back. We love long sleeves for a winter wedding as these puffy sleeves add a beautiful texture element. We can totally see this dress being worn for a wedding at a European castle. While you might need an extra suitcase for this dress, it will be worth it to keep you warm!

14

Crepe Strapless Floral Detail Convertible Sheath Wedding Dress

Courtesy: BHLDN

They say elegance can’t be bought, but this dress may be the exception! This dress features off-the-shoulder beautiful draping detail. Besides taking our breath away, we choose this dress as it’s made of crepe, which again is notable for being wrinkle-resistant.

16

Jenny Yoo Tana Gown

Jenny Yoo Tana Gown
Courtesy: Anthropologie

When it comes to destination weddings, dresses with long trains can be a real pain. Instead, opt for a dress like this with princess seams hugging you in all the right places. Since the dress has a clean and modern shape, bring the party to the back with the cutout and opt for a veil like this one to mimic a train. Then you have the option of taking it off after your ceremony!

17

Pearl Bridal Dress 

Pearl Bridal Dress
Courtesy: For Love and Lemons

We saw the cowboy hat paired with this dress and we had to include it for our brides getting married at a ranch in Wyoming or in the desert of Palm Springs. The dreamy dress is full of intricate detailing with its asymmetrical neckline, draped shoulder sleeve, side button closure, draped back ruffle detail, embroidered floral straps, and a paneled silky viscose train.

18

Florence Dress

Florence Dress
Courtesy: Revolve

Head to the courthouse in style with this sexy blazer dress. Highlights of this dress include the plunging neckline and draped lace overlay in the back almost like a cape. We can also see this being perfect for an intimate wedding at a library or museum as it’s giving all the dark academia vibes. Pair with a show-stopping updo for a chic look. 

19

True Love White Beaded Rhinestone Maxi Dress

True Love White Beaded Rhinestone Maxi Dress
Courtesy: Lulus

This lovely dress is perfect for a wedding at an art gallery as it’s truly a work of art!  The skinny mesh straps keep the attention on the plunging bodice decorated with rhinestones, sequins, and iridescent beads. Hidden in the sheer mesh are lightly padded molded cups to keep you secure. This dress also comes with a storage and protection bag. 

20

Feeling of Forever White Long Sleeve Mermaid Maxi Dress

Feeling of Forever White Long Sleeve Mermaid Maxi Dress
Courtesy: Lulus

You can’t go wrong with a mermaid cut! This flattering dress is again made of our favorite stretchy crepe packable material and features a v-neckline, a princess seamed bodice, and a faux button accent along the back. The long sleeves make this dress perfect for a winter wonderland whether it’s simply on its own for an elopement in the Colorado mountains or paired with a faux fur jacket for wedding photos outside a beautiful lodge in Canada. 

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