New York Bridal Market Fall 2019 Recap {and Top Bridal Trends for 2019} - Smashing the Glass

Ines Di Santo’s afterparty at the Baccarat Flagship Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images

5 days, 18 appointments, approximately 57 million Insta stories (if you missed them, you can catch the best bits in our highlights), and countless fantastic dresses later, New York Bridal Fashion week is over for another season. Basically Fashion Week for wedding dresses, Bridal Fashion Week (aka Bridal Market) is easily one of the most fun times of a wedding blogger’s year.

Some of the collections are presented at full-on runway shows (and Ines Di Santo put on a particularly epic one this Bridal Market, plus the coolest afterparty at the Baccarat Flagship), while others are shown at more intimate appointments for small groups of buyers from bridal boutiques (plus press, of course), sometimes with the designers present.

Suzanne Neville

Limor Rosen

Ines Di Santo Photo by FIRSTVIEW

I had some fantastic conversations with designers and PR reps, learned a ton about everything from who actually buys those epic but unwearable-looking designs you see on the runway (answer: often no one, since some designs are purely intended for editorial impact and never even make it to production) to the differences between what American and British brides are looking for in a gown (according to Sassi Holford, it’s half an inch: Americans invariably want deeper sweetheart necklines, while the Brits prefer theirs with less of a dip). The more you know!

There’s so much fantastic bridal fashion in the pipeline for next year, and I’m so excited to share it with you, along with my take on some of the top trends we’ll be seeing (or, in some cases, continuing to see) over the next year. From classic elegance inspired by Meghan Markle’s gown to a burgeoning range of alt coverups from capes to ruffs (perfect for under the chuppah!) to unexpected bursts of color, 2019’s going to be an exciting year for bridal. Pin your favorite looks!

Caroline Castigliano

Suzanne Neville

The Meghan Markle Effect

The Duchess of Sussex’s minimalist Givenchy masterpiece is making major waves in the bridal world. Clean lines, classic silhouettes, and unadorned fabrics are taking center stage in the Fall 2019 collections – and, good news for those brides who need to be a little more covered up, so are sleeves! (See Princess Eugenie’s dress from her Royal wedding this Friday for a fabulous example by Peter Pilotto)

Caroline Castigliano

Sassi Holford

Caroline Castigliano

Savannah Miller

Suzanne Neville

Color

The days when wedding dress shopping meant drifting through a sea of white, white, and more white are gone. These days, color is all the rage. But that doesn’t necessarily mean full-on brights (though sometimes it does!). From surprise touches of colorful embroidery on white gowns to dresses based in nudes or blushes (which, let’s face it, can be so much more flattering – white’s not always the easiest color to wear!), there are colorful options out there whether you’re looking to make a bold statement or want to keep your look traditional.

Ines Di Santo Photo by FIRSTVIEW

Vera Wang

Hermione de Paula Photo by Alistair Vlok

Kate McDonald

Alt Coverups

Good news for brides who need to cover up under the chuppah but want that strapless (or strappy) look for the reception: there are more (and cooler) coverup options on offer this season than ever before. From jackets to lace toppers to capes to ruffs (yes, ruffs!), there’s so much on offer.

Sassi Holford

Vera Wang

Sassi Holford

Halfpenny London

Ines Di Santo Photo by FIRSTVIEW

Jumpsuit Nation

Jumpsuits have been making an appearance at Bridal Market for the past few seasons, but this time they were so ubiquitous I’m going to go ahead and declare them a full-on trend. Could these statement-making power outfits be bridal fashion’s #metoo moment?

Savannah Miller

Ines Di Santo Photo by FIRSTVIEW

Israeli Invasion

It’s hardly news that Israeli designers are taking the bridal world by storm, or that we’re huge fans of this development here on STG. Israeli designers may have a reputation for super sexy, ultra contemporary styles, but this season we’re pleased to see a huge range of styles represented. There’s plenty of drama, and skin on display, sure, but there are also hyper-feminine silhouettes and sweet details galore.

Limor Rosen

Dany Mizrachi Photo by SY Photography

Livné White

Lee Petra Grebenau Photo by Dan Lecca

Your Wedding (Dress), Your Way

These days, brides are lucky that there are SO many styles out there. With more designers showing at Bridal Market than ever before, there are wedding dresses (and separates, and jumpsuits, and accessories) to suit just about any and every style. Whether you’re looking for classic elegance, sweet whimsy, mega drama, boho chic, or the full-on princess look, it’s out there. Here are some of my favorite finds showcasing the huge, glorious range of styles represented.