As one of the founding editors of Martha Stewart Weddings in 1995—and now, in my business as the Celebration Expert, advising people on how to make the most important days of their lives meaningful and personal—I’ve seen a lot of wedding dresses!

I’ve been attending bridal market for almost 30 years. It’s like fashion week for wedding gowns (and bridesmaids’ dresses), when designers show their new collections to buyers, the press, and the wedding world. And, like fashion week, it happens twice a year. That means I’ve been to almost 60 bridal markets and still love every minute of it. I find it incredible to see the designers who have been creating for years still updating their creations and inspiring the wedding world—and I always love meeting the new designers who continue to join the market.

But my favorite part is noticing the trends that I know real brides are going to love wearing down the aisle in the year to come. I hate to call them trends, though, because the word implies a fleeting fad, and the best wedding styles are as timeless as they are fashion-forward. Let’s think of them as styles. Whether you are planning a wedding, have a friend getting married, or just like to look at beautiful dresses, here is a peek at some of the most gorgeous, enduring styles from 2025 bridal market.

Beautiful Bows

What better way to tie the knot than in a dress that features a bow? If that idea appeals, the options are almost endless. There were bows at the bottom of a low back at Amsale and Mark Ingram, a miniskirt that wraps into a big side bow at Monique Lhuillier, and dainty crystal-studded bows on lace sleeves and bodices at Reem Acra. The designer described the delicate, sculptural touches on the dresses as embodying “the essence of Reem Acra from the past.” It's true that there’s something vintage feeling about bows, which are classic and flirty at the same time.

Floral Appliques

Carrying a bouquet of flowers is beautiful. Wearing a gown with fabric blooms appliqued onto it is even more stunning. You could opt for all-over blossoms, like the Galia Lahav or Pronovias gowns. Or, choose a showstopping accent, like the floral back detail at Vera Wang or the sheer neck and sleeves dotted with flowers seen both at Mira Zwillinger and at Amsale. This season, “I was inspired by French romanticism,” says Michael Cho, head designer at Amsale. “L’art de vivre—the art of living." And nothing says romance like a dress inspired by a field of wildflowers.

Pastel Accents

Bringing together the best of both worlds, several designers showed traditional white gowns with romantic, colorful pastel accents. Nardos and Jenny Yoo went for a lucky “something blue” in dresses with blue floral details. “This is kind of a Victorian look and all about the color that spring brings to the world,” designer Nardos said of her fresh yet vintage-inspired gown. But blue is not your only option for a splash of color. Ines di Santo’s strapless gown with a basketweave waist is handpainted with pink roses and pale green leaves. “It’s all about romance,” says Di Santo.“Romance unveiled.”

Chic Corsets

This lingerie-inspired look is less lingerie and more Bridgerton. “The trend is the corset bodice with the elongated waistline, the elimination of the underwire cup,” says designer Mark Ingram. “It's more about corset boning versus the sort of bra look.” He showed corsets both in gowns (in his silk mikado Dorie) and on their own as part of two-piece ensembles, like the Blair corset top and pants. Reem Acra offered a lace corset-top ball gown, and Idan Cohen featured a glittering, all-over beaded corset gown as part of a collection he calls “very sexy, very feminine.”

Satin Silhouettes

Bridal market 2025 wasn’t all about applique and details. Designers also showcased simple, timeless silhouettes in luxe fabrics for brides who seek classic glamour. This trend, says Ingram, “is all about grandeur, opulence, less beading, less lace, more classically, beautifully tailored dresses and fine fabrics.” His Brynn embodies this aesthetic, as do Jenny Yoo’s sleek Hilaire with detachable diaphanous chiffon sleeves and her taffeta Romina ballgown. Any one of these gowns would offer up that magical “I’m a bride!” feeling.