Style & Trend
Booked your wedding venue? Now find the perfect dress to match…
Expert advice on how to channel your venue vibe to find your dream dress
Well done, finding the perfect wedding venue is hard work. Hopefully you’ve found one that will help you create exactly the right atmosphere for your big day, whether that’s relaxed boho, classic, luxury or totally contemporary.
And, now you’ve ticked that job off the list, you can start on the most important one - finding your perfect dress! What’s more, you can also use your style of venue to point you in the right direction.
How the experts do it…
Our bridal consultants are the experts when it comes to picking exactly the right dresses for our brides, and they always start by getting a picture of how you see your big day. They’ll ask about your personal style, your venue, the mood you want to create and more. So, we thought we’d ask them for a few of their insider tips on exactly how they do it. Simply find your venue style below and they have a dream dress suggestion to match…
The coastal wedding
The wedding venue: A dreamy coastal venue in the UK or overseas
The vibe: Boho beach chic with a relaxed, rustic seaside feel. Think white canopies, bleached wood, seashells, sea views and more.
Colour scheme: Pretty blues, whites or pastel colours.
The designer: Heidi Hudson
The dress: The perfect dress for you is a slim A-line with a lightweight floaty skirt. It’s a style that looks amazing on the beach with the wind blowing through your hair and is ideal for running barefoot in the surf, without a care in the world! Choose delicate lace and understated sparkle to twinkle in the sun, along with a sexily split, easy-to-wear skirt. This a great design to take overseas too, as it's simple to pack and beautifully cool in hot weather.
Real life inspo…
Real bride Acacia went for pretty, blush-coloured lace for her wedding by the sea in Cornwall. It was the perfect complement to the rugged backdrop and the relaxed spa hotel venue.
Maria chose boho lace and pearls for her wedding at a chic restaurant on Spain’s Costa Brava coast. “My dress perfectly captured the boho chic style I was looking for,” she says. “I felt like a million dollars in it.”
The rustic barn
The wedding venue: A charming barn setting with exposed beams and fairy lights, surrounded by fields.
The vibe: Rustic and informal, with simple glass jars holding loosely arranged bunches of flowers, hessian table runners, wooden pallets and flickering tea lights.
Colour scheme: Natural soft colours, such as whites, creams and sage greens, or a mix of soft pinks, peaches and whites.
The designer: Viva Bride
The dress: An oh-so pretty floral A-line is a great choice for this venue. A-lines come in many styles but, for your quietly beautiful day, a simple and romantic design is 'The One'. Look out for delicate straps, intricate floral lace with a touch of sparkle and also a floaty tulle overlay to match the relaxed informal vibe.
Real life inspo…
Grace and Jack chose a stunning farm venue with a rustic barn, which worked perfectly with Grace’s soft tulle A-line with semi-sheer bodice. “I loved the Bardot straps and I felt incredible,” she says. “It hugged my figure and I got so many compliments.”
The city celebration
The wedding venue: A trendy town hall or smart city centre hotel
The vibe: Confident, elegant and modern, with sleek flowers, stylish on-trend decor and a crisp suit or black tie for the groom.
Colour scheme: Whites and golds or white with accent colours of rich deep red or purple
The designer: Miavalenca
The dress: A fitted crepe sheath is a contemporary classic that combines a timeless bridal look with a sexy modern attitude. Details like matt lace, a low back or a semi sheer bodice will give you a look that’s straight from the catwalks. Plus, a chic crepe train is perfect for strolling city streets for that great photo op.
Real life inspo…
Sarah and Josh’s wedding at a stylish hotel in Manchester was a love letter to the city. “We chose King Street Townhouse, and it just blew us away with how luxurious it felt,” says Sarah. “It’s a gorgeous hotel right in the centre. It was also quite a small venue and we wanted an intimate townhouse feel.”
Sarah’s fitted sheath dress was ideal for the striking backdrop.“I loved the sleeves and the beaded detail, but also how plain and classy it was,” she says. "The buttons down the back are stunning too. It was my dream dress.”
The classic manor house
The wedding venue: The quintessential English manor house
The vibe: An elegant setting for a day with plenty of traditional moments, quietly understated decor and softly coloured floral displays.
Colour scheme: Pale pinks, lilacs and creams, with light greenery
The designer: Anna Sorrano
The dress: A classic A-line would work brilliantly but you should also consider an understated mermaid. Try demure full-length sleeves, detailed lace and a soft tulle flare for a look that’s all about old-style elegance. A classic day like this also demands a beautifully traditional, sweeping train and a veil to match.
Real life inspo…
Sandra and Stephan chose an elegant country estate in Essex. She matched the sophisticated feel of the venue with full-length lace sleeves, a simple tulle veil and a beautiful bouquet of blush pink roses and soft green eucalyptus.
The luxury venue
The wedding venue: A grand stately home or luxury hotel
The vibe: No expense spared. You want to treat your guests to a day to remember with an abundance of flowers and stylish decor, like blossom trees and candelabras, for a feeling of real opulence.
Colour scheme: High end luxe, think pure whites and creams with bold splashes of gold.
The designer: Aaliyah Quinn
The dress: Something with wow factor! Your venue is designed to make a statement, so you need a dress to match. We love head-to-toe lace, with the finest shimmering detailing and maybe a modern, deep plunge bodice. Alternatively, a sexy fitted sheath with the most magnificent lace-covered train is perfect for this type of venue. Look for on-trend features like an alluring keyhole back, too.
Real life inspo…
Sammy and Josh’s colour theme was sophisticated gold, white and champagne with lots of white flowers and a stunning floral arch of white roses and pampas grass. Her limited edition gown, covered in luxury lace, was the perfect match. “I absolutely loved the sheer bodice and how it was a little different to most dresses,” she says. "It was my perfect dress and I felt a million dollars on my wedding day.”
The modern masterpiece
The wedding venue: An art gallery, white studio space, industrial warehouse or an airy orangery or glasshouse.
The vibe: Simple styling, pared-back colours and not too much decor, so the venue speaks for itself.
Colour scheme: White with either modern greens and lots of foliage or splashes of bold navy.
Designer: Sofia Cruz
The dress: A simple sheath or A-line in luxurious plain Mikado is the one for you. Beautifully cut and crafted, a row of covered buttons or a flattering pleated bodice is all the detailing you need. Much like the venue, you want something that allows your natural, confident beauty to shine through.
Real life inspo…
Nicky chose an elegant square-backed sheath to match her low-key celebration. “I loved the simplicity of it,” she says. “The dress wasn’t wearing me, I was wearing the dress. The fit and the style really suited me and it was just such a classic design. I felt amazing in it.”
Emily’s elegantly understated Mikado gown was a dream for their outdoor wedding.“I loved the very first dress I tried on,” she says. “It was satin, corset style and, best of all, it had pockets!”
The perfect match?
We hope you’ve found your wedding venue style above and also picked up a few ideas on the ideal dress to match. If not, our bridal experts can help. Simply drop into your nearest store and tell them all about your venue and your big day plans. Before you know it you’ll be wearing the dress of your dreams!
Click here to find a dress to match your wedding venue, then try on your favourites at your nearest wed2b store. Here’s what to expect when you visit, too. Lastly, for more inspiration, read more of our brilliant real bride stories or check out our Instagram, Facebook or TikTok accounts.
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