Bridal Fashion Week for Spring 2015: All the Highlights (and So Many Swoon-Worthy Dresses!)

We love all Fashion Weeks around here, but we have a special place in our heart for Bridal Fashion Week. The gowns! The gossamer! The gloriously romantic silhouettes! We sent one of our two resident brides-to-be, writer/reporter Michelle Ward, to some of the most beautiful shows in Manhattan, to report on what she saw (and, fine, maybe do a little gown research for herself). Below, check out her “diary” from the shows.

Let me start by saying, I’m getting married and I don’t have a dress yet. So to say being tasked with covering bridal week for Spring 2015 is like being a kid in a candy store is an understatement. I was dying to go. Did I mention my wedding is in spring 2015? Even better.

Now, I won’t bore you with the contents of the novel-like notebook I now own (I haven’t taken notes like that since my college finals), but I will share a few key trends I saw (think: off-the shoulder gowns, whimsical hair, embroidered veils and plenty of lace) as well as some of my favorite moments from the week. Here are some highlights:

Slaven Vlasic/Getty

First stop: Oscar de la Renta (sigh). As expected the gowns were stunning — and built for every kind of bride. From beachy and barefoot to elegant and embroidered, the dresses and the models embodied pure romance. The real scene-stealers, however, were the adorable flower girls who garnered audible “awwws” from the crowd.

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Onto Marchesa, whose show was set up like a reception with round tables draped in white and topped with flowers and Champagne. I caught up with another bride-to-be, Jamie Chung, who told me she had a private sneak peek with Monique Lhuillier the day before (more on that tomorrow!). “This is my first time going to any kind of bridal anything,” she gushed. “It’s like stepping into a different world. This is nothing like fashion week; it’s much more elegant.” I couldn’t agree more!

Sipa; Getty

Looking like a scene out of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the whimsical hair at Marchesa paired perfectly with their dramatic dresses (above). Kudos to Akemi Tamaribuchi for Kérastase Paris for creating intricate updos, floral-adorned braids and rosette crowns. I’m a huge fan of delicate lace and cap-sleeves, so the modern take on Grace Kelly’s high-necked, ballgown was right up my alley.

High glam, beaded embroidery and glistening gowns were hits at Jenny Packham while traditional sweetheart bodices, shiny satin and column sheaths reigned supreme at Reem Acra.

Courtesy Michelle Ward

And for brides who are looking for something blue, Monique Lhuillier debuted a gorgeous periwinkle gown (see it in the photo above!) which stood out among a sea of white, mint and blush (yes, blush is back!). Inspired by John Singer Sargent, the models posed in a portrait-like stance at the close of the show. Perfection.

Courtesy Michelle Ward, Getty

Lastly, I swung by Vera Wang’s showroom where I experienced the pure bliss of being able to see the dresses up close and personal — nude bodices and piles of tulle capped off the collection, but despite all that volume, they were as light as air. On a side note, for all you fashion-forward brides, Wang offers an edgy crop top and full skirt combo.

Now that the week is out, and I’ve seen gorgeous gown after gorgeous gown, it’s on to the hard part: choosing the dress!