The champagne tones of a strapless trumpet gown by Sareh Nouri, left, play off the other gown’s ivory and cashmere tulle. Earrings, Sara Gabriel. Necklace and headpiece, Something Old Collection. The ball gown at right is by Alvina Valenta, with horsehair-edged cascades throughout skirt. Its ivory lace bodice with a strapless sweetheart neckline has a jeweled applique ribbon belt. Earrings, Something Old Collection. Headpiece, Capelli Fiore.
Tradition trumps fad every time, except when it comes to the most popular wedding month of the year. In 2015, according to The Knot, that font of knowledge of all things nuptial, “October is the most popular month to get married,” nudging June aside. As for wedding gowns, well, the very formal white gown still lures the bride-to-be ever since Queen Victoria wore white on her wedding day. (Black had been the go-to color for decades.)
Top: Opposites attract when pairing gowns. Left, this slim, corded lace gown by Amsale Nicole, with silk chiffon underlay, plunging back and back lace appliqué, contrasts sharply but pleasingly with a white silk faille high-neck gown by Greenwich designer Katie Fong. Veil from Homa Bridal. Earrings and headpiece, Sara Gabriel. Fong’s dress features a sheer organza back and full A-line skirt. Sash, Erin Cole. Earrings, Something Old Collection. Birdcage veil, Capelli Fiore. Photo: David O. Gunn
Although a number of well-known designers joined the bandwagon in showing some unusual attire on runways during the spring New York International Bridal Week — from jumpsuits to midriff-baring cropped tops — the long dress, often with a train attached, is still the all-time favorite.
But there is a new twist to the traditional choice. Increasingly, there are two gowns, and two brides, making their way down the aisle.
Bare shoulders paired with a contrasting high, lacy neckline. Model at right wears a strapless gown by Anna Maier featuring metallic embroidered French Chantilly lace over a layered tulle skirt. Earrings, Sara Gabriel. Necklace and headpiece, Haute Bride. At left, the model’s French Rose lace gown by Anna Maier has a high-cut shoulder neckline in soft white lace over champagne charmeuse. Earrings, Something Old Collection. Headpiece, A Little Something White Collection.
Ashley Krauss, who owns A Little Something White bridal salon in Darien, says that more gay women are dropping into her shop since the June decision by the Supreme Court legalizing gay marriages. Krauss’ corseted gowns are luxurious: silk, faille, tulle, charmeuse, satin organza, silk chiffon, lace and mikado, a heavy silk. Plunging necklines and backs, sweetheart bodices, flouncy and fitted. On the shelves interspersed among the racks are rhinestone and pearl jewelry, sequined shoes, hair clips of beautiful artificial gardenias and beaded bags. There was one memorable gay couple, she says, who came separately, and each surprisingly selected a beautiful white gown from the same designer, unbeknown to her partner. “Why shouldn’t each one have that exquisite dress?” Krauss asks.
Well-known retailers such as J. Crew are always an option.
One couple I met in Greenwich each bought a short white wedding dresses adelaide from J. Crew. Another woman I spoke to from Fairfield selected a honeyed-brown dress, while her partner chose a strapless white long gown from the store’s bridal couture line. But it’s the bridal salons that are seeing a noticeable uptick in same-sex partners searching for the extraordinary dress.
A timeless veil tops off a Judd Waddell gown, left, featuring a strapless scoop neckline and a fitted and flared dress with alternating bands of ivory mikado and satin. Waddell’s sleek lines contrast elegantly with a Sareh Nouri trumpet lace gown featuring a sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves. It is accessorized with a tiara headpiece. Left: Necklace, Something Old Collection. Veil, Toni Federici
Right: Jewelry, Something Old Collection. Headpiece, A Little Something White Collection. Photo: David O. Gunn for Hearst Connecticut Media
Picking traditional gowns for each partner in a same-sex marriage can inform the rest of us on how to mix and match. Krauss says she has 200 gown samples, ranging in price from $3,000 to about $7,500, from about 12 designers. “With gay couples,” she says, “we have two individual people with two very individual preferences who are looking for gowns that play off each other. We don’t want two gowns that match perfectly. In all our pairings, we try to get two gowns that play well against each other, or two that don’t conflict with each other that allow the women to stand out on their own.”
For same-sex couples, Krauss says her aim is to try to keep color consistent between styles and to select fabrics that blend nicely together, such as pairing gowns with a rose color underlying each gown; or blending tradition and modernity where the two are not mutually exclusive; or dressing both women in equally stunning sweetheart wedding dresses because both women are glamorous; or choosing outfits for the demure bride and for the one who is just shy of being overly sexy; or finally, by picking gowns with similar silhouettes, but different fabrics.
Sometimes helping two brides select their special ensembles and having them share their dreams with her has Krauss envisaging them in their gowns exchanging vows in a botanical setting, or a spruced-up old factory, a New York City loft, perhaps a vineyard, even a yacht club. Some traditions are waiting to be made.
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