In recent years, courthouse wedding style has trickled down from the iconic steps of the New York City Hall, all the way to Australia. The appeal is obvious. Less about tradition or “following the rules”, courthouse wedding dresses urge the bride to embrace their personality.
Gone are the days of trying to make your wedding look effortless and timeless. The modern bride is comfortable with their bridal style making an obvious statement about the era the wedding occurs in.
It’s true, courthouse wedding style is more about a vibe than the specifics of where or to whom you get married. Instead, with a less traditional gown (or not a gown at all), many modern brides are now shucking the unspoken rules that once came with the traditional church wedding in favour of a shorter, sleeker, or more experimental silhouette.
Fashion houses and contemporary bridal labels have embraced this shift, releasing collections that cater to brides (and grooms) who want something less traditional but still equally memorable. Instead of sweeping cathedral trains, we’re seeing shorter hemlines and voluminous silhouettes dominate, with poufy sleeves, empire silhouettes, and structured tailoring appearing to be the enduring styles.
For those who want to make less of a statement, or at least, a quieter one, silk slip dresses and classic drop-waist styles, paired with barely-there heels or sleek slingbacks are all being favoured this year. And in case it isn’t obvious, there are no firm regulations on the colour of your dress either. Go pink, go blue, or hell, go black if that’s what your heart feels pulled to.
We can likely all agree that a wedding is one of the more traditional rituals we still participate in. But with the rise of elopements, intimate ceremonies, and raging parties that skip much of the traditional altogether, pledging your love to one person for the rest of your life suddenly feels more romantic than ever.
And if that’s the precise energy you’re hoping to tap into, find some of our favourite courthouse-style wedding dresses and co-ords below.
RETROFÊTE
Livle Duchesse-Satin Dress
MAGGIE MARILYN
Get Em Girl Dress
HARRIS TAPPER
Hiro Dress Pearl
PREA JAMES
Winona Mini
ROTATE
Bow-Detail Sequined Mini
SIR
Florent Gown
DANIELLE FRANKEL
Bridie Gathered Mini
CECILIE BAHNSEN
Beth Plissé Empire-Line Dress
SANDY LIANG
Bridal Capsule Bonny Jacket
CAMILLA AND MARC
Bridal Capsule Juice Mini Skirt
VIVIENNE WESTWOOD
White Greta Mini Dress
HALFPENNY LONDON
Strapless Pleated Mikado Mini
