The Modern Couple

Fashion-forward choices to personalize your day 

By Olivia Sokolowski

If you’re a regular wedding guest or frequent peruser of family and friends’ wedding photos, inspo boards, and wedding magazines, you may feel like you’ve seen every kind of statement-making piece. Your own wedding is a chance to let your inimitable personality shine, so what fashion choices will feel new and unique for you? Let your intuition guide you when sourcing inspiration, but let these ideas serve as a springboard—or remind you of all the ways you can make the day yours. 

Extra, Extra

Coco Chanel once advised to “look in the mirror and take one thing off” to cultivate understated, elegant looks. Think about the opportunities available to you if you defy that particular counsel. 

Your personality might shine in statement earrings cascading down to your collarbone, or an overstated floral tiara to frame your shining face. Opera gloves can be donned in traditional opaque materials—even velvet for the cooler months—or sheer tulle. This is a great place for a pop of color.  

For the grooms, the boutonniere is an often underutilized element. Envision statement flowers, feathers, succulents, and any other meaningful trinket that matches your theme bursting across the lapel. 

Remix the Palette

You’re thinking outside the box and onto the color wheel. Ivory and champagne are timeless departures from the traditional dove-white, but lovers of brighter shades don’t need to mute themselves by any means. Rose, green, and sky-blue are fresh choices that bode well for a playful, authentic union. A colorful groom’s suit could contrast or complement this color choice—or the groom could even dress in a classic white. 

Brides can also consider their heritage for color inspiration. A colorful hanbok, lehenga, or qipao, for instance, could bring both infectious vitality and a meaningful expression of self to your ceremony.

A Study in Texture

Both brides and grooms can reap the benefits of a sumptuously textured getup. Brides might imagine fluttering around the dance floor in a 3D floral showstopper or seek a new context for the age-old lace—a sheer lace skirt with an opaque bodice, for instance, could be a cheeky choice for a summer wedding. 

Grooms, consider the inviting feel of a velvet, jacquard, or even pleated suit jacket. What pattern might match the feeling you want to convey to your guests or the feeling of starting this new life chapter?

Pre- and Post-Production

If you plan to take photos while getting ready, why not splurge on fashion-forward robes for the party’s hair and makeup session—which would also serve as take-home treasures? A slinky silk slip for the bride’s own pre-party look could transform the glam-squad shoot into a mini boudoir session. 

The second look provides its own opportunity for both the bride and groom to prioritize comfort while slipping into something more personal. For grooms, a statement-smoking jacket, casual blazer, or quirky bowtie signal the time for guests to let loose. Brides can choose a funkier shoe, like a colored ballerina flat, or transform entirely into a brighter, lighter, and flirtier dress that feels more appropriate for the reception venue—and the long night of music, laughter, and photos to come.

Q&A with Margaret Ellen Bridal in Santa Rosa Beach 

Q: What wedding fashion statements do you expect to be trending in 2027? 

ME: 2027 will bring more two-piece looks and peplum skirts, texture, lace toppers added on top or under the gowns (giving a two-in-one look) and maybe even some color added to gowns. I also think mermaid dresses are coming back, which makes me very excited because that is what I wore for my wedding in 2013. 

Q: For a bride or groom looking to modernize their look or incorporate their personal style, what accessories or upgrades would you recommend? 

ME: I would suggest pairing a personalized veil with embroidery to commemorate the couple or the occasion date. We love adding the names of the bride and groom or their wedding date to the veil. Other ways to incorporate their personal style would be adding jewelry that has sentimental value or wearing their mom’s veil or accessories. Grooms can wear a fun sock or cuff links that have meaning. 

Q: Can you name a few of your favorite wedding dress or suit brands for memorable, updated styles?

ME: We travel to New York Bridal Fashion Week twice a year to see the trends on the runway months before they are released to brides. Our favorite designers that keep up with the trends are Monique Lhuillier, Sareh Nouri, and Anne Barge. 

Q: What advice do you have for couples who want to experiment with their fashion choices but maintain a timeless appeal? 

ME: I think brides should be less worried about a timeless look and incorporate their personal style in their wedding day apparel. Brides can show their personality through their fashion choices and incorporate timeless design elements in other parts of the wedding day.