The way that some people look forward to the week between Christmas and New Year's, I look forward to New York Bridal Fashion Week. Twice a year, the top bridal designers in the world descend on one of my favorite cities to show their collections. With my background in fashion design and my career as a wedding illustrator, it’s truly the most exciting time of year! Although I couldn’t make it in person this year, I still had to recap some of my favorite trends that hit the runway. 

New York Bridal Fashion Week 

While every designer did an absolutely incredible job bringing their own unique vision to the runways this season, there were a few trends we noticed across the board. First, multiple wedding looks are here to stay! We saw designers leaning into wedding pieces for all types of events, from reception dresses to pre-event attire. While the focus will always remain on the classic wedding gown, it was refreshing to see such a variety of styles. We also saw cinched waists on every runway – it’s all about enhancing your form! Whether a natural waist, drop waist, or basque waist, there was consistently a form-fitting element to every gown. And finally, designers across the board opted for unique textures. More than just traditional laces, we saw iridescent fabric, long textured trains, and even multiple types of laces on the same gown. We love a tactile design and are excited to see this trend continue. 

Mini Dresses with Structured Skirts 

One of the first major trends we noticed this year was the mini dress! Most notably, mini dresses with structured, bell-shaped skirts. While reception dresses have become popular over the past few years, this shortened hemline is a fun, flirty option that we absolutely love! Marriers are prioritizing comfort and the ability to dance the night away, while still looking incredibly chic. It also brings the question – will we see hemlines begin to rise on traditional wedding gowns as well? 

Photos courtesy of Brides

Straight Necklines

Goodbye, sweetheart – hello, modern straight lines. Last year, we saw square necklines becoming more popular, and this year, the angular top was seen on many runways. This crisp, clean line is the perfect design to pair with a statement necklace or even a scarf. Or, pair a straight neckline with a basque waist for the perfect blend of vintage and modern design.

Skinny Scarves

Skinny scarves paired with a strapless dress have been all over runways this year, so it’s no surprise they have officially made their way into bridal. The look feels reminiscent of  Y2K fashion and even of some dupatta styling in Eastern cultures. Most bridal designers opted for silk or chiffon scarves, allowing the fabric to cascade down the wearer’s back. The accessory not only feels incredibly luxe but also serves as a unique alternative to a necklace. 

Photos courtesy of Brides

Basque Waists 

First popular in the 19th century, this bodice shape was brought back into the mainstream by Dua Lipa during the 2023 Met Gala when she wore a Chanel gown from the archives. The design is characterized by a V-shaped or U-shaped dip just below the natural waistline. As opposed to a drop waist, the basque waist still sits at the natural waist on the side, but lowers in the center. It perfectly cinches the waist, shows off curves, and is flattering on every body type. Personally, this is one of my favorite bridal trends this year! I absolutely LOVE the basque waistline and think it’s so flattering.

Corset Bodices 

Corsets are nothing new to the bridal world, but this year, we noticed a big change in the design of these pieces. While previously, corset gowns tended to be sheer with exposed boning, this year, we’re seeing more luxe fabrics and exaggerated designs. House Of Gilles, Ines Di Santo, Nadia Manjarrez Bridal, and Vivienne Westwood all embraced this look with incredible pieces that felt more high fashion than lingerie. I believe this ties into the trends of fuller skirts and exaggerated hip silhouettes that we’re seeing across fashion runways outside of the bridal world. 

Photos courtesy of Brides

Off The Shoulder

While off-the-shoulder gowns have been popular for the last decade, this year we saw designers moving away from the bohemian aesthetic. This new, elevated look is a spin on romantic, Victorian era design with soft draping in luxurious fabrics. We’ve also seen many of the designers make the sleeves removable, allowing the wearer more flexibility in their look and full range of motion. 

Photos courtesy of Brides

Two-Piece Looks 

The most unique trend we saw hit the runway this season was the two-piece wedding look. Designers have begun to lean into bridal separates to embrace the trend of multiple looks on a wedding day. These looks not only allow for easier customization, but also allow brides to have multiple looks in one. The most common of these looks we saw included removable sleeves, overskirts, toppers and capes, but we also saw options that included bridal separates such as tops and skirts. While these looks are still mostly designed for reception outfits, we’re starting to see a few designers test out the waters in traditional bridalwear as well. 

Photos courtesy of Brides

Bridal Fashion with SamiaLynn Designs

As a wedding illustrator, I find it to be incredibly important to stay on top of the bridal fashion trends. Watching and learning from New York Bridal Fashion Week is one of my favorite parts of my job. I love to see how looks evolve over the years, and how my couples interpret these fashion trends into their own days. If you’re getting married and looking for someone to come and memorialize your look with an illustration, I’d love to be a part of your day! Head over to my bridal page for custom illustrations or reach out for live illustrations.

One thing about me is that I absolutely love to travel. When Amy and Jamie reached out about having me fly down to Mexico to create live guest sketches at their destination wedding, I was 100% on board! It was such a fun weekend filled with love and laughter in paradise! I’m so glad to share their incredible day with you. 

Amy and Jamie’s Mexico Destination Wedding 

Amy and Jamie knew from the start that they wanted a destination wedding in Mexico. Their blended family includes six kids (three from each side), and they’ve visited this resort on their family vacations. Between their love of the beach and the sentimental value the area holds, it was a no-brainer that they should say their vows here! They decided on Finest Playa Mujeres thanks to an amazing past visit, and I think they made a fantastic choice.  I absolutely LOVED this resort, and it would be amazing to go back one day.

The entire weekend was so beautiful. The resort itself was incredible, with delicious drinks, friendly staff, and gorgeous beach views. I truly felt like I was in paradise! Amy and Jamie started the weekend with an all-white welcome party, which was so much fun. I attended as a guest, and since they wanted to keep my illustrations a surprise until the wedding, I spent the evening chatting with guests who began taking guesses at my role! Many guessed dancing or singing, but they were pleasantly surprised to find out my real contribution to the wedding!

Personal Touches 

When planning their intimate destination wedding, Amy and Jamie knew they wanted to really personalize their wedding day. Even the smallest details were customized and well thought-out. Guests were welcomed to the resort with custom luggage tags, and custom shotglasses filled with tequila served as the escort cards! One of my favorite details was the cocktail napkins with their text conversations printed on them. And of course, I created a sketch of each guests’ outfit which served as both a fun activity and a wedding favor. 

Live Illustration with SamiaLynn Designs 

Jamie and Amy hired me for four hours of custom sketching, which was the perfect amount of time for their intimate wedding. They opted for hand-drawn sketches over digital illustrations, which always adds a fun personal flair. It was such a great day at Finest Playa Mujeres, and I’m so glad I got to enjoy it with them!

If you’re planning a destination wedding and want a unique, custom experience for your guests, let’s chat! I absolutely love visiting new places with my couples, and I would thrilled to be a part of your big day.

As a wedding guest, one of the most difficult parts of a wedding can be figuring out what to wear. After all, you want to look your best while not standing out or causing any unwanted attention. Thankfully, it’s traditional for couples to dictate a dress code for their wedding day that will let you know their expectations for your attire. As a live wedding illustrator, I’ve seen many different dress codes, from Black-Tie to Casual, and they’re all fantastic as long as everyone knows how to dress. If you’re attending an upcoming wedding but are unsure what the dress code entails, read on for the full breakdown. 

Wedding Dress Codes 

Black-Tie 

A Black-Tie wedding is a formal evening event. Women should wear floor-length gowns made of high-quality materials and a pair of nice heels. Men should wear a tuxedo with a simple black tie or bowtie. Coattails and a cumberbund are not expected but are a great way to elevate the look, especially for wedding party members.

Black-Tie Optional 

The Black-Tie Optional dress code is great for elevated celebrations where you don’t necessarily want your guests to have to go out and rent or buy a tuxedo. This allows some flexibility for your guests to choose between the formal or black-tie dress codes. Women should still wear long dresses, but men can opt for a dark-colored suit instead of a tux. 

Formal 

The most common dress code we see at weddings is Formal. This is a step below Black Tie and a great option that allows your guests to wear what they already own. Women can wear a long or midi-length dress, or fancy jumpsuit with heels, while men can wear a nice suit. With this dress code, we often see more colors and patterns than we would at a black-tie wedding. 

Beach Formal or Tropical Chic

If you’re attending a destination wedding, you may see either of these dress codes. The focus of these dress codes is to dress elegantly while still being comfortable in the heat and on the sand. For men, a linen suit or dress pants with a white button-down is a great option. Women can opt for long, flowy dresses in light fabrics and fun colors. Sandals or wedges will help you to avoid heels sinking into the sand. 

Cocktail

For a slightly more relaxed or daytime wedding, a Cocktail dress code is a great option. This dress code allows women to opt for a shorter hemline with elevated silhouettes and materials. Dressy jumpsuits are also a great option! Men can opt for a suit in any color and even forgo a tie. 

Semi-Formal or Dressy Casual 

These two dress codes are used interchangeably and often parallel a “business casual” dress code you would see in a workplace. Think wrap dresses, jumpsuits, sports coats, and dress pants. Shoes can also be more casual, with options such as wedges or nice boots. 

Casual

A casual dress code is usually reserved for daytime outdoor weddings, such as those in the backyard. Although this is the most laid-back dress code, jeans and sneakers are still prohibited. Guests can opt for sundresses, sandals, khakis, button-downs, and other elevated everyday wear. 

Festive 

The newest dress code we’ve seen in the wedding industry is Festive. In general, this dress code asks guests to play with fun colors and patterns while opting for a Cocktail Attire level of formality. Think fun dresses with bows or ruffles and fun colored suits. 

Guest Outfit Illustrations with SamiaLynn Designs

The dress code is a key part of any wedding day and should be easily accessible to guests on the invitation or website. If you’re a guest, make sure you’re checking both of these places before reaching out to the couple! Having the dress code on the wedding website even allows couples to include visual references, such as outfit illustrations. If you’re planning a wedding and want to ensure you get as few dress code questions as possible, I’d love to work with you! We can sit down to create the perfect illustration to inspire your guests’ outfits on your big day. 

Hello! Sam here 👋🏼 . As your resident artist, I’m super excited to bring this topic to you so let’s chat beautiful options for your big day!

As we’re all aware, art comes in many styles. This can be more traditional like painting or in the form of food decoration or photography. Whichever is your preferred medium, art is a beautiful way to show self expression and style. Also, as more and more weddings focus on guest experience, this is great way to get creative and wow your guests. So let’s dive in to a few specific ideas:

1. hire a live painter

   This is the most obvious idea, as it concentrates on the traditional idea of “art”. You can hire an artist to come to the wedding and paint a scene from the ceremony, first dance, etc. They usually spend a few hours on it on site and then will finish it up back home in their studio. This is the perfect blend of a memento (for you as the couple) and experience as guests will love seeing this come to life throughout the night.

   Option number two, is a live guest artist. This is what I personally specialize in and guests absolutely LOVE walking away with a custom piece of art created just for them. I have an entire blog post going over how all of this works, so check that out here.

2. custom place cards

Piggy-backing off of the point above, getting custom place “cards” for your guests is another way to gift them something personal. I would say this is a better option for the rehearsal dinner or welcome party as opposed to the wedding, but that really depends on your guest count and budget. These cards or place settings can be anything from custom sketches to mini embroidered hoops to personalized letters. I personally love this option as it acts as the wedding favor as well instead of gifting something generic that they don’t want anyway.

3. Interactive guest book

I will scream this from the rooftops for the rest of eternity: SKIP THE TRADITIONAL GUEST BOOK. The likeliness of you reading it ever again after (maybe) your first anniversary is very low. So, why not have an option that you’ll actually be able to see and admire after the wedding day? Guest “book” ideas can honestly be giving people anything they can write on, but if you want to be able to display this with pride in your home afterwards, signing art is going to be the way to go. Such as: a custom illustration of the two of you with (or without) your date underneath on canvas or oversized paper with plenty of space for guests to sign around it (click here to learn more about this). Or even something special carved out of wood or etched on glass.

We also did a blog post on the many guest book alternatives. Click here to look into more options.

4. portrait photographer

This is a very new option that I am SO excited is starting to trend. Imagine instead of a photo-booth, you had an actual photographer taking family/couples photos in that cute little sitting/backdrop area you already know you’re going to have somewhere (or at cocktail hour!). Because there’s nothing like a professional making sure you look best in photos. Plus, the photographer would gather guests’ info to send them the photos post-wedding. Wins all around.

5. Get literal

For all my fellow creatives, this one’s for you. If you want a little nod to your artsy side, here’s a couple options:

1. Mini easels and canvases as table numbers

2. Pantone cards for your seating chart (or table numbers)

3. Hand-painted veil or dress/outfit

4. Grazing table with food on (unused!) paint palettes

6. Painted food

Don’t worry, it’s still edible! If you want a more “temporary” art direction then go for the cake. Watercolor cakes are absolutely gorgeous and can really bring a non-traditional, romantic vibe to the dessert selection. Not having a cake cutting moment? Get famous paintings replicated on a bunch of mini cakes!

7. get it on paper

When all ideas fail, you really can go all out relying on your paper goods. It’s a great way to kick off your wedding journey as the invite suite will be guests’ first peak into your style. Here’s a few options:

1. Get an illustrated map to introduce guests to your area for the weekend (especially if your weekend activities are split between multiple venues)

2. A watercolor or pencil drawing of your venue for the envelope lining

3. An illustration of the couple for the save the dates or thank you notes

4. Food illustrations for a buffet sign or individual menus

5. A custom drink sign for your signature cocktails

6. Chocolate cards aka a delicious chocolate bar inside a custom decorated card aka the sweetest take home favor for your guests. Shoot me an email to learn more and get a quote!

As I usually end most of my blog posts, I love reminding you that your special weekend or day is just that: YOURS. So make it as unique as your love with your partner and let your personality shine through art. I would love to know, which idea did you like best? Tell us in the comments below!

Happy Planning!

Samantha Shammas, Author and Owner of SamiaLynn