Shopping Guide: Wedding

If a traditional bridal gown—finished with yards of lace and tulle, and embellished with hours of embroidery and hand-beading—isn’t your thing, why not look into white ready-to-wear dresses or indie designers offering made-to-order designs? Here are some factors to consider before you say yes to the dress: your ideal hem length and width, the location and season of your wedding, and the required lead-time for delivery and alterations.

For many women, their wedding dress might be one of the most expensive clothing items they will own. We say, find one to showcase your style on the big day, but bonus points if you love it enough to wear again someday soon. Check out the designers below for all your bridal dress needs.

Kamperett: Timeless styles that make women feel comfortable and confident, all the while looking polished and stylish.

KES: Functional pieces with a quiet sense of luxury and beautiful fabrics designed to make the wearer feel empowered and naturally beautiful.

Kowtow: All garments by this environmentally-conscious label are certified by non-profit, internationally recognized organizations committed to the health of the planet and of people.

Lacausa Clothing: Refined basics known for their West Coast color palette and responsible production.

Lois Hazel: Multifunctional wardrobe pieces that feel luxurious and comfortable.

Nika Tang: This womenswear label brings you statement collectsibles to feature as key pieces in your everyday wardrobe.

Penny Sage: Working with natural materials like silk and cotton, this womenswear line is filled with lush easy to style pieces that will live well past this season in your closet.

Rejina Pyo: Statement pieces that play well with others, melting effortlessly into your existing wardrobe.

SCHAI: Elegantly modern shapes and cutting-edge architectural lines, that have the energy to transform the body, mind, and materials, when worn.

Suzanne Rae: Minimal and sophisticated pieces that are strong and delicate all at the same time.

Ulla Johnson: A name synonymous with fine tailoring, detailed embroidery, natural fabrics and a careful focus on fit and form.

For the less conventional bride, there’s no reason to stick with the classic white dress. From silk jumpsuits to linen pant suits to tailored separates, designers are offering comfortable and stylish looks that could double as dressy bridal alternatives. To mark the special occasion, look to the designers below for pretty design details and embellishments, interesting tailoring, and luxurious fabrics such as silk and satin that will make you feel like a million bucks.

Berenik: This brand guarantees their customers are always looking casual, chic, cool or super hip, but most importantly strikingly selected.

Maria Stanley: Romantic essentials made with buttery soft fabrics, sweet details and subtle references to Victorian fashion.

Ovna Ovich: Polished silhouettes with delicate details like a feminine ruche or textured linen fabric.

Rachel Comey: Artful custom textiles, modern silhouettes and sought-after footwear for the modern, intelligent woman.

Raquel Allegra: Womenswear known for its lavish, bohemian style and use of recycled fabrics.

The General Public: Outsized shapes are brought to life with textured fabrics and vintage-inspired details.

Nikki Chasin: With a steadfast belief that style and comfort can coexist peacefully in the same garment (amen!), designer Nikki Chasin is taking sportswear to new levels with beautiful textiles and playful details.

If you’re looking for one-of-a-kind, bespoke or unique wedding bands—or other fine jewelry to wear on your wedding day—it pays to go small, and do your research. Factors that will affect the price of fine jewelry include the precious metal content, the size, cut, and purity of any precious or semi-precious stones, and the intricacy of the design. Keep in mind, for example, that 24-karat gold is generally much softer and more vulnerable to dents and scratches than 14 or 18-karat jewelry, and that conflict-free stones will cost more than mass-market options. And, you’ll have to decide if it’s important for your partner to have a matching or similar band style, as some designers might only offer women’s sized rings. We highly recommended the talented designers below.

Gabriela Artigas: Boldly minimal designs produced by sister duo, Sisters Gabriela and Teresita Artigas.

J. Hannah: All pieces are made to order from the designer’s studio in Los Angeles, constructed of solid 14k gold and stones that are conflict-free and ethically-sourced.

Mociun: Fine jewelry known for its unique turquoise and diamond combinations, and one-of-kind stone cluster rings using antique diamonds and rare gemstones.

Pamela Love: This New York jeweler is known for her modern mystic aesthetic, working age-old icons of power — like arrowheads, talons, and the evil eye — into striking, considered necklaces, earrings, rings, and more.

Satomi Kawakita: This New York City-based jewelry designer and professional diamond setter combines an unusual organic sense of beauty with impeccable craftsmanship.

Shahla Karimi: All jewelry is designed and prototyped with 3-D printers and then handmade in New York City with recycled sterling silver and gold using conflict-free stones.

Tara 4779: Designer Tara Elwin draws on her background in visual art for inspiration and uses recycled silver and gold, alongside conflict-free diamonds.

Wwake: New York-based jewelry designer Wing Yao creates a new perspective on heirloom jewelry by fusing elements of sculptural art with traditional jewelry styles.

The idea of a bridal trousseau might seem hopelessly old-fashioned right now, but there’s no better excuse to buy yourself a few heirloom-quality slip dresses and robes, or a dainty lingerie set that you can bring on your honeymoon. Silk pieces will feel the most decadent, but keep in mind that many garments will require careful maintenance: dry clean or hand wash only. These designers feature organic fabrics, fair manufacturing practices, and fine finishes like French seams.

Baserange: A sustainable line of women’s basics focused on clean, easy and accessible pieces

Botanica Workshop: Hyper comfy underwear and loungewear made without screwing up the planet (or the things that live on it).

Erica Tanov: Feminine styles made with luxe textiles and intricate touches.

KENT Woman: A collectsion of organic silk lingerie and loungewear basics designed and produced in Los Angeles.

Land of Women: A comprehensive line of intimates that are soft, lightweight and completely comfortable while retaining a serious sense of style.

Salua Atelier Lingerie: Underpinnings are made with breathable cotton, silk and lace for easy wear and a mastery of layering.

The Great Eros: Lingerie created for the modern individual: effortless, artistic, nuanced, decisive.

Life is too short to buy shoes that you won’t wear again. So unless you really, really want a pair of white satin pumps or strappy leather platform sandals, feel free to rock something a little more fashionable. We love the idea of trying a pointed mule, soft glove shoe, or chunky heel for a less expected—and much more comfortable—look. And for outdoors weddings, remember that stiletto heels don’t get along with grassy fields and beaches! Enter shoe heaven below.

Gray Matters: A collectsion of standout sculptural footwear: objects with a life of their own or enhancing the character of women like no other.

LOQ: A line of shoes redefining the classics with rich hues and textures inspired by India alongside a laidback aesthetic.

Martiniano: Renowned for the glove shoe.

Maryam Nassir Zadeh: Natural, modern and relaxed are just a few words that spring to mind easily when considering Maryam Nassir Zadeh’s eponymous line of women’s footwear.

Robert Clergerie: Footwear designed to be both stylistically directional and adept for real life.

Reike Nen: Designer Rei Yoon Hong blends vintage influences with modern sensibilities for footwear that looks looks simultaneously classic and modern.

Suzanne Rae: Designing for the progressive, modern woman, Suzanne Rae's minimalist and sophisticated pieces are the strong and delicate all at the same time.

Tibi: A collectsion rich in irresistible pieces you’ll wear for a long, long time.

Fill your wish list with both collectsible and functional objects that reflect the way you live, and the aesthetic of your home. From hand-stitched linens to Italian flatware, look for small-lot, sustainable designs made locally, or by artisans in exotic locales, that are beautiful yet usable for everyday. These brands offer timelessly modern, thoughtfully crafted décor and home furnishing items that will last for years to come.

Cold Picnic: Known for luxe leather, macrame and cheeky textiles, this duo's genius collectsion of home goods and accessories just keeps getting better.

Workday Handmade: One of a kind pieces designed and handmade in the artist's studio in Brooklyn, New York.

Poketo: A lifestyle brand born out of the desire to infuse the everyday with aesthetic intentionality, Poketo has carefully curated a collectsion of design-conscious goods meant to cultivate a creative lifestyle.

LRNCE: Handmade and hand-painted terracotta pieces. Every piece is unique!

Fourth St: A beautiful collectsion of home accessories, books, and beauty products that are designed to excite, provoke, and complement the space that one creates.

Group Partner: Ceramics studio Group Partner has managed to create the “it item” of flowerpots. For real. Those boob pots you’ve likely noticed at the coolest of lifestyle boutiques and in the hippest of homes? Group Partner is the culprit.

Concrete Cat: Concrete — the banal stuff of sidewalks and parking garages — doesn’t often get the qualifier “beautiful.” Canadian atelier Concrete Cat works solely with the material, elevating it from bland to handsome in colorful, eye-catching art objects, furniture, and sculpture.