How To Style Simple Wedding Dresses for a Sophisticated Celebration

Behold — simple wedding dresses for your stunning, sophisticated, and ultra-chic bridal vibe. It’s a trend that trends season after season: minimalist, high-impact styles with fresh, effortless styling, AKA no ridiculously dated bridal portraits, no bells and whistles, no regrets. It’s an aesthetic we adore, silhouettes we covet, and gorgeous inspo that feels totally true to you… with impeccable tailoring and accessories to boot. Keep scrolling for all the ways to find your style and make a simple bridal gown your own! 

Styling Tips For Simple Wedding Dresses

By nature, simple wedding gowns make a stunning foundation for your bridal looks, but what about personalization? This is where a minimalist or elegantly understated silhouette truly gets its wings (literally, in some cases, because we have several ethereal cape options to create the illusion of fairy wings). So, where to start? We’ve gathered all the latest and greatest, chicest and most timeless of inspo to help you plan your head-to-toe bridal look…

Maggie Sottero Accessories For Simple Wedding Dresses

PC: Calista Manfre

If you love simple wedding dresses, welcome to the (very chic, very exceptional) club! You might be hesitating because you’re worried about missing out on that sparkly, princess-inspired wedding dress, but hear us out: There are so many ways to play with the bling, romance, or intrigue of your simple wedding dress. We speak, of course, of accessories! Here are some of our favorite ways you can have the best of both worlds with your simple wedding dress:

• Add A Detachable Wedding Dress Train or Overskirt for extra layers and dimension
• Read our blog on How To Accessorize Based On Your Wedding Dress
• See our selection of chapel, cathedral, and fingertip-length veils for that “tradition meets modern” vibe
• Look into Wedding Dress Customization & Personalizations with Maggie Sottero
• Check out Your Guide to All Things Bridal Accessories
• Use jackets, capes, and detachable sleeves to keep yourself warm at your fall wedding

Our wide selection of accessories allows brides to spice up their simple wedding dress. It’s easy to add a touch of shimmery beading, romantic lace, a dramatic train, or delicately embellished sleeves to an otherwise low-key bridal look. While we have certain accessories designed for certain dresses, (these most often will have the same name), feel free to mix and match to create a look that is totally your own.

If you like your gown clean and minimalistic, but still love the idea of a classic bridal veil or have your heart set on a sleeved look, don’t panic, We have tons of options to accessorize simple wedding dresses without adding any shimmer, lace, or other embellishments. (After all, a simple gown paired with simple accessories makes for a timeless, graceful look that we adore just as much as an all-out blingfest.)

Styling Your Venue With Your Simple Wedding Dress

PC: Cameron House Photography

A lot of brides assume that wearing a simple wedding dress means that your entire bridal aesthetic needs to have a minimalistic approach. We’re here to tell you that is not the case! There are lots of venue options that pair beautifully with a simple dress, which is great news for our Rebecca brides who love playful simplicity! Some brides love an upscale vineyard-inspired venue, and we think that pairs beautifully with the freshness and sophistication of a simple crepe gown. If you want to feel very bridal and natural in your simple dress, but still want over-the-top gilded decor in a stunning ballroom venue, we think that will make your simple bridal look stand out even more against your surroundings… Because who said plain has to be boring? Simplicity can make the biggest statement when it comes to pairing your dress with your venue.

Whether you’re in love with the idea of a forest wedding, planning on going beachside, throwing a stunning garden party, or dancing the night away under twinkling winter wonderland-esque lights, there’s a simple dress out there that will match your venue vibe perfectly. With Maggie Sottero, you really can have the best of both worlds. (Just make sure to check out your venue and get a sense of what you’re picturing before your bridal appointment! You might even want to snap a couple of pictures for your stylist so they can get a sense of what you’re going for as well and get you into the meant-to-be wedding dresses faster.)

Here are some great insights on wedding venue selection to help get you started.

How We Would Style A Few Of Our Simple Wedding Dresses

If you’re looking to keep things cohesive, here are a few stunning simple wedding dresses from our latest collection and the accessories we designed with each gown in mind for an effortlessly sophisticated vibe curated by a team of experts.

Psst! Want more info on how to style a cohesive bridal look? Read this expert article from brides.com.

Camille by Maggie Sottero

Love a Grecian-inspired and effortlessly flattering fit-and-flare? Simple wedding dresses are just the ticket. We have a few ideas in mind for styling Camille by Maggie Sottero. For sleeves, we would add Camille detachable off-the-shoulder crepe cap-sleeves or detachable off-the-shoulder bishop sleeves. And for extra drama, we would recommend checking out her detachable train… This adds layers and dimension without losing that soft, sultry fit. 

Morwenna by Maggie Sottero

For Morwenna by Maggie Sottero, we recommend her floral-inspired Morwenna detachable satin straps and her cathedral-length veil accented with 3-D flowers. These play up the gown’s nature-inspired romance while honoring the chic, form-fitting appeal of the original silhouette. Think whimsy and charm with tailoring and elegance. 

Denise by Rebecca Ingram

On to another Old Hollywood-inspired silhouette with a chic bodice and neckline, Denise by Rebecca Ingram looks lovely when paired with her detachable off-the-shoulder crepe cap-sleeves and royal-length veil. (Did we mention it is one of our only simple wedding dresses that is accented with sequins and a chic ruffle edge? Simply irresistible!)

Elizabeth Marie by Rebecca Ingram

We can’t talk about styling Elizabeth Marie without mentioning her detachable off-the-shoulder pleated satin cap-sleeves! Looking for more coverage? We’d recommend her satin long sleeves with a covered button closure at the wrist.

Kailani by Rebecca Ingram

When it comes to Kailani by Rebecca Ingram, you have to check out her detachable off-the-shoulder long sleeves… They feature delicate draping that complements the gown perfectly and feature a covered button closure at the wrist for stunning sophistication.

Latoya by Rebecca Ingram

A beautiful addition to one of our fav simple wedding dresses, Latoya by Rebecca Ingram, is her royal-length veil with sequin and beaded lace motifs. This pairing is glamorous, romantic, and a little vintage. The veil adds a touch of regal elegance without making things too fussy or over-the-top. 

Olivianna by Rebecca Ingram

Olivianna by Rebecca Ingram has a beautiful cathedral-length veil that brides can style their gown with that is accented in eye-catching shimmering sequin lace motifs.

Check out other gowns in the Olivianna capsule below:

• Olivianna Lane by Rebecca Ingram
• Olivianna Marie by Rebecca Ingram

Sunny by Rebecca Ingram

Sunny by Rebecca Ingram: Hoping for simple wedding dresses that are perfect for a two-in-one look? Sunny by Rebecca Ingram has matching detachable off-the-shoulder cap-sleeves with a train that are perfect for switching up your bridal ensemble between wedding day festivities.

Nesrine by Sottero and Midgley

After an effortlessly dramatic touch of elegance? Style Nesrine by Sottero and Midgley with her matching royal-length veil!

More Simple Wedding Dresses From Our Latest Collections

• Loreen by Maggie Sottero is glamorous and captivating. We admit the simplicity is a little deceptive. 

• Zinaida Marie by Maggie Sottero is the perfect fusion of lushness and minimalism. It’s a ballgown with all the whimsy but a simple gown with all the chicness.

• Marsha Lane by Rebecca Ingram is ideal for summer celebrations.

• Nadia by Rebecca Ingram makes a sexy and sophisticated statement with asymmetrical ruching, an off-the-shoulder bodice, and a relaxed skirt and train. 

• Perri by Rebecca Ingram gives us “bride on the cake topper” vibes. It’s timeless, romantic, and nostalgic, yet so elegant to style. 

• Sandra by Rebecca Ingram makes a bold, sophisticated statement. We adore the halter neck and draping for a Grecian-inspired vibe.

• Tommie by Rebecca Ingram features ruching, soft layers, and relaxed glamor.

• Diaz by Sottero and Midgley is an over-the-top princess style — regal, luxe, and truly feminine. 

• Faro Lane by Sottero and Midgley plays with nontraditional colors. Opt for blush pink or midnight black for an unexpected update to a simple silhouette. 

• Lafayette by Sottero and Midgley reminds us of the ruffled petals of a tulip. It’s a work of art for your happily-ever-after!

• Mirabella by Sottero and Midgley features a liquid-esque satin that shimmers under your venue’s lighting. (Love Mirabella? Take a look at sister style Mirabella Marie by Sottero and Midgley.)

Feeling the chic? There are so many simple wedding dresses to inspire! Head to an Authorized Retailer to start shopping and styling your head-to-toe bridal look. May your simple wedding gown be simply fabulous! Best wishes from Maggie Sottero. 

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