The hit period drama from Netflix, “Bridgerton,” has taken the world by storm with its beautiful sets, romantic storylines and stunning costumes. Couples have taken notice as they plan for their summer and fall weddings, asking planners and vendors to re-create the look and feel of an early 19th century British ball, and turning to designers for wedding dresses that Lady Whistledown would surely approve of.
“It’s all about the experience,” explains Kandice Ross of Luxury Event Collective in Westchester. “Couples can incorporate ‘Bridgerton’ into their wedding in several ways, from the dancing, to the florals, to the pomp and circumstance of it all.”
While the venue will set the scene, it will also dictate many of the details. Picking a garden setting or an ornate ballroom are the two options couples can choose between.
“Couples who want to emulate this style should opt for locations with detailed woodwork and opulent chandeliers,” said Ross. “Venues with lush gardens also bring the feeling.”
A bride can then begin shopping at a modiste, I mean bridal salon, for her Regency-style wedding dress, which was the prevailing fashion from the late 1790s to 1820.
“ ‘Bridgerton’-inspired fashion for brides reflects a higher waistline, and a narrower, straighter and softer line for the skirt,” said Mark Ingram, the owner of Mark Ingram Atelier and designer of the eponymous Mark Ingram Collection in Midtown. “The fresh and newer square neckline and short puff or fitted long sleeves replaces the ever-present deep V plunging and strapless necklines that have prevailed in bridal over the past several seasons. The dresses overall have a slight innocence and preciousness in the details.”
An empire waistline has long been considered exclusive to bohemian wedding dresses, said Carrie Goldberg, stylist and weddings and travel director at Harper’s Bazaar. “ ‘Bridgerton’ proved that a portrait neckline doesn’t have to be stuffy, an empire waist isn’t always boho, and a puff sleeve can look romantic without being over the top.”
Brides may also want to seek out a dress with a corset or corset detailing. “Corsets are obviously a recurring element in the show,” said wedding planner Marcy Blum of Marcy Blum Associates. “Starting with the waist trainer a few years ago from Kim Kardashian, and now watching the ladies on ‘Bridgerton’ being winched into their dresses, you can be certain we’ll be seeing teeny waists showcased.”
Designers have to tread a fine line between inspired by historical periods and creating a period piece. Ingram, who is releasing a Regency-inspired bridal collection later this month, said that brides can expect to see higher waistlines in gowns and even wider and higher waistbands on skirts in the coming season.
How do you prevent the 200-year-old look from being dated? Simply by choosing modern accessories and a hair and makeup look that feels more 2021 than 1812. “These Regency-inspired looks are dramatic yet demure, which I think is chic in a new way,” said Goldberg. “ ‘Bridgerton’ is a modern take on a period piece, but if you styled these silhouettes with a sparkling ear climber, dewy makeup and effortless hair, there’s no reason the look wouldn’t feel modern.”
To avoid your dress looking too much like a historical costume, pick one trend or detail and find a dress that brings that detail to life without overexaggerating it, said Marissa Rubinetti, Kleinfeld Bridal’s vice president of merchandising. “A beautiful square neckline with an empire waist, or a delicate puff sleeve can be an excellent nod to the regal era.
But be careful not to overdo it. Layering and mixing too many trends at once can easily turn your beautiful ‘Bridgerton’-inspired vision to an overstated inauthentic nightmare.”
Seek out accessories to complement the dress. “A tiara and statement necklace are key pieces,” said Rubinetti. “Tall, ornate tiaras that resemble a crown are the perfect throwback to the royal era. And a statement necklace is a great way to enhance a beautiful square-cut neckline or strapless gown.”
When selecting accessories, the focus should be less about replicating the show, said Michelle Moore of Luxury Event Collective. “A bride should incorporate the sensibilities such as patterns and texture. There was no shortage of damask patterns and rich textures in the show.”
Looks inspired by ‘Bridgerton’ can extend beyond the bride. The entire wedding party can get dressed up in fancy frocks and formal suits to mimic a favorite look from the series.
“The ‘Bridgerton’ fashion trend will gain great momentum,” says Ingram. “The Regency silhouette is flattering on many figures, and with smaller micro-weddings taking place in homes, gardens and smaller venues, I think the ‘Bridgerton’ look is very attractive and appropriate.”
A groom can opt for two distinct options when choosing what he will wear on his walk down the aisle. Most of the formalwear costumes seen on the male characters in the series is the Regency period version of today’s morning dress, the most formal attire worn during the daytime, which is an event held before 6 p.m.
“The look consists of a single-breasted cutaway black or dark grey morning coat, which is just below knee-length, with peak lapels, striped grey trousers in a pattern known as morning stripe or in a black and white houndstooth or puppytooth check, unmatched to the coat,” said Steve Knorsch, US managing director of Cad & The Dandy, a bespoke tailor known for a modern take on traditional British suiting. “A waistcoat is essential to morning dress, but other accessories are optional. Those include a top hat (traditionally in black but can be in grey although that is less formal) and dove grey or pale yellow gloves.”
If the groom is wearing morning dress, it’s appropriate for the other men in the wedding party to do the same. “They don’t need to wear the exact same look as the groom, but can play with a different morning stripe, and the color of the vest and neckwear,” said Knorsch. “The idea is actually not to match exactly here, but look unified and properly dressed.”
The second option for grooms is a velvet tuxedo jacket. “Velvet and patterned tuxedo jackets and vests are already popular. However, today’s groom may decide against tailcoats, tights, and field boots,” said Ross.
“Brides are drawn to the mix-and-match bridesmaids’ look where they choose a color or multiple shades and their ‘maids pick a style that best flatters them,” says Amanda Seibert, owner of Bella Bridesmaids in New York City.
Mothers of the bride or groom can channel Lady Violet Bridgerton in a sheath or A-line gown with decorative embellishments and sleeves. “Empire waistlines skew a bit young, as do short puff sleeves,” said Goldberg. “Dropping the waistline and cinching yourself at your smallest point, choosing the best neckline for your body type – be it a portrait neckline or a mock neck – and opting for the drama of a statement sleeve are all ways to flatter figures, and make this era inspiring for mothers.”
“We are all very, very anxious to dress up to the nines when this is over,” said Blum. “’Bridgerton’ is giving us lots of inspiration.”