Our ultimate edit of wedding suits for women opting to ditch the dress
As a recent bride, let me tell you that wedding dress stress is not the one. In fact, my friends on the hunt for the best wedding suits for women right now might just have the right idea. Because while I loved - and still love - my wedding dress more than anything else I've ever worn, I did have to design it myself to make sure every box was ticked.
After all, when you're attending weddings - often several - every year, and you're seeing brides in the most unbelievable dresses all over Instagram and TikTok every day (these algorithms certainly know a bride-to-be when they see one), it can feel almost impossible to find a dress that you not only love, but that doesn't feel like something you've seen time and time again already. And if there's one day you don't want to feel apathetic about your look, it's your wedding day.
Which is why so many brides are wising up to the alternatives. Who says my dress has to skim the floor? Who says I need a veil? Who says it needs to be white? In fact, who says it needs to be a dress at all?
Wedding suits for women are fast becoming as popular as wedding dresses, and one quick look through the feed of some of the world's hottest wedding photographers will attest to that.
In fact, while I did, in the end, opt for a dress myself, I fell in love with the idea of a white trouser suit to be worn by my mum on my wedding day. With my bridesmaids all in ivory silk dresses, this felt like the perfect nod to my mum's key role as part of the bridal party without making her wedding outfit steer too far from her preferred style and silhouette.
Instagram content
A trend that was undoubtedly encouraged by the pandemic, 2020 induced (albeit rather forcefully) an influx of more casual, laid-back nuptials with shrunken guest lists and a desire to be more sustainable. This shift - alongside the renaissance of tailoring - saw bridal suits begin to take over, and we haven't looked back since. Gone are the days of meringue-esque silhouettes, and enter the era of the jacket and trouser. Or, if you want to re-write even more rules, we welcome the blazer and skirt situ.
A white wedding suit is not only comfortable - sans tight-fitting corsets, heavy layers and long trains, you're free to dance all night - but they've got all the charisma and nonchalance of the powerful trouser suit you'd wear out to a stylish dinner with friends. And they're a lot more versatile than jumpsuits. Instantly elevated by a pair of designer wedding shoes like Roger Vivier's new Efflorescence D'Orsay Mary Jane Pumps or Jimmy Choo's Saeda 100s, wedding suits are an effortlessly cool, eternally timeless alternative to wedding dresses… they also come with pockets. Enough said, surely?
The likes of Lanvin, Givenchy and Calvin Klein Collection undoubtedly reign supreme when it comes to faultless tailoring and that luxe finish you crave on your special day, and they'll last a lifetime of re-wearing too.
If you're on a budget, though, the high street's current fondness for oversized silhouettes and comfort means there are plenty of white wedding-worthy suits for less than a fraction of the price. Make a beeline for Mango, Zara and Reiss for wedding trouser suits you're guaranteed to look (and feel) expensive in, and ASOS, Nobody's Child and Karen Millen for skirt suits that'll look just as chic worn as separates on post-wedding dinner dates. We love a hard-working wardrobe.
Scroll for our pick of the best wedding suits for women.
Why we love it: Infinitely effortless in silhouette, this high street (I know!) suit both looks and feels like a really high end option. The fringed belt gives it a feel of old-school glamour, while the oversized, unstructured fit and flowing fabric give it an instantly relaxed look.
Why we love it: There's no denying my love for a white Reiss suit. After all, it was the one I chose to dress my own mama in for her mother-of-the-bride moment at my own wedding. They're infinitely flattering on all bodies, all ages, and they're totally timeless, too. The fabric is incredible quality and doesn't crease or tire like so many others after a long sit-down meal. My mum is still desperately looking for an occasion to re-wear hers.
Save when you shop for the best wedding suits with these Reiss discount codes at checkout.
Why we love it: A super relaxed, almost-preppy option for those planning a summer wedding, this white linen 3-piece suit comprises staple summer pieces that, when worn all together, make for a particularly polished but no less laid-back overall look. Perfect for an intimate garden wedding where ‘fuss and frills’ are strictly prohibited.
Save when you shop for the best wedding suits with these Ralph Lauren discount codes at checkout.
Why we love it: Whether you're looking for a softer registry office look than the typical suit, or want something a little sharper than a traditionally frothy wedding dress for your big white wedding, this pleated skirt and peplum hem jacket somehow hits both briefs perfectly.
Save when you shop for the best wedding suits with these Karen Millen discount codes at checkout.
Why we love it: Zara on your wedding day? Iconic, if you ask us. As is a feathered cuff, for that matter. And we just love the oversized fit of this suit. Just be careful when you're cutting the cake as those sleeves will make a break for a dip in that icing faster than you can say ‘matted feathers’.
Why we love it: If you want a wedding look that feels ‘classic’ but in a more retro than traditional sense, then ditching a wedding dress in favour of a satin-look ivory two-piece is a great idea. Particularly one with a high neck and adorable peter pan collared-jacket.
Save when you shop for the best wedding suits with these Reformation discount codes at checkout.
Why we love it: Who doesn't love a bit of high contrast? And who said brides have to wear all white? If you're looking to step outside the box, just slightly, without feeling as though you're forfeiting the traditional ‘bridal’ look altogether, options don't come much better than this timeless skirt suit with black side-tie.
Why we love it: For a supremely elegant bridal look, you needn't always fall straight into looking for a wedding dress. Skirt suits can actually feel a lot more polished, and this fishtail maxi skirt with peplum suit jacket proves that point. An honourable mention must also go to that neck-tie, too, for really bringing the vibes.
Save when you shop for the best wedding suits with these ASOS discount codes at checkout.
Why we love it: In a world of oversized suiting right now it can be hard to find something a little more pared-back, a little subtler, a little more form-fitting. Step in Calvin Klein Collection, who always know where to find the line between billowing silhouettes and super slim-fit. This straight leg trouser suit with high neck jacket may not scream ‘look at me! I'm the bride!’ the minute you see it, which is exactly why we, and so many understated brides, love it.
Save when you shop for the best wedding suits with these Net-A-Porter discount codes at checkout.
Why we love it: If you're looking for something oversized and with a bit of stylistic edge, going down the route of a long tailored short is a great way of tapping into a big seasonal trend on your wedding day. Sometimes we don't all want to be ‘timeless’ or ‘traditional’, okay? The blazer and accompanying neck-tie is another trend-led nod, but undeniably brings a softer, more romantic side to aesthetic proceedings.
Why we love it: If you're looking to get your legs out on your big day and don't want to wait until the traditional ‘evening dress’ swap, a shorts suit is a perfect alternative to a wedding dress. This double-breasted iteration by Reiss is a particularly great option for petite frames who don't want to feel drowned by a long dress, thanks to the almost juxtaposition of the micro short and the oversized, double-breasted blazer. Getting major points for both affordability and quality, it'll leave plenty of room in the budget for other essentials (you know, essentials, like ribbed glassware or extra canapés).
Why we love it: The perfect, form-fitting tailored suit that goes against the current appetite for all things oversized - we particularly love the subtle nod to traditional wedding dresses via the waistcoat's plentiful fabric-covered buttons, which would usually be found at the back of a bride's dress and are known, duh, as ‘bridal buttons’.
Save when you shop for the best wedding suits with these Whistles discount codes at checkout.
Why we love it: The once-ubiquitous trend for ‘quiet luxury’ may well have gone a bit, well, quiet, but its legacy remains, and for most of my fellow Fashion Editor friends it has always been - and will always be - more of a uniform than a fleeting trend. This double-breasted suit may well look low-key, but it's anything but boring. Total luxury in its sharpness of tailoring and fluidity of movement, it's a truly one-off purchase that's perfectly fitting of such a major occasion.
Why we love it: We love, love, a voluminous sleeve, and the way this one puffs out so intentionally really emphasises the beautiful cinching of the jacket's waist. I love that the jacket feels so fuss-free without a collar, and it would be served well with hair worn in a loose up-do to really show it off.
Why we love it: Sometimes we want drama, we want texture, but we also want to stand out and go slightly against the grain. If that sounds like your current bridal conundrum, and your own dress code requests the formality of ‘black tie’, then this frothy peplum suit with an exaggerated lapel could be for you. Undeniably extravagant, we particularly love the embellishment, subtle asymmetry and powerful exaggerated shoulder that each add a little edge to an otherwise ultra romantic look.
Why you can trust me
You won't be surprised to hear that as a Fashion Editor of 12 years I've researched, shopped, tried-on and road-tested more than a few things in my time. It's my job, after all. I also got married a couple of years ago, meaning that bridal trends are still very much on the top of my radar.
Having spent over a decade discovering brands, analysing fabrics, sitting front row at fashion shows, attending press days and travelling internationally to meet designers, I'd like to think that my trained eye is more accurate than ever. So I've put together our ultimate guide of options that I truly believe nail it across the board. What makes them so great? Chic styles, sure, but also short delivery times, different price points, varied silhouettes, broad size ranges, thoughtful fabrics, stock availability and product quality.
How I tested the best bridal suits
Having been a bride recently, I really threw myself into testing for this - both personally and professionally. And while my own look eventually comprised of a bespoke dress that I designed myself, I did request that my mum wear a white trouser suit to my wedding - ensuring she not only looked and felt incredible, but also (more crucially, but don't tell her I said that) fit in seamlessly with my monochrome bridal party aesthetic.
Having spent several months researching online and in-store, sending thousands of suggestions to one another via Whatsapp and almost giving up entirely (my checklist was longer for this trouser suit than it was for my own wedding dress), we finally found ‘the one’ - thanks to a particularly epic Reiss set.
So after over a decade of professional learnings, and what felt like a lifetime of personal research pre-wedding, I can confidently say that the trouser suits in this edit are not only worth your consideration, but are also ones you'll return to time and time again, together and as separates long after all the wedding excitement has settled…
Read more about how we test and choose here.
More Wedding Content
If you're after more wedding content, head this way for alternative wedding dresses, in this direction for ASOS wedding dresses and over here for white hen party dresses. There are also maternity wedding dresses (in case you're expecting), where to buy bridesmaid dresses online, mother of the bride dresses, and the best wedding guest dresses if you're just a member of the wedding party.
For more from freelance Fashion Editor Charlie Teather, follow her on Instagram @charlieteather.
