Getting married over 50 can be and feel different from getting married in your early 20’s, but truthfully it also has a LOT of upsides – whether it’s your first marriage or not.
If you’re a bride-to-be, I want to first say big congratulations!
Love can happen at any age. Regardless at what stage of life you get married, every bride, regardless of age, wants to feel beautiful and confident on her special day. I’m sure this is a major goal you’re striving for as you search for the best wedding dress.
When it comes to wedding dresses for women over 50, it goes without saying you will need to take into account different factors than women in their 20s. Over the years as we age, we may no longer have the slender waist we had in 20s, and we may have concerns over flabby arms or bulging mid section. All these should be taken into consideration in order to find the best wedding dress that makes you feel confident and beautiful.
Starting your wedding dress search isn’t something you want to rush into. It’s YOUR big day, after all! Take your time with the journey so you select a wedding dress that you truly love.
To help you on search for the perfect wedding gown, I’m going to dive into a few things I suggest you consider along the way.
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Brides at all age are beautiful, but that doesn’t mean brides in their 50s and above should choose similar styles as brides in their 20s. Just like all the other clothing we wear! Chances are you’re not wearing the same clothes or silhouettes over 50 that you were wearing when you were in your twenties.
Ok, so let’s get into the fun wedding dress chat!
Best Wedding Dress Silhouette
A general rule of thumb for brides over 50 is to keep it classic and minimal. Let me explain what I mean by this.
Skip the princess gown
While a lot of women love the over the top princess style wedding dresses, they’re not the best option for a mature bride – for a few reasons. One of those reasons is simply because that princess style wedding dress is often too youthful in aesthetic, but not necessarily in a flattering youthful manner for a bride who’s over 50.
Think about it this way: there was probably a trend you were in LOVE with when you were in college. You may have worn it all the time, it looked amazing on you and you felt amazing in it. Now that you’re over 50 wearing that EXACT trend would likely age you because it’s a trend that’s youthful.
Make sense? Good!
Keep that concept in mind as you begin trying on different wedding dresses, it’s a huge factor to consider to finding the best wedding dress as a mature bride.
Choose minimal silhouette
Ok, so you may be thinking what types of wedding dress silhouettes are classic and minimal. Think of silhouettes like
- Fit and flare
- Column
- Empire
These silhouettes all have simplicity in common. They’re not silhouettes that are overly structured, overly voluminous, or overly anything else for that matter. Silhouettes that offer a more classic, simplistic aesthetic are going to give a bride over 50 a modern feel that are in line with your age and still provide a modern appeal.
Another great attribute of these classic, simplistic silhouettes is the figure flatter aspect they provide. When you have a wedding dress silhouette that fits to the body, without too much structure or stiffness, it’s incredibly flattering on every body shape. The key to maintaining figure flattery with these types of silhouettes is ensuring that the dress(es) show your body shape, but keeping in mind that they don’t have to be SKIN TIGHT.
Best Fabrics
Before we get into the rest of the wedding dress tips for women over 50 that you should keep in mind along your search, let’s chat really quickly about dress materials for mature brides.
Honestly, keep it simple here just like with the silhouette.
I suggest staying away from a lot of over the top details and fabrics. Instead, stick to classic fabrics like delicate lace, silk, chiffon or satin. These fabrics are stunning on their own and fortunately, look even better when they’re paired with classic dress silhouettes.
Notice a theme here?
At this stage in your life, you ALREADY know what matters to you and what works for you, so the wedding dress for you are those that emphasize the best assets of your body, without the distraction of other details.
Best Wedding Dress Length
Now that we’ve established the best types of silhouettes you should be considering as a mature bride, let’s get into another incredibly important factor: length!
I’m sure you’re well versed in the fact that wedding dresses come in a WIDE variety of different lengths. Just like silhouettes, not all lengths are going to be flattering for a bride over 50.
There are two wedding dress lengths that are the best options for mature brides to consider.
Floor length gown
The first dress length to consider is floor length. This one is pretty straight forward.
This is a classic, beautiful option for a mature bride for a few reasons.
One of the reasons I suggest this length to brides over 50 is because of the timelessness of a floor length dress. There’s no denying a floor length wedding dress is incredibly classic for ANY bride.
And as I mentioned in the silhouette section, classic style is key for mature brides. Another reason I love a floor length wedding dress is because it’s a great way to create the illusion of an elongated body shape.
Whether you’re petite or not, I think one thing we all strive for is creating the look of a longer, leaner body shape.
Tea length
The second wedding dress length I suggest brides over 50 to consider is knee length. Yes, you read that correctly I said KNEE length wedding dress.
This one may have thrown you for a loop, it’s ok, I’ll explain.
Many brides over 50 opt for a less traditional wedding dress, like the ball gown wedding dresses we’ve seen on young brides. If you’re a bride who wants to go the less traditional route, a knee length option may be best for you!
Knee length (or just about the knee, rather) still gives you the look and feel of a classic silhouette, but with a less formal or traditional aesthetic.
The key to making sure a knee length wedding dress is flattering to your figure is to pay attention to where exactly the dress is laying around the knee area.
Generally speaking, just above the knee is the most flattering length because it adds just of an elongated effect to the body – this is essential if you’re a petite bride!
Best Necklines
We’ve established the best wedding dress silhouettes and lengths for you to consider as a bride over 50. Now, there’s one more key attribute in a wedding dress that you’ll need to make sure you’re paying attention to: the neckline.
Similar to the length and silhouette tips I mentioned previously classic and minimalistic necklines are going to be your best friend as a mature bride. For all the reasons I mentioned previously (I won’t repeat myself!).
What to avoid
Before I get into a few necklines that are really great options, I want you to keep something incredibly important in mind.
Avoid wedding dresses with necklines that are TOO low or plunging.
I want you to look and feel your best and if you feel great showing off your body – that’s amazing! The problem with a wedding dress that’s extremely low cut, when you’re over 50, is it can have a reverse flattering effect.
In other words, it can cause you to look older than you actually are – and we don’t want that to happen. This isn’t to say you can’t show a bit of cleavage (if that’s your thing), but just make sure you’re mindful of just how much cleavage you’re showing in your wedding dress.
Best options
Ok, now that we’ve established the big don’t in terms of your wedding dress neckline let’s get into the do’s. Some incredibly flattering necklines for mature brides are the classics like
- Sweetheart
- Strapless
- Off the shoulder
- Boatneck
- Simple v/scoop neckline.
Fortunately, this list gives you quite a few options to work with and try on.
Since there are quite a few great neckline options for you to try out, it really comes down to your personal style and how you want to look/feel on your wedding day.
For example, if you want to encompass a romantic aesthetic with your wedding dress, an off-the-shoulder neckline is a beautiful option that really hones in on that vibe. On the flip side if you’re more into a sexy bridal look you may prefer more of a sweetheart neckline.
Top 10 Wedding Dresses for Women over 50
Tadashi Shoji embroidered
The modest A line shape is flattering for brides over 50 of all body types. Lace embroidery in the front balance out the sexiness of the deep V neck. Cold shoulder is perfect for those want to have arms covered.
Jenny Yoo
A simple but flattering design for mature ladies. From silhouette to fabrics to details, everything is uncomplicated but classy. Wonderful choice for those who prefer minimalist wedding dresses.
Tadashi Shoji beaded lace wedding dress
The scoop neck is a wonderful choice for brides over 50 with full bust. The modest A line skirt is flattering to most body types. The subtle belt is great to achieve ideal body proportion.
Tadashi Shoji sheer long sleeve
This is a great wedding dress for brides over 50 who want to keep your arms covered. The vertical hems have the elongating effect for those who would like to appear longer (almost all petite brides do).
Ines Di Santo strapless faux silk gown
A minimalist yet sophisticated wedding gown with the side slit and satin fabrics. It looks super expensive and stunning. Perfect for brides over 50 with smaller chest and great legs (for instance, rectangle shape).
Tadashi shoji halter mermaid
The higher lace neckline is a great option for mature brides who want less cleavage showing. The mermaid silhouette is classic and most feminine.
Tadashi Shoji lace Aline
This wedding dress has empire waist design that will NOT make you look pregnant! The fully embroidered bodice and waistline is well designed to catch attention in your upper body and draw attention to your face. The embroidery at the skirt hem adds a delicate touch to the wedding gown.
Tadashi Shoji crepe wedding dress
Another simplistic silhouette that won’t disappoint. It suits those who prefer minimum details.
David’s Bridal
A tea length wedding dress for brides looking for a simple ceremony or something to wear to the city hall. The silhouette is forgiving, with fluttered sleeves and modest A line shape skirt.
Tadashi Shoji V neck dress
A classic deep V neck a line shape wedding gown for mature ladies getting married over 50. The dress shape is very forgiving, and the empire waist design creates the illusion of longer legs. This kind of design is also great for mature women who would like to make their mid section less noticeable.
Final Thoughts
As a bride, you’re probably being faced with more decisions than you ever could have imagined. Deciding on your wedding dress is one of the many, but tends to be a decision that provides a lot of stress for brides to be, no matter your age.
Make sure that you’re always keeping YOUR preferences in mind when wedding dress shopping. It’s likely that a lot of your friends and family will be giving their opinions on the matter, and while they’re well intentioned just make sure you’re taking their thoughts with a grain of salt and choosing a wedding dress because it’s what you feel most confident and excited about. It’s your day after all!
Keep these tips and tricks in mind as you begin your search to find the perfect wedding dress for your special day. With these concepts in mind you’re well on your way to finding an incredibly stunning wedding dress that will stun your soon-to-be husband!
