20 Winter Wedding Dress Ideas for Every Type of Bride

Get inspired by these real brides when searching for a seasonal look.

bride posing in front of an open church door wearing a strapless wedding dress with a sequin cape

Photo by Mo Davis Photography

Though some brides want to get married on a warm breezy day or balmy evening, many actually dream of saying "I do" when there's a chill in the air, amongst the view of snow-dusted mountains or swanky holiday décor. And for such a seasonal occasion, a winter wedding dress is essential to have.

Luckily, there are tons of beautiful options to consider when searching for a winter wedding dress. From faux fur getups to long-sleeve ball gowns and high-neck silhouettes, winter brides have the advantage of donning almost anything they'd like to wear, as they don't have to worry about overheating and sweating in their wedding day ensembles. Have a thing for lace? Go for a gown embroidered with both lace and heavy crepe to keep you warm when the temperatures drop. Want something modern but unique? Opt for a black dress to match this crisp (and, at times, spooky) time of year.

For those who are in the midst of searching for their wedding day attire, we put together a roundup of our favorite cold-weather-approved gowns from real brides. Ahead, take a look at 20 winter wedding dress ideas that are sure to keep you warm and fashionable during this joyful season.

01 of 20

A Silk Strapless Ball Gown With a Shawl

bride wearing a mermaid wedding dress and a fur stole, holding hands with her groom

Photo by Laura Gordon

Venturing to the city for your winter wedding? We suggest taking a look at bride Wenna’s day-of attire, which consisted of a silk, strapless ball gown topped with a faux fur shawl. It gives bridal chic a whole new meaning, and the fitted silhouette is an added bonus for those with bold aesthetics.

02 of 20

A Romantic Puff-Sleeve Dress

bride wearing an off-the-shoulder long-sleeve tulle wedding dress

Photo by Anya Kernes

If you’re a romantic at heart, you can’t go wrong with the addition of puff sleeves on your winter wedding dress. Take notes from bride Ammy, who channeled Cinderella on her big day held in Malibu, California. With a whimsical vibe and off-the-shoulder puff sleeves, your "winter princess" vision can also come to life in an effortless way.

03 of 20

A Silk and Tulle Gown With a Slit

bride wearing a strapless A-line wedding dress with a sheer, tulle long sleeve top underneath

Photo by Ivan L’Astorina

The combination of bride Yety’s silk and tulle gown is picture-perfect for winter weddings. With a bold side slit and her hair pulled back into a bun, everything about this look is stunning. We especially love the ‘50s-inspired strapless gown paired with the tulle, turtleneck underlay—a two-in-one look that can take anyone from day to night.

04 of 20

A Long-Sleeve Crepe Wrap Dress

bride and groom holding hands while posing on rocks near the ocean

Photo by Madeline Barr.

Calling all minimalists! Less is definitely more, as seen through bride Grace’s stunning crepe wrap dress. With long sleeves and a plunging neckline, her gown was the perfect choice for her cliffside, winter wedding—and is a lovely option for any winter bride planning to wed (or just take photos) by the water. 

05 of 20

A High-Neck, Long-Sleeve Lace Gown

bride wearing a long-sleeve, lace high-neck wedding dress

Photo by Unique Lapin Photography

If you'd like to evoke winter, European aesthetics, just look to bride Haley’s gown for some inspiration. Though she tied the knot in Delaware, her celebration gave off French countryside vibes due to her all-over lace getup. The best part? Her ensemble is also a two-piece look—featuring a dress and a jacket—and we love how the high neck and long sleeves come together seamlessly. 

06 of 20

A Strapless Ball Gown With a Cape

bride posing in front of an open church door wearing a strapless wedding dress with a sequin cape

Photo by Mo Davis Photography

Just because you’re getting married in the winter does not mean you have to go for a long-sleeve wedding dress. Take note from bride Jasmine, who wore a stunning strapless, structured ball gown for her October wedding. To give it more of a wintery vibe, we love the idea of pairing it with a sparkly cape, just like she did. 

07 of 20

A Crepe Long-Sleeve Gown

bride and groom portrait photographed in an open field

Photo by Kate Headley

We can’t think of a more picturesque wedding venue during the winter than a farm—it has the ability to be eclectic and welcoming, yet still give off a cold-weather feel. To complement the setting, look to bride Matty's attire, which is a Sarah Seven crepe gown paired with an overskirt by Alexandra Grecco. It's both contemporary and seasonally appropriate, and a wonderful option for early-winter nuptials.

08 of 20

An Off-the-Shoulder Ball Gown

bride posing in her off-the-shoulder wedding gown while holding a bouquet of white roses

Photo by Rossini Photography

You can never go wrong with a timeless ball gown that features off-the-shoulder details, and bride Jasmin’s ensemble proves just that. The satin material devoid of any embellishments is a great winter option—especially for brides with pared-back aesthetics—making for a wedding dress that is at once elegant and chic.

09 of 20

A Satin Mermaid Gown With a Shawl

bride wearing a fur stole, gloves, and a spaghetti strap dress

Photo by  REEM Photography

Mermaid, meet faux fur. While not many people would be bold enough to pair a mermaid gown with a furry shawl, that’s exactly what bride Amanda did, and it paid off in a big way. To up the glam factor, accessorize with silk gloves and diamond stud earrings á la Amanda's ensemble.

10 of 20

A Long-Sleeve Velvet Dress With a Wrap

winter wedding portrait of a groom and bride on a snowy mountaintop

Photo by  James x Schulze

With a snowy mountain backdrop set in Colorado, bride Brett’s dress and faux fur wrap made for one cozy ensemble. The long-sleeve, velvet dress by Caroline Hayden looks right at home with the snow, and we can absolutely see other brides drawing inspiration from this look.

11 of 20

A Regal Long-Sleeve Ball Gown

bride wearing a long sleeve ball gown wedding dress

Photo by Alicia Mink Photography

Looking for a dress fit for a queen? We can’t think of anything better than this regal, long-sleeve ball gown, worn by bride Victoria on her wedding day. It takes drama to a whole new level, and we think the lace embroidery and plunging neckline from Pronovias would work in any winter setting.

12 of 20

A Sweetheart Ball Gown With a Lace Jacket

bride posing in a long sleeve ball gown

Photo by Olivia Rae James

Layers are a winter bride’s best friend. Need proof? Just look at bride Taylor’s sweetheart ball gown from Monique Lhuillier. The scalloped lace hem and matching jacket looked breathtaking on her big day, and we love how she opted to add more layers under the skirt for some volume, color, and additional warmth.

13 of 20

A Strapless Tulle Ball Gown

bride wearing a strapless tulle ruffled wedding dress

Photo by Elias Kordelakos

We love the idea of going full tulle for a winter wedding, just as bride Takunda did. The strapless ball gown from Atelier Pronovias goes to show that glamour and elegance are a match made in heaven, and we love how the layering can work for any winter setting—whether you’re getting married at the beach, city, or somewhere in between.

14 of 20

A Long-Sleeve, High-Neck Beaded Dress

bride posing during golden hour while wearing a fully-embellished, long-sleeve wedding dress

Photo by Jana Williams

Going for an ethereal aesthetic when you tie the knot? Consider wearing a winter wedding dress featuring long sleeves and all-over beading, similar to bride Brianne's ensemble. The subtle embellishments and high-neck silhouette looked absolutely magical on her big day, and will also look great during your celebration.

15 of 20

A Simple Long-Sleeve Crepe Dress

bride and groom posing while gazing into each other's eyes

Photo by Dani Toscano

Quiet luxury is having its moment, and that's especially true when it comes to bridalwear. Just take a look at bride Kianna’s simple, long-sleeve crepe dress from Pronovias. It’s classic and elegant, and we love the open back with understated embroidery. 

16 of 20

A Vintage-Inspired Tulle Ball Gown

bride posing on a beach while wearing a tulle, off-the-shoulder wedding gown

Photo by KT Crabb Photography

Beach weddings during the winter months seem like a fairy tale, and that’s exactly what bride Sarah wanted when she married the love of her life in Florida. For those who'd also like to curate their own storybook wedding, draw inspiration from Sarah's look and opt for a vintage-inspired, tulle ball gown in an off-white hue.

17 of 20

A Long-Sleeve Silk, Wool, and Satin Gown

bride wearing a long-sleeve wedding dress while standing in an arched hallway

Photo by Adriana Rivera

Bride Robeyda wore pleated tulle sleeves with ribbon details at her wedding held in Guatemala, and we think it makes for some great winter wedding inspo. Paired with a silk, wool, and satin gown, the details that this Danielle Frankel dress offers are at once lavish and unique.

18 of 20

A High-Neck, Long-Sleeve Lace Gown

bride wearing a high-neck, long-sleeve lace wedding dress

Photo by Charla Storey

Whether you’re getting married in the snow, rain, or stark cold, a long-sleeve lace gown is just what you need. We love how bride Anna looked when she tied the knot in Austin, Texas, and think the high side slit adds a sexy and feminine touch. And did we mention the thumbholes? Another great idea for a winter wedding look.

19 of 20

A Long-Sleeve, Off-the-Shoulder Dress

bride and groom posing in front of a water fountain for their wedding day portrait

Photo by Lara Rose Photography

If you don’t want to cover every inch of your arms for your winter wedding, but you still want to be nice and warm, look to bride Christina as an example. This Camellia Bridal gown also has buttons trailing down the back, making for a modern-day, regal-inspired wintery look.

20 of 20

An Off-the-Shoulder Black Gown

bride wearing a black wedding dress in front of a convertible

Photo by Harwell Photography

Getting married during "spooky season"? Go ahead and consider wearing a black dress for your big day, which bride Gabrielle wore for her Atlanta wedding. Though black is deemed a daring choice for some brides, it's definitely an appropriate option to consider, especially if tying the knot around Halloween.

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