30 Casual Wedding Dresses for the Easygoing Bride in 2023

Princess ballgowns and cathedral-length trains aren’t for every bride. If you’re known for being a laid-back person, and both your everyday style and preferred going-out looks are casual then it makes sense to reflect your personality on the most important day of your life – your wedding day. Having a huge tulle skirt or being covered head to toe in sequins isn’t a must-have on a wedding dress and so if you’d feel uncomfortable in something too formal or extravagant then you’ll want to take a look at our edit of gorgeous casual wedding dresses.

Whether you’re planning an elopement, a small city celebration, or are having a large wedding but want to keep your look low-key, then these are the bridal gowns for you.

Looking effortlessly chic can actually take some effort, so we spoke to wedding consultant, stylist, and former fashion editor at You & Your Wedding Peta Hunt to get her expert tips on making a casual wedding dress work perfectly for your wedding day.

Where’s the best place to shop for a casual wedding dress?

“If you cringe at the idea of being the centre of attention and want to be a little more low-key but still bridal, my suggestion would be to start your shopping from the comfort of your sofa. Try these online shops for starters …. Net a Porter, Self Portrait, Needle & Thread, Phase Eight, Rixo, Rowley Hesselballe, Selfridge’s and Wolf & Badger. Order some of your favourites and set aside a day with a trusted friend or mum around, open the boxes and take your time to try them on with no pressure.”

“A lot of bridal boutiques now cater for the off-the-peg bride looking for a more casual look too. Katya Katya London has an off the peg collection for the no-fuss bride, with plenty of their usual fabulous styles, easy-to-wear shapes, and lovely lace. Try Anthropologie for the occasional bridal hit too, they own US label BHLDN who do ship to the UK, but remember to add tax on! Otherwise, think about Whistles, Ghost, Catherine Deane, Jenny Yoo, plus most of the bridesmaids dress designers have dresses in white and cream – TH&TH, Rewritten and Maids to Measure are all great for effortless bridal dressing.”

“You might want to consider a great trouser suit, they work particularly well with a short veil, a cream fascinator, or a headband to add that bridal touch. One of my favourite looks for a casual wedding is a blouse and skirt combination with a simple pair of earrings.”

What can you do to a classic wedding dress to make it look more laid back?

“If you’ve bought a big dress and are having regrets, it is possible to dress it down. If you’re a trainer person stick with a box-fresh pair of wedding trainers, or ditch the high heels and dance the night away in a pair of flat pumps or sandals. Don’t go for a long veil, instead try a couple of hair clips, an Alice band, a fascinator, or a velvet bow. H&M do great cream scrunchies with ties attached that are perfect for laidback bridal ponytails. Keep your make-up simple – don’t be that bride who’s unrecognisable when you walk down the aisle because somebody’s painted a completely different face on you!”

Are there certain fabrics or shapes of dresses that look more casual?

“It’s all about the combination of shape and the fabrics. Sometimes a short sequinned shift dress with a pair of low heels and a great fascinator or headband can look casual and bridal at the same time, but the same sequins on a bigger dress and you could look like you’re an extra from Strictly Come Dancing. Of course, short and tea-length dresses are always a little more casual than a huge gown and easier to wear. A lace wedding dress can also be quite casual. Grace Loves Lace uses lace with a touch of stretch in – they manage to make their dresses casual and bridal at the same time.”

“Anything that’s not a very fitted shape automatically becomes less formal. A good A-line dress is easy to wear. Or look for a tiered, loose-fitting dress or even a kaftan shape for a beach wedding or country event. For the minimalist bride, a simple slip dress in crepe can be ‘bridal-ed’ up with a veil, jacket, or shrug. Also go for cotton, linen, and linen mix dresses for summer weddings.”

Are there any famous brides that have rocked a casual look perfectly?

“I loved Solange Knowles’s dress and cape on her wedding day and jumpsuit for her reception. I also thought Keira Knightley in her Chanel tulle dress (that she had worn before) with a jacket over just oozed low key bridal style. Obviously, Bianca Jagger’s YSL suit and hat is an iconic look. Other brilliant casual wedding looks include Amal Clooney in her jumpsuit by Stella McCartney, Lily Allen in her Dior dress and veil for her Vegas wedding, and Ariana Grande in her Vera Wang dress and super cute veil.”

Under £100

We hope this selection of beautiful laid back wedding dresses has inspired you and helped ease the stress of wedding planning! If sadly you didn’t fall in love with any of these dresses, why not check out some of our floral favourites?