Chic Short Wedding Dresses

Credit: Courtesy of Oscar de la Renta

For the bride who doesn't want to wear a ball gown.

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Credit: Courtesy of Oscar de la Renta
How Real Brides Wore Short Wedding Dresses

Looking for something a little more casual than a floor-length ball gown? Or maybe you need a dance floor-ready dress to change into for the reception or after party. Then consider a short wedding dresses. With tea-length, mini, and high-low options, our favorites from Bridal Fashion Week runway shows are fun and full of personality—but still elegant enough for the most important day of your life.

Season after season, designers never fail to debut some seriously stunning (and surprising!) twists on the short wedding dress trend. From daintily-studded capes (how cool is this interpretation from the Oscar de la Renta Spring 2020 collection?) and trains that cover up to illusion panels and cutouts that reveal even more, every year offers something new. The latest garments are perfect for your walk down the aisle or as a surprise change during dinner.

If you're worried that a short wedding dress won't deliver the drama of a floor-length gown on your big day, we assure you that the creators of these fashions employed innovative techniques to add eye-catching details. With incredible lace accents, unparalleled beadwork, and even a few pops of color, these short-hemmed beauties are definitely statement-making. And trust us, they more than make up for what they lack in length. 

Are you a bride who dares to be different? Click through for all the short wedding dress inspiration from some of our favorite looks that take it up a notch (as in the hemline).

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Reem Acra

Credit: Courtesy of Reem Acra
See More from the Reem Acra Spring 2020 Wedding Dress Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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Viktor&Rolf Mariage

Credit: Courtesy of Viktor&Rolf
See More from the Viktor&Rolf Mariage Spring 2020 Wedding Dress Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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Naeem Khan

Credit: Courtesy of Naeem Khan
See More from the Naeem Khan Spring 2020 Wedding Dress Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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Steven Birnbaum

Credit: Courtesy of Steven Birnbaum
See More from the Steven Birnbaum Spring 2020 Wedding Dress Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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Molly Moorkamp

Credit: Courtesy of Molly Moorkamp
See More from the Molly Moorkamp Spring 2020 Wedding Dress Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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Reem Acra

Credit: Courtesy of Reem Acra

Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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Mira Zwillinger

Credit: Courtesy of Mira Zwillinger
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Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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Naeem Khan

Credit: Courtesy of Naeem Khan

Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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Molly Moorkamp

Credit: Courtesy of Molly Moorkamp

Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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Mira Zwillinger

Credit: Courtesy of Mira Zwillinger

Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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Lela Rose

Credit: Taylor Jewell
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Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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Justin Alexander

Credit: Dan Lecca
See More from the Justin Alexander Spring 2020 Wedding Dress Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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Jenny Packham

Credit: Courtesy of Jenny Packham
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Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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Isabelle Armstrong

Credit: Randy Brooke
See More from the Isabelle Armstrong 2020 Wedding Dress Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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David's Bridal

Credit: Courtesy of David’s Bridal
See More from the David's Bridal Spring 2020 Wedding Dress Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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Gracy Accad

Credit: Dan Lecca
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Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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David's Bridal

Credit: Courtesy of David’s Bridal

Wedding dress from Spring 2020

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Rime Arodaky

Credit: Courtesy of Rime Arodaky
See More from the Rime Arodaky Fall 2019 Wedding Dress Collection

Wedding dress from Fall 2019

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Viktor&Rolf Mariage

Credit: Courtesy of Viktor&Rolf
See More from the VIktor&Rolf Mariage Fall 2019 Collection

Wedding dress from Fall 2019

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Liancarlo

Credit: Courtesy of Liancarlo
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Wedding dress from Fall 2019

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Inbal Dror

Credit: Courtesy of Inbal Dror
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Wedding dress from Fall 2019

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Viktor&Rolf Mariage

Credit: Courtesy of Viktor&Rolf

Wedding dress from Fall 2019

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Hayley Paige

Credit: Courtesy of Hayley Paige
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Wedding dress from Fall 2019

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Rime Arodaky

Credit: Courtesy of Rime Arodaky

Wedding dress from Fall 2019

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Elizabeth Fillmore

Credit: Courtesy of Elizabeth Fillmore
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Wedding dress from Fall 2019

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Lela Rose

Credit: Taylor Jewell
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Wedding dress from Fall 2019

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Justin Alexander Signature

Credit: Courtesy Justin Alexander
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Wedding dress from Fall 2019

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Elizabeth Fillmore

Credit: Courtesy of Elizabeth Fillmore

Wedding Dress from Fall 2019

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David's Bridal

Credit: Courtesy of David's Bridal
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Wedding dress from Fall 2019

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Randi Rahm

Credit: Janice Yim / Getty Images
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Wedding dress from Fall 2019

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Pronovias

Credit: Courtesy of Pronovias
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Wedding dress from Fall 2019

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Elie Saab

Credit: Courtesy of Elie Saab
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Wedding dress from Fall 2019

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Berta

Credit: Collin Pierson Photography
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Wedding dress from Fall 2019

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Alexandra Grecco

Credit: Courtesy of Alexandra Grecco
See More from the Alexandra Grecco Fall 2018 Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2019

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Justin Alexander

Credit: Courtesy of Justin Alexander
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Wedding dress from Spring 2019

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Cristina Ottaviano

Credit: Courtesy of Cristina Ottaviano
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Wedding dress from Spring 2019

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Tadashi Shoji

Credit: Courtesy of Tadashi Shoji
See More From the Tadashi Shoji Spring 2019 Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2019

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David's Bridal

Credit: Courtesy of David's Bridal
See More From the David's Bridal Fall 2018 Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2019

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Ines di Santo

Credit: Courtesy of Ines Di Santo
See More From the Ines di Santo Spring 2019 Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2019

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Viktor&Rolf

Credit: Courtesy of Viktor & Rolf
See More From the Viktor&Rolf Spring 2019 Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2019

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Laure de Sagazan

Credit: Courtesy of Laure de Sagazan
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Wedding dress from Spring 2019

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Isabelle Armstrong

Credit: Courtesy of Isabelle Armstrong
See More From the Isabelle Armstrong Spring 2019 Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2019

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Naeem Khan

Credit: Courtesy of Naeem Khan
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Wedding dress from Spring 2019

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Gracy Accad

Credit: Courtesy of Gracy Accad
See More From the Gracy Accad Spring 2019 Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2019

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Carolina Herrera

Credit: Courtesy of Carolina Herrera
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Wedding dress from Spring 2019

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Rivini by Rita Vinieris

Credit: Courtesy of Rivini by Rita Vinieris
See More From the Rivini by Rita Vinieris Spring 2019 Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2019

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Lakum

Credit: Courtesy of Lakum
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Wedding dress from Spring 2019

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Mira Zwillinger

Credit: Courtesy of Mira Zwillinger
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Wedding dress from Spring 2019

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Tadashi Shoji

Credit: Courtesy of Tadashi Shoji
See More from the Tadashi Shoji Fall 2018 Collection

Wedding dress from Fall 2018

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Randi Rahm

Credit: Courtesy of Randi Rahm
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Wedding dress from Fall 2018

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Hayley Paige

Credit: FirstView
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Wedding dress from Fall 2018

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Laure de Sagazan

Credit: FirstView
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Wedding dress from Fall 2018

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Marchesa

Credit: FirstView
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Wedding dress from Fall 2018

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Rime Arodaky

Credit: FirstView
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Wedding dress from Fall 2018

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Mark Zunino

Credit: FirstView
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Wedding dress from Fall 2018

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Sachin & Babi

Credit: Courtesy of Sachin & Babi
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Wedding dress from Fall 2018

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Rime Arodaky

Credit: FirstView

Wedding dress from Fall 2018

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Danielle Frankel

Credit: Tory Rust
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Wedding dress from Fall 2018

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Viktor&Rolf

Credit: Courtesy of Viktor&Rolf
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Wedding dress from Fall 2018

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Lein

Credit: Photography by Marcos
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Wedding dress from Fall 2018

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Marchesa

Credit: FirstView
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Wedding dress from Spring 2018

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Hayley Paige

Credit: FirstView
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Wedding dress from Spring 2018

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Viktor&Rolf

Credit: Courtesy of Viktor & Rolf
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Wedding dress from Spring 2018

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Mason Hosker

Credit: Courtesy of Mason Hosker
See More from the Mason Hosker Spring 2018 Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2018

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Francesca Miranda

Credit: FirstView
See More from the Francesca Miranda Spring 2019 Wedding Dress Collection

Wedding dress from Spring 2018

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Mason Hosker

Credit: Courtesy of Mason Hosker

Wedding dress from Spring 2018

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ROMONA

Credit: Courtesy of Romona Keveza
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Wedding dress from Spring 2018

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David's Bridal

Credit: Courtesy of David's Bridal
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Wedding dress from Spring 2018

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