20 of the Prettiest Wedding Dresses with Buttons

By Chloe Gorman
May 23, 2019
Ashley Largesse Photography

These details might be classic, but they can also make your gown feel modern, romantic, or bohemian.

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Claire Morris Photography

If you're a modern bride on the hunt for your dream wedding dress, you might be looking for garments with stand-out details like dramatic sleeves, plunging necklines, or intricate beading. While these are all surefire ways to make a contemporary and dramatic entrance ahead of your walk down the aisle, we think there is one (inherently classic) detail that new-age brides typically overlook: buttons.

Buttons may seem like a classic (or even vintage!) addition to your bridal attire, but they can absolutely feel fresh. Although they look right at home down the back of a traditional wedding dress, you're about to discover that they can feel modern, bohemian, and sexy, too—plus, they're a fit for any wedding dress type. Use them to add contrast to a sheer back, wear them on the front or side of your dress for a completely unexpected look, or include them to enhance your gown's classic vibes. On this number by Milla Nova, for example, buttons added yet another level of romance to the dress' lace-paneled back, reinforcing its classic qualities.

The takeaway? There's no wrong way to interpret this dress embellishment—which makes it a versatile detail that appeals to so many brides-to-be, whatever their event's theme. Ahead, you'll see how real women wore wedding dresses with buttons—and how buttons have evolved into so much more than something to simply fasten your garment with. Whether you're wearing a daring backless number, a demure lace gown, or a flowing boho-chic ensemble, the following photos are proof that you can't go wrong with a button accent on your big day.

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Long Sleeves

Joy + Everette
Real Brides Wearing Long-Sleeved Wedding Dresses

Buttons already evoke a classic vibe, but when paired with long lace sleeves (seen here on this Allure Bridals ensemble), your wedding dress will feel even more traditional.

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Button Front

Elyse Hall Photography

Buttons shouldn't be limited to the back of your gown's design. In fact, they look just as pretty on the front, as evidenced by this Allison Webb number.

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Modern

Birds of a Feather
Ways to Make Your Wedding Feel More Modern, Straight from the Experts

There's absolutely a way to make buttons work for your contemporary wedding—choose an ensemble with a daring illusion back, like this pearl-accented Galia Lahav number, for some modern drama.

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Statement

Heather Payne Photography

Make down-the-back buttons your gown's starring detail by opting for a full illusion back, as seen on this Rita Vinieris ensemble.

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Dress Accent

Gaby J Photography
Brides Wearing Off-the-Shoulder Wedding Dresses

While buttons' main purpose is to ensure that your wedding dress is secure, they can also highlight another major detail on your ensemble. The iterations on this One Day gown were used to accentuate its off-the-shoulder neckline.

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Lace

Charla Storey Photography

This Warren Barrón ensemble proves that combining buttons with lace (a classic wedding dress material) is the ultimate way to nod to your traditional theme.

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Side Buttons

Jake Anderson Photography
Boho-Chic Wedding Ideas for Free-Spirited Brides and Grooms

Although buttons are inherently classic, the accent creates a completely different vibe when placed on the side of your dress. Just take this Rue De Seine number, for example. Side buttons and jeweled accents, coupled with the gown's flowy silhouette, enhanced the garment's bohemian feel.

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Old-Meets-New

Davy Whitener Photography

Looking for an ensemble that perfectly balances timeless and contemporary design? Use this button-back Christos creation as your guide. The gown's illusion back gave off a contemporary vibe, but its lace fabrication kept the rest of the look classic.

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Heart Shape

Jeff & Michele Photography
Heart-Shaped Wedding Ideas for the Romantic in You

Use buttons to emphasize your favorite dress detail. We're especially partial to how the studs on this Eva Lendel ensemble showcased its heart-shaped lace back.

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All the Way Down

Sweetlife Photography
Wedding Dresses That Wowed from the Back

Don't be fooled by their tiny size—buttons can still add drama to your gown. Case in point? This Essence of Australia design; its buttons trailed the entire length of this bride's skirt.

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Delicate

Jenna McElroy Photography

The buttons on this Alexandra Grecco number are a soft and feminine addition to the dress' lace back.

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Crystal

Tamara Grüner
Sparkling Wedding Ideas That'll Give Your Day a Glamorous Upgrade

The best part about buttons? They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors—so of course there's a crystal option (like the accents on this Berta ensemble) for your glamorous event.

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High Neck

Kristina Adams Photography

It's true that buttons pair well with any dress' neckline, but adding them to a high-necked number—like this one by BHLDN—creates the ultimate vintage vibe.

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Hair Down

Nadia Hung Photography
Pretty Wedding Hairstyles for Brides with Long Hair

Although we'd generally suggest pairing a dress with a button-detailed back with an updo to show off those gorgeous embellishments, this bride, in Berta, proves keeping your hair down won't detract from the overall look.

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Single Detail

Abby Jiu Photography

Adding bright-white buttons to your illusion-back wedding dress, like this one by Ines Di Santo, means your guests will be able to see them even when your veil is on, thanks to the contrast of cream on see-through mesh.

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Pearls

Sandra Åberg Photography
Unexpected Pearl Accessories to Wear on Your Wedding Day

There are a myriad of ways to wear pearls on your big day. This Berta number uses the natural embellishments in an unexpected way—as buttons.

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Vintage

Caroline Logan Photography
See more short-sleeved wedding dresses

If you want the Old-World feel of a buttoned-up, long-sleeved wedding dress, but don't want to commit to the length, know that buttons look just as pretty (and vintage-inspired!) on a short-sleeved garment. The lacy iterations on this In White gown were timeless.

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Sparkle

Jen Wojcik Photography

When it comes to an illusion back, this Jenny Packham gown—with sparkles, buttons, and a bow—proves your garment can never have too many embellishments.

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Buttons at the Waist

Michelle Lange Photography

We love how buttons look on illusion backs, but they work just as well on backless numbers, like this one from Alexandra Grecco. These crepe-covered buttons started at the waist, which kept the focus on the dramatic cut-out.

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By Chloe Gorman