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The best short wedding dresses to shop in 2024
Short and sweet ✨
The trend for short wedding dresses seems to be going nowhere in 2024.
Tbh, we're still thinking about the moment Sofia Richie donned a custom-made Chanel number to her wedding afterparty, and our memories of Kourtney Kardashian's Dolce & Gabbana corseted mini still aren't fading. And then there was Sophie Habboo, who stunned in Vivienne Westwood at her London ceremony last year. In short (if you pardon the pun), we haven't stopped lusting over the many phenomenal leg-exposing options available for the big day for a while now.
Looking incredible isn't all that short wedding dresses have to offer, though. They also provide a chic break from tradition for the modern-day bride, differentiate between ceremonies should you have more than one, remove some of the suspense from outdoor nuptials (grass stains? We don't know her) and make getting down on the dance floor that bit easier.
Plus, why stop at one dress with the many events leading up to and concluding the ceremony? There's the rehearsal dinner, the reception afterparty, not to mention the journey to the honeymoon destination – all of which are perfect opportunities to remind everyone you're the bride, but in a cute, slightly less formal ensemble. Basically, shorter hemlines offer extra edge, practicality and mobility to your look.
So, whether you're looking for a sophisticated design for your civil ceremony, a gorgeous 'fit for your rehearsal dinner or a showstopper to wear all day and into the night, we've rounded up the best short wedding dresses ranging from mini to midi and from designer to high street options.
(Psst - while you're planning a wedding, check out our edit of dreamy wedding shoes, the best fab wedding jumpsuits and the best bridal lingerie to shop for your big day.)
Maddy Alford is the Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan UK and Women's Health UK, covering fashion content online and in print. Maddy specialises in shopping galleries and first-person reviews of the best fashion buys, from jeans and jewellery to wedding dresses, gymwear, and winter coats. She also writes op-eds on on pop culture, viral fashion moments, travel journalism, fitness, and the LGBTQ+ community's relationship with style. Maddy is also a fashion stylist who has worked on over 100 photoshoots at Hearst, including those starring Raye, Niall Horan, and Lena Dunham. Previously, she has worked in fashion PR and e-commerce, including stints at ELLE US and UK, Net-a-Porter, InStyle, and Time Out New York. Maddy has ten years of experience in the fashion industry in both London and New York City, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She is passionate about second-hand shopping, inclusive fashion, running on Regent's Canal, and finding London's cosiest pubs.
Courtney Smith is Fashion Assistant at Cosmopolitan UK and Women's Health UK, where she works across both print and digital. She has been in the fashion industry for over nine years, initially as a model and later as a fashion assistant and writer in media. When she is not assisting on shoots with the likes of Tom Daley and Raye or bringing about a surge in online hula hoop sales, she can be found at the ponds getting in some quality time with her one true love: swimwear.
Clementina Jackson is Acting Site Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, working across news and features, trends, e-commerce and SEO. She was previously Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health, and Acting Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, where she was named as a PPA 30 Under 30 award winner for her work on size inclusivity. An experienced fashion, travel and luxury lifestyle journalist, Clementina has also written for Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveller, Tatler, Red and Italy Segreta.
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