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Updated Oct 30, 202311 Must-Follow French Wedding Dress Designers
Tie the knot looking effortlessly chic and oh-so cool.
by Alexandra Ilyashov
Updated Jun 15, 2023
French style has a well-deserved reputation for being the crème de la crème, known for quality materials, superb craftsmanship and setting trends. The country's fashionable legacy covers all sorts of ground–from buttery-soft leather handbags to painstakingly crafted haute couture red carpet gowns to some of the world's biggest luxury labels, to name a few prized style exports one associates with that "Made in France" distinction. So it should come as no surprise that there are also exquisite French wedding dresses (plus hip, modern separates!), as the 11 bridalwear designers ahead prove.
Without further ado, as you dream up what you'll be wearing when you say "I do," check out these standout names to know on the French bridal scene, from tiny ateliers to major global brands (some of which are stocked at bridal salons globally). Just starting your quest? Here's how to decode your wedding dress aesthetic; then, get acquainted with top wedding dress designers internationally. From a huge black-tie affair to a simple, intimate City Hall gathering to a mellow garden party--regardless of your day's vibe and dress code, prepare to fall in love with at least one (if not a few!) of our favorite French bridal designers, ahead.
1. Rime Arodaky
Since launching her eponymous brand in 2010, French wedding dress designer Rime Arodaky has become a go-to for brides (goddesses, as the designer describes her clientele) seeking chic, slightly edgy elegance for the big day. A little rock 'n' roll and more than a bit sexy, design juxtapositions abound in Arodaky's creations, whether that's Swiss dotted tulle or embroidery mixed with structured yet feminine crepe panels, or demure-seeming necklines with sensual touches like a cutout or plunging sheer paneling. Other standout features include statement-making slits, high-low hemlines and lace detailing that reads more modern than modest. Arodaky's latest collection, entitled 1995, is a celebration of the glamorous, decade-defining supermodels of the '90s. Think: figure-hugging silhouettes offset by exaggerated sleeves and hip pearl detailing, with a playful, bold look—a nod to fashion icons strutting down the runway, perfectly suited for walking down the aisle.
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How to shop: Many of Rime Arodaky's creations are available directly on the brand's website; or book a showroom fitting or virtual appointment on their website, or find a stockist here, including tons of U.S. boutiques.
Prices starting at: $3,000
2. Laure de Sagazan
Subtle, stylish and unabashedly romantic—that's the bridal M.O. designer Laure de Sagazan has been known for since debuting her namesake line in 2011. Inspired by the legendary French creatives like film director Jean-Luc Godard and musician Serge Gainsbourg, de Sagazan's collections are elegantly timeless—with lots of fresh, effortless separates and a Civil collection of ready-to-ship minis and more, designed "for short dresses lovers…for lovers in a hurry…to love each other faster!" Modern lace detailing is a signature for the atelier, which is situated in Paris' 10th arrondissement–and its team sources solely French materials to create its handmade stunners.
How to shop: Shop accessories like shoes, veils and lingerie, as well as Civil collection, knits and jumpsuits, directly on the brand's website. Laure de Sagazan is stocked at various retailers internationally, including U.S. stockists (Minneapolis' The White Room and SF's Wildbride) or make an appointment at the brand's Paris atelier or standalone boutiques in Spain and Chile.
Prices starting at: $500 for separates; $1500 for jumpsuits and Civil collection pieces.
3. Donatelle Godart
Donatelle Godart, a former fashion stylist for magazines turned designer, had a very important first bridal client that changed everything—herself. After making her own wedding dress, Godart, a Parisian fashion design school graduate, specializes in feminine looks in a wide range of styles that nod to effortlessly chic French style icons like Jane Birkin. Besides more familiar, feminine shapes and full-on gowns, Godart also has effortlessly luxe separates (think: skirt-and-sweater pairings), pretty accessories and deft combos of demure and alluring, like long sleeves on a gown with a dramatically deep neckline, all trimmed with swoon-worthy touches including embroidery and wispy silk.
How to shop: Shop Donatelle Godart's collection of handbags, veils, hair accessories and select dresses and separates directly from their website, or book a showroom appointment in Paris; you can also find the brand in various stockists around the world.
Prices starting at: $3000 for gowns; $300 for capes and accessories.
4. Margaux Tardits
Margaux Tardits studied couture in Paris, New York and London at major fashion houses like Balenciaga, Oscar de la Renta and Lanvin prior to getting into bridal design. Initially a bespoke side project fueled by word-of-mouth raves and buzz, Tardits' eponymous line debuted in 2015, and her sister Alice came on board a year later. Love sculptural lines, subtly sensual details and incredible craftsmanship? You'll swoon over Tardits' exquisite materials, like 3-D embroidered lace, fringed organza, jacquard and wispy silk chiffon, constructed as more traditional dresses as well as unique layering pieces for the big day, like a coat or cape.
Stunning but not overly serious or stuffy, there's a good dose of whimsy to Tardits' work, especially in her latest circus-inspired 2023 collection. For casual and civil ceremonies, Tardits offers crisply tailored wide-leg crepe jumpsuits to fresh, chic separates, like a fluffy angora wool sweater paired with a swingy pleated midi skirt or romantic lace pencil skirt paired. Tardits' work reflects her couture training and exudes confidence and charisma, just like the brides drawn to her pieces.
How to shop: Head to Margaux Tardits' website to shop made-to-order Civil collection pieces, plus lingerie and robes, or to book a showroom fitting at the brand's Paris HQ.
Prices starting at: $400 for separates; $850 for dresses and jumpsuits.
5. Caroline Takvorian
Designer Caroline Takvorian studied Haute Couture design at esteemed French fashion school ESMOD and worked at chic labels like Isabel Marant and Lolita Lempicka before starting her own label in 2011 as a ready-to-wear collection. After designing her own wedding gown in 2014, Takvorian transitioned the brand's focus fully to bridalwear, and moved her atelier from Lyon to Paris in 2017. which later became a bridal-focused maison. Gorgeous lace sourced from Lyon and Calais as well as elegant beading are common threads in Takvorian's designs, which reflect her couture training combined with a modern ease, like exquisite lace cut as a boxy tee. Expect artful draping and lines, with sensual touches like high slits, plunging necklines and long sleeve lace bodices with a delicate illusion effect.
How to shop: Caroline Takvorian is stocked at various retailers internationally, including select Lovely Bride locations in the U.S., or make an appointment at the brand's Paris or Lyon locations.
Prices starting at: $3,000
6. Yasmin Hassaïne
Yasmin Hassaïne's ethically-made pieces are constructed from quality natural materials and designs for brides looking for an "audacious, sensual and always elegant" aesthetic, per the brand's site, to don when saying "I do". In 2020, Hassaïne debuted her own bridal label intended to offer a "new couture, chic and modern touch to the wedding dress landscape," pulling from her extensive experience at top fashion houses including Céline, Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton. Sketching each look by hand, the French bridal designer's "pure obsession for detail is showcased beautifully with delicate, elaborate embroidery with floral and leaf motifs on many designs.
How to shop: Make an appointment for a Paris atelier fitting or contact the designer directly on the label's website.
Prices starting at: $2,100 for Classic Ceremony collection designs, $3,800 for Ceremony Couture collection designs, and starting at $4,800 for fully custom creations.
7. Mademoiselle De Guise
Designer Chloé Jaouën uses only high-end French-made materials and trim in her modern, romantic creations for her brand, Mademoiselle de Guise. Structured crepe plays a starring role in the label's gowns and playful separates, which have sleek silhouettes and occasionally bold touches (like a high-cut slit or a shapely, eye-catching back design) softened by accents of geometric lace, flowing and modern, pretty embroidery. All the dresses are designed by Chloé and made in France with high-end fabrics only.
How to shop: Mademoiselle de Guise offers its Effrontée collection of separates, midi and mini dresses directly in their e-shop; or, make an appointment at the brand's Paris studio on their website.
Prices starting at: $2,000 for Collection and semi-bespoke designs, and $320 for Effrontée ready-to-shop pieces.
8. Sophie Sarfati
Structured silhouettes are balanced with airy, delicate touches in Sophie Sarfati's creations. Inspired by her mother's work as an interior decorator and pulling from her formal fashion education, Sarfati has focused on bridal design since 2004, first for other designers before launching her eponymous label. Nodding to glamorous '70s style, Sarfati's "naturally fresh and sexy" bride who "wants to feel beautiful, strong and wear a dress that looks like her," according to the brand's website. Her 2023 "Solstice" collection, "a hymn to light, to the rays of the sun on a summer evening," is full of ethereal elements—like gauzy voluminous sleeves and sheer lace panels to artfully "draw patterns on the skin"—that soften structured crepe, unique low-cut backs and clean silhouettes. Basically, it's a perfect marriage of sensual and strong, done in a thoroughly modern way. Besides gowns, Sarfati offers separates and shorter, simpler dresses perfect for civil or more casual nuptials (or other wedding-related events).
How to shop: You can make an appointment at Sophie Sarfati's Paris showroom, find stockists (throughout France and Switzerland) on the brand's website.
Prices starting at: $3,000
9. Camille Recolin
For brides seeking a bit of subtle texture and feminine details for the big day without sacrificing simplicity, look no further than Camille Recolin's tightly edited designs. Romantic and playful is the name of the game for the label, which debuted in 2015 and is based in the south of France, in Nimes. To wit: A tailored plunging bodice with cheeky tie-front detail, balanced with long puff sleeves fashioned from billowy dotted tulle, is something you'll definitely want to wear post-wedding. Or, opt for a wispy, flowy gown trimmed in fringe crochet for a dose of understated boho cool.
How to shop: Camille Recolin is carried at a handful of stockists internationally, and appointments at the designer's Nimes HQ can be made via email. Or, shop a small selection of separates directly on the brand's website.
Prices starting at: $1,000; separates available to order online from the brand's website start at $350.
10. Cymbeline
Exquisite materials and topnotch craftsmanship have been Cymbeline signatures since the brand, a well-known name in the French bridal style orbit for some time, was founded over four decades ago. Look for lots of lace accents–eyelash variations, unlined and softly draped on the shoulders of a Grecian silhouette, for example, or appliqued asymmetrically along a portrait neckline to beautifully frame the face. Despite the structured silhouettes and tailored, curve-skimming lines, Cymbeline's designs avoid looking or feeling overly stiff or stuffy.
How to shop: Make an appointment at one of Cymbeline's many standalone boutiques, primarily located throughout France, as well as European outposts in Greece, Barcelona, Vienna and more, plus a few stores further afield, like Tahiti and Mexico. Or find a stockist on the brand's website.
Prices starting at: $1,000; separates available to order online from the brand's website start at $350.
11. Violette Tannenbaum
This self-taught talent and digital creator dubs herself a "bridal designer for cool brides," as well as a "photographer for cool people," and is a total tastemaker in her own right. Tannenbaum launched her namesake label in 2015 after designing a friend's wedding dress; her take on bridal wear is cool and unfussy, including separates, crochet lacework and romantic tiered tulle creations that are inspired by vintage fashion and throwback photos of her own stylish female relatives, like her mom, grandma and aunts. Tannenbaum also creates casualwear in limited collections, like gingham matching sets, ruffled floral blouses and chunky sweater vests, plus occasional DIY workshops, through Tannenbaum Atelier.
How to shop: Head to Tannenbaum's site to get in touch via email about custom bridalwear commissions
Prices starting at: Inquire directly for more information, as everything is made to order.
