10 Dresses for a Beach or Destination Wedding (and Shopping Tips!)

Pick a dress that's as special as your location.
by Shelley Brown
Sergio Kurhajec

Planning for something tropical, or maybe a seaside East Coast wedding? Wherever your perfect destination wedding takes you, choose a dress that feels just as special as your scenic destination.

  1. 1. Laid-Back Details

    Theia Couture​ off-the-shoulder lace wedding dress
    Sergio Kurhajec

    Chic, off-the-shoulder bell sleeves add a summery feel to a cotton guipure lace gown.

    Theia Couture wedding dress, $1,695, TheiaCouture.com; Sareh Nouri earrings, $325, SarehNouriJewelry.com

  2. 2. Unique Patterns

    Tadashi Shoji​ off-the-shoulder lace wedding dress
    Sergio Kurhajec

    Effortless doesn't have to mean expected. A mix of textured patterns and a sexy bardot neckline give a column dress a one-of-a-kind twist.

    Tadashi Shoji wedding dress, $1,000, BHLDN.com; Kenneth Jay Lane earrings, $50, KennethJayLane.com

  4. 3. Mix and Match

    Anya Fleet​ two-piece crop top wedding dress
    Sergio Kurhajec

    Get in on the crop top trend with an airy two-piece gown that shows just a sliver of your midsection. 

     Anya Fleet wedding dress, $6,000, SpinaNYC.com; Charlotte Wendes earrings, $2,608, Wendes.DK

  5. 4. Elegance Everywhere

    Pronovias​ wedding dress with a long lace train
    Sergio Kurhajec

    Don't skip the dress details you love just because you're jetting off to an exotic destination. Floral lace and tulle are elegant anywhere. If you're worried about how the dress will travel, get in touch with your airline to set your mind at ease.

    Pronovias wedding dress, price upon request, Pronovias.com

  7. 5. Island Style

    Naeem Khan​ wedding dress with botanical print
    Sergio Kurhajec

    Reflect the gorgeous tropical surroundings with an equally stunning botanical-print gown. 

    Naeem Khan wedding dress, $19,995, SaksFifthAvenue.com; Effy Jewelry green amethyst engagement ring, $595, EffyJewelry.com

  8. 6. Flowing Fabrics

    Christos​ wedding dress with weightless sleeves and tiered fabric
    Sergio Kurhajec

    A breezy combo of flutter sleeves and weightless tiers equals seriously beachy vibes. Finish the look with a few local flowers tucked into beachy waves or with a unique hair accessory.

    Christos wedding dress, $2,640, ChristosBridal.com; Tami Bar-Lev headpiece, $495, TamiBarlev.com

  9. 7. Casual Luxe

    Watters​ strapless wedding dress with Rebecca De Ravenel earrings
    Sergio Kurhajec

    An intricate fabric looks just as glam as allover beading but won't weigh you—or your luggage—down.

    Watters wedding dress, $2,700, Watters.com; Rebecca De Ravenel earrings, $395, RebeccaDeRavenel.com; Rosey West ring, $3,925, RoseyWest.com

  11. 8. Flirty Hemlines

    Rime Arodaky​ short lace wedding dress and Alexandre Birman​ shoes
    Sergio Kurhajec

    Show off your sun-kissed legs (and a pair of killer strappy sandals) in a flirty, short number. Not sure you want to give up a long, flowing wedding gown? Switch into a second dress for the reception or after party.

    Rime Arodaky wedding dress, $1,486, RimeArodaky.com; Eric Javits hat, $450, SaksFifthAvenue.com; Mercedes Salazar earrings, $240, BergdorfGoodman.com; Alexandre Birman shoes, $595, Net-a-Porter.com 

  12. 9. Alternative Train

    Grace Loves Lace​ wedding dress and Bibi Marini​ earrings
    Sergio Kurhajec

    If your ceremony is on the sand, consider swapping a heavy train for chiffon back streamers. They bring all the drama, but none of the fuss.

    Grace Loves Lace wedding dress, $1,870, GraceLovesLace.com; Bibi Marini earrings, $325, ModaOperandi.com

  13. 10. Sultry Silhouettes

    GALA by Galia Lahav​ wedding dress with netted cutouts
    Sergio Kurhajec

    A slinky slip dress with netted cutouts feels right at home in a seaside venue. 

    GALA by Galia Lahav wedding dress, $6,000, GaliaLahav.com; Aurélie Bidermann earrings, $205, AurelieBidermann.com

Up Next