Bridal gowns are being made more casual for comfort

Say so long to the poof. A flip through bridal magazines or a scroll down Instagram reveals a new wave in gowns — unfussy dresses for the un-princess bride. It’s a look that’s been gaining ground in recent seasons, propelled in part by a new generation of bridal labels that may not be as well-known as Vera Wang or Carolina Herrera — yet — but just give them time.

“It’s all about ease and being comfortable — that’s what today’s bride is looking for, and a young crop of designers is speaking to that,” says Shane Clark, senior fashion and accessories editor for Bride’s magazine.

This new guard, with their fondness for body-conscious silhouettes and sheer, ethereal fabrics, is shedding excessive tulle, boning and underskirts, and getting noticed by offering brides the most coveted gift not on their registry: the ability to move.

“She wants to dance, feel like herself and not be tied down by this big, ornate ball gown,” says Clark.

And now she can, whether she opts for the feminine romance of Alon Livne, the unexpected flourish of Christian Siriano or — at the very top of the bridal food chain — the sculptural precision of haute couture’s Viktor & Rolf.

“It’s a laid-back, often bohemian look,” says Clark. And best of all? “You don’t need a crew of bridesmaids to help you in and out of the bathroom.”