Fashion is a powerful form of self-expression and what could be a better opportunity to unleash your creativity than your wedding day?

While there are many, MANY bridal designers keeping things safe, traditional, and dare we say a little boring – there are those who are embracing the extravagance to help brides go ‘more is more’ on the most extravagant day of their life.

Maximalism doesn’t need to come with a maximum price tag either and you may even find what you want outside of the bridal realm. Look for pattern. colourful gowns and a dramatic silhouette rather than neutral colours and understated styling. The accessories you choose can also be a more wallet-friendly way to add self-expression.

Colour & Pattern

Not everyone wants to wear, or looks their best in, white. I’ve worked with brides who have worn beautiful patterned or colourful gowns for lots of different reasons. One wore a floral print dress to better fit the story of their beautiful garden wedding setting. Another just loved stripes and sported a huge striped bow bustle and train (the wedding also featured a lot of black and white elements.) Another was obsessed with Barbie so of course it had to be a pink wedding dress for her!

One of the hallmarks of maximalism in interior design is the fearless mixing and clashing of patterns. As you will have no doubt seen from some of the real weddings in this magazine, this works particularly well for the bridal party. My general advice on nailing this mismatch delight is to be very specific with your colour or print references – a Pantone chart can be very helpful! Also, make sure everyone is talking and sharing their choices in advance so you don’t end up with three people in one colour/pattern and one in something completely different. You need a bit of cohesion in tone or style to nail this look.

Silhouette

Something I’ve been adoring for a while is a big sleeve moment, and its quickly becoming the biggest detail of an outfit on both the couture and bridal runways. Wedding ring kissing lengths, puff shoulders, exaggerated proportions, mixed fabrics and ruffles – there is a sleeve to suit every taste and I’m here for it.

If you find a dress you love but would rather it had a sleeve, speak with the bridal boutique. Most have a wealth of sleeve samples, shrugs or jackets you can play with to see what adding a sleeve would look like before committing to customising your gown. Some designers are also happy to make customisations such as adding sleeves or embroidering more embellishments to their gowns.

The other big bridal silhouette news is that structured and voluminous skirts are making a comeback. Call it the And Just Like That effect, but it’s nice to see more playful styles in tulle, satin and brocade returning to the catwalks. Exaggerated proportions are all part of the maximalist playbook and allow you to create the dramatic silhouette of your choosing.

Accessories

Use accessorises to maximise. A statement earring or shoe can totally transform a look. If colour, pattern or exaggerated shapes aren’t your thing, you can still embrace maximalism in the accessory department. This will truly make an outfit your own. Oversized statement jewellery, bold belts, show-stopping headpieces or veils, and elaborate shoes are all part of a maximalist’s arsenal.

You may be spotting the trend for oversized pearl necklaces, bracelets and cocktail rings on the high street which I’m sure were inspired by the Barbie phenomenon and that dolly dress up vibe. Think of accessories as the exclamation points of an outfit. They draw attention to specific elements and add a touch of drama. As a stylist I can tell you a bold accessory can transform even the simplest outfit into a head-turning masterpiece.

Your wedding day is the perfect time to revel in a joyful moment of self-expression, to embrace the extravagance of it all and have fun. Minimalism has dominated bridal fashion for such a long time but it’s finally time for bolder and more exuberant styles to start taking centre stage. It’s a rejection of the notion that less is more, because more can be infinitely more interesting, exciting and you.

About Alexandra Merri

With a background in art, film marketing, music PR and fashion styling, Alexandra’s reference points for wedding inspiration are diverse. She is the founder of The Bijou Studio, a boutique event planning and design studio and continues to work as a fashion stylist for editorials and brands.

This article originally appeared in issue 53 of Rock n Roll Bride magazine. You can purchase the latest edition here, or why not subscribe to never miss an issue?