Forget the fairytale formula. Your wedding look doesn’t need to be one dress, one designer, one aesthetic. It can be layered, clashed, thrifted, and totally your own.

There’s a familiar formula we’ve all been handed by the wedding industry: one big white dress + one big price tag = the perfect moment. The myth that there’s only one way to look like a “proper” bride is out of touch with today’s world where we can strive for individuality, embrace personality and host our own version of a wedding celebration.

Your wedding look can be a curated mash-up of pieces you love, layers of your story, and a refusal to be boxed in by historic tradition. May the below tips and advice give you the confidence to create something authentic, rock ‘n’ roll rebellious, and unapologetically you.

Inspiration Not Imitation

The big hitters – Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram – are double-edged swords I’m afraid. Yes, they can be incredible sources of inspiration, but they also fuel the myth of the flawless, on-trend (and in many cases AI!) bride. The algorithm will keep churning out much of the same as you doom scroll into the early hours so approach these resources with caution.

Be mindful to screenshot the vibe, not the exact look. Maybe you love the silhouette of a princess dress or bold lace as your fabric of choice. Certainly use these sites to mood board a concept but remember they are not instruction manuals. My advice is to add fashion ideas from outside the wedding world to trick the bots and get a better mix of imagery and inspiration served to you. Use keywords such as your body size, skin colour, hair style, etc to see more of you on the page.

Reject “The One”

The idea of “the one” haunts weddings – the one partner, the one ring, the one dream venue, the one gown. But style isn’t monogamous. Your wardrobe doesn’t have to pledge allegiance to one designer, one look, one era, or one set of rules.

Mixing and matching is just as fashionable for weddings, as it is your personal style in general. I’m here to assure you that you can layer a high street gown with designer custom veil, hand me down jewels and your most treasured statement heels. You have license to mix your vintage finds with designer pieces, well-loved favourites with sparkly new finds. Whatever feels honest and you is the best look by far.

Mixing thrifted pieces with designer splurges is not only stylish but it rebels against the consumerist mentality that everything must be luxury, shiny and new. Your outfit doesn’t need to come from a single brand, a curated boutique, or a head-to-toe Pinterest board aesthetic. This high-low styling is also practical. Splurge on the thing that makes your heart beat faster, that you can’t stop thinking about or have dreamed of for years. Maybe that’s a leather jacket by Rick Owens, or a Vivienne Westwood corset and then let everything else orbit around it.

Let’s also forget matchy-matchy perfection across all fabrics and finishes too. Yes, you can clash fabrics, stack textures and pile prints. A structured tartan bodice over a tulle skirt, sheer lace gown with leather gloves or an organza slip with heavy layered belts and necklaces – play until you find your vibe.

Something old, something new and something borrowed – that is one wedding tradition that we can get behind!

Treasure Hunting

This is your chance to dive headfirst into designer resale sites, end of season sales, outlet centres and second-hand stores. It is where wedding magic can happen. Aside from the ethics and savings, when you find a total treasure, it is so rewarding!

Outlet destinations such as Bicester Village in the Cotswolds and McArthur Glen in Kent are fun for a day out and browse of everything from accessories to attire. My hot tip is to turn your gaze to the menswear sections and stores too, where you can find some of the best jackets in particular. A velvet blazer or silk bomber over a bridal mini dress? Iconic.

Late December/ January and end of Summer are also the key times to find incredible evening gowns and party suits at a snip of the price. Sign up to your favourite designer or online retailers’ newsletters to be the first in line to shop the sales. Whilst sites like The Outnet and TK Maxx have amazing discounted pieces all year round so more alerts to add to your inbox. Again, we are not searching for ‘bridal’ but just incredible pieces.

Shopping preloved couldn’t be easier now with the rise of Vinted and Vestiaire. If you’ve fallen for something in particular, be it a dress, shoes or bag but it’s out of your price range, sign up to receive alerts on these sites for your particular size. Bridal Reloved specialise in second-hand wedding dresses and can even try and help you source something in particular. Just remember to allow budget for a seamstress to ensure your treasure trove is perfectly tailored to you and aisle ready.

There are so many moments within a wedding day that mean if you’re feeling anxious about breaking the mould for the ceremony you can be more ‘you’ for the reception. Build multiple looks throughout the celebrations with a few considered tweaks and careful old and new pieces. Clever treasure hunting versus one big ticket item gives you so much creative freedom. Throw on an oversized sequinned blazer for the reception. Swap an heirloom crown for a piled high ponytail and cape halfway through the night. Shed a skirt for shorts. Your wedding outfit can be an act of transformation, comfort and fun.

At its core, mixing and matching your bridal look is a refusal to be sold a single vision of “bridal beauty.” Your wedding outfit doesn’t have to be timeless. It doesn’t have to be elegant. It doesn’t even have to be flattering in the traditional sense. It just has to be yours alone. Reject the traditional and embrace the creativity of curating a look or multiple looks that are truly you.

So, rip up the rulebook. Layer your leather jacket over lace, wear your favourite studded boots under silk, and remember: perfection is boring. You are not a mannequin. Trust us when we tell you that looking back at your wedding photos in a few anniversaries time, authenticity will be key. As Yves Laurent once said “Fashion fades, style is eternal”