Modern brides are re-shaping wedding fashion (again! and again!) with the coolest of the cool-girl aesthetic: the not-a-wedding-dress wedding dresses. These casual counterparts of the more traditional gowns come in all shapes and silhouettes — from the redefined boho look to structured minis. Frocks you'd typically see worn at engagement parties or bridal showers are being promoted to "the dress" status — making appearances at simply rustic weddings, sexy destination affairs (read: Charli XCX's bridal look) and even those blow-out bashes.
It's official: modern wedding dress alternatives are having their moment in the bridal zeitgeist. They've made their way into tried-and-true bridal brands, up-and-coming boutiques and charitable resale boutiques like Brides for a Cause, which collects donated gowns from designers, manufacturers, and former brides to support women-focused nonprofits.
We've rounded up just a few of our favorite nontraditional wedding dresses to help you decide if the simple life, wedding edition, is your true calling.