Something Old, Something New: Bridal Whites Are Everywhere this Season

By Felicia Czochanski

It seems like everyone is getting married this summer. Or if not married, then engaged. For the past six months social media has been crowded with romantic posts of doting boyfriends down on one knee (including mine!), bachelorette squads taking over beaches and bars, and the sweet smiles of the couple’s first look on their special day. Love is certainly in the air, with reports showing there will be 2.6 million weddings in 2022 – the highest number of nuptials since 1983.

We know part of the upswing in ‘I dos’ is due to pandemic postponement, and the increase in engagements could be part of a need for greater connection as we inch closer towards what we hope might be the light at the end of the tunnel of COVID-19. Whatever the reason may be, we know bridal white has already become one of the big colors of the summer – and its one that won’t go out of style!

Now that I’m in the process of planning my own wedding for next year, every time I pop into a Goodwill I’m looking for pieces to add to my ‘bridal white’ collection – whether it’s something I think would be great for a bachelorette night out, a rehearsal dinner, or the big day. Since getting engaged, I feel like I’ve been adding white into my wardrobe nonstop! I recently found my new favorite Goodwill store in Manhattan (you might remember in a previous blog that my absolute favorite location ended up closing during the height of the pandemic). The new one I stumbled upon by chance after a doctor appointment had so many great finds that it brought my retail therapy to new heights (think Alice + Olivia, Rebecca Taylor, Joie… lots of my favorite brands and all in amazing condition). It also had this beautiful curated all-white rack that I had to snap a picture of – just look at the variety of textures on that one rack.

I ended up checking out with an amazing haul, but not before seeing this beautiful section of wedding dresses. I’d already found my dress last month, but this absolutely stunning Monique Lhuillier strapless tulle ballgown with beading and applique detail on the bust made me stop in my tracks. I pulled it off the rack and had half a mind to try it on but since I was shopping solo I knew it would likely be too hard to get in and out of it on my own. That being said, I styled it on the rack and gave it its own spotlight so other shoppers couldn’t miss it. What serendipity it would be to find your ‘something borrowed’ at Goodwill and have it be this incredible designer dress!

Have you found the perfect bride-to-be outfit at Goodwill? Or maybe even the outfit you wore on the big day? Tag us in your photos on Instagram for a chance to be featured in a future blog!