Our Top 10 Favorite Mermaid Wedding Dresses: Bride’s Guide To The Perfect Dress


Favorite Mermaid Wedding Dress

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Our Top 10 Favorite Mermaid Wedding Dresses

Classic, elegant, and dramatic.

Mermaid style dresses are a popular option among brides, especially those who are looking for a classically sexy look.

Not to be confused with trumpet style dresses, mermaid gowns hug the wearer’s body through the torso and the hips, flaring out at the knee to create an eye-catching “fishtail.” If you’re looking for something that flares out at the mid-thigh (and is admittedly much easier to walk in), then go for a trumpet dress.

The tails of mermaid dresses often feature some sort of alluring adornment for a dramatic effect, but sometimes remain sleek and simple for a classic, yet subtly dramatic look. They’re a versatile option for any bride, not just those who want something “va-va-voom” sexy.

We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite mermaid wedding dresses to help you find some inspiration, or hopefully find the dress you’ll actually wear on your wedding day!

How We Chose Our Favorite Gowns

Because we each have our own unique sense of style, we wanted to give you a wide variety of gorgeous mermaid cut gowns that will suit any personality and taste. Whether you’re going for that bombshell look or something a little less traditional, we’ve got an option for you.

We also tried to include dresses that will accommodate every budget. Though many of you might not put a price on your wedding dress, we also recognize that there are those of you who don’t want to spend too much money on something you’ll only wear once. However, keep in mind that prices on some of these gowns are going to vary depending on the retailer so be sure to shop around and check with your local wedding boutiques and department stores.

This list is in no particular order – it’s simply too hard to try to pick the absolute best dress out of all these utterly beautiful mermaid wedding gowns. At the very least, we hope that you find your “number one” out of these 10.

Top 10 Mermaid Wedding Dresses

Well, what are you waiting for? Read ahead, you lovely brides-to-be, and you just might find your perfect dress.

1. Jewel Lace and Tulle Illusion Neck Wedding Dress

This elegant mermaid gown from Jewel, a brand that’s available exclusively at David’s Bridal, will have you looking like you belong in the royal wedding.

This dress has a Victorian-like elegance with its sheer, button-back closure. The lace-appliques, high illusion neckline, and sweeping train create a romantic, fairy-tale aesthetic. You’ll also find subtle beading on this dress, adding a little sparkle to the princess-y look. It’s the perfect combination: A sleek, modern silhouette with timeless vintage details.

This dress is perfect for any body type and comes in petite and plus sizes, as well as extra-long versions. You can also choose between a soft white and a pure white fabric. It’s a fully lined, polyester gown that comes in at just around $1000 at David’s Bridal.

2. Pronovias “Helio” Long Sleeve Mermaid Gown

We’ve never seen a wedding dress so chic.

This simple, yet sleek mermaid design from the Pronovias house in Spain combines a bateau neckline with long sleeves for a supremely elegant feel. The deep V-back adds another layer of drama and sensuality to this already sensational gown. It features a centre godet on the back of the skirt, creating a long, feminine silhouette.

Made with a crepe fabric, the dress has subtle embroidery and beading that adds a romantic touch without distracting from the overall sophistication of this mermaid gown. If Meghan Markle’s wedding dress blew you away, then this is probably the gown for you.

You can find this gown at specific retailers like Kleinfeld, which offers it for around $4900.

3.  Ines Di Santo “Haydon” Wedding Dress

This Ines di Santo dress completely redefines drama. The mermaid silhouette is taken to a completely different stratosphere with the plunging, off-the-shoulder neckline in a delicate lace. The silk fabric with lace overlay is supremely feminine and will surely turn heads as you walk down the aisle.

The back of the Haydon dress is equally dramatic. It’s a completely sheer low back with a button closure, creating a covertly sexy look. It flaunts a beautiful cathedral train as well, making for an all-around sense of elegance.

In short, Ines Di Santo has made the ideal mermaid gown for the woman who wants to be bold in a delicate way. It’s available at select retailers for an estimated price of around $6000-7000.

4. Noel and Jean by Katie May Mermaid Gown

This crepe mermaid wedding dress features a ruched low back that will send shivers up your groom’s spine. It’s very coquettish.

But, the front with a high-neck and elegant princess seams prevent this gown from becoming too sexy. Plus, the hidden zip closure makes for a seamlessly sleek silhouette.

Figure-flattering and modern, this Noel and Jean by Katie May mermaid dress is perfect for any woman who wants to exude confidence and class on her wedding day. It’s a great option for any body type – whether you’re trying to accentuate the curves you already have or are looking to add a little extra oomph in all the right places.

You can find this mermaid gown online from Nordstrom for under $900.

5. Truly Zac Posen Seamed Satin Wedding Dress

Here’s a dress for all of you bombshells out there.

Truly Zac Posen gives us an ivory duchesse satin mermaid gown that has Jessica Rabbit’s name all over it. The precise seaming plays up any woman’s curves, and the strapless sweetheart neckline makes for a classic look. A line of buttons down the back leads to a dramatic bow that cascades into a sweeping tulle train.

David’s Bridal offers this dress for around $900. It’s a total steal for a gown that exudes the essence of Old Hollywood glamour and will make onlookers’ eyes pop right out of their sockets à la Looney Tunes.

6. Moonlight Couture Beaded Mermaid Gown

If Zelda Fitzgerald were alive today, this is what we imagine she would wear on her wedding day.

Moonlight couture combines the modernity of a mermaid gown with beading and embroidery straight out of the 1920s. It features a soft scoop neckline and chandelier-like strings of beads that drape down the shoulders. The chapel-length train adds a touch of drama to the overall silhouette.

The Knot estimates a retail price of around $2500 for this mermaid gown. Now, you can look like you just came from one of Jay Gatsby’s parties without totally breaking the bank.

7. Willowby “Corella” Embroidered Lace & Charmeuse Dress

Willowby brings us this effortless, bohemian chic dress that will make you look like a true goddess.

Intricate, vine-like lace is carefully arranged on this simply stunning gown with a V-neckline and low back. The silhouette itself is relatively simple, but the lacework and delicate mermaid train is absolutely breathtaking. The dress comes in two colors for the underlay: nude, for those of you who want a more dramatic contrast, or white, if you’re looking for something a bit more understated.

This is the perfect dress to rock with some delicate gold jewelry, or maybe even a flower crown with dark green leaves and delicate white petals. At around $1400 at Nordstrom, we can totally see you gliding across the beach in this lush, embroidered wedding dress.

8. Pnina Tornai Dramatic Satin and Ruffle Mermaid Dress

This sleeveless wedding gown is incredibly sleek and modern. The simple satin bodice with a deep V-neckline is classic and classy. The elegant simplicity of the upper portion of the gown juxtaposed against the voluminous, ruffled tulle skirt creates an ultra-dramatic look. It’s absolutely luxurious.

Pnina Tornai, a leading international bridal designer from Israel, is known for her classic, yet sensual and unique, gowns. She uses the finest fabrics imported from Europe, and all of her dresses are handmade in accordance with the principle of Haute Couture. Pnina Tornai is an exclusive designer for Kleinfeld, where you can find the dress for around $5000.

It’s a mermaid gown made for confident, powerhouse women (Samantha from Sex and the City would totally rock this dress) and deserves to be worn with a classic, bright red lip and a pair of diamond earrings.

9. Berta Cap Sleeve Embellished Mermaid Gown

Another Israeli designer, Berta Balilti, brings us this absolutely unforgettable wedding gown.

Berta is known for her bold, avant-garde takes on bridal luxury, perfect for women who exude an unapologetic level of confidence. She has surprised many in the fashion world with her artistic approach to high-end design.

Her approach to design is certainly reflected in this gown with its “cut-down-to-there” neckline coupled with elegant cap sleeves. It’s the definition of an illusion gown, with its nude underlay and scrolling lace appliqués that highlight every curve.

Vertical lines of lace and embellishment cascade down the legs to the mermaid skirt with an angled train. The train is edged with classic, scalloped lace and almost resembles a delicate leaf. Available at Nordstrom Wedding Suites, this barely-there ivory gown is priced just over $8900.

To all you gutsy brides out there, this one is for you.

10. Christian Siriano Modern Mermaid Wedding Dress

Well hello, Grace Kelly.

Seriously, this gown looks exactly like something the Princess of Monaco would wear if she were alive today. The tulle, off-the-shoulder sleeves are positively divine. Coupled with the satin bodice and tulle skirt, this dress is a modern take on a 1950s style.

At first glance, the flounced sleeves definitely stand out the most. But with this gown, the devil is in the details. If you look closely, you’ll notice delicate pearl strands running vertically around the skirt, as well as on the sleeves.

Even the seaming on this gown lends to the Grace Kelly-aesthetic of the gown. The princess seams down the front of the bodice, plus the inverted V seam above the skirt are genius and add that extra “something” to this mermaid wedding dress.

With such well thought-out designs like this one, it’s no wonder that Siriano won Project Runway back in 2007. You can find this jaw-dropping bridal gown for around $6000 at Kleinfeld and other retailers.

Buyer’s Guide

Though these are some of our personal favorite mermaid style wedding dresses, what we really want is for you to find your dream dress.

Mermaid dresses are a modern yet classic option for many brides, but we definitely won’t be offended if a mermaid dress isn’t the best option for you. One of the first things you should do when looking for a wedding dress is figure out which silhouette is the right one for you. It will narrow down your search and help you make the most of your dress appointment.

Similarly, don’t forget that the top of your wedding dress is just as important as the skirt. Even if you’re positive you want a mermaid tail, be sure to put as much consideration into which neckline and sleeve length is right for you. You also shouldn’t pick a dress just because it’s super trendy now – it might not be by the time your wedding day rolls around, and you should feel like the best version of yourself in what you’re wearing.

We’d also recommend taking photos of every dress you try on (if the shop allows it) so you can see how it looks from all angles. Plus, mirrors can be deceiving. Also, try to make an appointment to try on dresses earlier in the day when stores are less crowded and consultants aren’t worn out from a long day of pulling gowns.

Of course you’ll also be taking a budget into consideration, so maybe don’t try any dresses outside of your price range – you don’t want to be tempted by something you can’t afford.

However you approach dress shopping, we hope that this little list was able to put some new ideas about your wedding attire into your head.

After all, mermaid wedding gowns are timeless, dramatic and an amazing silhouette for the modern bride.

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