If you saw J. Lo’s wedding dress and fell in love then you’re in luck. Ruffled wedding dresses are seeing a total resurgence and we are so here for it! Whether you opt for a mermaid silhouette or a bold ball gown, a ruffle wedding dress serves drama and is perfect for a bride looking to make a statement. A ruffle bottom wedding dress can be soft and delicate or have a chic shear. From the right fabrics to the best silhouettes, we’re sharing all our tips to help you learn all the ruffled wedding dress design trends!

Are Ruffle Wedding Dresses In Style?

You might think a ruffle wedding dress feels dated, but what’s old is new again. This playful style can be done in soft sweeping layers or over-the-top shearing. Either way, ruffles add incredible texture to your wedding dress silhouette. The sense of movement and fluidity is what sets wedding dresses with ruffles apart from all the rest. With a grand selection of ruffle bottom wedding dresses, you can pick your level of drama, or even wear this glamorous style in an ultra-modern way. Needless to say, ruffle wedding dresses are definitely back in style!

Unique Ruffle Looks for Your Wedding Dress

Ruffle wedding dresses aren’t just the big and bouncy style you think of for pageants and costumes, ruffles come in many varieties from layered to tiered to cascading. We recommend opting for different styles depending on how dramatic you want to look. A cascading ruffle wedding dress offers tons of texture and movement. The looser style has an elegant waterfall look that feels fluid and feminine. This style can be paired with A-lines and ball gown styles for a delicate look and with fitted mermaids, a cascading ruffles wedding dress has a stunning fishtail effect. Another ruffle type that beautifully suits a wedding dress is tiered ruffles. This style is characterized by a series of overlapping layers, at different lengths, to create a range of different hemlines on the gown. Tiered ruffles are great for adding volume and are often paired with mermaid styles for a dramatically flared skirt. The last style we’ll be discussing is the layered ruffle wedding dress. Similar to the tiered ruffle, a layered ruffle wedding dress has overlapping layers, as the name would suggest, but not in a linear fashion like the tiered style. This allows for a lot more playfulness is the flounce of each ruffle, for a fuller and more dramatic look.

Picking the Right Fabric for a Ruffle Wedding Dress

Picking the right fabric is important in finding the right ruffle wedding dress. A ruffle is a delicate design detail that requires both a lightweight fabric to manipulate and be comfortable and one stiff enough to hold the curved shape. We’ll break down some of the most common wedding dress fabrics and let you know whether they are ideal for a ruffle wedding dress. The first is tulle. Tulle is one of our top fabric choices for ruffle bottom wedding dresses! This sheer fabric has an open weave, making it incredibly light and airy, but can be ruched to add more structure. This fabric is often used for layering and creating volume, making it a great choice for creating ruffles. Organza is our other pick for a ruffle wedding dress. Very similar to tulle, organza is a lightweight, sheer fabric made from silk fibers that have a stiff texture that will hold the shape of a ruffle without feeling heavy. This fabric beautifully flows off the body, making it perfect for twirling the night away. Chiffon is another sheer, breezy fabric that you might think would be a good option, but we don’t recommend it. While chiffon is lightweight, it’s not as stiff as organza or tulle making it problematic for a ruffle skirt. Lace is a popular wedding dress fabric that many brides might be looking for. Lace is commonly used as overlays or appliqués, so you won’t often find a full lace ruffle wedding dress, especially as the fabric is usually very open and see-through. It will make the perfect accent and add a romantic or vintage touch to your ruffle wedding dress! Another common bridal fabric is satin. Satin is a heavier fabric that is coveted for its structure, lending itself to more constructed designs. Due to its weight and stiffness, we don’t recommend satin when looking for your perfect ruffle wedding dress. Lastly, there’s silk. Silk comes in many variations and you’ll often find gowns that are made from silk blends. The look of a ruffle wedding dress all depends on the type of silk you choose. Something like Mikado would be considered too heavy for ruffles, while charmeuse has a lightweight, satiny quality to it that could lend itself to more column-style dresses with delicate cascading or tiered ruffles. 

Iconic Ruffle Wedding Dress Designs

Brides love to take inspiration from iconic celebrity wedding dresses, so it’s no surprise that with J. Lo’s grand ruffle wedding dress, designs are on the rise. Jennifer Lopez’s ruffle wedding dress was custom-made by Ralph Lauren, featuring a modest turtleneck, short flutter sleeves, and a gorgeous illusion back, but it was the dramatic skirt is that took all of our breaths away. More than 1,000 individually cut handkerchiefs were handstitched to create the voluminous and romantic skirt. J. Lo’s ruffle train is that perfect combination of feminine frills and dimensional drama that today’s glamorous brides are looking for. If you’re looking for a more playful celebrity ruffle wedding dress to take inspiration from, look no further than Mandy Moore. Equal parts girly and boho, the starlet wore a tiered ruffle wedding dress—custom-made by Rodarte—that took inspiration from the late 1960s and early 1970s. The breezy tulle dress looked lovely with delicate dot embroidery, and the tiered layers of closely gathered ruffles were enough to have us swoon, but it’s that perfect pink shade that really won us over! 

Are Ruffle Wedding Dresses Heavy/Voluminous?

If you’re a bride interested in ruffle wedding dresses, you might be wondering whether they will be too heavy, or so voluminous that it becomes cumbersome to wear. Since the layers of ruffles add weight to the gown, ruffle wedding dresses may be considered heavier, but a lot of this is dependent upon the fabric the dress is made of. We use fabrics like tulle and organza for our ruffle skirts and trains. These fabrics are incredibly lightweight making them ideal for a bride who wants an airy and effortless ruffle wedding dress. When it comes to the volume of the gown, ruffle wedding dresses can be subtle and slim or full and fabulous. Some of this comes down to the silhouette you choose—like a ruffle ball gown wedding dress will feel bulkier than a column or mermaid silhouette. There’s also the style of ruffle to consider. A dress with layers and layers of double-edged ruffles will be more voluminous than one that has a delicate waterfall or cascading ruffle. The volume of your dream ruffle wedding dress is all about personal preference. If you’re still concerned about how heavy or voluminous a ruffle wedding dress is, consider wearing a short ruffle skirt wedding dress. This alternative style is sure to stand out, giving you the drama of ruffles with the movability of a short dress, perfect for dancing the night away!

Ruffle Wedding Dress with Sleeves

Looking to elevate the look of your ruffle wedding dress? Consider a style with sleeves! Whether you like the most look of lined long sleeves or something a bit boho, like a bishop sleeves, a ruffled wedding dress with sleeves can totally transform your look. We love our Margot Wedding Dress, a voluminous ruffled ball gown with stunning ruched long sleeves.  The ravishing dress is all about texture with a draped tulle corset bodice that has a sweetheart neckline, with a sultry plunge, and chic exposed boning. The ruffled tulle skirt is over-the-top, with its tightly tiered ruffles, and we love how the detachable ruched sleeves elevate the look. For a more whimsical look, there’s our Jubilee Wedding Dress, a true celebration of ruffles. The chic ball gown has a couture-inspired corset bodice that shimmers in sheer glitter net with a plunging center detail. Frosted, embroidered lace appliqués adorn the detachable bishop sleeves and bodice where it meets the fabulous flounced tulle skirt. The wide horsehair edging helps bring definition and texture to each ruffle for a romantic look. 

Mermaid Ruffle Wedding Dress

For the brides who love drama, nothing serves more than a sexy mermaid silhouette paired with an over-the-top ruffled skirt. The incredible contrast of form-fitting bodice with a full, flared ruffled skirt is hard to beat. This style provides chic contrast that is sure to wow guests at your wedding. If this is what you’re looking for, our Marceline Wedding Dress is the one for you! The fierce mermaid features frosted, embroidered lace appliqués on a drop waist bodice with an exaggerated sweetheart neckline. The tiered tulle skirt is a unique touch and detachable, off-the-shoulder sleeves give you two looks in one. Our plus size brides can rock a ruffled mermaid wedding dress too. Our Leia Wedding Dress is mermaid magic, enhancing your curves and serving drama. The bodice has a plunging sweetheart neckline and luxe frosted lace with crystal beaded, three-dimensional floral appliqués. The dropped waistline lengthens the body and leads to a glamorous tiered tulle skirt, with horsehair edging to define each layer. Detachable pearl and crystal beaded straps add an extra pop of sparkle to the dress. 

Vintage Ruffle Wedding Dress

Some brides love the timeless feel of a vintage wedding dress and ruffles can help bring a vintage gown into the modern age. With classic silhouettes and delicate details, a vintage-inspired ruffle wedding dress is a lovely choice and something that can be passed down for generations. Our pick is our Evelyn wedding dress from our Grace collection, inspired by iconic women in fashion like Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn. Evelyn, style 30101 is an ultra-flattering A-line with a silhouette reminiscent of a vintage McCall or Vogue sewing pattern from the 50s. The modest v-neckline and elbow-length sleeves add to the vintage feel, and we love the delicate flounce of the romantic ruffle tulle skirt. If you love the more high-fashion mermaid silhouette of the 50’s, then we think you’ll love our Lauren Wedding Dress. The fitted gown features stunning crystal beaded, embroidered lace that adorns the drop waist bodice, elongating your figure. The tiered tulle skirt has cascading ruffles with horsehair edging to keep each layer defined.

Off-The-Shoulder A-line Ruffle Wedding Dress

Off-the-shoulder A-line gowns have a dreamy effect and with the addition of ruffles, it’s hard to resist! A-line wedding dresses are one of the most popular with a flattering fit that suits all body types. The fitted bodice accentuates the smallest part of your waist where it then flares out into a soft “A” shape. If you’re looking for an off-the-shoulder A-line ruffle wedding dress, check out our Phaedra Wedding Dress. . The breathtaking A-line has a sheer corset bodice with ruched detailing, designed with crystal beaded, embroidered lace that cascades down the dress. The real showstopper is the A-line skirt with ruffled godet insets that add volume and shape for a glamorous look. Pair the dress with the matching detachable off-the-shoulder sleeves. If you’re looking for something softer, and more delicate, then our Petal Wedding Dress is the one for you. The flowing A-line gown has a sweetheart bodice featuring asymmetric ruching with colorful pearl and crystal beading. Beautiful three-dimensional floral embroidery cascades down the gown and accents the detachable off-the-shoulder sleeves. Delicate waterfall ruffles in the skirt add lovely texture and dimension to the dress.

Ball Gown Wedding Dress with Ruffles

Billowing or bold, but always beautiful, ball gown wedding dresses have a regal look. When you add in the fluidity and texture from ruffles, it’s a breathtaking addition that takes a ball gown to the next level. Whether you’re looking for statement-making ruffles or a delicate flounce, a ball gown wedding dress with ruffles is easy to love. Our Juanita Wedding Dress serves dreamy drama! The gorgeous crystal beaded embroidered bodice, shimmering in glitter net, features a wide v-neckline and cheeky plunge. The ruffled ball gown tulle skirt creates a bridal moment that can’t be rivaled with fabulous texture and movement as you strut down the aisle. Get all the fairytale feels with our Janine Wedding Dress. The romantic ball gown has a sheer corset bodice dazzles with intricate beading and a sultry center plunge detail that leads to gorgeous triple beaded straps. The glimmering glitter tulle skirt is fabulously flounced with horsehair edging to define each layer for a textured and dramatic look.

Strapless Ruffle Wedding Dress

If you love the look of a strapless wedding dress but want the drama of ruffles, we’ve got you covered! You can have both, whether you prefer a romantic strapless sweetheart or the more modern look of a straight strapless neckline, ruffles pair beautifully with strapless style. Our Melina Wedding Dress is the perfect example. The straight, strapless bodice has boning to give you structure and shape, enhancing the look of a narrow waist. Blingy crystal beading on pattern sequin tulle over sparkle tulle gives the bodice an unreal shimmer, especially when paired with the over-the-top ruffled organza ball gown skirt. If you want drama and romance, look no further than our Josefina Wedding Dress. The over-the-top ball gown features a delicately draped bodice with a strapless sweetheart neckline and a matching detachable tie-back stole. The ruffled tulle skirt creates fabulous texture with a subtle, swirling floral motif for a gown that will leave guests gasping as you walk down the aisle. 

What is the Best Color for a Ruffle Wedding Dress?

If ruffles aren’t enough of a statement, you might want a splash of color. So then the question is, what is the best color for a ruffle wedding dress? The answer is really personal preference. Some brides might love a pop of pink, while others want to look vampy in black, or something subtle like a misty blue. The choice is really up to you! We love the look of a blush pink ruffle wedding dress, like Mandy Moore’s we talked about earlier, but if you’re not into a bright pink a softer rose ruffle wedding dress is a beautiful option too. The most dramatic look we can think of is a black ruffle wedding dress, but all options are stunning and can help you better express your unique personality.

To find your perfect ruffle wedding dress visit one of our amazing retailers!