7 LGBTQ+ Wedding Dress Designers to Have on Your Radar

Collage of Models Wearing Wedding Dresses With Floral Background — Courtesy of QUEERA; Prabal Gurung; Christian Siriano / Design by Tiana Crispino

At Brides, the foundation and underlying theme of everything we cover is love. From sharing planning advice to spotlighting real-life wedding stories, this sentiment is at the core of what we do. And when it comes to orchestrating one of the most special days of a couple's union (the wedding, of course), it's safe to say that deciding what to wear is usually at the top of everyone's list. Very often we see and admire the dresses and suits that get sent down the runway and placed on the racks, but it's not often that we also get to honor the creatives who work tirelessly behind the scenes—more specifically, celebrating LGBTQ+ wedding dress fashion designers.

According to some of these queer designers, the bridal fashion industry has widely accepted and included the LGBTQ+ community. “As gay men, we found total acceptance in both bridal and regular fashion worlds,” says Mark Badgley and James Mischka, the designer duo behind Badgley Mischka.

However, going beyond "bridal" has been, perhaps, the biggest challenge and change in the past several years. "The fashion industry—which I would say for the longest time—has been a big issue for designers of color and in the LGBTQ+ space," says celebrity fashion designer Prabal Gurung. "So often, we have been called upon to perform diversity, rather than have the industry truly practice it. It is so important that fashion recognizes this, our stories, and our achievements. Through my own challenges as a designer, I vowed to never make anyone feel lesser than when wearing my designs and to make all feel represented."

To help honor and celebrate the fashion creatives within this community, we've rounded up some of the LGBTQ+ wedding dress designers who use their platform to propel inclusivity and Pride for people around the world. Read on to learn more about their brands and how they're changing the industry as a whole.

01 of 07

Prabal Gurung of Prabal Gurung

Model Posing in Strapless Mermaid Dress With Lace Bodice and Removable Puff Sleeves — Courtesy of Prabal Gurung

After beginning his design career in New Delhi, Gurung moved to New York to attend Parsons School of Design before launching his eponymous ready-to-wear label in 2009. “When I started my brand, I found it important to always showcase marginalized people and highlight that they matter across fashion and in the world,” Gurung states. A favorite among notable figures, such as Michelle Obama and Kate Middleton, Gurung officially launched his inaugural bridal collection in April 2021, keeping brides of all styles and bodies in mind.

The Prabal Gurung Bride

Gurung creates each of his pieces with the intention of appealing to anyone, no matter their identity, background, or style. “My brand has never been gender-normative, and I’ve never wanted to dictate who is wearing my designs," the designer says. "Prabal Gurung is for everyone—offering all a seat at the table. I wanted to take on the responsibility of properly celebrating all the incredible individuals who have walked in our lives. This is my ode to them. My job as a designer is to liberate anyone wearing my clothes and to offer them options."

His commitment to gender inclusivity and representing marginalized audiences is a theme throughout his bridal collections. “It’s been an incredibly difficult year for all, and I wanted those who wear this collection to feel glamorous and well-represented on the most important day of their lives," the designer says of his first collection. "The very fact that people fall in love and get married is this idea that the union is the ultimate sign of hope and optimism.”

02 of 07

Mark Badgley and James Mischka of Badgley Mischka

Model Sitting in White Dress With Lace Bodice and Tulle Skirt Surrounded by Pampas Grass — Courtesy of Badgley Mischka

Married powerhouse couple, Badgley and Mischka, have been designing dresses for brides since the inception of their company, Badgley Mischka, in 1988. From romantic wedding gowns to elegant formalwear, their timeless designs continue to captivate women around the world—including the likes of Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Jennifer Garner, and Julia Roberts (to name a few).

The Badgley Mischka Bride

With such an impressive history and reputation within the fashion space, you may be asking: Who does Badgley Mischka design for? “Our bride is an individual that makes her own choices," the design duo reveals. “Our goal, whenever we design anything, is to make our customers feel empowered and beautiful—it’s the same thing. If she feels beautiful, it makes her more powerful in big and small ways. If she is empowered, she is more beautiful in so many ways.”

03 of 07

Curtis Cassell of QUEERA

Black Model in White Dress with Button-Down Shirt and Voluminous Pleated Skirt — Courtesy of Queera Wang

Curtis Cassell is the designer and visionary behind QUEERA, a gender-neutral wedding fashion brand. According to Cassell, the inception of his brand came from multiple conversations with former coworkers about the lack of gender-neutral wedding fashion options on the market. "I heard a lot of the same questions revolving around what each of us would wear: 'Suit or a dress? Suit or a dress?'" he recounts. "I hated that there were only two options, literally, black or white."

Instead of feeling bounded by a certain number of choices, Cassell decided to introduce more possibilities. "I feel that removing all of this limited view or understanding of what's possible, we can reimagine the 'black or white' of traditions that are actually crippling to the fantasy when it comes to planning the 'best day of your life,'" he explains. "Recent times have revealed cracks in this certain patriarch that needs to be dismantled, and normalizing a wedding that everyone can afford is one of the first steps."

The QUEERA Bride

Cassell aims to transform the traditional use of the word "bride," as he creates clothing with everyone in mind. “My bride doesn't even fit into the word ‘bride,’ which is why QUEERA exists," the designer shares. "It's individuality. It can't be simply men or women. It can be anything, anyone—anything that's attracted by those who deserve it and want something different.”

04 of 07

Christian Siriano of Christian Siriano

Model in Two-Piece Tulle White Outfit Outside, Holding Bouquet of Pink and White Flowers — Courtesy of Christian Siriano

After studying under Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen and later winning the fashion competition show, Project Runway, Christian Siriano went on to find his own namesake label in 2008. Following a brief hiatus in the bridal space, Siriano came back stronger than ever in 2021—releasing bridal looks that are "gender-bending" and, as Siriano puts it, made for "all different types of people—male, female, nonbinary, transgender, and everyone in between."

The Christian Siriano Bride

According to the designer, the Christian Siriano bride is a bride who feels special, elegant, and comfortable. "A lot of our brides don’t live glamorous lives, so this is their moment to feel their best self and wear their perfect dress or suit or whatever that dream may be," Siriano remarks.

As a whole, the designer explains that his brand is for anyone and everyone. “I don’t necessarily approach my business in any kind of specific way," he notes. "I make wedding looks for people regardless of how they identify. People are people. I’m a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and proud to have dressed so many in [Siriano] for their big day and to shake up what the ‘norm’ looks like. There are no rules."

The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Dress Shopping

05 of 07

Jonathan Simkhai of Simkhai

Model in Silk Slip Dress With Spaghetti Straps and Leg Slit — Courtesy of Jonathan Simkhai

A winner of the 2015 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, Jonathan Simkhai started his brand, Simkhai, five years earlier with the “modern woman” in mind. His designs "seek to embolden women with confidence and ease," according to his website, and his brand produces contemporary, versatile styles.

The Jonathan Simkhai Bride

Through all of his designs, the designer champions a mix of "feminine strength and sensuality," per his website. With custom fabrics, elegant detailing, linear lines, and contoured silhouettes, Simkhai is ideal for the romantic bride who wants to feel confident on their big day.

06 of 07

Brandon Maxwell of Brandon Maxwell

Bride in A-Line White Dress With Scoop Neckline While She's Standing on the Beach — Photo by Amber Gress Photography

In 2015, Brandon Maxwell launched his eponymous label—which is a favorite among celebrities like Lady Gaga, Karlie Kloss, Oprah Winfrey, and Nicole Kidman—to empower females. “The brand was born out of the desire to make women feel beautiful, sophisticated, and powerful, with timeless garments that are impeccably tailored,” the website says. After establishing his brand, the decorated designer won the 2019 CFDA Award for Womenswear Designer of the Year and the 2020 AAFA Designer of the Year Award. He's also a judge on Bravo TV's Project Runway.

The Brandon Maxwell Bride

In line with the rest of his collections, the Brandon Maxwell bride is sophisticated, independent, and timeless.

07 of 07

Lei Bretón of The House of Bretón

Model in Two Piece White Outfit With Cape, Striped Skirt, and Lace Top — Courtesy of The House of Breton

Born to Colombian seamstresses and tailors, Lei Bretón was surrounded by fashion growing up. Despite her upbringing, the designer didn’t actively pursue a career in fashion. After graduating with an acting degree in 2007, Bretón stumbled upon the space again by teaching herself to sew, so she could create her own costumes. In 2014, Bréton established her own brand, The House of Bretón, for queer and plus-size communities.

The House of Bretón Bride

Since Bretón started her brand to include marginalized, overlooked communities and champion inclusivity in the fashion space, the designer’s pieces cater to every type of person, whether they’re queer, curvy, transgender, nonbinary, or a person of color.