Erdem for Weddings: What to Wear as a Guest, Mother of the Bride and Bride

Erdem does make wedding dresses: actress Felicity Jones married in a custom Erdem gown in 2018, and the house has sold a ready-to-wear bridal White Collection since 2021. On Coveti, brides can choose the off-white Lace Short Sleeve Gown ($8,440), while guests and mothers of the bride have printed and embellished dresses from $3,830 to $9,430.

Key facts

• Felicity Jones married Charles Guard on 30 June 2018 at Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire, wearing a custom Erdem gown with a high ruffled neck, pearl buttons and a grosgrain bow at the waist.
• Erdem launched its White Collection of bridal ready-to-wear in February 2021 and added new styles in 2023; it is sold through erdem.com and the Erdem flagship in Mayfair, London.
• Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wore a printed silk Erdem gown as a guest at the 2017 Jamaica wedding of Tom Inskip and Laura Hughes-Young.
• Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, now Queen Mary, wore Erdem’s floral silk Agnes gown to the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Rajwa Al Saif on 1 June 2023.
• Catherine, now Princess of Wales, wore a pale grey Erdem dress to a family friend’s wedding in October 2012.
• Coveti’s Erdem evening gowns run from about $3,800 to $9,400, and Erdem headbands start at $660.

Does Erdem make wedding dresses?

Yes, in two ways. The Erdem atelier in London makes custom bridalwear, and that is how Felicity Jones got her wedding dress in 2018. It had a sheer, high-necked, long-sleeved overlay over a strapless A-line gown, with bone corseting, pearl buttons down the front and back, and a grosgrain bow at the waist. She married at Sudeley Castle in the Cotswolds and wore a floor-length veil.

Then, in February 2021, Erdem Moralioglu launched the White Collection, a year-round bridal ready-to-wear line. The 2023 additions included embroidered organza gowns with an oversized asymmetric bow, sequinned column dresses and a cloque coat dress. The White Collection is sold by Erdem directly, through its website and the Mayfair flagship, so it is the place to start if you want a full bridal appointment.

Coveti does not carry the White Collection. What it does carry are two off-white Erdem pieces that work for a bride, especially for a civil ceremony, a second look and a winter wedding with a small guest list. More on those below.

Did Erdem design Meghan Markle’s wedding dress?

No. Erdem was widely tipped before the May 2018 royal wedding, partly because Meghan had worn the label for years, but her wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The Erdem wedding moment that did happen came a year earlier, when Meghan wore a floor-length printed silk Erdem gown from the Pre-Fall collection as a guest at a friend’s wedding in Jamaica.

Royal wedding guests who wore Erdem

Erdem’s reputation as a wedding guest label rests on royal precedent. In October 2012 Catherine, then Duchess of Cambridge, wore a pale grey Erdem dress to a family friend’s wedding, a dress she had first worn at Trooping the Colour. In 2023, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark chose the white-ground, red and blue floral Agnes gown for the wedding of Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif in Amman. She had worn the same gown before, to King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway’s 80th birthday celebrations in 2017. Re-wearing an Erdem gown is the royal habit, and a good reason to buy one.

Princess Eugenie also wore Erdem for her official engagement portraits in 2018. For the wider story of the house, read who Erdem Moralioglu is.

What to wear to a wedding in Erdem: role and season at a glance

Erdem wedding guest dresses: day weddings

For a daytime ceremony, go for colour and a midi length. The Erdem Embellished Satin Midi Dress in pink ($4,390) is satin cady with a fluid line, draping at the neckline and arm openings, and crystal floral embellishment at the shoulder and waist. It needs very little else; a headband and a pearl stud finish it.

For a garden wedding with a formal dress code, the Floral Duchess Short Sleeve Gown ($4,580) is a column of silk duchesse satin printed with painterly roses and defined by a slim bow belt. It is long enough for a black tie invitation but the print keeps it from looking heavy at lunch. More choice sits in the designer midi dresses edit, and my ranking of the best Erdem dresses covers the house’s most reliable shapes.

Erdem wedding guest dresses: evening and black tie

When the invitation says black tie, wear a floor-length gown. The Erdem Long Sleeve Draped Gown ($6,260) is smooth satin cady in an antique rose shade with crystal embellishment, and the long sleeves make it right for a church, a cathedral and a cool evening venue alike.

For the grandest weddings, the Embroidered Textured Satin Bustier Gown ($9,430) has a structured bustier bodice and a voluminous cloud skirt in smoky-blue textured satin with intricate embroidery. It is a statement, so keep jewellery small. The navy Embellished Satin Draped Gown ($5,320) is the quieter option, with crystal floral embroidery at the panelled waist. The full range of Erdem evening gowns on Coveti runs from about $3,800 to $9,400.

What to wear to a winter wedding

Winter weddings call for heavier fabrics and sleeves. The Embellished Velvet Midi Dress ($4,390) is navy cotton velvet with crystal floral embroidery at the V-neckline and a slim bow belt. For an evening reception, the red Cloque Jacquard Draped Gown ($4,580) has cap sleeves, a floor-length skirt and a matching bow belt. Red is a confident guest colour, and it photographs well against winter greenery. Both come from the Holiday 2027 delivery, which I cover in the Erdem Autumn Winter 2026 and Holiday 2027 edit.

Erdem for the mother of the bride

The mother of the bride needs a dress that sits well in photographs for twelve hours. That points to structured fabrics, sleeves where you want them and a defined waist. The Embroidered Mikado Pencil Gown ($5,100) is bordeaux mikado cut to an ankle-length pencil line, with a V-neck, a delicate bow belt and handmade pleated poppies with beaded fringing. It is fully lined, which helps the mikado hold its shape.

For a daytime ceremony, the Silk Creponne Drape Gown ($3,830) is draped from cameo pink creponne jacquard woven with a Belle Epoque poppy design, and it has cape-style asymmetric sleeves that cover the upper arm. If you prefer a print, the Floral Silk Creponne Long Sleeve Gown ($5,140) has painterly florals on an inky ground, long bishop sleeves and a self tie belt. For a winter ceremony, add the Embellished Velvet Cropped Evening Jacket ($3,830), which fastens with a single crystal button at the neck.

Erdem for the bride

The Erdem Lace Short Sleeve Gown ($8,440) is the closest thing to an Erdem wedding dress on Coveti. It is a 20th anniversary reissue of a design first made for Spring Summer 2015, cut from off-white lace with a pattern that echoes the arches of Victorian glasshouses. It is floor length, with a crew neck, short sleeves, ruffle trim and a detachable slip, and a special label marks it as part of the anniversary capsule.

For a town hall ceremony, a second look for the evening and a relaxed summer wedding, the Embellished Cotton Guipure Sleeveless Midi Dress ($5,940) is off-white cotton guipure with a fitted bodice, a tulip skirt, an exaggerated collar and crystals at the shoulders and hips. Add the Narrow Bow Belt in Ivory Satin ($750) and the ivory Lace Collar ($510) if you want to make it feel more bridal.

Erdem wedding accessories: headbands, pearl earrings and the Bloom Minaudiere

Headbands

Erdem headbands are the house’s answer to a hat for guests who dislike hats. The Wide Embroidered Headband in Cameo Pink ($840) is satin with crystal embellishment and suits the pink satin midi dress. The Narrow Embroidered Headband ($660) is subtler, and the Embellished Headband in Blue ($770) works with navy velvet. Browse the full range of designer hair accessories.

Pearl earrings

Pearls are right for every role at a wedding. The Erdem Crystal Pearl Earring ($660) combines gold-tone brass, pearls and glass crystals, and it is the one I would give a bride. The Floral Pearl Stud Earring ($750) is smaller, and the Floral Pearl Long Earring ($810) adds movement for an evening reception. A Pearl Alphabet Brooch ($430), made with faux pearls and crystals, is a neat gift with the bride’s new initial. See the full designer earrings range and my guide to Erdem jewellery and accessories.

The Bloom Minaudiere

The Bloom Minaudiere in Champagne Embellished Satin ($3,460) has a goat suede lining and the gold-tone cast brass Bloom handle, which Erdem says takes seven hours to make using the lost wax casting method. Champagne suits a bride and a guest alike. For winter, the Bloom Minaudiere in Black Velvet ($3,460) goes with navy and bordeaux. More options are in designer clutch bags.

Wedding guest dress code etiquette

• Do not wear white, ivory, cream and pale champagne as a guest. Those shades belong to the bride, and that includes off-white lace.
• Black tie means a floor-length gown. Cocktail attire means a midi dress is right.
• Cover your shoulders for a religious ceremony. A cropped jacket, a cardigan and a shawl all work.
• Check the venue. Lawn weddings ruin fine heels, so plan your shoes.
• Bold colour is welcome. Erdem’s florals and jewel tones are a safe way to stand out without upstaging the bride.

Does Erdem run small?

Erdem describes its fit as true to size and gives no instruction to size up. Coveti stocks ready-to-wear in UK sizes 4 to 18. UK 8 is US 4, EU 36 and IT 40; UK 10 is US 6, EU 38 and IT 42; UK 12 is US 8, EU 40 and IT 44. Structured fabrics such as mikado and duchesse satin have little give, so check the bust and waist measurements on the product page. The Erdem size guide has the full chart.

Ordering for a wedding date

Coveti ships Erdem worldwide from the UAE and Australia by DHL Express and FedEx International Priority, insured with a signature on delivery. Most regions ship Delivered Duty Unpaid, so local import duties are paid on arrival. Leave time for alterations before the day, and read the Coveti returns page before you order. For alternatives at other price points, see brands like Erdem and the Jenny Packham edit, and for the full Erdem range visit the Erdem brand page.

Frequently asked questions

Does Erdem make wedding dresses?

Yes. The Erdem atelier in London makes custom bridalwear, and in February 2021 the house launched the White Collection, a year-round bridal ready-to-wear line sold through erdem.com and the Mayfair flagship. Felicity Jones married in a custom Erdem gown in 2018.

Did Erdem design Meghan Markle’s wedding dress?

No. Erdem was widely rumoured before the May 2018 royal wedding, but the dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. Meghan did wear a printed silk Erdem gown as a guest at a friend’s wedding in Jamaica in 2017.

Which celebrities got married in Erdem?

Actress Felicity Jones wore a custom Erdem gown to marry director Charles Guard on 30 June 2018 at Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire. It had a high ruffled neck, bone corseting, pearl buttons and a grosgrain bow at the waist.

Can I wear Erdem as a wedding guest?

Yes, and royals do. Queen Mary of Denmark wore Erdem’s floral Agnes gown to the 2023 Jordanian royal wedding. Choose colour and print, avoid white and ivory, and match the length to the dress code.

How much is an Erdem wedding guest dress?

On Coveti, the Erdem wedding guest midi dresses in this guide cost $4,390, and Erdem evening gowns run from about $3,800 to $9,400. The Embellished Satin Midi Dress is $4,390 and the Long Sleeve Draped Gown is $6,260.

What Erdem accessories suit a wedding?

Erdem embroidered headbands cost $660 to $840, pearl earrings cost $660 to $810, and the Bloom Minaudiere clutch costs $3,460 in champagne satin. The Pearl Alphabet Brooch at $430 makes a good gift for a bride.