Solace London Bridal: Wedding Dresses, Reception Looks and Civil Ceremony Styles

Yes, Solace London makes bridal. Its Bridal range of about 50 styles is mostly cream, pearl and alabaster versions of the label’s gowns: boned strapless columns, one-shoulder pleated maxis, short reception dresses. They suit a minimal bride, a civil ceremony and a second look for the evening, in UK sizes 4 to 16.

If you want a traditional wedding gown with a train, lace and a veil, Solace London is not the place to look. If you want a clean, modern dress that looks deliberate rather than decorated, it is one of the best labels for it. Here is how the bridal styles work, and how to choose between them.

What Solace London bridal looks like

The brand’s Bridal collection is drawn from the same pattern library as its eveningwear. That is the strength of it. You get the label’s construction (boned bodices, fully lined crepes and twills, controlled drapes) in pale shades, with no lace, little embellishment and nothing that dates quickly. The founders describe their aesthetic as “Bold, confident, refined”, and a bride wearing it looks precisely that.

The colours are cream, pearl and alabaster. Cream is warm, pearl has a slight sheen to it, alabaster is the coolest. Hold each against your skin in daylight if you can, because the difference shows in photographs.

Bridal gowns for the ceremony

For the main dress, choose a floor-length style with structure. The Dandridge Maxi Dress in Cream has a boned strapless bodice in medium weight twill with subtle sheen, a sculpted back and exaggerated pleats. From behind it is the most dramatic style in the bridal edit, and the back is what guests see during the vows.

The Andress Maxi Dress in Cream is a strapless gown with a corseted bodice and a sculptural ruffle overlay in bonded crepe. It is softer at the neckline and suits a bride who wants a little volume without a full skirt.

For a one-shoulder option, the Maci Maxi Dress in Alabaster is a pleated one-shoulder maxi, light and fluid, and better for a summer wedding than the heavier twills.

Civil ceremonies and registry offices

A civil ceremony usually means a shorter service, a smaller room and photographs close up. A simpler shape works better here than a big gown. Choose a sleeveless column, a strapless midi, a structured mini.

The Annie Maxi Dress in Cream is a sleeveless floor-length dress with a clean line that suits a registry office and a long lunch after. The Ada Midi Dress in Pearl is a strapless midi in polyester, and the length is right for a town hall wedding followed by dinner.

Reception dresses and second looks

A second dress for the evening is now common, and Solace London’s shorter styles are made for it. The Bessette Mini Dress in Cream is a minimal mini in twill with a subtle sheen, boned for support, with adjustable straps and a detachable wrap that can be worn on and off. Take the wrap off for the dancing.

A floor-length change works too. The Senna Maxi Dress in Cream is a strapless, sleeveless maxi that is lighter than a ceremony gown and easier to move in.

Solace London bridal and London weddings

Solace London is a London label, and its bridal edit suits the way many London weddings run: a short ceremony at a register office in the morning, lunch nearby, then a party at a second venue. The brand’s bridal page turns up high in UK searches for bridal shops in London, but there is no Solace London bridal boutique to visit. You buy the dresses online, from the brand and from retailers such as Coveti, so plan the fitting around a local tailor rather than a salon appointment.

For the register office, keep the dress to the scale of the room. The Ada midi in pearl and the Annie maxi in cream both look right at close quarters. For the evening, change into the Bessette mini with its detachable wrap, and the Senna maxi if you want to stay floor length.

A two-venue city day needs some planning. Book somewhere to change, and carry the second dress hanging in a garment bag, because boned bodices should never be folded. In a London winter, a long coat worn over the shoulders sits better over a strapless bridal gown than a short jacket, and a wrap in a matching cream keeps the photographs clean.

Bridal styles compared

Fitting a Solace London bridal dress

Bridal dresses are fitted more carefully than any other piece you will buy, and Solace London’s close cut makes that more important. Measure your bust, waist and low hip in the underwear you will wear on the day, then check the brand chart in our Solace London size guide. On the boned strapless styles, the brand suggests your usual size and sizing up if you fall between two.

Leave time for alterations. The dresses are cut long for tall models in heels, and most brides will need a hem. A plain hem on a crepe column is a simple job; a pleated skirt and a sculpted back need a specialist. Bring the shoes you will wear to every fitting.

Buying for a destination wedding

Travelling with a wedding dress takes planning. Synthetic crepe and twill crease less than silk, which helps, but boned bodices should travel flat in a garment bag, never folded. Pack the dress last and hang it as soon as you arrive. For a hot climate, the pleated one-shoulder Maci is cooler than a heavy twill gown. For a city wedding in winter, a boned twill style holds its line better in a cold, formal setting.

Timing your order

Ready-to-wear bridal has one big advantage over made-to-order: you can have the dress quickly. Even so, plan backwards from the date. Allow time to receive the dress, try it on with your shoes and underwear, book a tailor for a hem and a final fitting. Two months before the wedding is comfortable; less is possible for a plain hem. If you want a second dress for the evening, order both together so the fittings can be done at once.

Shoes and accessories

Keep everything minimal so the shape does the work. A strapless gown suits drop earrings and bare shoulders. A one-shoulder dress wants nothing on the bare side. A long veil can fight with a sculpted back, so if you choose the Dandridge, try a short veil and none at all.

Hair and beauty with a minimal dress

A plain bridal dress puts more attention on your hair and make-up, so plan them with the dress in mind. A strapless gown with a sculpted back suits hair worn up, so the back is visible in the ceremony photographs. A one-shoulder style balances well with hair swept to the bare side. For a civil ceremony in a smaller room, softer make-up and a low bun keep the look modern. Book a trial with the dress if you can, because a cream fabric changes how your skin reads on camera.

Bridal colour: cream, pearl and alabaster

The three shades are close but not the same. Cream is the warmest and suits warm skin tones and candlelight. Pearl has a slight sheen and looks lovely in daylight. Alabaster is the coolest and can look almost white under a flash. If you are pairing the dress with an heirloom veil and family jewellery, take them to the fitting, because an old ivory veil can make a cool white look grey.

Beyond the wedding day

One argument for ready-to-wear bridal is that you can wear it again. A cream Solace London column dyed a darker shade, a pearl midi worn to an anniversary dinner, a short Bessette worn to a summer party with the wrap left at home: all are realistic in a way a traditional gown is not. Ask a specialist cleaner about dyeing before you try it, because polyester takes dye differently from natural fibres.

For the rest of the wedding party

Solace London also dresses everyone else. Bridesmaids can wear the same style in a colour, and mothers of the bride often choose the covered, long-sleeved gowns. See our guides to Solace London wedding guest dresses and Solace London modest dresses, and our wider edit of mother of the bride dresses. Our Solace London mother of the bride guide picks the label’s styles for that role.

For more modern bridal labels, read the modern bride: designers to know, and browse the full Solace London range, including every cream and ivory style, on Coveti. Our white dresses edit has bridal-friendly pieces from other labels too.

Frequently asked questions

Does Solace London make wedding dresses?

Yes. Solace London has a Bridal range of about 50 styles at source, mostly cream, pearl and alabaster versions of its gowns, plus shorter dresses for the reception. The look is minimal, with boned bodices and clean drapes in place of lace.

Is Solace London bridal good for a civil wedding?

Yes. Solace London bridal suits a civil ceremony well because the styles are simple and modern. A sleeveless column such as the Annie and a strapless midi such as the Ada are good choices for a registry office.

What fabric are Solace London bridal dresses?

Solace London bridal dresses use the same fabrics as the main range: medium weight twill with subtle sheen, bonded crepe and polyester, fully lined, often with a boned bodice. Care is dry clean only.

Does Solace London make reception dresses?

Yes. The Solace London Bessette mini in cream, with its boned bodice and detachable wrap, is made for an evening change, and lighter maxis such as the Senna work as a second look.

Do Solace London bridal dresses need altering?

Most brides will need a hem. Solace London dresses are cut long on models who stand between 177 and 182 cm in heels, so allow time for a fitting with your wedding shoes.

What sizes does Solace London bridal come in?

Solace London bridal dresses come in the same UK 4 to 16 range as the rest of the label, which is US 0 to 12 and EU 32 to 44.

Is there a Solace London bridal shop in London?

We found no Solace London bridal shop in London. The brand sells its Bridal range online and through retailers, so most brides buy the dress online and book a local tailor for the hem.

Can I wear Solace London to a London register office wedding?

Yes. Solace London shorter bridal styles suit a register office, such as the Ada midi in pearl and the Bessette mini in cream, and a floor-length style such as the Annie works if the day runs on to a formal evening.

More Solace London guides

Every Coveti guide to the label, plus the full Solace London edit.

• Is Solace London a Luxury Brand? Quality, Fabric and Fit Assessed
• Solace London Size Guide: UK, US and EU Sizes with Body Measurements
• Where to Buy Solace London in the US, UK and Australia
• Solace London Gowns: The Evening Styles Worth Knowing
• Solace London Wedding Guest Dresses for Every Dress Code
• Solace London Modest Dresses: Long Sleeves, High Necks and Full Lengths
• Solace London Dresses by Colour: Black, Red, White, Pink, Green and Blue
• Solace London Strapless, One Shoulder and Off the Shoulder Dresses
• Solace London Signature Styles: Kinsley, Lang, Kira, Olivia and the Icons Explained
• Which Celebrities Wear Solace London? Every Verified Look
• Brands Like Solace London: 6 Alternatives We Stock
• Solace London in Dubai, Riyadh and the Gulf: Where to Shop and What to Wear
• Solace London Long Sleeve Dresses: Columns, Blouson Sleeves and Covered Gowns
• Solace London Mother of the Bride Dresses: Elegant Styles for the Whole Day
• Solace London for Winter Weddings and Black Tie Galas
• Solace London Christmas Party Dresses: Minis, Midis and Party Maxis
• Solace London Maxi, Midi and Mini Dresses: Lengths Explained
• Solace London Rental Versus Buying: When Each Makes Sense
• Solace London Resort 2027: The New Collection
• Solace London Real Versus Fake: How to Check Your Dress and the Site You Buy From
• How to Style Solace London: Shoes, Bags, Jewellery and Cover Ups