For a long time, the short wedding dress was the town hall outfit, the one worn the day before the "real" dress. Not any more. A satin mini, a lace knee-length dress, an organza tea-length: the short wedding dress has become a choice in its own right, for a city wedding, a wedding abroad, or simply to dance all night. Here is how to choose the length, the fabric and everything that goes with it.
- Four lengths: mini, above the knee, knee-length and tea-length.
- Ideal for the town hall, an intimate wedding, the party or a destination wedding.
- With a short dress, shoes and veil become key pieces.
- A detachable overskirt lets you be long for the ceremony and short for the party.
- Four lengths
- Which wedding
- Fabric and cut
- Shoes, veil, tights
- Two looks, one day
- Our selection
- Your questions
Four lengths
A few centimetres completely change the look of a short dress. Start by finding the length that feels like you.
| Length | Where the dress stops | The look | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | Mid-thigh | Modern, festive, sixties | City town hall, party |
| Above the knee | A few centimetres above | Chic and easy | Civil wedding, cocktail |
| Knee-length | At the knee | Classic, elegant | Every kind of ceremony |
| Tea-length | Between knee and ankle | Retro, fifties, very couture | Church, garden, daytime wedding |
There is also the high-low dress, short at the front and long at the back, which keeps a little train while freeing the legs.
Which wedding
The town hall
A knee-length dress or a satin mini, a jacket or a stole: the perfect outfit for the town hall steps. See our civil wedding dress guide.
The party
Feathers, pearls, sequins: the second dress, the one you keep on until dawn on the dance floor.
The trip
A wedding abroad or an intimate one: a short dress folds into a suitcase and needs no help to put on.
Fabric and cut
A short dress is seen whole, and up close: the fabric and the cut have to be flawless.
- Satin and mikado: a clean, sculpted line, very chic in town. Our satin wedding dress guide compares the satins.
- Lace: romantic, it dresses up a mini without weighing it down. See the lace wedding dress guide.
- Organza and tulle: volume and lightness, ideal for a tea-length.
- Feathers, pearls and sequins: for the party, when the dress becomes the jewel.
On a short dress, length is measured to the centimetre: a few more or less change everything. Tell us the length you want along with your measurements, following our guide on how to measure for a made-to-measure dress.
Shoes, veil, tights
With a long dress, the shoes are barely visible. With a short dress, they are in every photo.
- Shoes chosen with the dress: pumps, delicate sandals, bow or pearl shoes.
- A short or medium veil, or a very long one for a striking contrast.
- In winter, sheer nude or ivory tights.
- A cape, jacket or stole for the ceremony and the exit.
A short dress is not less of a dress. It is more of you.
Two looks, one day
Many brides wear a long dress for the ceremony and a short one to dance. Two options: two dresses, or a two-in-one dress with a detachable overskirt, like Gavrinis and its tulle overskirt. Our two-in-one wedding dress guide explains how they transform.
Our selection
Six short dresses, from mini to tea-length, made to your measurements or in your standard size.
EmbiezShort satin sheath, folded cuff necklineSee the dress →
CézembreCorded lace mini, detachable long sleevesSee the dress →
BagaudTea-length draped satin, crossed off-shoulder necklineSee the dress →
DésiradeTea-length organza, fan-pleated bodice, puff sleevesSee the dress →
ChauseyPearl beading, feathers, oversized satin bowSee the dress →
GavrinisTwo-piece crop top, detachable tulle overskirtSee the dress →
Your questions
Can you wear a short wedding dress in a church?
Yes. A tea-length dress with covered shoulders, or worn with a bolero, is perfectly suitable. For a mini, plan a jacket or a cape for the service. Our church wedding dress code guide explains the customs.
Which veil goes with a short wedding dress?
A short or medium veil: birdcage, elbow or fingertip. A cathedral veil over a mini makes a striking contrast, as long as the dress is very simple. Every length is in our veil length guide.
Which shoes go with a short wedding dress?
Shoes that are meant to be seen, since they will be in every photo: pumps, delicate sandals, bow or pearl shoes. Choose a heel you can stand in for hours, especially on cobblestones.
How do you wear a short wedding dress in winter?
Sheer nude or ivory tights, a cape or a coat, and a tea-length dress with long sleeves. Our ideas are in the winter cover-ups guide.
Does a short wedding dress suit every body shape?
Yes, by playing with the length: a tea-length that stops below the calf lengthens petite figures, a mini shows off the legs, knee-length is the easiest of all. See our guide to the wedding dress for your body shape.
Can I have a long dress for the ceremony and a short one for the party?
Yes: either two dresses, or a two-in-one dress with a detachable overskirt. Our two-in-one wedding dress guide explains how they work.
Short wedding dresses for the town hall, the party and the trip.
See short wedding dresses
