Planning

You heard it here first wedding bows are back! Big ones, small ones, and everything in between. Whether they adorn your wedding dress, bridal shoes, decorations, cakes or hair accessories, we're here for them! When we say back, really they never left and we think they'll be around for quite a while! Discover the timeless allure of wedding bows! From classic sophistication to modern twists, we've got 56 ways you can feature them on your big day. 

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56 wedding bow ideas from wedding dresses, hair accessories, shoes, and decorations!

Front Wedding Bows

Jesus Peiro seems to be leading the way when it comes to adding wedding bows to the front of their bridal designs. Classic silhouettes, with structured bows, you can't go wrong. Saskia wore hers to her wildflower wedding in Surrey and looked like a princess. Traditionally placed on the waistline or the chest, these bows accentuate all your best features. 

COAST Statement Bow Twill Mini Dress With Jewel Trim

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Part of the Sophie Habboo x Coast collection, this mini dress with a statement bow detail is perfect for that old Hollywood glamour vibe. Crafted from touch-me-satin and framed by an off-the-shoulder neckline and a statement bow at the chest.

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SELF-PORTRAIT Bow-bustier off-the-shoulder crepe mini dress

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Capture Self-Portrait's romantic aesthetic with this black crepe mini dress, shaped to an off-the-shoulder silhouette with a gathered white bow framing the décolletage. This is a perfect engagement party or wedding reception dress! 

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Back Wedding Bows

If you're familiar with 80s wedding fashion you'll know no bridal gown was complete without a big bow on the back. We love that this trend has been revisited, albeit with a slightly more modern twist. The surge in registry office weddings has seen more brides embracing short wedding dresses, but the addition of long trailing veils and bows! There's something just so feminine about bows that we love so much. If you're worried that the back of your dress is a little plain or lacklustre compared to everything going on at the front, add a bow! 

ARIEL BOW Halfpenny London

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This oversized, Mikado bow is a stunning way to add a touch of drama to your wedding look. Easily dress up a simple gown or slip wedding dress. This bow is attached to a skinny Mikado belt and is easily fastened. Made by Recommended Supplier, Halfpenny London

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Hope & Ivy Bridal bow back maxi dress

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This Hope & Ivy bridal dress from ASOS is totally Rock My Wedding approved. The plunging neckline, pearl detailing and statement bow on the back makes this dress completely unforgettable. The low back is sexy but sophisticated!

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Shoulder Wedding Bows

We love nothing more than seeing a sleeveless wedding dress finished with a shoulder bow. Delicate chiffon or tulle bows skimming the shoulders or an elegantly structured bow grazing the shoulder..just perfection. Take a look at these real brides below for some truly beautiful inspiration. 

x REVOLVE April Dress ELLIATT

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The Revolve dress is a beautiful one-shoulder mini dress with a tulle bow accent detail on the shoulder for a bold but feminine look. Made in a blush pink and white jacquard fabric, this dress is perfect for spring and summer!

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ELSIE Made With Love 

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With delicate detachable bows and romantic, rich lace, the Elsie is perfect for the feminine bride. The illusion tulle sides and stunning train add a subtle touch of drama against the classic, fitted skirt silhouette by Recommended Supplier, Made With Love

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Ribbon Wedding Bows

Being able to tie your own bow gives you the opportunity to keep your loops and ribbon the same length or opt for a longer trailing ribbon. Either way, you control the style and tightness ensuring you have maximum comfort and personalisation on how it looks. We love this cross over design where the ribbon is so long it reaches the floor.

Headpiece Wedding Bows

We're not one to shy away from a wedding hair accessory. Be that a bridal crown, hair vine or headband. We say clip them in, pop them on your head and stand tall. In fact, the bigger the better like this giant bow headband. If you want something with more of a personal touch, why not get your hair bow customised with some embroidery? It's the little things we love the best. 

Oversized Bow Hair Clip

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Give your hair a cutesy finish with this oversized satin bow from Urban Outfitters. With delicate ribbon styling and a clip that goes in easily, you just can't go wrong!

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Pearl Bride Hair Bow

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We've got this beaded pearl bow you won’t ever want to take off from Recommended Supplier, Six Stories. It's the prettiest hair accessory for your upcoming hen party or evening reception.

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Veil Wedding Bows

There are a lot more styles than you think when it comes to wedding veils. So many in fact we've put together an ultimate guide to wedding veils. (You're welcome.) Bow wedding veils are so hot off the press they haven't even made it onto our guide yet. But, our talented Recommended Accessories supplier, Rebecca Anne Designs, is ahead of the game and has featured two of her stylish designs in editorial shoots we've shared. We can't get enough!

RIBBON BOW VEIL GIGI & OLIVE

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This Ribbon Bow Veil from Gigi & Olive is so cute. If it's good enough for Sophie Habboo it's good enough for us! This veil is perfect for a bride who wants a lovely twist on something classic. 

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PEARL BOW VEIL Liberty in Love

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For the modern bride, this pearl bridal hair accessory promises to capture hearts and make a statement! Crafted from ivory tulle with delicate pearls, it's sure to add an air of romance to your special day.

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Shoe Wedding Bows

We absolutely love it when a bride wears killer wedding shoes and you see them peeping out from under her wedding dress as she walks. Especially if they are in a statement orange or gold. We're seeing more bows added to the heels and ankle straps of shoes too, which look great with short and midi-length dresses. And, what's perfect about all of the bow wedding shoes featured below, they are all so stylish you can wear them on your wedding day and beyond. 

White Satin Organza Bow Court Heels

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These organza bow detail bridal shoes from Quiz are oh-so-elegant with a pointed toe and a satin finish. The bows are placed at the heel of the shoe for more of a fun and playful vibe. 

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ORGANZA STRAPS Charlotte Mills

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Add the ultimate finishing touch to your Charlotte Mills shoes with these delicate ivory organza straps. Tied up in a perfect bow, these silky soft organza ribbons are giving us total Cinderella vibes. 

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Bridal Party Wedding Bows

Wedding bows aren't just for the bride, they look great worn by your bridal party too. Keep them big and puffy like this entourage of flower girls, or in a contrasting fabric like this bridesmaid in a pink chiffon dress. And, bow ties aren't just for balls and black-tie events. Lots more grooms and groomsmen are choosing bow ties over, cravats and traditional ties. We've seen wooden bow tiesmetal bow ties, and floral. The possibilities are endless.

Bow Wedding Decor and Cakes

Bows aren't just perfect for your wedding fashion, they're also an elegant choice for your decor! There's something so bridal about bows that make them perfect for chair back decor. If you don't want to decorate every single chair in your reception, just decorate the ones on the top table. Likewise, for your ceremony, you could just do them on the first and last rows or just on the ones you'd like to reserve for immediate family and your wedding party. Plus, they make simplistic but beautiful decor on cakes too! A perfect slice of deliciousness all wrapped up in a bow.

All dressed in love and bows! Bows are the perfect finishing touch for everything. If in doubt, add a bow!


We often see wedding trends come and go, but we think with all this inspiration and variety, wedding bows are here to stay. If you're searching for more wedding trends, then you should take a look at our pearl wedding trend. We think pearls and bows just go hand in hand they're a bride's best friend. Search our Recommended supplier directory now for lots of bridal designers and boutiques ready to make all your wedding bow dreams come true.

Leah Blundell

Written by Leah Blundell

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