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Marcy Castelgrande Lee/Courtesy of Jenny By Jenny Yoo

A Cool-Girl’s Take on Wedding Dresses for a Courthouse Ceremony

Your photos are bound to be iconic in one of these.

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I’ve never been sure if I want to get married, but I have always known that if I do, it won’t be a traditional occasion. All that stress, effort, and MONEY...just to feed my second cousin’s boyfriend? No, thank you. If you’re like me—technically, you’re way ahead of me; I don’t even have a romantic prospect—you fancy yourself as more of a laidback bride. But that doesn’t have to equate to “boring” by any means. Au contraire, I rounded up 15 impeccable (if I do say so) dresses for a courthouse wedding that will make any conventional bride reconsider her choices—respectfully, of course.

It doesn’t matter if you’re working with a rushed timeline, tight budget, or impossible in-laws; whatever your reason may be for saying “I do” in a more casual setting, it’s still your special day even if it doesn’t look like everyone else’s. Treat it as such. You deserve to feel like the most show-stopping bride in the world. And, if my girl math is correct, all that money you’ll save on the wedding itself just means you have more to spend on your outfit. That’s a good enough reason for me. Ahead, find the most stylish and elegant courthouse wedding dresses. You’re going to make a gorgeous bride.

Silk Column

Reformation Oren Silk Dress

Oren Silk Dress

Nothing feels more fanciful than a neck scarf, right?

Subtle Bling

Gucci Long Silk Dress with Crystal Horsebit

Long Silk Dress with Crystal Horsebit

If you don’t want to celebrate your nuptials in a logo-emblazoned dress, I totally understand that. But this crystal-covered horsebit, on the other hand, is a no-brainer.

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Open Back

LPA Sarita Mini Dress

Sarita Mini Dress

Two things ladies love: an open back and a big-ass bow.

Amazon Gem

Rodarte Silk Crepe Bias Dress With Velvet Bows

Silk Crepe Bias Dress With Velvet Bows

Kendall Jenner wore this dress once, and it’s lived rent-free in my mind ever since.

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Button Up

Bardot Destene V-Neck Hourglass Tailored Mini Dress

Destene V-Neck Hourglass Tailored Mini Dress

A mini hemline is so darling for a summer wedding—and not an option for most brides who have traditional weddings. Leave the fussy trains to them and show some leg instead, just because you can.

Statement Piece

Magda Butrym Strapless Sculptural Mini Dress

Strapless Sculptural Mini Dress

In case you missed it, Alix Earle wore this for the Kentucky Derby and looked incredible.

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Long Sleeves

Helsa The Heavy Crepe Suit Dress

The Heavy Crepe Suit Dress

Oh, Helsa, you really do have my heart. This look is so chic I can hardly stand it.

Asymmetric

Roksanda Bridal Maite Draped Caped Midi Dress

Bridal Maite Draped Caped Midi Dress

Every side is your good side, especially in an asymmetrical dress like this one from Roksanda.

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Ultra Playful

Cult Gaia Shannon Dress

Shannon Dress

My own sister wore this for her after-party, and it was so dang fun. (The dress, that is, not the party. The party was just so-so.)

Short Sleeve

Christoper Esber Fusion Ruched Tee Gown

Fusion Ruched Tee Gown

In my heart of hearts, I think I would be a Christopher Esber bride, should that day ever come for me.

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Something Blue

Sau Lee Bryn Dress

Bryn Dress

What if you were the “something blue”? It’s your day, and if you don’t want to wear white, don’t.

Reversible

Bode Claret Gown

Claret Gown

This dress can be worn with the deep-V in the front or in the back, so if you prefer a high neckline and upper-arm coverage, this is the one for you.

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Jumpsuit

Mango Combined Strapless Jumpsuit

Combined Strapless Jumpsuit

For the truly high fashion bride, this option A) lets you wear pants (huge win), and B) plays into the layered skirt trend.

Embellished Florals

Clio Peppiatt Strapless Embellished Stretch-Crepe Gown

Strapless Embellished Stretch-Crepe Gown

Clio Peppiatt does some of the most stunning embellished dresses I’ve ever seen, like this strapless column dress.

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Iconic Bodice

Vivienne Westwood Sunday Draped Cotton and Silk Midi Dress

Sunday Draped Cotton and Silk Midi Dress

Getting married in Vivienne Westwood just sounds like a fashion girl’s dream come true.

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