weddings!

The Wow Factor: 9 Showstopping Wedding Gowns

Photo: Ruven Afanador

From embroidered tulle to metallic appliqués, the season’s standout wedding gowns feature unique and unexpected details. Here, a portfolio from photographer Ruven Afanador featuring nine stunning examples, from Oscar de la Renta’s off-the-shoulder organza to Marchesa’s beaded Chantilly-lace. Click ahead for those and seven more masterworks.

Photographer: Ruven Afanador
Stylist: Rebecca Ramsey
Hair: Felix Fischer at Factory Downtown using Rich Hair Care
Makeup: Joanne Gair using Edward Bess and Swarovski
Manicure: Elena Capo at the Wall Group using Chanel
Market Editor: Lori Keong
Models: Elizabeth Redvers at Click; Terra Grantham and Iulia Cirstea at Elite

*This article appears in the Summer 2015 issue of New York Weddings.

Photo: Ruven Afanador

Strapless gown with silk tulle and organza with petal-pink underlay and beaded-lace appliqués, $6,820, and detachable train, $6,160, both by Ines Di Santo, at Bergdorf Goodman Bridal Salon. 18-karat yellow-gold ring with solitaire diamond by Tiffany & Co., price upon request. 14-karat-gold and white-baguette-diamond ring by Catbird, $320 at Catbird. Flowers by Atelier Rouge.

Photo: Ruven Afanador

Primavera of Botticelli embroidered tulle gown by Valentino, $34,900. Platinum and portrait-cut-diamond ring by Eva Fehren, price upon request. Ivory tulle elbow-length veil by Kleinfeld, $180. Leather ballet slippers by Capezio, $20, shown throughout.

Photo: Ruven Afanador

Minidress of dupioni and Alençon lace, $1,530, and overskirt, $1,530, by Blue Willow Bride by Anne Barge. Antique Indonesian metal crown headband by Little Doe, $635 at shoplatitude.com. Octillion 18-karat rose-gold ring with hexagon rose-cut diamond and diamond pavé by Eva Fehren, price upon request. 

Photo: Ruven Afanador

Deep V-neck chiffon-and-organza gown with floral and crystal appliqués by Pronovias, $5,260. Flowers by Designs by Ahn.

Photo: Ruven Afanador

Left: Spaghetti-strap gown with hand-appliqué metallic flowers by Vera Wang, price upon request. On her left hand: platinum emerald-cut solitaire diamond ring by Cartier, price upon request. On her right hand: 18-karat rose-gold and diamond ring by Single Stone, $7,200 at Greenwich Jewelers. Right: V-neck gown with hand-appliqué metallic flowers and Chantilly-lace underlay by Vera Wang, price upon request. Ballerine Solitaire platinum diamond ring with diamond band by Cartier, price upon request. Flowers by Full Aperture Floral.

Photo: Ruven Afanador

Off-the-shoulder silk gown with satin-faced organza by Oscar de la Renta, $14,990. Tulle cathedral-length veil by Kleinfeld, $300. Flowers by Gardenia Organic.

Photo: Ruven Afanador

Rose-gold embroidered tulle gown, $16,500, and rose-gold tulle veil, $460, by Monique Lhuiller. On her left hand: 6.23-carat-round-diamond basket ring in platinum by Tiffany & Co., price upon request; and 14-karat-gold and white-diamonds cage cuff ring by Jennie Kwon, $985 at Catbird. On her right hand: Ancienne 18-karat-gold and white-diamonds ring by Elisa Solomon, $2,840 at Catbird. Flowers by Full Aperture Floral.

Photo: Ruven Afanador

Beaded Chantilly-lace peplum jacket, $1,595, and strapless beaded Chantilly-lace gown with tulle overlay, $6,950, both by Marchesa at Mark Ingram Atelier. Tulle cathedral-length veil by Kleinfeld, $300.

The Wow Factor: 9 Showstopping Wedding Gowns