Backless and low back wedding dresses are becoming increasingly popular in the world of bridal fashion thanks to their ability to work with an array of silhouettes, suit a variety of body shapes and wow as you walk down the aisle. With so many benefits, there’s no wonder Ariana Grande chose a backless Vera Wang dress for her wedding to Dalton Gomez last year.

Whether you’re seeking a keyhole, necklace, or entirely exposed back wedding dress, our award-winning wedding dress designer Veni Infantino has created a selection of backless wedding dresses to suit every bride. 

With so many styles to choose from, we’ve scoured our Ronald Joyce and Victoria Jane collections to bring you our 15 firm favourites.

Illusion back wedding dresses 

If you’re not quite brave enough to flash any skin, but still seek a wedding dress with breath-taking back detail, three illusion back wedding dress styles that deliver are 18552, 18620 and 69404.

Style 18620 is a striking lace wedding dress with a beautiful lingerie-inspired illusion back, feminine fit and flare skirt and sweetheart neckline complete with intricate plunging detail. Its corset-style bodice, lace detailing and delicate straps make it the perfect choice for the most feminine bride.

Brides seeking a more covered back with fabulous detail will delight in Vincenza, style 18552, a gorgeous A-line gown made from chiffon, jersey and tulle. Floral lace appliques adorn the beautiful tulle illusion back while bridal covered buttons cascade down to the hem. 

Similar in style but with more striking appliques is Celeste, style 69404, a modern crepe fishtail wedding dress with a contemporary sweetheart neckline and beaded illusion back profile complete with neck to hemline bridal buttons. We’re massive fans and think it’d suit any bride.

Keyhole and racer back wedding gowns

In the world of backless wedding dresses, keyhole and racer styles are regarded as the hybrid option, artfully revealing just enough skin to be regarded as backless while providing a comforting amount of coverage for brides who don’t want to bare all. Four styles that provide the perfect blend of backless and covered are 18603, 69406, 69415 and 69604.

Our first style,18603, is a fabulous racer back fit and flare wedding dress from our Victoria Jane wedding collection featuring a plunging v-neckline, lace applique racer back, striking button fastening and a sweeping scalloped lace illusion train. With equally breath-taking back and front profiles, we think it’s going to be a popular summer style for social media influencers who want a picture-perfect lace dress from all angles.

Similar in style is uber popular Carlotta wedding dress, style 69415, a fabulous fishtail gown with an exquisite lace keyhole bodice and matching halter neckline.  A contrasting tulle keyhole back, bridal buttons and beautiful bustle detail create a striking back profile while lace appliques complete the romantic look. We think it's perfect for the fashion-forward bride who wants a romantic lace style with a contemporary twist. 

Next in focus is Cornelia, style 69406, an elegant capped sleeve sheath wedding dress featuring an exquisite illusion keyhole back complete with beautiful bridal buttons to the derrière. Lace appliques and a puddle train complete the stunning look, adding luxurious touches suited to brides who appreciate the finer things in life. 

Our final favourite is Fortuna, style 69604, a romantic fishtail wedding dress with a round, beaded illusion neckline and striking bold lace appliques. Keyhole illusion back detail, sheer straps, a bridal bustle, and ruffle-edged sweeping train create a stunning back profile that would suit any bride.

Wedding dresses with necklace backs

Necklace back wedding dresses are perfect for brides who want to show more back than an illusion and keyhole allow but aren’t confident to wear a completely backless wedding dress. Plus, they deliver exquisite detail that’s sure to wow as you walk down the aisle. Five styles we love are 69009, 69558, 69584, 69718 and 69725.

First in focus and suited to the most feminine bride is style 69718, a figure-hugging floral fit and flare wedding dress with a lace applique illusion bodice, sweetheart neckline, delicate beaded straps and a stunning open necklace back. We think it’s perfect for a body-confident bride who wants to exude elegance and love the ivory/nude colour option for modern boho brides.

Featuring a similar necklace back but with broader shoulder straps, a scalloped v-neckline and fishtail skirt is Erin, style 69009, a romantic lace fishtail wedding dress with an exquisite flapper style illusion back. The beautiful, draped back beading exudes vintage touches - perfect for vintage-loving brides.

Our next two styles feature beautiful, buttoned necklace backs on fashion-forward designs. Although they’re technically illusion backs, the beautiful button detailing sits on nude-coloured tulle that perfectly mimics skin, offering minimal coverage compared to traditional applique illusion backs. 

Suited to elegant boho brides, is style 69725, a sophisticated, 70s-inspired fit and flare wedding dress with stunning 3D floral detailing, long fluted sleeves and a striking v-neckline. A delicately buttoned illusion necklace back and lace and tulle puddle train create a truly breath-taking back profile that’s worthy of any Instagram grid. 

Equally fashion-forward while exuding high-octane glamour is Derina, style 69584, a striking feather skirt wedding dress with a long sleeved lace bodice, plunging v-neckline and stunning necklace back.  Available in black, ivory and white colour options, we think it’d look fabulous on an array of glamorous brides. 

Our final necklace back favourite is Drusiana, style 69558, a distinctive lace and tulle fit and flare wedding dress with a halter neck, plunging keyhole detail and a flapper-style beaded necklace back. Bold lace appliques and a bridal bustle complete the striking style which is perfectly suited to summer ceremonies.

Backless and low back wedding dresses

Bold body-confident brides are spoilt for choice when it comes to backless wedding dresses that show off every arch and curve but three contrasting styles that stand out for us are 18555, 18607 and 69719.

Our first backless dress is Vera,  style 18555, a distinctive chiffon A-line design that’s perfect for the modern Greek goddess thanks to a plunging illusion neckline, matching sheer side panels, and striking open back. Statement shoulder cape detail and a sparkle beaded belt complete the style. We think it’d be the perfect pick for an outdoor summer wedding.

Long sleeve wedding dress fans seeking a backless dress will love style 18607, an exquisite sequin and lace fit and flare wedding dress with a plunging v-neckline, long lace applique sleeves, an open back and derriere button detailing. A sweeping train completes the look, creating a stunning back profile that’s picture-perfect.

Finally, fashion-conscious brides looking for an on-trend wedding dress that flashes some skin while remaining both feminine and stylish will appreciate style 69719, a tulle and lace fit and flare dress with a delicate bow waistband and stunning open back profile complete with statement tulle bow shoulder detailing and a bridal bustle. A glitter tulle overskirt also provides an alternative A-line silhouette that's perfect for effortlessly changing the look from day to evening. 

We hope you found this blog on backless and low back wedding dresses informative and inspiring.

If you’d like to view more backless styles, you can browse our whole wedding dress collection and filter by back detail.

You can also find our latest wedding dress styles and real bride photos on Instagram and Facebook. 

Written by Lucinda Bell.