If you want to wear a traditional Mexican wedding gown on your wedding day, you can choose from a variety of beautiful styles. This variety is due to the rich diversity of civilizations that influenced Mexico's development.
Traditional Styles Made Modern
Traditional wedding dress styles with modern appeal are an option for today's brides. Check out these traditional Mexican wedding dresses for sale to get ideas and inspiration.
Indigenous Influenced Styles
The Aztecs, Mayans, and other indigenous women of ancient Mexico wore brightly colored skirts and blouses made of cotton or cactus-based textiles. You can still see traditional colors and fabrics in current Mexican clothing styles, with their bright embroidery, use of color, knotted details, and use of natural, cool fabrics.
- The Huipil wedding dress offered by Aida Coronado reflects traditional Mexican styles with its use of all-cotton fabrics and embroidery detail. At about $240, it will also not break your budget. It would look great on the sand or at a casual backyard wedding and is designed to fit figures from small through extra large.
- The Pajaritos Del Amor Mexican wedding dress, which is hand embroidered and offered by Aida Coronado, reflects the Mexican tradition of using bright colors in clothing and would look great at an outdoor wedding. The multi-colored flowers have a bohemian look, and it has a lovely lace addtion to the skirt with ruffles at the hemline. It comes in sizes XXS through 6XL (perfect for brides looking for a Mexican wedding dress in a plus size) for about $790.
- Available from The Frida's Closet, this lovely off-the-shoulder white wedding dress has Mexican influences and features pretty crochet lace inserts throughout. Find if in sized small or medium for $250.
- The Frida's Closet also carries a unique strapless dress with bright floral embroidery against a lightweight white satin. The dress design has a corset top and a-line skirt, but the Mexican influence really shines through with the embroidery. It comes in sizes medium through XL for $300, but can be custom-ordered for other sizes.
- Designer Claudio Toffano offers exquisite hand-embroidered wedding dresses inspired by the art, history, and culture of Mexico. You can order a dress through Spina Bridal by appointment. Claudia Toffano embroidered Mexican wedding gowns are custom and start at $4,000.
Try a traditional Huipil dress pattern inspired by Frida Kahlo and done by Alice & Co. Patterns if you want to make and hand-embroider your own wedding dress that reflects ancient Mexican dress styles. It features either a round or sqaure neck and includes ideas and instructions for adding your own personal design details, including ribbons. The pattern can be downloaded for free. For an informal wedding, the Mexican Maria Folk Dress pattern is a shorter option (available for $8). Siren offers free embroidery patterns to download, including the Mexican-inspired designs like Floral Sprig.
Spanish Influence
The Spanish have influenced the styles of traditional Mexican wedding dresses over the centuries more than any other culture. Dresses derived from Spanish influence often contain flamenco, salsa, and matador style-features. For example, wedding dresses with layered ruffles and bolero jackets reflect Spanish traditional clothing styles. These dresses are perfect for a large, elaborate or luxurious wedding. Even some of the chicest designers are offering up dresses with Spanish influences.
- The Flamenco Perla Wedding Dress contains a fitted bodice and flamenco-inspired skirt. Made with Chantilly lace and rhinestone embellishments, the dress costs about $950. It is made in Spain and has heart-like neckline with lace overlay on the bodice. Sizes are made to measure (sizes 6 through 16), so check their charts before ordering.
- This red and white Bridal Flamenco Bata de Cola dress has white lace and red ruffles, and reflects traditional Spanish influences on Mexican culture through its having a fitted, elongated bodice and ruffled, flamenco-style skirt. It contains a detachable train with four large ruffles. The price of this dress is about $1000. Dresses are custom made to your size specifications.
- The Omar is a stunning strapless wedding dress from Rosa Clara in a ballgown style. It has a flamenco-inspired skirt style and fitted bodice with a sweetheart neckline. It can also be worn with the matching bolero. For prices and availability, use the store locator to find a bridal shop that carries Rosa Clara.
To make your own flamenco dress, consider using this Folkwear 4-ruffle flamenco dress pattern. It costs $20, and is designed to have a fitted bodice that begins to flair into flamenco ruffles just below the hip. Make it bridal by choosing a white fabric and adding a mantilla veil.
Bolero Jackets
Bolero jackets are usually sold separately from wedding dresses. They are often made of lace.
- The off-the-shoulder lace bolero, which is sold by Tulip Bridal for $99, can be paired with simple or more elaborate gowns. It has three-quarter sleeves and hits at the waist. It comes in sizes small through extra large.
- This all-lace bolero sells for about $60 from Davis's Bridal. It covers the shoulders completely, ends just below the bust line, and has short sleeves.
Each bolero jacket is unique, so you'll want to look at many styles before you decide which one is going to suit your dress the best. Tulip Bridal has an excellent selection with prices ranging from around $30 to $150.
Mantilla Veils
Another instance of Spanish influences on traditional Mexican wedding attire is the mantilla. The mantilla is a chapel-length veil typically edged with lace. It falls in a single layer from the bride's head and is not gathered or layered, as are most European and American veils.
- Tulip Bridal offers this lace-edged mantilla for about $70. The lace on the veil is elaborate, and the veil's longest length hits just below the waist.
- The Mantilla Company offers this mantilla veil that is edged with lace and costs around $360. The longest point of the veil's graduated length hits at the fingertips.
You can also create your own mantilla using this pattern offered by Butterick. The pattern has layouts for multiple types of veils, including one that looks like a mantilla, and costs about $9. The mantilla veil pattern has a graduated hem, with the longest portion hitting at the waistline.
Church Influence
Offered by Mon Cheri Bridals, the embroidered sheath gown contains three-quarter sleeves. The dress' multi-tiered skirt is reminiscent of traditional Mexican cultural influences, thereby combining church and cultural influences. It comes in sizes extra 0 through double extra 26W.Another influence on Mexican wedding dresses is the modesty required by the Catholic Church. If you plan to marry in a Catholic church, you will want to dress with respect for the sacredness of a religious ceremony. Traditional Mexican wedding gowns for church or cathedral weddings usually have three-quarter length sleeves and a high neckline.
- The dress offered by Casablanca Bridal reflects church influence in its full-length lace sleeves and flamenco-inspired skirt. Add a lace shawl to cover your back during the church ceremony, and it's perfect. This dress is available in sizes 2 through 28.
To make your own wedding dress, consider this Butterick pattern, which costs about $12. The pattern is for a long-sleeved, high-necked wedding dress. The dress' modest neckline and sleeves make it perfect to wear in a Catholic church, while the lace embellishments on its sleeves reflect Spanish influences. Although the back of this dress is made of lace, you can easily modify the dress to use a non-revealing fabric.
Your Traditional Mexican-Inspired Wedding Dress
Mexican wedding fashion was influenced by various cultures. Many of the influences remain today, making it easy for you to wear a wedding dress that pays homage to Mexican culture.
