These Casual Brides Will Make You Want to Throw On Pants and Head to City Hall

The longer the coronavirus pandemic lasts, keeping people at home sheltering in place, the more holiday celebrations, calendar-worthy gatherings, and, yes, even weddings will get postponed and canceled. Should a change in wedding plans be top of mind right now? Probably not for everyone, but for couples who have been planning their nuptials, there is a sense of loss that sets in following the initial panic: "Oh, my wedding day is going to be much different than I thought it would be."

"Some very bold and very iconic ladies tied the knot with black tie attire completely out of the equation."

Carolina Herrera invited people from the bridal community to get together for a Zoom meeting, led by celebrity and bridal stylist Micaela Erlanger, who I personally visited the Carolina Herrera New York showroom with last season. As a community, the panel discussed the general mood (Love isn't canceled!) and shifting nature of the industry. Camille Russler, owner of Ever After Boutique, was tapped specifically to dole out advice for brides about wedding dresses that may or may not come to fruition exactly as expected.

"For brides thinking about their wedding dress saying, 'Well, I just want to get married. I just want to have a civil ceremony or I just want to get married in my backyard because I love my fiancé and I want to have a wedding,' do it. Have the ceremony and wear a beautiful little white dress. Have your intimate wedding and have that memory. You can reschedule your big event with your dream dress if you want to," said Camille, who maintained a practical yet sympathetic perspective throughout the conference call.

Camille got me thinking about women throughout history who I have admired for being a lot more laid-back about their ceremonies, down to their fashion mentality. Some very bold and very iconic ladies, from Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot to Cindy Crawford and Amal Clooney, tied the knot with "black tie" attire completely out of the equation. Their weddings were simple; their outfit choices felt comfortable and painted a picture of who they were. More recently, we have Emily Ratajkowski, who chose a marigold Zara pantsuit, and Julia Garner, who tapped Danielle Frankel for ribbed matching coordinates, both young stars wearing the looks proudly to City Hall. Whether or not they hosted another event later on — yes, I know about Amal's lace Oscar de la Renta ballgown — the most official moment of all was not about glamour.

If you're a bride whose wedding day is affected by the COVID-19 crisis and you still want to get married on your upcoming wedding date, you can make that happen, even if it doesn't look exactly the way you thought it would. And even if your date is not on the books anytime soon, perhaps you'll consider a bridal ensemble that would fit in right beside the rest of the clothes in your closet after you see the historic examples I've gathered ahead. Your look will still be special — not because it's well-kept in a garment bag to be unwrapped in a bridal suite somewhere, but because it feels like you.

Emily Ratajkowski Wore a Yellow Zara Suit For Her Wedding to Sebastian Bear-McClard

Emily Ratajkowski and Sebastian Bear-McClard on Their Wedding Day

Emily held a small bouquet of marigold flowers.

Julia Garner Wore a Danielle Frankel Matching Set to City Hall
Andy Barron

Julia Garner Wore a Danielle Frankel Matching Set to City Hall

The Ozark actress tapped bridal designer Danielle Frankel for a comfortable, frilly ribbed pants set to wear to her City Hall wedding to Mark Foster in 2019.

Mark Foster and Julia Garner on Their Wedding Day
Andy Barron

Mark Foster and Julia Garner on Their Wedding Day

Julia completed her outfit with an ivory bouquet and a pair of crisp white pumps, which she showed off in this photo for photographer Andy Barron.

Kristen Bell Wore a Black T-Shirt For Her Wedding to Dax Shepard

She accessorized with an elaborate bib necklace for the couple's visit to Beverley Hills courthouse.

Keira Knightley Wore a Tulle Rodarte Dress and Chanel Jacket as a Bride
X17 Online

Keira Knightley Wore a Tulle Rodarte Dress and Chanel Jacket as a Bride

She accessorized with Chanel ballet flats, dark wayfarer sunglasses, and a dainty little flower crown when she married James Righton in France.

Cindy Crawford Wore a Lace Embroidered Galliano Minidress on the Beach

For her wedding to Rande Gerber, Cindy went for a beachy sheath that hit above the knee. She later called the dress "exactly what she wanted."

Bianca Jagger Wore a White Bridal Skirt Suit For Her Wedding
Getty | Express

Bianca Jagger Wore a White Bridal Skirt Suit For Her Wedding

Bianca married Mick Jagger in 1971 in St. Tropez wearing a midi length skirt, lightweight blazer, espadrilles, and wide-brim hat.

Mia Farrow Wore a Double-Breasted Jacket and Skirt For Her Vegas Wedding
Getty | Bettmann

Mia Farrow Wore a Double-Breasted Jacket and Skirt For Her Vegas Wedding

Farrow and Frank Sinatra wed at The Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 1966. Mia's outfit was simple: a double-breasted, three-quarter sleeve jacket, matching A-line skirt, and glove pumps.

Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow on Their Wedding Day
Getty | Bettmann

Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow on Their Wedding Day

Brigitte Bardot Wore a Casual Gingham Dress as a Bride
Getty | Keystone-France

Brigitte Bardot Wore a Casual Gingham Dress as a Bride

She married Jacques Charrier in France in 1959, styling this summer dress with little kitten heels.

Raquel Welch Wore a '70s-Style Crochet Minidress as a Bride
Getty | Keystone-France

Raquel Welch Wore a '70s-Style Crochet Minidress as a Bride

She married Patrick Curtis in France in 1967 at Paris's City Hall. She wore simple strappy shoes and arrived in a furry coat.

Audrey Hepburn Wore a Funnel-Neck Givenchy Dress For Her Wedding
Getty | Getty Images

Audrey Hepburn Wore a Funnel-Neck Givenchy Dress For Her Wedding

When Audrey married her second husband, Andrea Dotti, Hubert de Givenchy designed her pale pink dress, which she wore with tights, flats, and a head scarf. It certainly wasn't the only time Hepburn wore trusted friend and designer Givenchy.