As a wedding photographer working across New York, New England, Paris and Luxembourg, I’m often documenting celebrations where refinement carries more presence than excess.
Recently, I was asked by the Los Angeles Times to share my perspective on the return of the slip dress, a style originally popularized by Carolyn Bessett Kennedy and now experiencing renewed interest through the series Love Story.
Featured in the LA Times
I was honored to have my perspective quoted in this LA Times feature:
With my recent weddings, I see this shift clearly. Brides are moving away from heavily structured gowns toward silhouettes that allow them to move naturally, to feel at ease, and to stay present throughout the day. The result is a kind of elegance that doesn’t need to announce itself.
Emulating the Distinctive Slip Wedding Dress Popularized by Carolyn Bessette Kennedy
A recent wedding at the Riverside Yacht Club embodied this sensibility. My bride, Megan, wore a Danielle Frankel gown influenced by the iconic slip silhouette made famous by Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, allowing her to move through the entire day with complete ease. From the first moments of the morning through the final hours of the celebration, that comfort shaped how naturally everything unfolded and how present she was within the experience.
Her images throughout this post reflect that same approach. Clean lines, considered fabric, and a softness in movement allow each moment to unfold naturally. Because of that, the photographs carry a quiet depth and a sense of ease that feels true to the day.
Away from the public eye, Carolyn Bessette & John F. Kennedy Jr. married on September 21st, 1996, at the secluded First African Baptist Church on Cumberland Island in Georgia, with 40 guests in attendance. The humble one-room church holds just eight wooden pews. The church is also absent of modern amenities such as electricity and air conditioning, and the couple’s wedding ceremony is reported to have taken place by the glow of flickering candlelight. Though their choice of location was secretive and unexpected, the incredibly intimate experience allowed the couple to center the day around their love for each other.
The renewed fascination with Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s wedding dress, designed by Narciso Rodriguez for her wedding to John F. Kennedy Jr., offers a cultural reference point. At a time when bridal fashion leaned heavily toward volume and embellishment, her choice of a silk slip dress marked a clear departure, one that continues to influence modern bridal design.
Today, that influence is less about replication and more about perspective. Designers are creating gowns that prioritize cut, fabric, and proportion over ornamentation, aligning with a broader movement toward quiet luxury in fashion and in weddings.
And in practice, that choice changes everything. When a bride is not adjusting or managing her dress, she is free to engage fully with the people around her. The gestures are more natural, the connections more visible, and the images carry a sense of ease that cannot be staged.
What began as a fashion-forward decision now feels like a return to something more essential. The modern bride isn’t chasing a trend; she’s choosing a way of dressing that feels natural, assured, and entirely her own.
Working with Melani Lust Photography in NYC, CT, Paris & Beyond
If you’re planning a wedding in New York, Connecticut, Cape Cod, Paris, Luxembourg, or beyond, and feel drawn to this refined approach, I would love to connect. I photograph multi-day celebrations with a focus on atmosphere, emotion, and a strong sense of place.
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