Dua Lipa Just Confirmed It: 2026 Brides Are Ditching Traditional Veils for This Unexpected Accessory
Here comes the bride, all dressed in Schiaparelli.
Over the weekend, singer Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner tied the knot during an intimate ceremony in London, where the pair are based, ahead of their star-studded summer 2026 wedding.
While her couture wedding suit, designed Schiaparelli's Creative Director, Daniel Roseberry certainly turned heads, it was what sat atop it that sparked the most conversation on social media. Instead of a traditional cathedral veil, Lipa opted for a sculptural bridal hat to wear to her civil ceremony at the Old Marylebone Town Hall, a staple for chic British couples saying 'I do." Dua Lipa's wedding hat, and her choice to skip the traditional bridal headwear fixings, is a welcome one—after all, the singer is known for her fashion-forward choices that feel equal parts Hollywood glamor and It-girl-esque.
Dua Lipa's bridal hat arrives at a moment where brides around the world are skipping traditional veils all together thanks to a rise in micro-weddings, city-hall elopements, and four-day festivities in a far-flung, international destination. Sure, your grandmother's veil might have charm and character, but chances are, it might not fit your exact style in 2026.
Across runways and bridal collections this past New York Bridal Week, statement headwear has emerged as a chic alternative to the classic veil from brands like Ellie Saab, Alexandra Grecco, and Galia Lahav. Pillbox hats, wide-brim silhouettes and dramatic fascinators are offering a fresh way to amp up bridal wardrobes while making a memorable entrance as you walk down the aisle—or, in Dua Lipa's case, down to the courthouse.
"Brides are expressing more interest in headdresses—crowns, tiaras, beaded 1920's cloches—all things that aren't veils," Lizzie Wheeler, founder behind vintage bridal shop Studio Dorothy told Who What Wear. "The biggest trend this year is definitely hats for the courthouse. There's lots of girls looking for pillboxes in particular," Wheeler added. There's a strong theory in particular, though: as a brides wedding wardrobe expands due to the increasing number of events like welcome parties, engagement celebrations, or destination bachelorettes, Wheeler suggests brides are leaning more into looks that don't require a traditional veil. "Brides are taking an increasingly editorial approach to their weddings from all angles—that means an increase in head-to-toe looks."
The hat-forward style isn't entirely new. Legions of chic brides that came before Dua Lipa have opted for bridal hats in lieu of the traditional veil. Fashion icons like Bianca Jagger and Amal Clooney have also opted for wide-brimmed styles for their special days. We also can't forget the chic bride in The Parent Trap who opted for a bridal top hat to wear with her Elizabeth James gown. That's capital F fashion, if you ask me.
For brides drawn to fashion's more unconventional side, the appeal is obvious. A hat delivers all the impact of a veil, but with a stronger point of view. If Dua Lipa's bridal look is any indication, the accessory is poised to become one of 2026's defining wedding trends. Shop the best bridal hats, below.
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