Autumn and winter weddings are always beautifully elegant, and the 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most stylish yet.
For Mothers of the Bride and Groom, this is the perfect time to embrace richer colours, luxurious fabrics and beautifully structured silhouettes. Whether you prefer timeless elegance or something a little more fashion-forward, the new Autumn/Winter collections offer stunning options for every style and personality.
At Nicola Ross, our Autumn/Winter occasionwear collections begin arriving from mid-June onwards, and we're excited to announce that the highly anticipated Veni Infantino Autumn/Winter Collection is arriving soon.
Here are the biggest trends we're expecting to see this season.
1. Rich Jewel Colours
Deep, elegant colours are always popular for autumn and winter weddings.
Expect to see beautiful shades of emerald green, berry, plum, burgundy, teal and rich navy. These colours photograph beautifully, feel seasonally appropriate and offer a sophisticated alternative to softer summer tones.
Jewel shades are especially flattering for Mother of the Bride and Groom outfits, adding depth, confidence and timeless elegance.
Featured Look: The stunning emerald green draped Veni Infantino dress showcases one of the season's strongest colour trends. Elegant, sophisticated and guaranteed to stand out for all the right reasons.
2. Statement Bows & Dramatic Details
One of the most exciting trends arriving for Autumn/Winter 2026 is the return of statement detailing.
Large bows, sculptural draping and architectural design elements are appearing across many of the newest collections, adding a couture-inspired feel to occasionwear.
These details create impact while still remaining elegant and refined.
Featured Look: The striking berry off-the-shoulder gown with oversized shoulder bow perfectly captures this trend. It's dramatic, modern and effortlessly elegant.
3. Elegant Sleeves & Coverage
Sleeves continue to be one of the most requested features in occasionwear.
For Autumn/Winter 2026, expect to see soft chiffon sleeves, cape-style sleeves, sheer lace sleeves and beautifully structured sleeve detailing.
They provide coverage while maintaining an elegant and feminine silhouette.
Featured Look: The navy lace Veni Infantino gown combines delicate lace sleeves with a structured skirt, creating a timeless Mother of the Bride look.
4. Cape Dresses Continue Their Rise
Cape dresses have quickly become one of the most sought-after styles for modern Mothers of the Bride and Groom.
The flowing movement of a cape creates drama and elegance while providing flattering coverage through the arms and shoulders.
Many women love the confidence these styles bring.
Featured Look: The stunning teal cape dress demonstrates exactly why this trend continues to grow in popularity season after season.
5. Sophisticated Neutrals & Ivory Tones
While rich jewel colours dominate the season, sophisticated ivory and neutral tones continue to grow in popularity.
Many modern weddings embrace softer colour palettes, allowing mothers to wear lighter shades without feeling overdressed.
The key is choosing luxurious fabrics and elegant styling.
Featured Look: This beautiful ivory Veni Infantino design paired with statement millinery creates an incredibly chic and contemporary Mother of the Bride look.
6. Statement Hats & Headpieces
The right hat or headpiece can completely transform an outfit.
For Autumn/Winter 2026 we're seeing a move towards larger sculptural hats, elegant fascinators and dramatic headpieces that create a polished and luxurious finish.
Rather than matching perfectly, today's styling focuses on creating a coordinated and sophisticated overall look.
Several of the new Veni Infantino looks showcase just how powerful a carefully chosen hat can be.
7. Flattering Structure
Beautiful tailoring is always in style.
Structured waistbands, elegant draping, flattering pleats and expertly designed silhouettes are key themes throughout the new collections.
These details help create shape, define the waist and flatter the figure while remaining comfortable enough to wear all day.
It's one of the reasons Veni Infantino remains one of the most requested Mother of the Bride collections year after year.
8. Luxurious Fabrics
Autumn and winter weddings provide the perfect opportunity to embrace richer textures and luxurious fabrics.
Satin, crepe, jacquard, lace and beautifully structured occasionwear fabrics all feature heavily throughout the new collections.
The result is elegance that feels timeless rather than trend-led.
Many of the new Veni Infantino pieces combine multiple fabric textures to create depth, movement and sophistication.
When Should You Start Shopping?
For Autumn/Winter weddings, new collections begin arriving from mid-June onwards.
Because many occasionwear styles are exclusive and available in limited quantities, we always recommend shopping early. The most popular colours, sizes and styles often sell quickly once new collections arrive.
Booking an appointment ensures you receive dedicated styling advice and gives you the best chance of finding an outfit you truly love.
Book Your Appointment
Your child's wedding is one of the most special days of your life, and your outfit should make you feel confident, elegant and comfortable.
With over 30 years of occasionwear experience, our Nicola Ross team is here to help you find the perfect Mother of the Bride or Groom look for Autumn/Winter 2026.
The new Veni Infantino Autumn/Winter Collection is arriving soon, and appointments are highly recommended.
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