The best maternity wedding dresses for every trimester

If the phrase 'slinky bias-cut silk' makes your pulse quicken, the Reformation Pernille is everything you're picturing. The champagne-toned silk slips over the body with a V-neck and adjustable ribbon tie straps, which means you can loosen the fit as a bump grows without losing the lean silhouette. It photographs beautifully. That price, for real silk, is also quietly impressive.

Nobody's Child has made a genuinely persuasive case for under-£200 bridal dressing with the Eira. The strapless ivory satin has a structured A-line shape that flares from the hip, which gives the illusion of a traditional bridal silhouette without any of the boning that would make it uncomfortable across a pregnancy. The sale price makes it the smartest pick on this list if you're looking for bump-friendly on a budget.

RIXO has been circling bridal for a while and the Natalia is the one that proves it belongs there. The satin-back silk crepe is cut with a bateau neckline and puff sleeves — which sounds fussy until you see how well it balances a bump at the front. The fabric has enough structure to skim rather than cling, and enough drape to feel effortless. Worth every penny if silk crepe is your love language.

The Taller Marmo Astor is the dress for the bride who has done her research and arrived at a very specific conclusion: no tulle, no boning, no fuss. The halterneck crêpe cady gown falls in an uninterrupted column with a trailing neck tie that photographs like a Helmut Newton image. The structured-but-not-tight drape makes it one of the most flattering options at this price point for a visible bump.

DEME's Alice is the dress for the bride who has decided that one sleeve is more interesting than two. The asymmetric silk falls from a single shoulder with a floor-length draped sleeve on the opposite side — an architectural detail that draws the eye up and away from the bump entirely. The column silhouette has a side slit that gives it movement without volume, and the ivory silk reads bridal without trying to be conventional about it.

Needle & Thread's Amara is the dress for brides who want the full romantic moment without committing to a traditional silhouette. The tiered tulle ruffles run from shoulder to floor in horizontal layers that skim over a bump at every angle, while the square neckline and flutter cap sleeves keep it structured at the top. The backless detail is the closer — it gives the dress an edge that the rest of the roundup doesn't have.

Galvan's Sienna is the dress that makes a midi-length feel like the most deliberate choice in the room. The halterneck satin falls in an A-line from the waist with enough flare in the skirt to move comfortably over a bump without clinging — it's the silhouette that looks composed from every angle, including the ones you can't control. The white is sharp enough to read bridal; the cut is cool enough to look like it isn't trying.

The ASOS Design bandeau is the one you buy when you want to look like you spent significantly more than £160. The ivory satin falls in a clean column with a floor-sweeping scarf detail that adds drama without adding bulk — which is exactly what you want when dressing around a bump. It's a dead ringer for dresses at three times the price, and it photographs beautifully.

Tiffany Rose has been making maternity bridal dresses long enough to know what actually works, and the Verona proves it. The lace overlay falls over an empire waist with three-quarter sleeves and a scoop neck — proportions that have been specifically engineered to sit beautifully over a bump at every trimester, not just adapted from a standard bridal cut. If you want the traditional bridal look without having to size up or compromise, this is where to start.