When I got married in Jaffa at The Lawrence, a restored Ottoman-era building with a rooftop view of the Mediterranean, I finally understood why Israeli weddings feel so different. They are loud, joyful, and gloriously unrestrained, driven more by emotion than by perfection. The music starts and never really stops, the dancing spills in every direction, and the celebration feels rooted in the mitzvah of simchat chatan v’kalla (bringing joy to the bride and groom).
That same spirit, full of movement, warmth, and personal expression, runs through Israeli bridal fashion. Over the past decade, Israel has emerged as one of the world’s most influential hubs for bridal fashion with stars like fan-favorite “Say Yes to the Dress” designer Pnina Tornei and Berta Bridal’s Berta Balilti. Israel–based designers show regularly at major bridal fashion weeks, dress celebrities and influencers, and are stocked in boutiques from New York to Paris.
What’s remarkable is the sheer range of the Israeli bridal boom: from couture powerhouses to bohemian independents, from ultra-modern minimalism to classically romantic silhouettes, and at price points that truly span the spectrum. There is no single “Israeli bridal look,” but many. Each designer reflects a different facet of Israeli life: expressive, heartfelt, and deeply individual.
Here are eight Israeli wedding gown designers who are redefining what bridal magic can look like.
Galia Lahav
It’s almost impossible to talk about the Israeli bridal industry without mentioning the powerhouse that is Galia Lahav. Her gowns have adorned celebrities like Paris Hilton, Beyoncé, Millie Bobby Brown, and Simone Biles, to name a few. A Galia Lahav bride is one who wants to make an entrance and have her own red-carpet moment. Known primarily for bridal and eveningwear, the brand’s aesthetic blends cinematic drama with glamor and meticulous craftsmanship: sculpted corsetry, intricate hand-embellishment, and fluid trains that move like they’re made for the spotlight. Galia Lahav is one of the most expensive of the Israeli wedding gown labels, with prices starting at $9,000.
Lahav herself is the child of Holocaust survivors. Her father was jailed for nine years in a Soviet prison for smuggling Jews into Israel. In 1957, Lahav and her family left Belarus for Israel, settling in Ashkelon before founding her eponymous company in Tel Aviv in 1984. In January 2017, Galia Lahav became the first Israeli brand to be accepted by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture and to present at Paris Fashion Week. Today, the brand is carried in 70 boutiques across 40 countries.
Arava Polak
For the modern, feminine bride who dreams of a wedding steeped in romance, whimsy, and soft, contemporary elegance, Arava Polak delivers. Her designs expertly blend airy, lightweight fabrics with intricate appliqué and delicate lacework, creating gowns that feel straight out of a fairytale while still looking fresh and fashion-forward.
Working out of her Haifa atelier, Polak has been crafting gowns that balance romance and refinement, each handcrafted with meticulous detail, for 12 years. In 2023, the brand expanded its reach beyond Israel and opened its first U.S. presence through an exclusive partnership with Boca Raton Bridal & Consultants, one of South Florida’s premier bridal salons, located in Boca Raton’s Mizner Park.
Chana Marelus
Many modern wedding gowns are known for showing a lot of skin, but beauty doesn’t have to mean baring it all. Every bride should feel like the best version of herself on her wedding day, whether she prefers a more daring look or something a bit more conservative. When it comes to the modest bride, one designer immediately comes to mind: Chana Marelus. In her hands, modesty isn’t a limitation; rather, it’s a defining feature. Her gowns combine elegance, artistry, and refined silhouettes that feel both modern and timeless, proving that restrained design can be just as breathtaking as any plunging neckline.
Raised in an Orthodox home in Antwerp, Belgium, Marelus moved to Israel with her family at the age of 12. Today, she runs a successful showroom in Tel Aviv and has features in British Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar under her belt (or should I say veil). With that recognition comes the freedom to design without constraints, completely on her own terms. That said, Marelus is intentional about every detail, ensuring that each gown remains tasteful and modest, revealing skin only in ways that align with her design philosophy and values.
Noa Tarlovsky
For the effortlessly cool, confident bride with a touch of unconventional flair, there’s Noa Tarlovsky. She’s a personal acquaintance of mine and genuinely one of the kindest souls, and her designs reflect that same energy: unconventional yet inviting, relaxed yet intentional, delightfully camp, and created with all genders in mind.
Tarlovsky’s aesthetic sensibility was shaped in part through her work reviving Ofnat Bracha, the fashion and accessories brand founded in 1969 by her grandparents, Ofnat and Yaacob Tarlovsky. Their Holon boutique became a home away from home for the Eastern European immigrants who settled in the area, known for its warmth, saturated color, and sense of community.
When Noa brought Ofnat Bracha back to life in 2020, she honored her grandmother’s easy, expressive style while adding her own quirky, modern twist. Her bridal line, however, is entirely her own creation — a fresh extension of her vision that blends Tel Aviv breeziness with playful, gender-inclusive design. These are gowns and suits for brides, grooms, and everyone in between who want to feel like themselves, not a character, on their wedding day.
Flora
Understated glamour and quiet sophistication define the Flora bride. In just 15 years, founder and designer Rinat Asher has built Flora into a truly international brand, with gowns available in 18 U.S. states as well as across Europe, Mexico, Australia, and Japan.
Her design philosophy centers on exquisite fabrics and impeccable construction, creating gowns that feel luxurious, sculpt the body beautifully, and achieve a perfect fit through subtle, nearly invisible structure. Every gown is designed and crafted in Flora’s main showroom and atelier in Haifa, where Asher and her team oversee each detail from sketch to final stitch.
Alon Livné
The Alon Livné bride is modern, confident, and effortlessly striking. She follows runway collections, appreciates craftsmanship, and wants a gown that could step straight out of an editorial spread. She gravitates toward sleek, sculptural silhouettes that flatter her figure and make a statement, with bold necklines, unexpected cutouts, and intricate details that feel dramatic yet refined.
Livné studied fashion design at the renowned Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art in Tel Aviv, where his background in art and sculpture continues to shape his work. His gowns are impeccably tailored and architectural yet fully wearable, true works of breathtaking art that balance couture-level craftsmanship with clean, modern sophistication.
Helena Kolan
Helena Kolan, a fellow Shenkar graduate, celebrates brides of every body type and life stage with effortless style. She has carved out a unique place in the Israeli bridal market by pairing couture-level craftsmanship with a modern, inclusive sensibility. Her website feels refreshingly approachable, with clear categories that make it simple for brides to find gowns tailored to their needs and preferences — whether they’re looking for support for a fuller bust, styles that work beautifully during pregnancy, or simply for brides looking for a gown with pockets.
With her main atelier in Tel Aviv, a flagship in New York City’s SoHo, and additional locations in Los Angeles, Europe, China, and Russia, Kolan caters to brides around the world who are seeking elegance, comfort, and impeccably crafted gowns.
Sister M
Rounding out this list is Sister M. The Sister M bride is free-spirited, romantic, bohemian, and effortlessly chic. With accessible pricing and unfussy designs, sisters Rahya and Meital Mitran aim to make every bride feel confident, relaxed, and beautiful. Their boutique is located in the trendy Florentin neighborhood of Tel Aviv, a setting that mirrors the brand’s modern, urban sensibility and creative, slightly offbeat charm.
Like Noa Tarlovsky, who began with a clothing line before launching her bridal collection, Sister M started in 2012 with ready-to-wear pieces and later expanded into eveningwear and bridal. That evolution shows in their gowns: they have the ease and wearability of everyday fashion, elevated with romantic details — soft lace, flowing skirts, and delicate embellishments — that make them feel special enough for the chuppah.
So, whether you’re browsing for ideas or stepping closer to your own celebration, keep in mind that the heart of it all is the person waiting for you beneath the chuppah. Choose the dress that feels like you and lets you dance long after the hora ends. Wishing you both a lifetime of joy. Mazal tov!
