Wedding dresses are meant to be special and are designed in a way to make the bride feel unique on her big day. Traditionally, as many of us know, bridal gowns have been as white as snow. White, being a symbol of purity, innocence and virginity, has also been attributed to flawlessness and perfection. Because of what it represents, it is the bride’s right to be the only one to don the color, so much so that it has become proper etiquette that you should not be wearing a white dress to someone else’s wedding.
However, with time, rules have been changing and brides today are seen wearing other colors on their wedding day, including champagne, ivory, rose, grey, and even bold and bright hues, which look gorgeous as well. Gradually more women have been moving away from the stereotypes and traditional norms. Brides today are more than happy to wear the color of their choice, sometimes even black. Yes, you read that right! Since black is an elegant, flattering color that is known to be a classic favorite, some brides have confidently chosen to wear black on their special day.
Now that we have covered that it is not always necessary for a bride to wear white on her wedding day, we can look at some of the top color choices of today’s brides.
Ivory
Ivory has become the most popular alternative to white. It gained popularity in recent times, mostly because of its availability and of course, for its elegance and warming undertone. Ivory is a wonderful choice for women with fair skin with undertones other than yellow. A well-known example of this color choice is when Miley Cyrus wore an enchanting ivory silk gown to wed actor Liam Hemsworth in 2018.
Champagne
If you are planning to deviate a bit from the traditional pure white wedding dress, but still want to retain some of its vibrance, you can go for champagne. To give it an added sophistication, you can combine it with subtle gold or chocolate undertones in accordance with the fabric you choose (silk, tulle, or chiffon).
Blue
It’s no surprise that blue is a desirable choice for brides. It’s a magical color that can make any girl feel special. Blue is the most popular color choice for many Disney princesses. Jasmine, Sleeping Beauty, Elsa, and Cinderella all come to mind. Courtship, ballroom dances, prince-charming, and the concept of happily-ever-after all evoke the emotions we want to have when we’re getting married. Yes, life isn’t a fairytale, but your wedding day should be!
Yellow
Yellow is a bright color that imparts a sense of cheerfulness, optimism, and friendship which is the foundation in any good relationship. Actress Amber Tamblyn wore a yellow wedding dress when she wed comedian David Cross in 2012. Another example would be of Elizabeth Taylor who wore a beautiful and charming sunshine yellow gown to one of her 8 weddings. It’s possible that she ran out of colors to wear or she knew that wearing yellow has been linked to improving a person’s mood…and who doesn’t want to feel even happier on the most important day of their life!
Pink
Light pink or blush pink are colors of playfulness, compassion, love, and happiness and are symbols of the early years in a relationship. It renders a special fondness amongst couples and is a very sweet shade. Gwen Stefani, the popular escape singer wore a unique traditional white dress on her nuptial day that had a subtle pink gradient at the bottom.
Red
Red is a symbol of love, passion, and desire and could make a great choice for a wedding gown. It is often paired with black or white to give an added vibrance. Also, in some traditions, like in India, red is considered a holy color and is a sign of good luck. Kat Von D, the tattoo and make-up artist, chose an unconventional, red-laced wedding gown that looked absolutely stunning!
Coral
This is one among the modern bridal dress palettes and ladies have a special weakness for this color. Having an East Indian or Caribbean touch, Coral-colored bridal dresses can add a very exquisite feel to the wedding ambience. Many colors such as turquoise, mint, royal blue, yellow, green, grey, and olive compliment coral. Your color options for bridesmaids and décor are virtually endless!
Purple
Lavender, lilac, and other purples have become some of the most modern color choices for wedding gowns. A dress with a shade of purple can make a bride feel softer and more feminine. Purples often have a special place in wedding décor as they appear in the piping of cakes, table settings, and general floral arrangements.
Brown
Wedding gowns are increasingly becoming designed in brown more often than in the past. As brides seek more color alternatives to the palettes of white, more colors are finding their ways into bridal shops. Chocolate may not just be found on your guest’s dessert plates. Chocolate brown and other hues of brown are being selected for wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses. You can mix in champagne or off-white shades if you want to add complimentary adornments such as a belt, lace, or bow.
Grey
Another less conventional color, grey, is a symbol of maturity, responsibility, organization, and composure. These traits are desirable to any future spouse. If you prefer to add some color to your wedding dress, and since grey is a neutral earth tone, it’s easy to choose other colors to enhance your gown. You can add layers or lace in silver, gold, white, black or most other colors to your heart’s desire.
What color will you choose for your wedding gown?
Browse some of our other articles with helpful wedding ideas:
What Percentage of Guests Attend Destination Weddings
Getting Married in Lake Como, Italy
Wedding Guest Count Estimate Calculator
How to Create, Organize, and Narrow Down a Wedding Guest List
Alcohol and Beverage Calculator