Because who says that your wedding dress has to be white?
After Queen Victoria declared her wedding vows to Prince Albert in a white Honiton lace ball gown back in 1840, the white wedding dress gradually became the default tradition for Western brides. But with contemporary bridal designers incorporating increasingly diverse palettes within their collections, it’s clear that colour is having its moment in wedding-wear, and it’s the perfect alternative for the expressive bride who dares to be different. Whether you embrace head to toe colour or opt for subtle coloured floral embroidery, opting for a hue other than the traditional white for your bridal ensemble can create real impact: the first step is getting over the initial fear of doing it. From rich jewel tones to soft pastels and painterly prints, today’s bridal landscape is bursting with colour, and we’re diving into the most striking ways to make this trend your own.
Firstly, let’s talk about how couture designers are rewriting the colour rulebook this bridal season. At Ines Di Santo, fanciful tulle ball gowns hand painted with multicoloured flowers turned heads on the catwalks, whilst Nicole and Felicia pushed the boundaries of bridal dressing with show- stopping sculptural designs in alluring rose hues. Claire Pettibone’s assortment was truly fit for a fairytale, showcasing vintage inspired, fanciful creations adorned with delicate coloured appliques. Marrying minimalism with a touch of romance, Monique Lhuillieur’s Layla gown resembled an enchanting piece of art: with the hand painted floral motifs appearing like a watercolor garden blooming across the structured ivory satin. Galia Lahav’s Fiori gown was a testament to the house’s talent for fusing theatrical flair with modernity, taking centre stage with its layered architectural silhouette in a bold floral printed silk organza.
But let’s be clear, this certainly isn’t the first time that colourful wedding dresses have been popular. Believe it or not, coloured wedding dresses were the norm prior to the Victorian era, and it was in fact the ivory gown that we all associate with bridalwear today that was a rarity. Before the 19th century, white garments were incredibly difficult to maintain, so coloured and patterned fabrics were the more practical option for many brides. The majority of the time, brides opted to wear whatever colour their best dress was, and even if they were wealthy enough to buy a new gown for the day they would opt for one in their favourite colour. So steering away from the white dress tradition certainly shouldn’t make your wedding day look feel any less bridal: in fact, choosing a coloured gown can be a powerful nod to centuries of bridal history, while also offering a bold, personal expression that feels entirely your own.
And now, almost two centuries after the birth of the white bridal gown, coloured wedding dresses are gradually making a comeback, with many brides ditching the default option and instead beginning to explore a vibrant spectrum of hues. Alta Ruaux, owner of Alta Costura Bridal says: “We find that many of our brides opt for a coloured wedding dress, maybe not having considered one before seeing them in the shop, because they are just so different. They are all a classic wedding dress silhouette, but the colour is a real statement. Many brides want their gown to stand out amongst other wedding dresses, and colour in the wedding dress is a lovely way to express personality and to create that ‘wow’ moment walking down the aisle. Brides want a wedding dress that will get their guests talking, and be very Instagrammable!”
There are a few different ways you can go about incorporating colour into your bridal ensemble, and the route you go down will really depend on your overall vision for your day, as well as the level of drama you desire. If you don’t feel ready to completely abandon the white wedding dress, there is certainly nothing stopping you from simply reimagining it, perhaps by integrating hints of colour into your look. “The main ways that designers incorporate colour into wedding dresses is with embroidery, coloured embellishment such as organza flowers, or coloured beadwork,” explains Ruaux. “Sometimes they combine more than one of these in the same dress.” So a more subtle yet striking coloured look is still totally achievable, if you don’t want to make too much of a statement.
Alongside intricate embellishment and romantic florals, another way to incorporate colour into your bridal look is to opt for a printed fabric, which will usually come in the form of organza, tulle or voile. These are great if you desire a dreamy, romantic effect that still feels modern: floral motifs, watercolor washes, or abstract patterns can add personality and a unique edge without overwhelming the overall bridal vibe. Opting for a solid colour is a gorgeous option for the unconventional bride, offering the ultimate platform for self expression and individuality. “We have a couple of wedding dresses that are made in printed voile fabric, with a coloured floral all-over pattern,” says Ruaux. “There are also solid-colour wedding dresses, and black wedding dresses have been particularly popular in our boutique over the last three years. However this year coloured embroidery and 3D flowers on an ivory gown is by far the most popular.”
Dip dyeing is also a striking and unique option to consider, which will add an artistic flair to your bridal look, making it feel more unique and expressive. Lucy Spragg, founder of alternative bridalwear label Lucy Can’t Dance, says: “If you’re sold on going off white for your wedding gown, you don’t have to go totally off spectrum. Blended, dip-dyed colour is just as bold a statement, if not even more so.” However, before you take the plunge, it’s important to ensure that the fabric your gown or outfit is made of is able to be dyed: “We only use 100% silk fabrics to dye with, because a lot of different fabrics dye in different ways,” explains Spragg. “Polyester fabrics don’t really dye very well. Or you have to use a completely different technique: you can dye polyesters if you just dunk them in a whole bucket for a long time. But to do the dip dye effect, it really does need to be a natural fibre.” So if you’re considering a dip dyed gown, it’s worth discussing your options with your bridal designer or stylist, to ensure that you can achieve the look that you are envisioning.
For a bridal ensemble that fuses tradition with an alluring twist, opting for a coloured lining underneath a lace overlay or tulle skirt with appliques adds beautiful dimension, creating depth and adding personality whilst also enabling the intricate detailing to truly pop. “If you’ve got a colour under lace, it can bring out the details of the lace print a lot more than just having ivory under ivory,” explains Spragg. It’s a subtle way to introduce colour without overpowering the classical elements, making it ideal for brides who want something a little unexpected while still feeling timeless.
So you’ve decided that you definitely want a coloured wedding dress: but how do you choose which hue to incorporate into your look? The best way to begin is by experimenting with different colours at your bridal appointment, so you’ll want to ensure that the boutique you are visiting has a good range of colourful samples to try on. “We have lots of different samples in our studio of colours, but quite often, people want to match them to the colour schemes of their wedding or bridesmaid’s dresses or things like that,” says Spragg. “So often we will ask you to send in some colour swatches, like paint swatches or bits of fabric and things, so we can do lots of different tests of colours and then show you them to help decide which colour works best with your scheme.”
Many brides believe that coloured wedding dresses are more difficult to coordinate and style, however this could not be further from the truth. When it comes to selecting the shade of your wedding dress, it’s helpful to think about your bridal party, and your overall colour theme for the day, as well as of course the hue that resonates with your style and personality the most. “Our brides usually pick out a shade for their bridesmaid dresses that is in the coloured embroidery, or for an all-over coloured wedding dress, one that harmonises with the colour palette, but allows the bride to stand out,” explains Ruaux. “The bride can also be really creative when choosing her flowers, incorporating the theme, or creating a dramatic contrast. For example, an ivory bouquet set against a black wedding dress looks amazing.”
If you love the idea of being able to rewear your wedding dress, or elements of your outfit after your special day, a colourful bridal ensemble is also much easier to incorporate into your post-wedding wardrobe. The versatility of colour opens up a plethora of styling possibilities beyond the aisle, whether you choose to shorten your gown for everyday wear or keep it exactly as is and save it for the most special of occasions. According to Spragg, there is also the option to get even more creative with colour after the wedding: “If the bride has chosen a blue dip dye dress, we can dye the whole thing blue afterwards, and then they can wear it again. A coloured wedding dress adds a bit more choice for after, because they are generally a relaxed style in comparison to a big strapless ivory princess dress, it’ll be hard to change that into something you could wear every day,” she says. “We also offer a service where we shorten our dresses after the wedding, so they get put in the main wardrobe instead of never being worn again.”
Whether it’s just incorporating a hint of your ‘something blue’ or going all out with vibrant florals and beads, if you’re a bride seeking an opportunity to embrace your individuality through your wedding ensemble, opting for a coloured wedding dress could be the perfect way to do so, however you decide to do it.
“If you go to a bridal shop and try a wedding dress on, you can kind of feel like you’re in a bride costume, but having colour can make you feel a bit more like yourself,” says Spragg. “If your favourite colour is blue, and you wear blue all the time, why wear a white dress on your wedding day when you love wearing blue, when you can have a hint of colour that makes you feel more comfortable, more yourself? Most people have ‘their colour’, the shade that they feel best in, so why not be a colourful bride?”
On that note, here are our 10 favourite colourful wedding dresses for the unconventional, expressive brides out there:
Get the look: Our favourite coloured wedding dresses
1. Alta Ruaux’s choice: Zephyrine by Maggie Sottero
“This is an ivory dress with colourful embroidered florals all over it. A matching veil is also available. This soft tulle ballgown has an ivory base, so still a strong traditional element, but the coloured flowers bring a vibrant and playful vibe. The neckline is open and summery, and this would really suit a spring or summer wedding,” says Ruaux. “It would be beautiful in an outdoor setting, maybe a garden or barn wedding with an outdoor ceremony. We would recommend styling it with a soft, natural look – a soft hairstyle with maybe a hairvine to compliment the floral theme. The matching full length veil adds vibrancy and drama, and can be taken off for the dancing later on.”
2. Lucy Spragg’s choice: Tutti Fruitti by Lucy Can’t Dance
“This beautiful lace overlay dress has lots of different coloured slip options for you to choose from including our famous dip dye colours,” says Spragg. “Brides can pick one of over 25 sample colours or we can source even more colours just for you.”
3. Blossom by E&W Couture
4. Season by Madi Lane
5. Jagga by All Who Wander
6. Fallon by Millia London
7. Ursula by Temperley Bridal
8. Iris by Sassi Holford
9. Cora by Rue de Seine
10. Peony by Claire Pettibone
Colourful Bridal Accessories
1. ‘Blossom’ veil by Indiebride London
2. Monsoon floral embellished clutch bag
3. Richard designs pearl and porcelain flower statement band
4. Hetty Organza shoes by Harriet Wilde
