Not Just White—Non-Traditional Gowns

…and the bride wore black!

While most people will envision a white or ivory-colored gown when they think about a wedding dress, that wasn’t always the way. Wedding gowns were often red, yellow, or pale blue. Most royal brides in the days of old chose heavily embroidered dresses of metallic or silk thread that would appear to make them sparkle in the candlelight. Marie Antoinette’s silver gown is still a thing of legend even though it was destroyed during the French Revolution!

White wedding gowns weren’t a “thing” until Queen Victoria broke with tradition when she married her beloved Albert in 1840 by donning a white gown. After that, wealthy brides across Europe and North America began to copy her look—which was seen as a status symbol since white was hard to keep clean and was a way for the bride and her family to say “Yeah, we can afford this white dress and we don’t care if it gets ruined by Uncle Frank’s red wine at the reception.”

White wedding gowns may be the norm still, but many brides are looking for ways to differentiate themselves from the pack by adding a bit of color. Some famous brides who opted for a subtle non-white look include Reese Witherspoon, whose Monique L’Huillier gown was the palest of pale pinks. (2011)

Taking it a bit further, how gorgeous was Jessica Biel’s hot pink and fuchsia Giambattista Valli ballgown for her nuptials to JT?!

Another famous fashionista bride, Sarah Jessica Parker, went full throttle for the non-traditional look and chose a beautiful black look when she married Matthew Broderick—a look that stands the test of time now. The dress was purchased off the rack from a store in Manhattan, proving that you don’t have to spend a ton of money or wear a “big-name designer” for your big day. If it’s good enough for Carrie, it’s good enough for us.

If you see a gorgeous gown that you love that just so happens to NOT be white, why not consider it? It’s about how it makes you feel. Is it in budget and in a silhouette that works with your body? Then, by all means, try it on! This could open up a world of options to you if you’ve been disappointed with the white dresses you’ve seen so far.

We at THE ONE Gown have helped a lot of non-white-wearing brides find their special gowns and we know we can help you too. So, don’t let Aunt Claire make you feel bad if you don’t wear white. It is not 1957—you can choose what YOU want to wear. Do you, boo.