Have you ever ever questioned why white is the normal coloration for a marriage gown? You possibly can thank Queen Victoria, who like Kate Middleton, set developments along with her appears to be like. The British monarch wore white to her marriage ceremony in 1840. Earlier than then, white was what younger women wore when being introduced at court docket (is “Bridgerton” coming to thoughts?), and brides wore colourful robes together with crimson, violet, gold, and silver. White was additionally related to purity, which was one thing brides of a bygone period have been very involved with. Over time it has change into the anticipated, the normal, and the norm in Western cultures.
However there isn’t a written rule that claims a basic white gown is a should. From tantalizing bridal leg slits to the dramatic feathers we first saw as a wedding dress trend in 2023, robes have gotten extra of a mirrored image of the bride’s character. Past that, colourful robes are seen with increasingly more regularity as of late. And why not? As these 10 celebrities who skipped conventional white marriage ceremony attire show, it is the non-public touches that make a day particular, not following antiquated traditions.
Julianne Moore selected lilac as an alternative of a standard white marriage ceremony gown
Julianne Moore completely lands a spot on our record of stand-out unconventional celebrity wedding dresses for the Prada lilac slip gown she wore for her 2003 marriage ceremony to director Bart Freundlich. The occasion reportedly happened at their Manhattan house with 36 company. Sporting a poofy white quantity wouldn’t have suited the venue in any respect. We just like the coordinated touches of Freundlich’s shirt and tie beneath his cream go well with.
Sarah Jessica Parker wore black to marry Matthew Broderick
When Sarah Jessica Parker wed fellow actor Matthew Broderick in 1997, she needed to have extra of a celebration really feel and never draw an excessive amount of consideration to herself. So she opted for a Morgane Le Fay gown, purchased off the rack. If she have been to do it yet again, would she choose a black gown? No, she’d go for white, she later mentioned (through The Today Show). “I might put on a lovely, correct marriage ceremony gown like I ought to have worn that day.”
We’re taking it again 22 years to when Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, tied the knot in 1997. 💍💗SJP is understood for her unconventional marriage ceremony robe selection as she wore a black ballgown by Morgane Le Fay.#KleinfeldCanada #TimelessTuesday pic.twitter.com/DtU8DEUdbZ
— Kleinfeld Canada (@KleinfeldCanada) October 29, 2019
Kristen Stewart wore a grey skirt go well with for her marriage ceremony
Want proof that bridal separates are a modern dress alternative? Check out Kristen Stewart and spouse Dylan Meyer, who each skipped the normal white marriage ceremony gown. For his or her April 2025 nuptials, held at a Mexican restaurant in LA, Stewart wore a grey skirtsuit, whereas Meyer selected a sheer white high and skirt combo. Did we anticipate Stewart to don a Bella from “Twilight” robe? No, this outfit feels far more her.
Priyanka Chopra wore a crimson marriage ceremony outfit when she wed Nick Jonas
What do brides in India historically put on? The colour of prosperity, celebration, and good luck: Crimson. White, however, is the colour for mourning. So it was no shock that Priyanka Chopra wore a crimson lehenga (three-piece outfit) for her Hindu marriage ceremony to Nick Jonas in 2018. The gorgeously ornate Sabyasachi robe reportedly took embroiderers practically 4,000 hours to make. For his or her Christian ceremony, the bride did go for a white marriage ceremony gown, from Ralph Lauren.
Kristen Bell skipped conventional white and went for black as an alternative
When Kristen Bell married Dax Shepard in 2013, she did not even hassle with a gown, and wore a black high and coordinating trousers. She added a pop of wow with an announcement necklace. The couple married on the Beverly Hills Courthouse with a number of buddies in attendance, that means that the laid-back look match with the texture of the day. It was about their love (and laughter), not placing on a giant present.
Avril Lavigne additionally wore a black marriage ceremony gown
One other bride who selected a black gown as an alternative of conventional white? Avril Lavigne. When the “Sk8er Boi” singer wed fellow Canadian singer Chad Kroeger in 2013, the duo leaned into black big-time for his or her marriage ceremony held within the south of France. The groom wore a head-to-toe all-black ensemble, whereas the bride selected a customized Monique Lhuillier gown and carried black roses. Whereas the wedding solely lasted two years, the darkish gown nonetheless makes an affect.
As a substitute of white, Emma Thompson went theatrical and colourful along with her marriage ceremony look
If anybody have been to make an sudden assertion on her marriage ceremony day, it might be Emma Thompson: fearless, outspoken advocate for ladies and the surroundings. Not solely did the “Nanny McPhee” star’s 1989 gown appear like it was borrowed from a dressing up division, it was untraditionally brief, and paired with quirky heels and a headpiece that regarded bridal in theme, however extra like a veil {that a} youngster took scissors to.
Cynthia Nixon wowed in pale lime on her marriage ceremony day
For her 2012 marriage ceremony to Christine Marinoni, “Intercourse and the Metropolis” star Cynthia Nixon did not peruse racks of bridal robes. She mentioned sure to a gown that featured on the Carolina Herrera runway. (Cannot you simply think about Miranda Hobbes reluctantly attending the present with Carrie Bradshaw?) This marriage ceremony gown had an ethereal silhouette, however quite than conventional white, Nixon wore a shade of pale inexperienced. Whereas it’d really feel like a bridesmaid gown coloration, we predict it is an sudden and stylish choice for many who need to skip conventional white.
Elizabeth Taylor did not put on conventional white for many of her marriage ceremony ceremonies
Elizabeth Taylor often is the poster youngster for celebrities who skipped the normal white marriage ceremony gown. For her eight weddings, she solely wore a white gown for the primary one. Among the many different bridal appears to be like was a inexperienced silk gown with a sheer hood that she wore for her 1959 marriage ceremony to Eddie Fisher. And for her fifth marriage ceremony, marrying Richard Burton for the primary time (they divorced and remarried a 12 months later), she wore a yellow babydoll gown that she boldly accented with a small backyard on her head.
Jessica Biel did not put on a white gown to marry Justin Timberlake
Jessica Biel has continuously worn lovely white robes on the crimson carpet, and infrequently ones which have an overtly female, bridal really feel to them. However when it got here to her marriage ceremony to Justin Timberlake in 2012? She steered away from conventional white, as an alternative choosing comfortable pink from designer Giambattista Valli. She informed Hello! that she needed a gown that oozed “romance, romance, romance.” Mission completed.
