From multi-coloured and cropped to fanciful and physically awkward, here are 15 unconventional wedding dresses for the bride who thinks white is wussy and plain is for pansies.
1. Pistachio, anyone?
UAE-based designer Hamda Al Fahim‘s designed this soft pistachio green wedding gown fit for a whimsical garden wedding. The intricate embroidery paints a beautiful picture, one perfectly suited for a garden wedding, in fact.
2. Cut it out
If you’ve spent six months calorie counting for your big day, you may as well get your mid-drift out and show it off, right?
Source: Vaunte
3. Chantilly lace with a pretty face
This hand embroidered French Chantilly lace dress, from USA born/Lebanon raised designer Rami Kadi, comes with an Ostrich feather cape. One thing’s for sure, it’s not your average wedding gown.
4. All tied up
Wrap things up with an over-sized bow on a strapless gown like this ombre fringe silk couture number from New York label, Marchesa. If it was good enough for Blake Lively in Gossip Girl, it’s definitely good enough for you!
Source: Marchesa
5. Slits ‘n’ sleeves
Long sleeves, high slit and soft floral prints make this unconventional wedding gown a hit, hailing from sustainable New York fashion house Reformation, which focuses on repurposed vintage clothing and rescued deadstock fabric.
Source: Reformation
6. Scraphappy
This Zolotova Dress from Seattle based, eco-friendly bridalwear label Wai Ching gives off-beat brides an alternative to tight and white with rich textures and coloured scraps of natural fibers, hemp and silk.
Source: Pobke Photography
7. Oh my goth
This renaissance fantasy set is perfect for the gothic bride planning a medieval themed wedding. Other thematic variations from Romantic Threads include Marie Antoinette, Victorian era, Valentina and pirate steam punk.
Source: Romantic Threads
8. Hooley tulley
If you ever fantasized about donning a sparkly fairy dress growing up, what better day to make your dream come true than on your big day?
Source: Chillout Point
9. Double-up
Mix your traditional white wedding gown with an overlay of your favourite pattern or cultural garb, like this Scottish lass has done using symmetrical black bows to hitch a tartan taffeta overlay.
Source: Institution
10. All that glitters
If you want to wear your wedding dress again, opt for something a little less formal and a little more fun, like this glittery gold corset with mid-calk pink tulle skirt.
Source: Fitzroy Boutique
11. French belle
Mary Antoinette would approve of this delightful floral court dress with rose choker. Just go easy on the French champagne; trips to the bathroom would be an epic endeavour in this imposing gown.
12. Seeing veil
The dress alone comprises of silk chiffon, china silk, alencon lace, satin covered buttons, vintage pearls, rhinestones and crystal beading. It’s the gems, 70″ of gathered tulle, lace pleating, organza and chiffon that make up the veil and train, sold separately for $1500. Fancy the dress? That’ll set you back $2400.
Source: Etsy
13. Stripes almighty
Don’t like red? This bride of Bettlejuice style is fully customisable; available in any color, with or without train, zipper or corset back, sleeves, higher necklines and a range of other options for brides seeking something a little less mainstream.
Source: Wedding Dress Fantasy
14. Roses only
9,999 red roses went into this dress made by a Chinese man for his fiance to wear during their amusement park proposal. Technically an engagement dress, we can see this sweet smelling one-time wear wedding gown heading down the aisle.
Source: Divine Caroline
15. Ombrelievable
In a similar fashion to Gwen Stefani’s custom ombré John Galliano for Dior dress, this floor-length apricot-cream combination is the perfect wedding gown alternative for brides more interested in earthy tones than diamonds and pearls.
Would you wear any of these unconventional wedding gowns? Let us know in the comments which one you would happily parade on your wedding day, or if there are any other unconventional wedding gowns we’ve missed in our list.