Chloë Grace Moretz got married this week to model Kate Harrison. While her wife looked stunning in a more traditional white gown, Chloë decided to make her wedding dress her ‘something blue.’ The dress, custom-made by Louis Vuitton’s Nicolas Ghesquière, was in a delicate powder blue and was paired with a cascading veil. It was the perfect choice for a wedding with two brides.
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The actor isn’t the first bride to forgo the traditional white wedding dress, which was popularised by Queen Victoria in her marriage to Prince Albert in 1840. While Queen Vic didn’t invent the fashion for a white gown, her wedding was such a public affair that it set the style going forward, and became associated with romance and innocence. Wearing a white wedding dress was also a show of wealth, due to how prone to staining the colour is. The high cost of textile and garment production at the time meant that most brides would have to rewear their dress, making white extremely impractical. So, you could say that non-white wedding dresses are actually more traditional than their white counterpart!
In more recent times, celebrity brides have chosen to subvert the white-dress tradition. Some completely challenge it, by going for bold colours like black, while others opt for softer colours like baby pink. Whether you’re looking for inspo for your own big day or simply curious, we’ve compiled some of the best non-white wedding dresses from recent pop culture history.
Dita Von Teese
Let’s start strong. Possibly one of the best wedding dresses ever, burlesque star Dita Von Teese wore this Vivienne Westwood gown at her 2005 wedding to disgraced musician Marilyn Manson. While their marriage was only 2 years long, the gown has stood the test of time. It’s made from silk taffeta, which gives the fabric that gorgeous shine. Despite appearing purple, the gown is actually made of red and blue silk threads woven together. On a podcast, Dita recently admitted that she didn't like Vivienne Westwood's initial concept. She was understandably nervous to speak her mind, but we’re glad she did, since this gown was divine!
Gwen Stefani
If you looked at it from the waist-up, you might think that singer Gwen Stefani wore a traditional white dress for her 2002 wedding to Gavin Rossdale. The garment, made by designer John Galliano, is white silk, but the lower half was completely sprayed in pink. It gave the look all the traditional drama of a big white gown, but with a totally modern twist. Looking at the details, you can see that the colour isn't the only subversive thing about it: it has closures and pockets in unconventional places, and looks almost dishevelled in parts, like a runaway bride. It cleverly challenges notions of purity associated with the white dress.
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Sarah Jessica Parker
For her 1997 wedding to actor Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker made a bold statement with a black wedding gown. The gown wasn’t the only shock: the entire wedding was a surprise to friends and family, who thought they had been invited to a regular party. Made by the brand Morgane Le Fey, the bride-to-be opted for black because she felt buying a white dress would attract too much attention. She later admitted to Marie Claire in 2006 that she regretted the casual approach to her wedding, but her marriage is almost 30 years strong and the dress was a statement fitting of a fashion lover!
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Reese Witherspoon
The Legally Blonde actress opted for a gorgeous baby pink dress for her big day in 2011. It was her second wedding, which may be why she opted for a slightly different colour. Custom-made by Monique Lhuillier, it still had the hallmarks of a classic gown, like lace and tulle. So, if you want to opt for something a bit different but don’t want to stray too far from tradition, perhaps a pretty pastel shade like this might be the option for you?
Elizabeth Taylor
The Old Hollywood icon was famously married 8 times, and opted for a non-white wedding dress for a few of these occasions! But the one we'll be focussing on is the daffodil yellow dress she wore for her 1964 wedding to actor Richard Burton. In the knee-length babydoll dress and with white flowers braided into her hair, she made the most stunning spring bride.
Julianne Moore
Actor Julianne Moore went for a lowkey but stylish wedding look with a lilac Prada slip dress. In 2003, she married director Bart Freundlich in a dress which had been custom-made a few years before for The Oscars, according to the New York Post. Apparently, she decided to save it for her wedding. The green earrings and shoes added a fun, clashing pop of colour – and, the jewels were her ‘something borrowed’ as they were on loan from friend Ellen Barkin.
Audrey Hepburn
Another Old Hollywood icon on this list, Audrey Hepburn parted ways with convention for her 1969 wedding to Andrea Dotti in a pink minidress designed by Hubert de Givenchy. The actress was a muse for the designer, having been dressed by him for various iconic moments in her career. Audrey had already worn a classic white dress designed by French designer Pierre Balmain for her first marriage in 1954, so it made sense that she might want to experiment – especially since it was the time of the ‘flower power’ cultural revolution. Though, she retained traditional bridal modesty with a matching pink headscarf.
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Jessica Biel
Clearly, pink is a popular option for brides who want a little something different! And no wonder, it satisfies the urge for a unique moment, but is subtle enough to not shock any relatives. In 2012, Jessica Biel got married to Justin Timberlake in this blush-pink, diaphanous gown. It was created by couturier Giambattista Valli, who reportedly outfitted the whole wedding party.
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Avril Lavigne
Like Reese Witherspoon's, this dress was also made by bridal wear brand Monique Lhuillier, but it couldn't be more different. Pop-punk singer Avril Lavigne opted for a black lacy dress for her 2013 wedding to Nickelback lead singer Chad Kroeger. She topped the outfit off with a bouquet of black roses. Set in a castle, the gothic wedding made total sense for the pair. While the marriage ended in 2015, Avril remains a reference for the alternative bride.
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Cynthia Nixon
Sarah Jessica Parker's Sex and the City and And Just Like That co-star, Cynthia Nixon, also got married in an unconventional colour! It's not quite as big a statement as black, but this pale green Carolina Herrera gown was absolutely stunning. Cynthia married wife Christine Marinoni in 2012, shortly after gay marriage became legal in New York State. It was perfect for the occasion, as it challenged tradition but felt totally special enough for the big day.
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Mandy Moore
In 2018, Tangled star Mandy Moore tied the knot in a gorgeous, tiered, ballerina pink gown. The dress was custom-made by Rodarte, an American brand known for its luxe, hyper-feminine dresses. If you look closely, the dress is actually covered in little polka dots. Adorable!
Sofia Coppola
The director is the mind behind the pastel-coloured opulence of 2006's Marie Antoinette. Despite this, her own wedding dress was surprisingly lowkey. Sofia Coppola wore a custom Azzedine Alaïa lavender minidress for her 2011 wedding to Thomas Mars, lead singer of the band Phoenix. While understated, the delicate chiffon shimmered in the light to give an ethereal effect. So, if you don't want a huge gown but still want some excitement, opt for gauzy materials with a bit of shine!
