Coloured Wedding Dresses: Colours, Meanings & Bridal Style Guide
Who says your wedding dress has to be white?
For some brides, the dream has always been a classic ivory gown. For others, it's a romantic blush wedding dress, a dramatic black gown, a beautiful shade of blue or a rich red dress that makes an unforgettable impression.
A coloured wedding dress is an opportunity to express your personality, embrace cultural traditions or simply wear a colour you've always loved. And choosing colour doesn't mean giving up the elegance, romance or beautiful details of a traditional wedding gown.
From subtle champagne and soft pastels to rich jewel tones and statement black, the possibilities extend far beyond white and ivory.
At Envious Bridal & Formal, we specialise in custom wedding dresses for brides in Perth and across Australia, including those who want to explore colours and designs that aren't commonly found in conventional bridal collections.
In this guide, we explore the meanings behind different wedding dress colours, how to choose a shade that suits your style, and the possibilities of creating a gown that feels entirely your own.
Why Choose a Coloured Wedding Dress?
Your wedding dress is one of the most personal outfits you'll ever choose. While white and ivory remain beautiful classics, they aren't the only way to look and feel like a bride.
For some, wearing colour is about individuality. For others, it's a meaningful connection to their culture, a particular wedding vision or simply a preference for softer or richer tones.
A coloured wedding dress can be as understated as champagne lining beneath ivory lace or as distinctive as a completely black gown with dramatic corsetry and a sweeping train.
The beauty of choosing colour is that you don't have to follow a particular formula. You can embrace a traditional wedding dress silhouette while selecting a colour that feels entirely your own.
A Brief History of Coloured Wedding Dresses
Although white wedding dresses are closely associated with Western wedding traditions, brides haven't always worn white.
Historically, wedding attire varied according to culture, region, social circumstances and the fabrics available. Queen Victoria's white wedding gown in 1840 helped popularise white wedding dresses, but coloured wedding clothing has remained significant across many cultures.
Today, brides have greater freedom to combine traditional elements with their own style, whether that's an ivory lace gown, a culturally meaningful red dress or a contemporary black wedding gown.
Wedding Dress Colours and Their Meanings
Every colour brings its own character to a wedding dress. Some have traditional or cultural associations, while others are chosen purely for their beauty.
Colour symbolism varies between cultures and individuals, so these meanings are best viewed as inspiration rather than fixed rules.
White Wedding Dresses: Tradition and New Beginnings
White is often associated with purity, simplicity and new beginnings, and remains one of the most recognisable colours in Western wedding fashion.
From minimalist satin gowns to intricate lace designs and voluminous ball gowns, white provides a beautiful foundation for almost any style.
Its appearance can also vary depending on the fabric, with some materials creating a crisp, bright finish and others a softer, more delicate look.
Ivory Wedding Dresses: Soft and Timeless Elegance
Ivory offers a softer alternative to bright white, with tones ranging from light neutral ivory to warmer cream.
Its gentle warmth works beautifully with satin, lace, crepe and layered tulle, making it a versatile choice for both contemporary and traditional wedding dresses.
For brides who love a classic look but prefer a less stark shade than pure white, ivory offers an elegant balance.
Blush and Pink Wedding Dresses: Romance and Femininity
Pink is commonly associated with romance, affection and tenderness.
From barely-there blush to dusty rose and more vibrant shades, pink wedding dresses can feel delicate, modern or expressive depending on the design.
Blush tulle, floral appliqués and ivory lace over a pink underlay create a soft, romantic look. For something more contemporary, a structured pink satin gown can be equally beautiful.
Red Wedding Dresses: Love, Celebration and Confidence
Red is often associated with love, passion, happiness and celebration. It also carries cultural significance in many wedding traditions, including Chinese and various Indian and South Asian wedding customs.
Red wedding dresses come in a beautiful range of shades, from vibrant crimson and romantic ruby to deeper burgundy and wine tones.
A red satin gown can feel structured and sophisticated, while layers of red tulle create a softer, more dramatic silhouette.
For more inspiration, explore our Red Wedding Dress Meaning: Symbolism, Traditions & Inspiration guide.
Orange Wedding Dresses: Warmth and Individuality
Orange is commonly associated with creativity, warmth, enthusiasm and energy.
Although less commonly seen in Western wedding dresses, shades such as peach, apricot, terracotta and burnt orange offer a beautiful alternative to traditional white and ivory gowns.
Soft peach tones pair naturally with romantic tulle and flowing silhouettes, while richer copper and terracotta shades can look striking in satin or structured designs.
Yellow Wedding Dresses: Joy and Optimism
Yellow is often associated with happiness, warmth and optimism.
From delicate butter yellow to brighter golden shades, yellow wedding dresses can feel soft and romantic or vibrant and expressive.
A pale yellow gown with layered tulle and understated floral details offers a gentle departure from ivory, while a richer shade creates a more distinctive look.
Green Wedding Dresses: Nature and Renewal
Green is commonly associated with nature, harmony, growth and renewal.
Soft sage and mint tones create a delicate, romantic look, particularly with layered tulle, floral appliqués and flowing A-line silhouettes.
Deeper shades such as emerald and forest green offer a richer, more dramatic appearance, especially in satin or fitted designs.
Whether your wedding is garden-inspired or contemporary, green can feel elegant and individual.
Blue Wedding Dresses: Serenity and Romance
Blue is often associated with calmness, loyalty and serenity.
Pale blue, powder blue and dusty blue wedding dresses can feel dreamy and romantic, particularly when paired with flowing tulle, delicate lace and princess-style skirts.
Deeper shades such as steel blue and navy create a more sophisticated statement.
Purple and Lilac Wedding Dresses: Creativity and Mystery
Purple is commonly associated with creativity, luxury, imagination and mystery.
Lilac and lavender wedding dresses offer a soft, romantic quality, while deeper purple shades create a more dramatic effect.
Light purple tulle, floral embroidery and delicate embellishments work beautifully for whimsical designs. Richer purple satin can give a classic silhouette a more distinctive character.
Nude and Champagne Wedding Dresses: Understated Sophistication
For brides who love traditional wedding dresses but want subtle colour, nude and champagne tones offer a beautiful alternative.
These shades are often used beneath ivory lace or embroidered tulle to create warmth, dimension and contrast.
A champagne underlay can make intricate lace patterns more visible, while soft nude tones can create a delicate, layered appearance.
The result is a wedding dress that still feels classic, with a little more depth and individuality.
Black Wedding Dresses: Sophistication and Individuality
A black wedding dress can be elegant, romantic, minimalist or dramatically unconventional.
Black satin and crepe are beautiful choices for contemporary, clean-lined gowns, while black lace, structured corsetry and flowing tulle can create a darker, more romantic look.
At Envious Bridal, we've worked with brides who chose black wedding dresses to reflect their personal style rather than follow conventional expectations.
If you're drawn to dramatic corsetry, romantic black lace and Victorian-inspired details, explore our Gothic Black Wedding Dresses guide.
Silver Wedding Dresses: Modern Glamour
Silver is often associated with elegance, sophistication and modern glamour.
A silver wedding dress can be subtly shimmering or boldly metallic, depending on the fabric and embellishments.
Soft silver embroidery, beading and sequins can add dimension to ivory or grey-toned gowns, while a sleek silver satin dress creates a more contemporary look.
Gold Wedding Dresses: Luxury and Celebration
Gold is commonly associated with luxury, prosperity, celebration and confidence.
Gold wedding dresses range from soft champagne-gold to richer metallic tones, creating very different looks.
Gold embroidery, beading or a warm-toned underlay can add depth to a traditional silhouette, while an entirely gold gown creates a more distinctive statement.
For brides who love warm, luminous colours, gold offers a beautiful alternative to white and ivory.
How to Choose the Right Colour for Your Wedding Dress
With so many colours available, choosing the right shade can feel just as important as choosing the dress design itself.
Here are a few considerations to help narrow your options.
Start With Your Personal Style
Think about the colours you naturally gravitate towards and feel confident wearing.
If you love understated neutrals, champagne or blush may appeal to you. If your style is more expressive, black, red or rich jewel tones may feel more natural.
Your wedding dress should reflect your personality, not simply what is expected of a bride.
Consider the Shade and Undertone
Not all shades within a colour family look the same.
Blush may lean peach or cool pink. Champagne can range from pale beige to warm gold, while blue can appear powdery, grey-toned or vibrant.
Comparing actual fabric samples is often more helpful than relying on photographs or colour names alone.
Think About Your Wedding Setting
Your venue and overall wedding aesthetic can provide inspiration, but they don't need to dictate your colour choice.
Soft pastels can complement a romantic outdoor celebration, while black or deeper jewel tones may create a striking look in a contemporary setting.
Ultimately, choose a colour you love rather than one selected solely to match the décor.
Consider How the Colour Photographs
Natural daylight, warm indoor lighting and flash photography can all influence how a colour appears.
A pale blush gown may look almost ivory in bright light, while darker fabrics can appear less detailed in low-light settings.
If a particular shade is important to you, consider how the fabric looks in different lighting conditions.
How Fabric Influences the Colour of a Wedding Dress
The same shade can look surprisingly different depending on the fabric.
Satin creates a smooth, often luminous appearance, making colours appear richer or more reflective.
Tulle softens colour through its sheer layers, making it particularly beautiful for blush, blue, lilac and other romantic shades.
Organza adds lightness and dimension, especially when layered over contrasting fabrics.
Lace can be colour-matched for a tonal look or placed over a contrasting underlay to highlight its pattern.
Crepe generally offers a more understated finish, making it suitable for minimalist coloured wedding dresses.
You can also introduce colour through embroidery, embellishments, coloured underlays or detachable elements rather than creating an entirely coloured gown.
When designing a custom wedding dress, colour and fabric should be considered together to achieve the intended result.
Real Brides Who Chose Coloured Wedding Dresses
Sometimes the most meaningful inspiration comes from seeing how another bride has brought her vision to life.
At Envious Bridal, we've worked with brides who wanted wedding dresses that reflected their individuality rather than conventional expectations.
Lisa's Custom Black Wedding Dress
Lisa chose a dramatic black wedding dress that brought together her preferred colour with romantic design details.
Her custom gown demonstrates how a black wedding dress can feel elegant and special while remaining true to the bride's personal style.
Jade's Custom Black Wedding Dress
Jade also chose black for her custom wedding gown, but with a design that reflected her own preferences and vision.
Together, these gowns show how the same colour can be interpreted in very different ways through silhouette, fabric and detailing.
Explore more of our completed designs in the Custom Wedding Dresses Gallery.
Custom Coloured Wedding Dresses in Perth and Australia
Finding the right coloured wedding dress can be challenging, especially when you love a particular design but it's only available in white or ivory.
Perhaps you've found a beautiful black gown but want a different neckline. You might love a red ball gown but prefer a softer skirt, or have a particular shade of blue in mind that isn't available in existing collections.
This is where custom wedding dress design offers greater flexibility.
At Envious Bridal & Formal, we work with brides to explore their preferred combination of colour, silhouette, fabric and design details.
Depending on fabric availability and construction requirements, customisation may include:
- Wedding dress colours and fabric selection
- Neckline, bodice and corset design
- A-line, mermaid, fitted or ball gown silhouettes
- Lace, embroidery and embellishments
- Sleeves, straps and detachable details
- Coloured linings, underlays and layered fabrics
- Skirt volume and train length
Not every fabric is available in every colour, so the available options are confirmed as part of the design process.
You can learn more about our approach through our Custom Wedding Dress Design page.
If you're exploring existing styles, browse our Colour Wedding Dresses Collection for made-to-order gowns in a variety of colours and silhouettes. Please note that these collection designs are not available for in-store try-ons.
Our bridal studio is located in Subiaco, Perth, and we also work with brides across Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions About Coloured Wedding Dresses
Can a bride wear a coloured wedding dress?
Yes. There is no general requirement for a bride to wear white. Many brides choose coloured wedding dresses to reflect their personal style, cultural traditions or wedding vision.
What do different wedding dress colours mean?
Meanings vary across cultures and individuals. White is often associated with new beginnings, red with love and celebration, blue with calmness and loyalty, and green with growth and renewal. These are associations rather than fixed rules.
Can a coloured wedding dress still look traditional?
Absolutely. A classic A-line or ball gown silhouette can retain a traditional appearance when created in blush, champagne, pale blue or another colour.
Can I add colour to an ivory wedding dress?
Yes. Coloured underlays, embroidery, lace, beading or detachable design elements can introduce subtle colour while preserving the overall ivory aesthetic.
Can I have a wedding dress made in a specific colour?
Custom wedding dress services may offer colour options depending on the design and available materials. If you have a particular shade in mind, inspiration photographs and fabric samples can help communicate your vision.
Where can I find custom coloured wedding dresses in Perth?
Envious Bridal & Formal specialises in custom wedding dresses from our bridal studio in Subiaco, Perth, and also works with brides across Australia.
Create Your Own Coloured Wedding Dress With Envious Bridal
Your wedding dress doesn't have to be white to feel beautiful, elegant or unmistakably bridal.
Whether you're imagining a romantic blush gown, a dramatic black wedding dress, a rich red design or a colour entirely your own, custom design allows you to explore a gown that reflects your personal style.
At Envious Bridal & Formal, we specialise in creating custom wedding dresses for brides who want something individual, from traditional ivory gowns with personalised details to completely non-traditional coloured designs.
Have a particular colour or design in mind?
Share your inspiration photographs, preferred colours and design ideas with us, and we'll review your requirements for a personalised quotation.
Custom wedding dresses start from $2,500, with final pricing depending on the fabric, construction, detailing and complexity of the design.