Black and White Wedding Dresses: 18 Stylish Looks + FAQs (2024)

FAQs

Is it inappropriate to wear a black and white dress to a wedding? ›

We advise against wearing white to weddings, but a printed dress with a hint of white or ivory is definitely approved. A black-and-white dress is a classic choice, as long as the pattern isn't too distracting.

While the traditional white wedding dress was meant to symbolize innocence, a black wedding dress depicts elegance, power, mystery, and individuality.

A black and white wedding is much more than decorations and superstitions – such a theme symbolizes union, love and teamwork, as can be seen in Chinese philosophy. In addition, the aesthetics are as basic as they are sophisticated and delightful to look at.

History of the white dress

Though Mary, Queen of Scots, wore a white wedding gown in 1559 when she married her first husband, Francis Dauphin of France, the tradition of a white wedding dress is commonly credited to Queen Victoria's choice to wear a white court dress at her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840.

As a general rule, "wearing black is totally acceptable, as the hue is very versatile," says bridal stylist Julie Sabatino of The Stylish Bride. Make the shade work for you—at any type of wedding—with these ideas for choosing the right fabrice, length, and accessories.

Somewhat on the unconventional side—unlike its 'co*cktail' or 'white tie' counterparts—the black and white dress code is one that is typically assigned to semiformal and formal events. As the name suggests, guests are expected to dress exclusively in monochromatic hues from head to toe.

Roman Catholic traditions were a custom for a Spanish bride wearing a black dress. The black gown symbolized ensured her loyalty to the bride's devotion to her husband until death. Nowadays, black wedding gowns are the first choice for women who want to wear an unusual yet intense look.

For many cultures, black clothing has long been associated with mourning and death, and sometimes even bad luck and misfortune. Though black wedding dresses are no longer considered taboo, certain individuals might not find them fitting for a celebratory occasion.

Choose an embellished dress for formal affairs.

Beading and lace can make a black dress the perfect piece for a formal wedding. For instance, a dress with a beaded top and an empire waist would be perfect for a formal wedding. Add a beaded clutch and slingback heels to complete the look.

Nothing says “glamour” like incorporating elements of gold into a black and white wedding. You can even think outside the box with more varied colors like green or blue.

Are black and white weddings still popular? ›

Black and white is a timeless wedding theme that will never go out of style.

Another theory is that white was originally worn because it was the most difficult color to stain, while black was seen as the most luxurious color. Whatever the reason, these traditional colors have become synonymous with weddings around the world.

What are the Most Popular Wedding Dress Colors? The most popular wedding dress colors are shades of off-white and ivory, which are more universally flattering. However, we've also noticed that many brides opt for a gown with a lining in a shade of blush or nude to allow the details on their dresses to pop!

However, nowadays, the idea that you must be 'pure' in order to wear a white dress is rather outdated. Many brides choose to wear white on their wedding day, even if they aren't a virgin, or even if they have children already. These days, white is merely chosen because it's traditional.

The reason why black wedding dresses were the mainstream is that wedding dresses were very expensive for ordinary women at that time, except for a few wealthy people such as aristocrats. Therefore, black was the most preferred color because it was the least conspicuous for stains.

Classic Black & White: Timeless and sophisticated, black and white polka dot dresses are a go-to choice for winter weddings.

"My rule of thumb usually is, if you have to question if the pattern or print has too much white, I would err on the side of caution and avoid it." Nathalie Cadet-James, founder of Luxe Fête Event Planning and Design Studio, further adds, "Hundreds of years of loving tradition tell us that only the bride is in white.

Except in select cases (which we'll cover below), the experts agree that wedding guests should still stay away from white dresses—and especially any that are long, that are lacy, or that read even slightly bridal. "The bride may or may not wear white (maybe ivory, maybe champagne), but it's her color for that day.

Any party or wedding that's calling for black-and-white attire means strictly black or white no prints.