In an ocean of white wedding dress pics, it can be hard to imagine walking down the aisle in anything else. But while we’ll always have a soft spot for classic shades of ivory, there’s a whole palette waiting to be explored. We cordially invite you to open up your horizons and entertain the rest of the rainbow. You may travel full circle and find yourself back at white, or you may uncover a shade that feels even more distinctly YOU.
To help you get inspired we’ve gathered some of our favourite colourful and patterned bridal looks for 2025. Some of these brides knew they’d be wearing colour from the get-go, for others, it was a pleasant surprise. But all prove that wearing white is not a prerequisite to getting wed.
Married in a glowy, golden gown
Miriam and Shanoon’s Brisbane nups knocked us right off our chairs – cementing it’s well-earned place in the Real Wedding Special Vol 10. As the owner of Wildplay Flora, Mim knew what she wanted when it came to marrying her guy of three years, and it included this gorgeous marigold yellow Rebecca Valance number. “As soon as I saw this gown, I was transfixed. I decided to try it on then and there. It fit like a glove and made me feel absolutely incredible.”
Photography La Marie Photography
A Beaut Bridal Suit in (Something) Blue
Loads of traditions bucked at Loz and Mitch’s Brunswick wed. For instance, the couple scheduled their portraits prior to the big day to maximise time with their guests. And hey, it meant Loz had another excuse to wear this beaut blue suit. “I wanted to wear colour, I didn’t mind if it was a dress or pants and a blazer,” shared the bride, who found the Versify outfit through social media. “A couple of months later, they were closing down, and everything was on sale, so I decided to buy them as a ‘just in case’. . . . Once the set arrived, I didn’t want to wear anything else. It was comfortable, colourful and cute.”
Photography It’s Beautiful Here
A Bold, Romantic, Red Bridal Moment
To get hitched to Cam in Collingwood, Sarah wore not one, not two, but three INCREDIBLE gowns, including this showstopper from Duchess Boutique. “I wouldn’t usually class myself as an extra person, but I definitely went big on my wedding day with three dresses,” Sarah told us. [It] was a surprise find – I was just trying on dresses for fun when I slipped into an explosion of maroon tulle. I hadn’t planned on wearing colour, but the moment I saw myself in it, my whole face lit up. It was a less rational decision and more pure, unfiltered joy.”
Photography She Takes Pictures He Makes Films
A Pretty In Pink Bride
Molly and Harrison got hitched with a relaxed all-day celebration in charming rural Victoria. The bride, who found this pink stunner via designer Holly Butler’s socials, told us that a white gown was never on the cards. “Holly [posted] that she was having a sample sale and the pink dress that I had originally found, was part of that sale. So, my best friend and I lined up at 8:30am one Saturday morning (even though the sale didn’t start until noon) as I did not want to miss out on this dress.”
Photography Jackson Grant
Retro & Dance-Floor-Ready Bridal Mini
Caity and Grady filled their day with things that bring them joy. Think cup’o’noodles, sake, a disco ball, a life-like cutout of their cat and, of course, the bride’s EPIC Celia B dress. “I have always wanted a Celia B dress, as they are vibrant and scream PARTY,” Caity shared. “I loved the pops of colour in the flowers, the fluff detail around the edges of the sleeves and skirt, the keyhole neckline and of course, the bell sleeves!”
Photography Sheree Dubois
An Outrageously Fabulous Pink Bridal Look
Leaning into bright tones but ultimately going for a ‘less is more’ approach, Noa and Jared let their gorg garden setting at The Terrace and the bride’s ICONIC Lirika Matoshi frock do the heavy lifting. “Let’s be honest, my dress was the statement piece of the event,” the bride (so accurately) says. Noa had actually spotted this fab pink gown on socials a few years previous, recalling her disappointment that she didn’t have an occasion to wear it at the time. “Turns out that thought stayed in the back of my mind for a few years and when we decided we were having the wedding, I instantly knew that if I didn’t wear something outrageously fabulous to my own wedding, I never would.”
Photography The Lavender Haze
Show-Stopping Blue Wedding Gown
Kat and Jacob kept it intimate with a “light and fun” micro-city soiree, celebrating alongside just a dozen loved ones. But while they kept the event low-key, Kat’s Rachel Gilbert dress was anything but. This bride wanted a dress that would pop against Melbourne’s grey cityscape, and her blue statement gown did just that. “It had internal boning, a thigh split, and the star of the show, of course, was the giant bow detail at the back,” she shared. This something-blue showstopper brought all the drama and elegance in equal measure.
Photography Finder Seeker
A Floral-y & Feminine Wedding Frock
Hosted at Lake House Daylesford, Daisy and Matt’s nuptials were close-knit and bloomin’ beautiful, with a whimsical floral motif that extended to the bride’s incredible Monique Lhuillier gown. “It was the first dress I tried on and while I did try on three others, there was no point, this Monique Lhuillier gown was the one. My experience purchasing it from Helen Rodrigues Bridal was amazing.”
Photography Nikki McCrone
Where To Find Colourful Wedding Gown Inspiration
These stories are testament that uncovering unconventional bridal options can require some searching outside the box, for fancy frocks that are fab, but not exclusively designed to be worn by brides. Don’t fret, as usual, we’re here to help. Here’s our favourite quirky local weddings – brimming with not-white wedding ‘fits plus other creative ideas you’ll want to pinch. Another option – you could have something made custom. You’ll find our recommended bridal designers here. Or if you’re open to a white frock so long as it’s modern in vibe, you’ll likely love these contemporary options.
