Non-Traditional Wedding Dress Inspiration

Wedding dresses today step outside of one “traditional” thing; you don’t have to be in satin or have sleeves or anything else to be in a “traditional” wedding dress. If you asked someone on the street what made a wedding dress traditional today, I think you’d mostly hear “white” or “floor length.” Many couples I work with are planning weddings that are non-traditional, though, and many of their attire fits the same vibe. Let’s discuss dresses, both traditional and not, as we get into some non-traditional wedding dress inspiration…

What Makes a Wedding Dress “Non-Traditional?”

Close your eyes and think of a wedding dress. Without any more direction than that, I bet an image still popped into your head nonetheless, right? It probably was white, and it was probably floor length and I’m guessing it was one piece. Am I close?

What, then, makes a wedding dress non-traditional? Is it anything not that? Long story short: in my book, yes! That’s what I’m basing this post on, anyway. If you’re looking for non-traditional wedding dress inspiration, these ideas will all be contrary to that image in one way or another, so you can stray from tradition as much or as little as you want!

Types of Non-Traditional Wedding Dresses:

Two Piece Wedding Dresses

One option for a non-traditional wedding dress that keeps the closest to a traditional look is a white two-piece wedding dress. This look is modern but still white, while looking youthful and trendy. This is a fun option for elopement style weddings, too, as they’re typically a little easier to move around in or to hike in pants and change into just the skirt. If you can’t decide between satin and lace, you can mix and match a little with this style as well!

Short Wedding Dress

Another semi-traditional look is a short wedding dress. Whether it’s short, midi, or tea length, a white wedding dress that’s just short is a nod to tradition while again being more modern and laid back. You can be playful, comfortable, and cool in a short wedding dress on your big day! These can be easier to move around in, for more adventurous portraits or dancing the night away. Some people opt to change into a second dress at their reception, and many will choose a short dress for this reason.

Jumpsuits

A wedding jumpsuit is such a fun twist for a non-traditional wedding attire if you don’t feel comfortable in a dress. If you want to keep a nod to the “bridal” you can always wear it in white as well. It goes without saying that a jumpsuit is a lot easier to get around in, if you plan on hiking or being more active.

Colorful Non-White Wedding Dress

Opting to forego the white with a colorful or non-white wedding dress is probably the farthest from tradition you can get while still wearing a dress. There is no reason to wear white if you don’t want to, and I love that more and more people are choosing not to wear white on their wedding day! Pick a color you love, a color that vibes with the location, or a color you feel awesome in. There are no rules or requirements! Some great colors I love in the Colorado mountains are jewel tones, and in the Moab area I love black or green.