Traditionally it has been expected that brides dress up on their big wedding day in lavish, floor-sweeping white dresses. In recent years, however, it’s become clear that this is no longer the standard and more and more brides are opting for the non-conventional route for their bridal attire. This has been a common trend among celebrities for years with many choosing to wear brightly colored bridal dresses, and some have decided not to wear a wedding dress at all! Follow along for 12 brides who skipped tradition and didn’t wear a wedding dress on their big day:
16. Cynthia Bailey
Real Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey took the non-traditional route and donned a silver Princess dress for her big day where she walked down the aisle to marry Peter Thomas. The gorgeous silver Rubin Singer gown featured a tiered skirt with an oversized wrap-around bow detail at the neckline. With a statuesque model figure like Bailey, we’re not surprised the star opted for the high-fashion route with her wedding look!
© O’Connor/AFF-USA.com15. Avril Lavigne
Statement-making Avril Lavigne didn’t settle for a traditional bridal look for her July 2013 wedding to Chad Kroeger in France. The rock-n-roll affair was complemented with none other than a black wedding gown designed by Monique Lhuillier. She topped the look with a crystal headpiece and black veil and rocked her classic smudged out smokey eye for makeup.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette14. Yoko Ono
John Lennon married Yoko Ono back in the spring of 1969 in a low key affair at the British Consulate Office. To complement the simple service, Ono opted to skip out on a traditional wedding gown and wear a mod minidress instead. She paired the dress with white knee-high socks, a felt sunhat and oversized sunglasses, looking every part the boho ’60s bride.
Mirrorpix/Courtesy Everett Collection13. Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani has always opted for wild and theatrical outfits, which is why it didn’t come as much of a surprise when she skipped on a wedding dress when she married Gavin Rossdale. Instead of a typical white wedding gown, the star opted for an ombre pink number. The look was definitely still foofy and Princess-style, but the pop of pink really set it apart from other wedding dresses.
(photo: John Hayes/Everett Collection)12. Jerry Hall
Supermodel Jerry Hall married media mogul Rupert Murdoch in 2016 after a whirlwind 4-month romance. Rather than a traditional wedding dress, Hall opted for something else entirely and wore a soft blue chiffon number for their winter wedding. The Vivienne Westwood gown had all the textural details of a typical wedding dress, yet the decision to instead wear icy blue really made this wedding moment stand out.
Press Association11. Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe had multiple weddings throughout her lifetime — one being when she was just 16-years old and better known as “Norma Jeane.” Her second wedding, however, is likely her most infamous when she wed baseball legend Joe DiMaggio wearing a casual brown suit with a white fur collar.
Everett Collection10. Emily Ratajkowski
Model and Instagram star Emily Ratajkowski surprised the world when she shared photos of her casual city hall nuptials. Rather than the typical white wedding dress, the star opted for a mustard yellow suit and a black wide-brim hat with mesh detailing. When asked about her outfit choice, Ratajkoswki explained, “I never loved the idea of wearing white for a wedding because I’m not a pure woman. I’m a woman with a lot of character and experience and life. I also just loved the idea of a suit, especially at City Hall because it’s like you’re taking care of business. I really wanted to wear red actually, initially… and then I just loved mustard yellow and just knew it was the one.”
Photo By: Kristin Callahan/Everett Collection9. Olivia Palermo
New York socialite Olivia Palermo had high style expectations to live up to when she married Johannes Huebl in 2014. The star is well-known for her elegant and fashion-forward sartorial choices, and her wedding look definitely rung true to that. Palermo skipped the traditional wedding dress look altogether and instead opted for a tulle skirt and cashmere sweater combination.
Photo by Julien Reynaud/APS-Medias/ABACAPRESS.COM8. Mia Farrow
Frank Sinatra married Mia Farrow in June 1966 at The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. Although their marriage deteriorated after two years, the outfit Farrow wore is one that has been fondly remembered for decades. Rather than a traditional wedding dress, Farrow opted for a sophisticated skirt suit for the casual nuptials.
Everett Collection7. Amber Tamblyn
Amber Tamblyn defied the traditional and instead opted for a sunny yellow dress to tie the knot with David Cross. “It was marigold, and it had a train in the back that was cream. Like a center-piece that was cut out in the middle,” Tamblyn explained to UsWeekly. The whimsical gown seems to be the perfect choice for the non-conventional bride who justified her decision by explaining, “There’s nothing really traditional about me.”
Photo By: Kristin Callahan/Everett Collection6. Alison Pill
Alison Pill is another actress who opted for yellow on her wedding day! Pill married Joshua Leonard in a vintage ankle-length dress that featured a pleated bodice and full tulle skirt. The sunny color flattered her blonde curly locks and was the perfect choice for the low key, intimate ceremony.
Photo By: Priscilla Grant/Everett Collection5. Dianna Agron
Actress Dianna Agron stunned on her wedding day, but not because of an ethereal white gown! The star instead opted for this striking Valentino number which was embroidered with glitter and sequins throughout. She topped the look with a matching sparkling crown and pulled her hair back to show off all the intricate detailing of the gown.
© Billy Bennight/ZUMA Press Wire)4. Julianne Moore
Julianne Moore married director Bart Freundlich wearing a lilac slip dress back in August 2003! The slinky Prada dress was the perfect feminine touch for a casual wedding and complimented Moore’s fair complexion and rich red locks flawlessly.
Photo by Aurore Marechal/ABACAPRESS.COM3. Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell and Dax Sheppard are another Hollywood couple who skipped on the lavish ceremony and went the casual route instead. The duo wed at city hall where Bell wore a simple black trouser and top combo paired with a statement necklace. No elegant updos or dramatic makeup seen here!
(Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)2. Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor infamously walked down the aisle a whopping eight times throughout her life! One particularly memorable look, however, was the time she opted for a yellow long sleeve number for her wedding to Richard Burton. She topped the canary yellow dress with an oversized flower crown and looked every bit the blushing bride.
Everett Collection1. Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker married Matthew Broderick in 1997 wearing a black Morgane Le Fay dress! She skipped the white wedding look altogether and opted for something more cutting edge and chic. Although we still remember this wedding moment fondly, Jessica Parker seems to have a different opinion about it. “I just was too embarrassed to spend any time looking for a wedding dress. There was a store that I liked that I knew, and I just went and got whatever they had hanging,” she confessed of her sartorial decision.
Photo By: RCF/Everett Collection
