Gothic Wedding Dresses for Every Alternative Bride
Gothic wedding with a black and blue wedding dress Via Ashley Medrano Photography
Every bride has their own style, so it’s only natural that a crisp, white wedding dress isn’t everyone’s vision on their wedding day. If you’re a bride who loves to dabble with darker colors, gothic wedding dresses are the way to go!
Designed with romance in mind, gothic wedding dresses come in various styles, color combinations, price points, and themes. If you’re planning on utilizing gothic wedding favors or gothic themes, a gothic wedding dress will fit perfectly with your overall wedding aesthetic.
If you want to create a unique wedding look, check out these different dress types below.
Factors That Define a Gothic Wedding Dress
For most, gothic symbolizes black, moody, and dark, but this isn’t always the case! Gothic is much more. It can be romantic, moody, sultry, inviting, and encompass several different colors.
For gothic wedding dresses, there are some more defined lines than the general ambiance. If you’re looking for a gothic wedding dress but aren’t sure it’s truly what you’re looking for, sift through these guidelines:
Specific Colors - A gothic wedding dress will include black, dark reds, dark purples, dark green, dark blue, or dark brown. For most, the dresses usually don’t include much white at all. This creates a bold statement and allows a bride to choose colors that fit her personality, skin tone, or wedding theme.
Styling - While you can find a gothic version of nearly any style or length wedding dress, most have a vintage feel to them. A large portion of gothic wedding dresses are long-sleeve and fitted.
All Black Gothic Wedding Dresses
Long Sleeve Black Wedding Dresses
Black Aster long sleeve wedding dress Via StylishBrideAccs on Etsy
Black long sleeve lace wedding dress Via PolinaIvanova on Etsy
If you’re searching for a perfectly classic gothic wedding dress, you can’t go wrong with an all-black, long-sleeve gown. Your sleeves can be see-through tulle or solid black with floral or gothic designs.
Long-sleeved black wedding gowns give off a moody and mysterious vibe, creating a stunning entrance into your wedding ceremony. Long sleeves are perfect for fall or winter, but a light fabric sleeve can provide breezy coverage during spring or summer as well.
2. Off-the-Shoulder Black Wedding Dresses
Off-the-shoulder black corset wedding gown Via OllyBridal on Etsy
Off-the-shoulder black wedding dress Via LDCoutureByLDcouture on Etsy
Off-the-shoulder gothic wedding dresses provide the perfect mixture of elegance and romance. Showing off your shoulders creates a perfect balance of inviting and statement.
This look focuses on elegance, so it’s perfect for a more formal, indoor wedding, such as a ballroom or a mansion.
3. Sleeveless Black Wedding Dresses
V-neck strapless black wedding dress Via Elkawthar99 on Etsy
Black lace mermaid wedding dress Via LaBridalDesigns on Etsy
An all-black sleeveless wedding dress is your perfect gothic fit for a warm spring or summer. Since black attracts more heat, forgoing sleeves is the perfect way to balance the additional heat and still create a beautiful look.
Sleeveless black wedding dresses have the most variety in styles. You can mermaids, ballgowns, trumpets, and more.
Black and White Gothic Wedding Dresses
Black and White Long Sleeve Wedding Dresses
Black and ivory ball gown wedding dress Via KirenzaBrides on Etsy
A-Line Black and White Gothic Wedding Dress Via IrregularBridals on Etsy
If you’re a bride searching for a touch of gothic but wanting to hang on to the traditional white, a black and white long-sleeve wedding dress may be a great match for you.
The long sleeves of these gothic wedding dresses allow more incorporation of black into the dress. In most cases, these dresses use touches of black at the ends of your dress and the sleeves.
2. Off-the-Shoulder Black and White Wedding Gowns
Black and white hi-lo wedding dress Via KirenzaBrides on Etsy
White and black alternative wedding dress Via KirenzaBrides on Etsy
An off-the-shoulder white and black gothic wedding dress is the perfect way to play with black textures while still creating an elegant bridal look.
With this design, most of the black elements are focused in the bust area and the bottom of your gown.
3. Sleeveless Black and White Wedding Dresses
Black and white boho wedding dress Via IrregularBridal on Etsy
Black and white mermaid wedding dress Via Elkawthar99 on Etsy
If you’re looking to incorporate more black into your gothic wedding gown while still holding onto the overall white dress, a sleeveless black and white wedding gown is for you.
The sleeveless black and white gothic wedding dresses take a more bold approach, using more vintage black designs and incorporating more black throughout the dress overall, focusing the black elements to the central parts of your gown.
Black and Jewel-Toned Gothic Wedding Dresses
Black and Red Wedding Dresses
Black and red ball gown wedding dress Via AandMEnterprises on Etsy
Blood red and black lace wedding dress Via KirenzaBrides on Etsy
A black and red gothic wedding dress is the perfect blend of moody and romantic. Using vintage designs and pops of black, this dress style is sure to keep all eyes on you.
A black and red wedding dress is perfect for the bride who wants to soften her gothic look and create a romantic atmosphere.
2. Black and Blue Wedding Dresses
Black and blue trumpet mermaid wedding dress Via IrregularBridals on Etsy
Two-tone tulle wedding gown Via OrangeVibesStudio on Etsy
Black and blue gothic wedding dresses create a calm and sultry look for the bride. If you love subtle colors, this is the gothic wedding color palette for you.
By incorporating blue into your wedding gown, you get a pop of color that isn’t too bright. If your wedding is outdoors, the blue and black will provide a nice contrast against the grass and trees as well.
3. Black and Purple Wedding Gowns
Fuchsia and black wedding dress Via LaBridalDesigns on Etsy
Two-toned lace-up purple and black wedding dress Via DressesbyMosso on Etsy
Purple is a signature color in the gothic palette for a reason. It’s sultry and bold, but hints at soft feminine elements as well. A black and purple gothic wedding dress will give you a bold statement, similar to the black and red, but with a lighter look.
Purple and black wedding dresses are mainly styled in A-line and mermaid style, but you can find some with a less slimming look as well.
4. Black and Green Wedding Dresses
Strapless black and green wedding gown Via Bridesandtailor on Etsy
Emerald and black wedding dress Via WardrobebyDulcinea on Etsy
A black and green gothic wedding dress is the perfect mashup for the gothic bride who loves nature and Earth tones. This style provides color without the boldness of some other jewel-toned dresses.
A black and green wedding dress blends well with the outdoors while preserving the gothic feel.