CAN I WEAR A RED WEDDING DRESS?
Gemma Thompson
- Lead Designer -
It should take 4 minutes to read this article
Yes you can!
Next to white, red is as traditional as you can get. Especially for weddings in eastern countries and cultures.
And what’s more, there's no religious, moral, or legal reason to keep you from wearing a red wedding dress either.
Still not convinced?
Read on for answers to the most popular questions about wearing red to your wedding.
WHAT DOES A RED WEDDING DRESS MEAN?
Red is the colour of love. It symbolises romance, adventure, good luck, sunlight, and happiness in a wedding dress.
It's an auspicious colour, and wearing it is said to bring you fortune and joy in your married life (especially in eastern cultures).
But it also has a darker, sexier side that risque brides will adore.
This makes red the perfect colour for both a bride looking to bless her marriage with good fortune, and for a bride looking to embody her exciting and Gothic nature.
IS IT APPROPRIATE TO WEAR A RED WEDDING DRESS?
If you're hosting a modern wedding, then your red wedding dress will go down a storm.
It's a daring and exciting colour. One that'll make you an unforgettable bride.
It's also appropriate to wear red as a bride in several eastern cultures, such as in India, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Japan.
But if your wedding is going to be a traditional western one, you may run into some opposition (though this is most likely to come from conservative family members, rather than religious professionals).
Whatever the case, always remember that your wedding day is YOUR wedding day.
If you want to wear red, why let someone else stop you?
WHO TRADITIONALLY WEARS A RED WEDDING DRESS?
Red is a traditional bridal colour in several cultures and countries.
For example, in traditional Taiwanese weddings, the bride will wear a beautiful red silk gown for her ceremony, often adorned with gold jewellery.
While in Japan, the bride will wear both a white wedding dress and a red wedding dress during her wedding day, combining the traditions of east and west.
Red is also a common bridal colour for gowns in India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, South Sudan, and many areas of China.
This is because red is heavily associated with good luck and fortune in these cultures.
But it isn't only eastern countries where brides have traditionally worn red.
In North America, indigenous people such as the Hopi wore elements of red in their wedding garments to symbolise their connection with the earth.
In ancient Greece, brides would often wear flowing red gowns on their wedding days, symbolising the more intimate nature of their newly-sealed relationship.
So you won't be alone wearing red to your wedding. Many brides have done the same, and they’ll be supporting you (in spirit) if you choose to wear red!
WHERE CAN I BUY A RED WEDDING DRESS?
From Ivory Black.
We have two red wedding dresses for you to discover. Both coupled with gorgeous bridal corsets made from satin and steel.
Have a royal wedding with our Countess dress: designed for the royal-of-heart.
Or embrace sleek, Gothic elegance with our Baroness wedding gown.
Our wedding dresses are made by hand to your measurements. They're designed and crafted from scratch by our masterful British designers, and as every dress is built to heirloom quality, they'll stay in the family for generations.
Give our dresses a tap to discover more about them.
WHAT SHOULD I CONSIDER WHEN WEARING A RED WEDDING DRESS?
Red wedding dresses look stunning in natural settings, such as an Irish woodland or an overgrown castle ruin in the Welsh countryside.
They also look fabulous in dark and romantic venues, illuminated by candles or the mercurial light of the moon.
So venue is an important consideration. Red might be your favourite colour, but against the white sands of a Caribbean beach it's going to clash and look out of place.
Season is also a prime consideration. Red is a great colour for winter and the autumnal months, especially when the leaves are turning gold. It can also work well in the heat of summer, where your beauty will blaze like a wildfire.
When it comes to footwear and accessories, we'd recommend gold if you're going for the eastern aesthetic, or deep blacks if you're looking for a more Gothic or romantic vibe.
If you choose a red wedding dress with a long train, you can wear small heels or comfortable flats, which will keep your feet from aching during your big day.
IS RED A GOOD CHOICE FOR A GOTHIC WEDDING?
Absolutely. Second only to a black wedding dress, red is a perfect colour for a Gothic wedding ceremony.
With a red wedding dress you'll encapsulate the dark and romantic look without losing your bridal elegance. Think Mina Harker from Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula: beautiful and elegant, yet breathtakingly Gothic.
You could even wear a red wedding gown with accents of black to really hammer home the elegant horror aesthetic.
STILL LOOKING FOR A RED WEDDING DRESS?
At Ivory Black we have a fine selection of red wedding dresses and bridal ball gowns.
Our bridal gowns are designed to make you look as stunning as you deserve to be, with corsets to provide that elegant hourglass shape and high-quality materials that emanate luxury and grace.
When you order, we'll arrange a chat over the phone or Skype to learn more about your big day and to see how we can help make your wedding dress as perfect as possible.
Tap the button below to see our dresses. Or if you’re looking for something even more personal, send us a custom or bespoke wedding dress enquiry.
GOT A QUESTION ABOUT RED WEDDING DRESSES?
Ask us anything in the comments below, and we'll do our best to answer any red wedding dress queries you might have.