The image of a Gothic-inspired wedding also brings to mind a variety of lavish wedding dresses that are not white, but in colors that are dark, ranging from black to deep shades of red and purple, and sometimes blue or green with a black undertone. Historically, black was not at all an unusual color for wedding dresses. It was not until 1840 when Queen Victoria of England married Prince Albert in a white wedding dress, a move that was considered cutting-edge at the time. This year, red is a popular color for Gothic wedding dresses, with Vera Wang jumping in on the act. Any of these bridal gowns can also be worn to a steampunk-inspired wedding, too. Below are the top five Gothic inspired wedding dresses for the summer 2013 season:
The first thing that comes to mind upon seeing this blood-red wedding dress is Poe’s “Tomb of Ligeia.” Made from pleated silk velvet, a snow-white tulle bodice and sleeves makes a striking contrast to this column dress. With this bridal dress, a lot of creativity can be put into the shoes and accessories: try a pair of black Victorian shoes, bronze crosses and medals on a necklace, or black fingerless gloves. Price available upon request through Oscardelarenta.com.
I love purple, and the deeper shades of this rich color make for a perfect Gothic bridal gown. Made from satin and organza, this dress has a heavily ruffled skirt with the satin angled at the right, and the organza underlay showing off on the left side. It’s the bluish-purple organza that gives this dress a dreamy look, however, not to mention the flower and beadwork design in the bodice. The sleeves and their lacy attachment over the shoulders truly gives this dress a Gothic appearance. All that is missing is a bouquet of black roses, and the bride is ready for the altar. Available from Wedding Dress Fantasy for $925.00.
There is a lot of detail in this next Gothic bridal gown. Made of cotton in a deep magenta with black front paneling on the full skirt, the ruffles and ribbon are very feminine and Victorian. In addition to being a fabulous wedding dress, this can also be worn to a special costume ball. Try black or gray pearls for jewelry for wearing with this gown on your wedding day. Available from Lolitashop.us for $99.68.
Vera Wang has long been a popular name in the designer wedding gown industry, but this year she introduces a line that is based on one color: red. Here we see one particular sleeveless gown that looks like dried-blood red made of taffeta with a unique bodice that resembles two upright pitchfork tops from a distance. The full skirt is made up of several layers of draped fabric, making it look elegant and something Lily Munster would wear on her wedding day. Price available upon request through Verawang.com.
Black is a ubiquitous color in Gothic fashion, and when it comes to wedding dresses, can look quite dramatic. This strapless taffeta A-line dress has fabric rosettes decorated with black beads placed evenly throughout the skirt. For jewelry, try something unique, like a marcasite necklace. Available from The Black Wedding Dress for $449.00.
