Think of it as the older rebel cousin of the little black dress—but instead of date night, let’s elope. With a generous amount of black tulle.
A black wedding gown is the ultimate in luxe shock appeal, worn by the playfully irreverent and unabashedly indulgent. And, also, by the morbidly romantic. Or romantically morbid? Stay with me here—as former Martha Stewart Weddings executive editor Eleni N. Gage writes in her book Lucky in Love: Traditions, Customs & Rituals to Personalize Your Wedding, Spanish brides once wore black to show they’d be devoted to their spouses until death.
Which is a hell of a lot more romantic than the reason brides now wear white—because in 1840, Queen Victoria did so in order to match the lace she’d chosen for her gown, a narrative that’s been romanticized into bridal showrooms around the world (to note: we still love white, and ivory, and pearl, and alabaster, and anything resembling a cloud. Black dresses just have a cooler story.).
If something a little noir feels more aligned with your personal standards of ’til death do us part and not giving AF, here are our favorite black numbers for your perfectly moody day, whether you’re saying “I do” in a graveyard, orchard, or at city hall. Or, heck, even a church, which might be the most rebellious thing of all.
Cucculelli Shaheen
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For: The urban goddess who deeply appreciates fine attention to detail—this 100 percent silk dress shows off 1,016 hours of hand embroidery; soft blue, pale green, and gold crystals; and platinum petal-shaped florets.
Shop: Astra embellished maxi dress by Cucculelli Shaheen, $12,517, Harrods.com.
French Knot Couture
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For: Lovers of soft tulle, drop waists, and the allure of a corset grommet closure that combine to make an unexpectedly striking, lasting look.
Shop: Twilight gown, $1,250, frenchknotcouture.com.
Hannah Caroline Couture
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For: The bride who 1) knows exactly what she wants, from the sleeve length to the lace and tulle colors, and 2) loves volume. This dress is customizable, and its three layers of tulle ensure maximum oomph in all the right ways.
Shop: Noir gown, $1,399, hccdesign.com.
MYWONY / My Wood Nymph
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For: The idiosyncratic babe with a penchant for geometric design paired with delicate Italian lace, who longs to elope to Iceland, where this designer is based (you can also scoop this dress online).
Shop: October dress, $1,090, mywony.com.
Sottero Midgley
For: The outdoorsy bride—this dress features black floral lace over a contrast lining that will give added dimension to natural landscapes (slide for the full view). Plus, we always stan a sleeve, especially for crisp sunset photos.
Shop: Zander gown by Sottero Midgley, available in the U.S. and UK—visit here to find your nearest location.
Wtoo by Watters
For: Those who are edgy but classic, who appreciate a sturdy lace corset that gives ways to plumes of tulle, creating a timeless silhouette fit for a ballroom or a meadow.
Shop: Clarinda gown by Wtoo by Watters, $1,495, bhldn.com.
