Summary
- Color in wedding dresses is trending for 2026
- Color allows a bride to personalize her dress and bridal vision
- There are multiple ways to add color to the dress
- Colors underneath the dress (mocha, champagne, blush, etc) make the lace patterns pop
- Colors on the dress can be embroidered, 3D colored florals tacked on, or printed on the fabric
The Latest In Wedding Dress Trends Is Color
This bridal trend of color in wedding dresses is more than just a niche idea. The new styles with colorful floral appliqués on corset bodices, embroidered floral embellishments on silk mikado, and dramatic ball gown shapes with bold color and sparkle will make the perfect grand entrance on your big day.
Why Color In Wedding Dresses?
Color allows the bride a more personal touch in her vision beyond the traditional.
“Tradition” means something different to everyone, in different cultures, religions, and even simply personal preference. Bridal trends come and go, but more and more brides in recent years are straying from stark white wedding gowns and opting instead for color like soft pastels like blush and sage or sky blue for summer weddings – or bold colors like dark berry and emerald.
If you have a fairy tale vision of your wedding day look, consider adding color to your wedding dress!
Let’s start with the basics.
WHITE & IVORY: What’s The Difference?
There is a big difference.
- A white wedding gown has no other colors mixed in and therefore a white fabric (a diamond white satin, for instance) can look a bit blue in full light. A white gown has a cool undertone, and white works best on darker skin tones. White dresses will beautifully pop any flower, bridesmaid, or tuxedo colors against it.
- Ivory bridal gowns have cream color added and therefore are a warmer color. Ivory wedding dresses look best on lighter skin and ivory lace can have a more vintage-inspired feel. Ivory is still the most popular wedding dress color in our store. Looking at an ivory dress on its own will seem white (until a truly white dress is held next to it).
Modern brides today are looking at classic style minimalist dresses and often choose a crepe fabric for their dress. Many crepe wedding dresses have a pearl color (often called natural white) with a warmer hue and a softer feel and work well on fair skin.
Skin Tones
It is a good idea to know before you start wedding dress shopping whether you have warm or cool skin tones.
Warm skin goes nicely with:
- Earthy tones: Amber, beige, rich browns, olive green
- Pastels: Peach, coral, lavender
Cool works best with:
- Jewel tones: ruby, sapphire, Amethyst, Emerald
- Blue based: purples, greens, reds
- Black and grey
COLOR IN WEDDING DRESSES: Lining
Champagne and mocha wedding dresses or dresses with blush or pink tones underneath will have an ivory lace overlay.
If you prefer warm yellow undertones, (avoid if you have cool skin), a dress in latte, mocha, or peach would be the best color choice. The color underneath will highlight the detail of the lace. If you love lace appliqué, or a full lace dress in Chantilly or Venice, the best way to show, the intricate patterns is to add a delicate color like champagne or blush underneath.
The photo below shows a Madi Lane dress in mocha with an ivory lace overlay, and as an all ivory dress. The first thing you notice is the difference in the visibility of the unique elements and detailing in the lace.
The all-ivory solid color is a classic look and a beautiful, traditional choice. The mocha color is an ideal choice for a boho theme and works nicely on lighter skin tones.
*Note: the mocha color outsold the ivory by a large margin.
COLOR IN WEDDING DRESSES: Top Layer
The above photo demonstrates the difference color makes underneath, let’s look closer at color on the top layer.
Bridal designers Morilee and Stella York have created simple wedding dresses with fitted bodices full of florals, both embroidered and 3D petals and rosettes.
Another great option for our bold brides is Morilee’s Raquel with a bit more vibrant colors on a fitted bodice and cascading down over the hips. The back is a masterpiece featuring more color on the keyhole, and the lace illusion colorful train:
Color can also be printed on the fabric, like these two from the latest collections. Both are lightweight fabrics with floral print, and A-lines, the perfect gown shape for any body type.
The sky blue color works well for a summer wedding, lending a timeless romance to the gown. The pink and green print is the perfect dress for a spring garden wedding. This one has detachable elements too – off the shoulder long sleeves!
COLORED WEDDING DRESSES
Perhaps you want a full color wedding dress like rosewood or black. We have those too! Black is so popular now that we have a black wedding dress show every October, and many of the black dresses have matching veils as well.
Modern edge gowns like Kitty Chen Maureen and Evie Young Twiggy are made of luxurious fabrics that look quite regal. Maureen has detachable statement sleeves made of satin rosettes. Twiggy is one of our best basque waist wedding dresses with the cat-eye necklines.
COLOR IN YOUR ACCESSORIES
Color in your dress is not your only option. Perhaps you want to keep with tradition with your gown in the classic wedding dress colors, but still want a pop of color somehow. How do we do this? Accessories, of course!
You can have a sash, a thin strip of color at the waist, or a bow that could coordinate perfectly with your wedding colors (flowers, bridesmaid dresses, wedding decor, etc). Wedding gowns with dropped or basque waists look beautiful with a colored sash, like our new Parvati gown from Wtoo by Watters.
Color in your shoes and jewelry is always an option as well.
WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING
Wedding dress shopping is one of the best parts of your planning process. Before you head out on the hunt for the dress of your dreams, we advise doing some research first. Start with our Guides to learn the processes, timelines, and lingo!
Now that you have a bit of a handle on planning overall, start a Pinterest board with gowns that you like, Bridal looks that call to you, decor you are drawn to. You will quickly see your preferences!
As for your dress, you may find sleek silhouettes with clean lines and a timeless style being your aesthetic. Or, perhaps you go for the classic silhouettes and don’t care for the bridal gown trends that come and go. Whatever your style, it is a good idea to then research the bridal salons you will visit.
Visit their website, reviews, and social media to make sure they have wedding dress styles that you are interested in, and be sure to check their prices and sizing options. The best bridal shops will have great reviews, and offer dresses that are traditional, along with the modern takes on minimalist gowns (such as detachable skirts and convertible dresses).
You will also want to begin to put your color palette together. This is where you will find creative ways to incorporate colors that lend to your personal style.
At your Bridal appointment, show your Pinterest board to your stylist. She will have ideas to offer that you may not have thought of. For instance, maybe you are a modern bride looking at minimalist wedding dresses yet feel that may not be “Bridal enough”. Your stylist may show you a simple and clean gown with a modern twist such as intricate details in the back or detachable, dramatic trains. There are so many ways to make your dress your own!
And that is the most important thing to remember: this is your special day where you get to show off your bridal style and personality.
You aren’t buying a dress to please your friends, you are buying the dress to marry your BEST friend, the love of your life and continue your love story together. There is no right or wrong. If a colorful wedding dress is your vibe, try them all to find your dream dress. The new collections are being released now for spring 2026 and our modern designers are adding different wedding color trends all the time!
About Us
Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo is owned by Franco and Wendy Salerno. We founded the store in January, 2013 with a mission of running an honest, kind, and family-oriented bridal and tuxedo business. The name is a combination of our two daughters, Daria and Deanna. Today, our business is a Bucks County staple and the go-to place for wedding attire. Our long-time employees are kind, genuine, and truly part of the family. The lasting relationships we have made with customers, vendors, and designers are something we are truly grateful for.
Our store received national recognition in July, 2025 on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. In 2024, Darianna® Bridal & Tuxedo was named a Top 100 Small Business in America by the US Chamber of Commerce. We have been featured by Apple.com, ABC National News, TLC’s “Say Yes: Wedding SOS”, the Wall Street Journal, Square, and Axios. We are approaching 1,000 Google reviews with a 4.9 rating, and listed in the Knot’s “Hall of Fame”.
Locally, we are active members of the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce, Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, and the Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce serving on committees and as board members. Franco was Treasurer, Executive Committee member and a Board member of the Lower Bucks Chamber of Commerce and their 2024 Mitchell-Conner award winner. He was also a board member of the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce for many years. Wendy is a former Chair of the Women In Business, awarded Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023, and named a 2025 Bucks County Parent Woman of Influence. Our daughter Daria is a former wish granter for the Make-A-Wish® foundation. We proudly partner with St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Angel Gowns, Wish Upon A Wedding, and donate to local schools and community band, choir, and theater programs.