6 Black Wedding Dresses To Feel Beautiful & Bold In On Your Wedding Day (2024)

Dresses | January 27, 2023

Have your eye on colorful wedding dresses this year? Flirting with an unconventional bridal palette? Say hello to this season’s black wedding dresses in lace, shimmer, and illusion. From stunning ball gowns to sexy fit-and-flares, we have gorgeous designs to complement your chic and edgy bridal aesthetic.

If you are still in the initial inspo phase for gown shopping, get started with our Find Your Style wedding quiz to narrow down your preferred bridal style. We’ll serve up tons of gorgeous bridal gowns to complement your aesthetic, season, and budget—romantic styles from Maggie Sottero, chic and sophisticated designs from Sottero and Midgley, and budget-friendly classics from Rebecca Ingram. Once you have your quiz results, you can keep playing with filters to change up silhouette, fabric, sleeves, necklines, and more.

When you’re ready to shop, book an appointment! Head to our Store Locator to search boutiques in your area and get in touch. To find a specific wedding dress style, you can click on the gown’s details page to search in your area. It’s a great idea to pin each wedding dress you’re interested in to help your bridal stylist cross-reference with samples in their shop.

What season is best for a black wedding dress?

If you have your heart set on a black wedding dress, you can make it work for any season or venue. That being said, a black fabric tends to fit and function best for the fall and winter seasons. The palette is moody and adaptable to cooler temps, especially if you’re working with sleeves or a veil

What fabric is best for a black bridal gown?

Black works for a variety of fabrications, but most often lace and tulle. We’re in love with the latest trends in shimmer, beading, and textured tulle as listed below.

What does a black wedding dress mean?

While the symbolism behind a white gown may feel a little outdated, the meaning of a black wedding dress is a bit more modern and sophisticated. Black can symbolize power, strength, mystery, sophistication, and fantasy. Bottom line, these styles project a cool, confident, and fashionable attitude.

Trends for elegant black wedding gowns to keep an eye on this year:

• Dimensional contrast: Instead of solid black, most of these wedding gowns features a black and white, black and nude, or black and illusion contrast. This is a gorgeous way to play with a black palette in an elegant and romantic design.
• Unique necklines: scoop designs, deep Vs, and plunging sweethearts make for a gorgeous highlight on your wedding gown’s bodice.
• Vintage silhouettes for brides of the gothic-chic persuasion.
• Matching veils and other bridal accessories.
• Over-the-top black ball gowns paired with bold bridal tiaras.
• Art Deco-inspired beading and red-carpet embellishments.

How to style elegant black wedding dresses for the big day:

• Give the unique color palette the full spotlight with minimal jewelry and accessories, or go luxe and extravagant with gold statement pieces, a long veil, and gorgeous footwear.
• Choose a dramatic venue worthy of your nontraditional color palette. Think industrial-chic warehouse, a villa or castle, a contemporary museum, a theater, or a botanical garden to show off your glam and discerning style.
• For your bride or groom—work with the drama of your outfit to make your pairing even more sophisticated. If your sweetheart is a bride, she might wear romantic white, gold, or blush to play up the contrast of your two gowns. If your sweetheart is a groom, think luxe and dashing, e.g., a velvet suit, a black-tie tux, or a printed vintage pattern.
• For florals, go elegant and effortless with neutrals and greenery; bold and sumptuous with jewel tones; sweet and romantic with pinks and golds; or red-carpet with glitzy jewel and feather accents.

Psst… If you want to see some black wedding dresses in action, make sure to watch our TikTok below!

Black Floral Bridal Gown: Watson by Maggie Sottero

Presenting the black bridal dress we consider the stunner of the season: Watson by Maggie Sottero! This unique black floral wedding gown is a modern take on a classic look in a colorway brides are LOVING right now. Watson features beautiful sequin floral embroidery over tulle, a lovely V-neck and V-back, satin spaghetti straps, an attached velvet belt, and a beautiful horsehair hem finish. We adore the Black over Nude colorway, but if you love this gown and want a more classic colorway, consider opting for the all Ivory or Ivory/Champagne Accent over Blush colorways! Personalize this gorgeous gown by removing the train for a more casual look or accessorizing with a cathedral-length veil embellished with matching sequin embroidery.

Want to see more floral dresses and accessories? Check out our blog!

Black Wedding Dress: Zander and Zander Lane by Sottero and Midgley

PC: Wander and Bloom Photography

When it comes to Zander Lane by Sottero and Midgley, sexy is its middle name. This is one of the most unique black wedding dresses out there, and we simply adore all that Zander Lane has to give! This fitted style features contrasting layers of tulle, lace motifs, and Chantilly lace, a sheer lace bodice accented in 3D floral lace motifs, a plunging V-neckline, a deep illusion V-back, and illusion lace tank straps, making it the perfect combination of all things sexy and chic. Personalize this gown for your love story by:

• Changing Chantilly lace to texture tulle
• Shortening or removing the train for a more casual look
• Adding covered buttons down the back for a vintage vibe
• Accessorizing with detachable fitted lace long sleeves
• Accessorizing with a tulle veil accented with lace
• Opting for its Sister Style Zander Lane

Speaking of Zander Lane’s Sister Style, Zander is a beautiful black lace wedding dress for you brides who love the look of Zander Lane but prefer a ballgown silhouette. Not to mention, it’s one of our most beloved black wedding dresses with sleeves!

For more gorgeous long sleeved wedding dresses, be sure to read our blog!

Unique Black Wedding Dresses: Norvinia and Norvinia Lynette by Sottero and Midgley

Dreaming of feeling like royalty on your special day? We have THE perfect black lace wedding dress for you! Brides, meet Norvinia by Sottero and Midgley. This ballgown wedding dress features sequin lace motifs over gorgeous sparkle tulle, a sheer illusion lace bodice lined with organza, a soft scoop neckline and scoop back, detachable beaded spaghetti straps, and covered buttons over a zipper closure. Available in three colorways – Black over Champagne (gown with Natural Illusion), Ivory over Nude (gown with Natural Illusion, or Ivory (gown with Ivory Illusion) – this stunning style will have you channeling your inner princess like no other!

Personalize Norvinia for your unique love story by:

• Extending the train for added drama
• Shortening the train
• Removing the train

If you adore Norvinia but desire a bit more coverage on your special day, consider its gorgeous Sister Style, Norvinia Lynette, which is another one of our most beloved black wedding dresses with sleeves! This gown features a breathtaking illusion bateau neckline, a plunging illusion back, and beautiful illusion lace fitted long sleeves.

Fairytale-Inspired Black Gown: Alexandria by Rebecca Ingram

Whimsical, dreamy, bold: three words that could only describe the most beautiful black wedding dresses imaginable. It just so happens that Alexandria by Rebecca Ingram is just that – fit for a fairytale wedding. This lace tulle wedding dress is unlike any other, with its lovely lace motifs over sparkle tulle, sheer bodice lined with organza, deep illusion V-neck and V-back, and long illusion lace bishop sleeves. The sparkle on this gown is to die for! Personalize Alexandria by:

• Extending the train
• Adding covered buttons down the back for a vintage vibe
• Accessorizing with a chapel-length veil with scattered lace motifs along the edge

Show-Stopper Bridal Dress: Tristyn by Maggie Sottero

PC: 4th Henry Productions

It’s giving romance, and it’s an absolute showstopper of a gown. It’s Tristyn by Maggie Sottero. This black lace ballgown features sequined tulle with lace motifs adorning the bodice, a statement lace motif hemline, and a beautiful sweetheart neckline. If you’re a superfan of elegant black wedding dresses (with gowns like this, how could you not be?), you’re sure to LOVE Tristyn. Take this gown up a notch by accessorizing with a matching tulle veil edged with lace motifs.

Old Hollywood-Inspired Black Wedding Dress: Zelda by Rebecca Ingram

Your dreams of walking the red carpet or experiencing the wistful romance found in Old Hollywood films can come true! What better dress to wear than Zelda by Rebecca Ingram? This stunning satin gown features a strapless sweetheart neckline, lovely, covered buttons trailing to the hem, a sexy side slit, and pockets! In All Ivory or All Black, Zelda is sure to wow your loved ones on your special day! Personalize this style by shortening the train or accessorizing with the beautifully embellished Clark cape.

If you’re dying to see more simple elegant wedding dresses, check out our blog!

Sexy Art-Deco Gown: Elaine by Maggie Sottero

PC: Nikk Nguyen

When it comes to black wedding dresses, beading is always a stunning addition! Elaine by Maggie Sottero is the queen of embellishment, with art deco-inspired beaded embroidery, an illusion beaded bodice with unique lines, a plunging illusion V-neckline, an illusion V-back, and illusion lace tank straps.

Chic Black Ballgown: Aspen by Sottero and Midgley

We simply could not compose a fabulous list of black wedding dresses without Aspen by Sottero and Midgley! This iconic gown is a couture strapless A-line style constructed of stretch Mikado fabric with asymmetrical draping on the bodice, a strapless scoop neckline, covered buttons trailing to the hem, pockets, and a gorgeous side slit. Not only is this one of the most incredible black wedding dresses, it’s also available in two additional stunning colorways: Ice Pink and All Ivory! Personalize this gown by extending, shortening, or removing the train, or accessorizing with the Clark cape.

Striking Mermaid Wedding Gown: London by Maggie Sottero

It’s shimmery, sexy, and lacy. London by Maggie Sottero is everything one could ever want in a black wedding dress! This gorgeous mermaid gown is mesmerizing, with its sequin lace motifs over sequin tulle, delicate-yet-sexy strapless sweetheart neckline, and illusion lace back. Personalize London for your love story by:

• Changing sequin tulle to texture tulle
• Changing sequin tulle to Chantilly lace with sequins
• Extending the train for added drama
• Shortening the train
• Removing the train for a more casual look
• Accessorizing with detachable sequin lace off-the-shoulder cap sleeves
• Accessorizing with a matching tulle veil accented with lace motifs

Simple Black Bridal Gown: Scarlet by Maggie Sottero

Some might say we saved the best for last. We love all of our fabulous black wedding dresses, and that includes Scarlet by Maggie Sottero! This A-line satin gown is utterly sophisticated and daringly regal, with its ruched nouvelle stretch satin bodice, soft scoop neckline, V-back, satin spaghetti straps, and pockets. We absolutely adore this style in the Black colorway, but if you desire something a bit more daring, the red colorway may be for you! If you’re more a traditionalist, Scarlet’s available in Diamond White as well! Personalize this gown for your love story by extending or shortening the train or opting for a thigh-high slit for an ultra-sexy look.

We hope you bold, beautiful brides are feeling inspired by all of our incredible black wedding dresses! Now, it’s time to start shopping for the black wedding dress perfect for your wedding! Find a Boutique near you using our Boutique Locator, and be sure to share your photos with us once your special day arrives! Happy shopping, brides!

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