Are you hesitant to wear a colored wedding dress?
Today, 30% of French brides dare to wear color. White is only a recent tradition, launched in 1840 by Queen Victoria... to promote the British lace industry! Before that, European women married in red, blue, and green. Dare to rediscover that freedom.
Le Blanc: A 185-Year-Old "Tradition"
The white dress only became popular in 1840, at the wedding of Victoria and Prince Albert. Its purpose? To promote the English lace industry. She became the first "wedding influencer" in history! 😊
Before 1840, French women wore dresses in red (prosperity), blue (purity, Virgin Mary), and green (fertility). Each region had its traditional colors. White was even sometimes associated with mourning in certain cultures.
💡 To convince the skeptics:
This "sacred tradition" is only 185 years old. True European traditions were colorful. You're not betraying anything; you're rediscovering the true roots.
Why Choose a Coloured Wedding Dress?
Assert your personality. Your coloured wedding dress tells the story of who you are: romantic in pink, passionate in red, serene in blue, sophisticated in champagne.
Create memorable photos. A champagne dress at sunset in Provence, a blue dress facing the Mediterranean... These images have an incomparable visual power.
Respect your origins. If you have Asian, Indian, or Mediterranean roots, why deny your family's colorful traditions?
Reuse your investment. A colored wedding dress is easy to wear again: galas, birthdays, parties. Say goodbye to the dress that sits in a closet for 50 years.
🎨 The smart compromise
Still hesitating? Choose a very pale color (blush, light champagne, sky blue) or a white dress with colorful accents (pink belt, gold embroidery). Or wear a colorful dress for the photos and white for the ceremony.
White & Ivory: The Classics
Pure White
Pure white symbolizes purity and new beginnings. In France, it remains the traditional choice for religious weddings.
Ideal for: Churches, chapels, indoor weddings. Professions: teachers, doctors, civil servants.
Personality: Traditional, temperate, rational.
Body shape: Pure white makes you look larger. Choose it if you are slim and want to add volume.
⚠️ Warning: In some Eastern cultures, white evokes mourning. Check with your guests about their sensitivities.
Ivory & Off-White
Ivory (or off-white) brings warmth and softness. It's the "smart" white: traditional without being rigid.
Ideal for: Gardens, rustic castles, country weddings. Professions: lawyers, cultural professions, artists.
Personality: Gentle, elegant, discreet.
Body shape: Softens lines, perfect for slim to medium figures. More flattering than pure white on most skin tones.
💡 French note: Ivory evokes the Loire Valley châteaux and classic French elegance. It's the choice of refined Parisian brides.
Champagne & Gold: French Luxury
Champagne
Champagne embodies French luxury. This subtle golden hue evokes festive bubbles, Parisian palaces, and sophistication.
Ideal for: Luxury hotels, vineyards, elegant evenings. Professions: Entrepreneurs, senior executives, luxury sector.
Personality: Mature, confident, takes responsibility for her success.
Skin tone: Flatters ALL complexions. Champagne is the most universal color there is. The golden highlights create a flattering shine.
French culture: In France, champagne symbolizes celebration, success, and the art of living. It is THE choice for second weddings and brides over 30 in the upscale neighborhoods of Paris.
Gold
Gold goes further: it represents unabashed opulence, splendor, and wealth. In France, gold evokes Versailles, Louis XIV, and royal grandeur.
Ideal for: Gala evenings, palaces, lavish weddings. Professions: Public figures, entertainment industry.
Personality: Extroverted, charismatic, likes to shine.
Body shape: Gold visually widens the figure. Opt for fitted cuts (sheath, mermaid) rather than voluminous styles. Avoid it if you want to slim your silhouette.
⚠️ Warning: Overly intense gold can be aging. If you have very fair skin, be sure to test the color in natural light before ordering.
Powder Pink: Trendy Romanticism
Powder pink is a very popular color. It combines softness and originality. In Greek mythology, Aphrodite (goddess of love) was draped in pink.
Ideal for: Gardens, flower meadows, country weddings. Professions: teachers, nurses, designers.
Personality: Sweet, romantic, sensitive.
Body shape: Softens shoulder lines, ideal for broad shoulders. The powder pink visually slims the silhouette.
French culture: Pink evokes the gardens of Versailles, and Marie Antoinette who adored this color. It is the symbol of French romanticism.
⚠️ Avoid: Fluorescent or overly bright pink loses its nuances under strong light and can appear artificial. Opt for powdery, blush, or quartz tones.
Red: Passion and Traditions
A red wedding dress makes a statement. In China, it's the traditional color for weddings (happiness, prosperity). In ancient Rome, brides wore a red veil (flammeum), a symbol of fertility.
Ideal for: Chinese weddings, dimly lit venues, evening ceremonies. Professions: public relations, media, entrepreneurship.
Personality: Passionate, bold, embraces conventions.
Morphology: Focuses the gaze, emphasizes curves. Powerful visual effect that attracts all eyes.
French culture: In France, red evokes romantic passion, wine, and sensuality. Less traditional than in Asia, but increasingly accepted by brides who want to stand out.
⚠️ Cultural sensitivities: In some traditional Western families, red remains associated with "danger" or the "femme fatale." Discuss this with your loved ones before the big day to avoid any awkwardness.
Blue: Serenity and Wisdom
In Greek mythology, Athena (goddess of wisdom) was associated with the color blue. A blue wedding dress embodies intelligence, serenity, and confidence. "Something blue" is an Anglo-Saxon tradition: blue symbolized fidelity.
Ideal for: Seaside settings, modern chapels, minimalist weddings. Professions: Tech sector, finance, medicine.
Personality: Calm, independent, rational.
Morphology: Visual slimming effect. Blue slims the silhouette, particularly in dark shades (navy).
French culture: Blue is a royal color in France (the Bourbons). It is also the color of the Virgin Mary in Christian art, a symbol of purity and fidelity.
⚠️ Temperature note: Under cool light, blue can darken the complexion. If you are getting married in winter or indoors with cool lighting, test the color under these conditions.
Green: Nature and Renewal
Green is exploding in popularity with eco-consciousness. It evokes nature, growth, and renewal. In the Celtic tradition (strong in Brittany), green symbolized fertility.
Ideal for: Forests, gardens, eco-friendly weddings. Professions: teaching, environment, psychology.
Personality: Natural, calming, inclusive.
Morphology: Soft contrast, highlights the waist without a magnifying effect.
French culture: In some traditional French regions, dark green was sometimes associated with jealousy (the expression "green with envy"). Opt for lighter shades (sage, olive) to avoid this connotation.
💡 Current trend: Sage green is the #1 choice for bohemian and eco-conscious brides. It pairs perfectly with eucalyptus, raw wood decor, and zero-waste weddings.
Violet & Lavender: Provençal Creativity
Purple and its shades (lavender, mauve) symbolize creativity, spirituality, and mystery. In Provence, lavender reigns supreme from June to July.
Ideal for: Lavender fields, art galleries, artistic weddings. Professions: artists, music, fashion.
Personality: Romantic, mysterious, creative.
Morphology: Ideal for fair complexions which illuminate this color.
French culture: Lavender is the symbol of Provence. A purple/lavender wedding immediately evokes the fields of the Luberon, the South of France, and the gentle Mediterranean lifestyle.
⚠️ Cultural sensitivity: In some Asian cultures, deep purple can have funereal connotations. If you have Asian guests, opt for light lavender tones.
Grey & Silver: Chic Minimalism
Grey and silver embody contemporary minimalism, elegant sobriety.
Ideal for: Urban weddings, lofts, photo studios. Professions: design, finance, scientific research.
Personality: Calm, rational, minimalist.
Body shape: Slims and lengthens the silhouette. The grey/silver sculpts the body without widening it.
French culture: Grey evokes Parisian elegance, the discreet chic of bourgeois districts. It is the colour of intellectual sophistication.
⚠️ Beware of aging: A dull gray can look "old." Opt for pearly, silvery grays with luminous highlights. Add shiny accessories to liven things up.
Black: Parisian Audacity
A black wedding dress is the epitome of daring. Coco Chanel revolutionized black, making it chic. Why not for a wedding?
Ideal for: Urban weddings, galleries, Parisian rooftops. Professions: fashion, photography, artistic sector.
Personality: Independent, nonconformist, embraces her originality.
Body shape: Maximum slimming effect. Black slims more than any other color and sculpts the curves.
French culture: In Parisian elegance, black is the epitome of chic. It is the color of sophistication, of the intellectual, of the avant-garde.
⚠️ Family taboo: Black remains taboo in traditional weddings. In some families, it evokes mourning and will be frowned upon. Prepare the ground well in advance, or save this bold choice for your couple's photos only.
How to Choose Your Colour
1. Analyze Your Skin Tone
Fair skin: Powder pink, pastel blue, lavender, champagne, sage green. Avoid bright red and intense orange.
Medium skin tone: Almost everything suits you! Red, royal blue, emerald green, terracotta, gold.
Matte/dark skin: Rich colors enhance your features. Bordeaux, navy, deep purple, gold, intense champagne.
2. Consider the Location
Beach (French Riviera, Brittany): Blue, coral, turquoise.
Rustic (Provence, countryside): Sage green, powder pink, lavender.
Château/urban (Paris): Champagne, black, marine, Bordeaux.
Vineyard (Bordeaux, Burgundy): Bordeaux, champagne, olive green.
3. Listen to Your Profession
Your profession influences your natural style. Teachers tend towards pink/sage green. Entrepreneurs towards champagne/red. Creatives towards purple/black. Scientists towards blue/grey.
4. Test in Real-World Conditions
NEVER place an order without a sample. Screens distort colors. At Atelier Mariage, we send free samples of all our fabrics.
💡 Budget-friendly: At Atelier Mariage, our custom-made colored wedding dresses cost between €299 and €699. Same price as white, fine fabrics, hand-sewn, fully customizable, zero alterations.
Your Custom-Made Colour Wedding Dress
€299 to €699 all inclusive. Fine fabrics, hand-sewn, personalized. Free samples. 6-8 weeks.
Discover our collections →Frequently Asked Questions
Is it okay to wear a colored wedding dress?
Yes, 30% of French brides choose a colored wedding dress . White only became popular in 1840 with Victoria. Before that, all of Europe had colored weddings.
What color is best for fair skin?
Powder pink, pastel blue, lavender, champagne, sage green, ivory. Avoid bright red, intense orange, and overly bold gold.
Is a red dress acceptable in France?
Yes, increasingly so. Red symbolizes passion and love. Traditional in Asia, it's becoming trendy in France. Just be sure to warn very traditional families.
How to accessorize a colorful dress?
Neutral accessories to avoid overwhelming the look. Gold with warm tones (pink, champagne), silver with cool tones (blue, green). Off-white voile to soften the effect. Nude or matching shoes.
Is black acceptable for a wedding?
Bold but doable. Black symbolizes Parisian elegance and sophistication. Perfect for urban/artistic weddings. Note: it remains taboo in traditional families.
Do coloured dresses cost more?
Not here. Wedding workshop: €299 to €699 custom-made, colored or white, same price. Some shops charge extra for color, always check.
How can I convince my family?
Remind them that white only dates back to 1840 (for commercial reasons!). Show inspiring photos. Explain the symbolism. Suggest a compromise: white with touches of color.
Can you mix white and color?
Excellent solution! White dress with a colorful belt, embroidery, and a colored petticoat. Satisfies traditionalists while expressing your personality. Very trendy.