10 Romantic Red Wedding Dresses for the Bold Bride
These gorgeous gowns will have you re-thinking all ivory—and invite luck and wealth to your ceremony, reception, and beyond.
In an age where individuality reigns supreme, going against the grain of the bridal status quo isn't that difficult. More and more brides are opting for a personal (and yet, often traditional) approach to aisle-dressing, and designers are responding to the call, stepping out of the proverbial all-white wedding box. From the best looks on the Fall 2020 Bridal Fashion Week runways to the most recent Haute Couture collections, there's no shortage of new interpretations of classic styles—and colors.
Red wedding dresses have long been the customary choice in many countries and cultures, from China to India, and they are gaining traction in the west as well. While many brides globally may also opt for a white wedding gown for a modern touch, traditional ceremonies, like tea ceremonies and Indian nuptials, call for shades of scarlet. The color has historically symbolized good luck, success, auspiciousness, love, happiness, and even fertility. In Indian culture, it signifies the rising sun; according to astrology, the planet in charge of marriages, Mars, is also red.
Thanks to BAZAAR Bride's recent trip to mainland China to further explore both the bold and traditional bridal fashion moments, we've got our eyes set on red wedding dresses. Here, 10 romantically red wedding gowns to consider for your wedding—straight from the runways and our most recent editorial.
Asymmetric Envy
Jewel tones, like ruby red, make a magnificent statement when done in a voluminous silhouette, like this ball gown. A billowy sleeve with buttoned cuff and bejeweled belt is as regal and timeless as this statement shade. Our advice: Don't disregard this dreamy dress as a wedding-worthy choice just because it's not all ivory.
Monique Lhuillier Spring 2020 RTW dress, moniquelhuillier.com
Femme Feathers
A flirty frock isn't complete without blossoming bodice plumes and layers of brightly colored tulle. This romantic midi dress with a red tulle train was recently showcased on the runways of New York Bridal Fashion Week. Think: reception or after-party dress and the perfect opportunity to show off your best bridal shoes.
Ines Di Santo Fall 2020 Bridal dress, inesdisanto.com
Lucky Lady
As seen in The Season's Luckiest Wedding Gowns, this crimson dress is hand-beaded to custom specifications. Options for prosperous personalization include a star map of the night sky under which you’ll be getting married, an initial, or an auspicious emblem.
Cucculelli Shaheen dress, cu-sh.com; Van Cleef & Arpels earrings, vancleefarpels.com
Minimal Moment
A no-frills dress turns sleek and sophisticated when done in a deep red tone. Case in point: this elegantly draped, high neck Valentino gown. Pair it with a bold earring and statement clutch to complete a look that's lovely, and lucky.
Valentino Resort 2020 dress, valentino.com
Regal Ruffs
Known for puffs and dramatic high-low silhouettes, the latest couture collection from Giambattista Valli induced flower power in droves, and single-bloom flower crowns. Looking for something outside the bridal box? Look no further.
Giambattista Valli Couture Fall 2020 dress, giambattistavalli.com
Red Renaissance
Structured meets feminine accurately describes the work of new bridal designer Phuong My. My speaks of her work as “modern reinterpretations of traditional Asian design for women seeking the extraordinary.” For a Chinese bride, nothing could be more traditional than red bridal attire, but done in a sleek and chic silhouette, it feels undeniably modern for a celebration of any denomination.
Phuong My Bridal Spring 2020 dress, phuongmy.com
Tied With a Bow
A plunge front, hot pink waist-tie, and underlayers of nude tulle are only some of the aspects that make this ball gown anything but basic.
Vera Wang Bride "Zoya" gown, price upon request, verawang.com
Oversized Skirts
Bold ball gowns in voluminous fabrics a la Gone with the Wind make a statement all on their own for the aisle—but when worn in a rich hue, like ruby red, it becomes unforgettable and undoubtedly elegant.
Monique Lhuillier Spring 2020 RTW dress, moniquelhuillier.com
Secret Garden
Flirting between pink—the color of happiness—and red, the most auspicious hue, this Reem Acra gown pairs perfectly with rubies, which are associated with luck, fame, and royalty in Chinese astrology. But what makes this dress extra special? In between blossoms, it’s appliquéd with butterflies, a symbol of longevity and significant to young love in Chinese culture.
Reem Acra Pre-Fall 2019 gown, reemacra.com; Stephen Russell earrings, stephenrussell.com
Cover Up
From layers of frothy tulle to red gloves, a shawl-cape, and a uniquely structured bridal hat, this head-to-toe red look is as lucky as it is chic—and extravagant without being too over-the-top.
Phuong My Bridal Spring 2020 dress, phuongmy.com
Beauty Notes
For an unexpected way to wear the traditional, auspicious bridal color: opt for it on your lashes, so you’re brushing away bad luck and inviting in the good with every blink. The color not only repels the evil eye, it invites luck and wealth, and is associated with life-giving energy according to Eastern cultures.
Makeup by Victor Henao for Esteé Lauder; Get the Look: Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Paint-On Liquid LipColor in 'Poppy Sauvage Matte' ulta.com.
Heather Hall is a weddings, fashion, and lifestyle writer and editor. Her career in weddings began at The Knot, where she worked as a bridal fashion editor. She then worked as a PR Manager at Amsale, a bridal design house, before starting her own events and digital marketing business. She has been featured on Today.com, MSN.com, Yahoo.com, Racked.com, Huffington Post, Verily Magazine, and Style Me Pretty. Heather loves music, travel, and practicing yoga. In her spare time she's typically researching the next fun workout class to try, or finding a new concert to attend. Her latest goal: become a DJ.
20 Beautiful Ready-to-Wear Wedding Gowns
The Best-Dressed Wedding Guest: The Summer Dress E
23 Short Wedding Dresses Worthy of the Aisle
33 Dresses to Wear to a Spring Wedding
