The bride wore orange: Colourful, non-traditional bridal gowns showcase individual flair | Canada Voices

Katlyn Maxwell always knew she wanted an orange wedding dress. Her desire for a vibrant, non-traditional gown in her favourite colour dates back to Grade 9, when a friend drew a picture of what Maxwell’s future tangerine dress might look like.

Maxwell had her sights set on an outdoor wedding, and she wanted a dress that would complement the nature around her. In October, 2025, she accomplished that goal, wearing an off-the-shoulder orange and brown tulle gown with a sweetheart neckline.

“We had a fall wedding, and my colours were the oranges and reds and yellows from the trees,” said Maxwell, who lives in Oshawa, Ont. “My husband and his groomsmen wore the dark greens and browns of the evergreens around us.”

While Maxwell experienced some apprehension about what certain family members might think of her colour choice, she was pleasantly surprised that the decision was embraced by her loved ones – even the most traditional among them.

“I don’t know that very many people in my life would have thought I would’ve worn white,” she said. “I’ve never been a super traditional person or one who follows rules.”

The history of white

Colourful wedding dresses have been around for a long time, said Toronto-based bridal designer Catherine Langlois, who created Maxwell’s dress. Celebrities such as Mandy Moore, Jessica Biel and Reese Witherspoon have worn non-white dresses down the aisle, helping to popularize the fashion choice in recent decades, but colour was once the norm.

In fact, in the West, the trend of brides wearing white only began in the mid- to late-19th century, Langlois explained, while wearing a colourful wedding dress remains customary in many non-Western cultures. Contrary to popular belief, the introduction of white was less about ideas of purity and virginity and more about signalling socioeconomic success, since white fabric was rarer and more difficult to keep clean.

In modern times, however, white has come to represent tradition. Many brides eagerly await the chance to wear an extravagant white gown, but the practice doesn’t necessarily feel authentic to those who don’t see themselves as mainstream.

“It’s just an internal feeling that brides have regarding whether they want to do colour or not,” said Langlois, who designs both traditional white and colourful gowns but has a particular fondness for the latter.

“They may want to wear something that’s more exuberant, something that matches their personality or their colouring.”

While there have always been brides who opt for colour, Langlois said Gen Z seems to be even more open to the idea than previous generations, with an increasing number of brides from this demographic searching for non-white dresses. That’s partially because social media makes it easier to see the abundance of options available, but also because it’s a generation that deeply values individuality and identity.

“They want different, they want unique, they don’t want cookie cutter,” she said. “Doing colour pretty much guarantees you’re not going to be the same as the next bride over.”

Combining tradition with uniqueness

While some brides fully embrace unconventionality, others may choose to wear white while still incorporating details that feel unique to them. Nadia Svoboda, who lives in Grimsby, Ont., wore a white dress with colourful floral appliqués to her September, 2025, wedding.

“It reminded me of stained glass,” she said. “It just gave me that feeling that I was looking for and felt like it was the most me.”

While Svoboda wasn’t explicitly looking for something more non-traditional, she said she’s always loved flowers – they remind her of her grandmother’s garden – so it felt right to wear a dress with floral details. Instead of a veil, she wore flowers in her hair.

“Your wedding is a celebration of you and your relationship and your family, and I think it’s a great chance to be fully yourself,” she said. “Whether that means wearing a traditional white wedding dress or not, I think it’s just a really good opportunity for people to present themselves in a way that feels the most authentic to them.”

Eschewing convention the second time around

After wearing white for her first wedding more than 20 years ago, Lori Stein chose a lavender dress (also designed by Langlois) for her second wedding this past May. Nearing 50 and equipped with the confidence and self-assurance that comes with age, the Toronto bride chose to prioritize self-expression this time around.

“I knew that I wanted a lavender dress – it’s an expression of me and freedom and being unconventional,” she said.

Stein paired the dress with an equally personal footwear choice: vintage white Birkenstock Boston clogs hand-decorated with dried flowers and Austrian crystals by her mother.

The romantic, pale purple gown made her feel “ethereal, whimsical and otherworldly,” she said. As an older bride, Stein is glad that younger women seem to be more open to whatever feels authentic to them.

“It’s reflective of the direction that our society has moved in the past 20 years, which is really celebrating individuality, uniqueness and encouraging people to take time to explore their identities,” she said.

A dress that feels like you

For Ania Gilbert, who lives in Mississauga, Ont., it was a pink gown from American label Allure Bridals that made her feel the most like herself. She didn’t expect to go the non-white route, but she wanted something that reflected her big personality. The dress, with its mermaid silhouette, lace bodice and layers of ruffled tulle, was a perfect fit.

“I definitely knew I wouldn’t be doing something simple or basic or pared back,” she said. “I love dressing up, I love fashion and I always like to be a little bit extra.”

She had some initial reservations about what her traditional family might think of her light pink dress, but she said no one was surprised that she chose something a little different.

Gilbert’s wedding was a decade ago, but she still loves the dress she chose for her special day.

“Trends change so quickly, but I think the fact that I chose something that was so true to me makes it timeless,” she said.

Langlois agreed. Opting for a dress that reflects who you are is not only a great fashion choice, she said, but also an important step in creating an authentic bond with your partner.

“A wedding is a very spiritual, important event,” she said. “It’s about two people and their commitment to each other, and being true to yourself is a big part of that commitment.”