13 Unique and Offbeat Wedding Dresses That Were Worn by Celebrities

The days of the traditional long white dress are numbered. After all, there’s no reason why we should limit our options to just white when getting married. Especially nowadays when the fashion industry has come up with so many cool and edgy options to shake things up a bit on that special day. Clearly, this is what some of the most famous celebrities of our time (along with many other brides) decided to go for. And it’s no wonder — celebrities are always the avant-garde when it comes to creating amazing new styles and events.

That being said, Bright Side wants to share some of the coolest, edgiest, and trendiest wedding dresses that celebrities wore as they said, “I do.” And who knows, you might end up ditching the white dress of your dreams after finding some inspiration for your own wedding here.

1. Emma Thompson

When it comes to unusual wedding dresses, Emma Thompson’s seems to be at the top of the list. Thompson married fellow-actor Kenneth Branagh in 1989. For that occasion, she left behind the typical white wedding dress and wore a short, multicolored one with a somewhat peculiar hat.

While their relationship didn’t ultimately pass the test of time, they were considered a golden couple of English cinema in the early ’90s and they left us with this rare but original wedding dress jewel.

2. Queen Elizabeth II

When the then-Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip, Europe was not really the place to be. World War II had just ended and economic problems were still the order of the day. But royal weddings are always a moment of celebration, not just for the Royal Family, but also for the rest of the world. And as you can imagine, the future Queen’s wedding was no exception.

She paid for her dress with clothing ration coupons, and on top of that, admirers sent her their own coupons by mail so that the princess could have her dream wedding garment. Even though these were returned since it was illegal to accept these offerings, she wore an ivory-colored satin dress embroidered with 10,000 pearls and 4-meters of silk tulle.

3. Dita Von Teese

The actress and model married rock singer Marilyn Manson in 2005, and what we least expect from them was traditional attire on their wedding day. The “Queen of Burlesque” wore a purple dress with a corset and a wide skirt along with a hat, faithfully reflecting the artistic trend that made her so famous.

4. Priscilla Presley

When Priscilla married the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, Elvis Presley, she wore a fairly simple dress but one that was perfect for the occasion. It went perfectly with their intimate, cozy, romantic ceremony. It was a white dress with long lace sleeves and inlaid stones. But finding it was a real challenge. She wanted to remain anonymous when shopping, so she had to go to stores wearing wigs and used fake names all the time.

The wedding was far from the large, luxurious event that music stars typically hold. Still, the Presleys soon became one of the most iconic and remembered couples of all time.

5. Solange Knowles

Beyoncé’s sister and fellow singer got married in 2014. Her outfits were simple, but that’s exactly what made them beautiful and elegant. She arrived at the ceremony wearing a very stylish jumpsuit that featured a cape and then switched into a Kenzo dress. But her modern dress was not the only thing that broke the traditional bride stereotype. Her means of transportation was something unheard of. Forget about limousines or carriages: the bride arrived at her reception on her bike!

6. Yoko Ono

Yoko Ono’s wedding with the lead singer of the Beatles lasted barely 10 minutes. They got married at the British Consulate in Gibraltar. The couple’s austerity was also reflected in their attire: she wore a miniskirt and a top, which she paired with sunglasses, a hat, long socks, and tennis shoes.

But that’s not the only thing that made this wedding special. While many couples would travel to the Bahamas for their honeymoon, John and Yoko settled down in the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam. Far from visiting the city and doing tourist activities like any other newlywed couple, they made the famous demonstration for peace, Bed-Ins for Peace, in which they spent 7 days in bed.

While their marriage was supposed to remain a secret, thanks to the demonstration, then they became the most famous couple in the world.

7. Kaley Cuoco

At her first wedding, the Big Bang Theory star cut loose from the tradition of the white wedding dress as well: she impressed everyone with an all-pink gown. Unfortunately, her marriage did not endure the test of time, but hey, love came knocking at her door once again and she said, “I do!”

In a much more mature setting, Kuoko wore a beautiful white lace dress paired with a lace cape as well. Could it be that this time she refused to go off the beaten path because she thought it could be a bad omen?

8. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Far from being a grand royal wedding, worthy of 2 future monarchs, Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles’ marriage was far more laid-back, and in a way, more casual than the heir’s first wedding. A civil union and a blessing in St. George’s Chapel followed by a reception sufficed for the couple to celebrate their love for each other.

In accordance with the event’s tone, Camilla was not wearing a long white wedding dress, but rather, opted for a chiffon and silk dress with a coat of the same fabric. Charles never would see his bride enter the church and walk down the aisle dressed in white. But in the end, all that matters is that he finally got what he had been waiting for: marry the woman he truly loved.

9. Shirley Temple

The actress’s first marriage took place when she was merely 17 years old. Because she had been working since she was a child, the people of her country, and the whole world, had seen her grow up on-screen. Clearly, no one wanted to miss this great moment in the life of the young film prodigy. She surprised everyone with a short-sleeved satin dress, which was very fashionable at the time.

10. Gwen Stefani

While Stefani was enjoying her golden hour as a member of No Doubt, she got married and wore a dress that was as funky as it was unique. Stefani wore a voluminous Christian Dior dress with pink degradé at the bottom and a long veil. It was very punk but refined, perfect for such an original and upbeat girl like her.

11. Miley Cyrus

In late 2018, the former Disney girl surprised the entire world when she married Australian actor Liam Hemsworth. The couple got married in a secret ceremony with their closest family and friends. Their attire was as relaxed, romantic, and simple as the event itself. Cyrus wore an elegant ivory silk satin dress, but somehow, we were left with the feeling that if they’d actually gone for a big wedding, they might have impressed us with something a little more eccentric and wild, something that we could clearly recognize as Cyrus’ signature look.

12. Kandi Burruss

When the singer and cast member of The Real Housewives of Atlanta said she was about to get married, she meant it. Just as if she were a participant in a reality show, Burruss documented the entire event on camera in a special called Kandi’s Wedding and revealed everything that went into the preparations for the big day.

And, of course, her dress was as stunning as the event itself. It was made of stones and feathers, had a 3-meter long train, and was a Reco Chapple. Just in case you were wondering, it’s estimated that the entire dress cost no less than $20,000. I guess we’ll all have to keep on saving for a while if we want a dress like that!

13. Allison Pill

If there’s one thing these brides have taught us, it’s that the color of your dress can be your favorite color. No need to go for white if you don’t want to — just ask actress Alison Pill. For her wedding, the Canadian actress wore a yellow vintage dress that perfectly matched her beautiful golden curls.

If you had to pick some exotic attire for a special day, what would you go for? Let us know in the comments or share pictures of yourself if you’ve already done this before!