Unconventional Wedding Dresses Worn By TV Brides

The practice of wearing a white wedding dress is often attributed to Queen Victoria, who unconventionally wore a silk-satin gown trimmed with lace when tying the knot to Prince Albert in 1840. The color choice gained popularity throughout the early 1900s, but wouldn't become the complete norm until the mid-twentieth century, Since then, wedding attire has undergone plenty of silhouette and style trends. While the '60s favored straight silhouettes and knee-length hemlines, the '80s were the era of excessive embellishments and full, puffy sleeves and the 2010s ushered in sheer silhouettes and intricate detailing.

These traditions and trends can feel constricting in the modern day, but brides-to-be can rest assured that there are plenty of stylish ways to break tradition. Just as some celebrities have worn stunning, out-of-the-box wedding gowns, there have been noteworthy TV brides who've sported unconventional looks for their special days. Ranging from cultural touches to unique color choices, these ensembles provide great inspiration for those ready to disrupt the norm, while also doubling as some of the most head-turning looks to cross our TV screens.

Cece (Hannah Simone) and Schmidt (Max Greenfield) tied the knot in the Season 5 finale of "New Girl," with the beautiful bride also marrying her Indian culture with western traditions in a gold-detailed dress and lace veil. The look posed some interesting challenges to the design time, as Cece and another character initially purchased an outdated and tacky gown that Jess Day (Zooey Deschanel) vows to makeover before the big day. 

"We were locked into the silhouette of the 'ugly' dress," Debra McGuire, show costume designer, told UsWeekly. Additionally, Cece had already worn a traditional, red-and-gold Indian wedding dress in Season 2 of the show, so McGuire opted to keep the white color of the gown and infuse it with cultural influences. Not only does the resulting dress look stunning, but it also feels super fitting for the character. 

Fashion icon Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) turned heads with her beautiful blue wedding gown in the finale of "Gossip Girl." While the silhouette of the Elie Saab dress is classically simple, the sparkly embroidery and textured, flower-inspired detailing along the neckline and hips make it a truly stunning piece. Of course, the light blue shade also sets it apart from traditional wedding dresses, making it a great choice for a trailblazer like Blair. 

"When I saw the Elie Saab dress finally chosen for Blair's wedding to Chuck, it was absolutely perfect for her," Eric Daman, the show's costume designer, told InStyle. "It needed to feel like old world glamour meets contemporary high fashion." While Leighton Meester has had a stunning transformation since "Gossip Girl," this is one show look that we'll always associate with the star. 

While Cristina Yang's (Sandra Oh) marriage to Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) at the beginning of Season 7 of "Grey's Anatomy" was controversial among fans, the doctor's minimalist wedding gown serves as a testament to elegant simplicity. In the episode, Cristina dons a deep red midi-dress for the memorable day, with the piece featuring a deep-V neckline with loose, short sleeves. It's very simple in silhouette and features no flashy embellishments, but its rich hue definitely sets it apart from more traditional looks. Overall, the noteworthy ensemble demonstrates that you can still keep things timeless when departing from fashion norms.

Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) brought us another red wedding look, saying "I do" to Steve Brady (David Eigenberg) in Season 6 of "Sex and the City." In addition to keeping things simple and nontraditional for the milestone celebration, the bride opted for a velvet dress suit in a deep maroon, accessorizing with beaded necklaces, simple heels, and a fall-inspired bouquet. Not only are we fans of the material and color combo as an unconventional wedding option, but we think this no-frills ensemble perfectly suits the fiery, but pragmatic Miranda.

Next, Ivy Aguas (Maja Salvador) made a bold statement with her extravagant black gown on "Wildflower," breaking tradition by wearing a color that isn't typically recommended for wedding day attire. The revenge-centered Phillipine series was definitely bringing peak drama with the look, as a voiceover from the heroine noted that the color reflected her true feelings on her impending union. Revenge machinations aside, the unconventional wedding day outfit effortlessly balances drama with elegance and opulence. 

The Val Taguba ball gown featured a glittery, sweetheart bodice and a sweeping, damask-patterned skirt, with a bouquet of purple flowers emphasizing the ensemble's dark elegance. "[We were] inspired by royal Spanish weddings," costume designer Regi Cruz told Preview. "[We wanted] the look to speak of grandness, elegance, and wealth." 

Season 5 of "Parks and Rec" brought Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) together in a last-minute ceremony, requiring Leslie's best friend Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones) to get crafty with the not-yet-finished wedding gown. As a result, Leslie said "I do" in a tulle-lined, above-the-knee skirt made out of newspaper clippings showcasing moments from her career. According to costume supervisor Kristen Mann, each clipping was pulled from an actual "Parks and Rec" episode. This sentimental detailing combined with the dress's black-and-white color scheme, accented by red accessories, makes this one of the most memorable TV wedding dresses on our list.

The first season of "Outlander" brought another iconic TV wedding moment, with Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe) exchanging vows with highlander Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). The time-traveling bride wore a beautiful gown with exaggerated hips, a drop-shoulder neckline, and plenty of corseted cleavage. The original piece looked magnificent in the candlelit ceremony, being constructed with woven metallic fabric and featuring silvery embroidery across the bodice.

"We wanted to create something that would hit a perfect point in between the accuracy of the period...and the expectations of the audience who want to see a proper wedding dress by today's standards," costume designer Terry Dresbach told Yahoo! "I feel like we found a way to give it a traditional feel of a modern wedding dress, but done in an authentic fabric, color, and shape for the 18th century." This balance truly sets the stunning gown apart from traditional wedding attire.

Lastly, young Queen Charlotte's (India Amarteifio) wedding gown in "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" similarly married historical inspiration with modern influence. The custom-designed gown featured a plethora of embroidery and fine embellishments among the corset and the front panel of the ball gown-style skirt. "We interwove a lot of Yorkshire and Tudor roses into the hem of that gown, which were also woven into George's costume for the wedding," Lyn Paolo, Shondaland costume designer, told IndieWire.

Queen Charlotte accessorized with a sparkly cape and diamond jewelry, but her custom tremblant crown, worn with a full afro, is one of your favorite elements of the ceremony-ready look. Not only does the outfit convey a lot about the burgeoning queen and her newfound role, but it doubles as an unconventional wedding dress we won't be forgetting anytime soon.