What is The Meaning of a Black Wedding Dress?

That’s true – black color symbolism is power, authority, sexuality, confidence, and even death.

Although these connotations are antagonistic to white, black is no less suitable color for a wedding dress if you think creatively.

It represents mystery, intellect, and devotion until the end of time. It’s the color of brides who have their unique opinion on any topic and stand their ground.

Black wedding gowns are endlessly elegant and stylish, beloved by celebrities and drama queens. Such an unusual wedding dress color choice won’t leave anyone indifferent.

Sophistication & Elegance

Black is the ultimate color of sophistication and chic. It fits the very definition of elegance: ingenious and simple but graceful and stylish. Black color is always appropriate (even if it’s your wedding) and matches any other color.

Black is also the most formal color – no wonder the highest grade of dress code formality, black tie, requires men to wear a full three-piece suit, always of a dark color, preferably black. And weddings have traditionally been considered formal events.

Of course, modern weddings aren’t always formal, and even the most elegant wedding receptions rarely have a black-tie dress code.

But indicating the link between black color and formality is a great answer to anyone saying that a wedding dress must necessarily be white.

A little black dress is a timeless classic in any woman’s wardrobe that further proves the elegance of this color.

You can’t go wrong with a little black dress, and for your wedding, you can afford a voluminous and long black dress.

Furthermore, black is the color of some truly gorgeous, elegant animals, such as black panther, fox, and black housecat.

Mystery & Secrecy

Black is a color of darkness, and darkness is often associated with mystery. Since we never know what’s hiding in the darkness, black leaves much to the imagination. This color is often linked with hidden emotions and secrecy.

For this reason, black is often associated with depression and grief – people tend to keep emotions to themselves when they’re mentally vulnerable. However, secrecy and mystery carry not solely negative connotations.

After all, the ability to preserve secrets and keep your mouth shut when needed is a sign of wisdom and devotion to the person trusting you with their secret. That’s a rather helpful trait in family life.

Black is traditionally considered the color of magic and is used in relation to witchcraft. Although witches typically use evil magic, that’s not a rule. What truly determines a witch is her high intellect and magical powers.

Technically speaking, black is not even a color. It’s either the absence of color or another color with minimized brightness. Thus, we can’t know which color served as a base for black unless we increase the brightness.

Drama

Black is a dramatic color, combining power, deep emotions, romance, and mystery; a black wedding dress is perfect for the most extravagant brides.

Theatrical performances always carry deep symbolism, broadcasting a message through musical and visual metaphors.

Each color has a special meaning, and black is used in drama performances to show power, wealth, fear, mystery, depth, and sophistication.

Black color in clothing is often used to conceal emotions, a small theatrical act many of us do on a daily basis. It’s also versed in the art of seduction and hypnosis, both of which require certain acting skills.

Such an ambiguous black color meaning may not seem suitable for a wedding dress.

But there’s nothing wrong with being a drama queen – if you’re highly emotional, carry this title with pride! This may be the very trait your soon-to-be-husband loves you for.

Power & Authority

Black color is often linked with power, authority, and dominance. It’s an intimidating color, so people often wear it to feel safe and protected – who would dare to approach an unknown person dressed in total black?

Power carries both positive and negative denominations. The black belt indicates the highest degree of expertise, strength, and discipline in martial arts. Black color is associated with superiority and overcoming one’s weaknesses.

It’s no wonder that black is superior to other colors – after all, it absorbs all the light of other shades on the spectrum. It can be any color, all colors at once, or none of them.

Black is also the color of government agent suits, thus the idiom “men in black.” It has been long associated with high society, being the color of judges, priests, and tuxedos worn at black-tie events.

Overall, the color black conveys excellent self-control, prestige, and importance. A bride in a black wedding dress inevitably draws attention and should be mentally powerful to withstand it.

Intellect

Black color has always been linked with intellect. Studies show that the correlation is so strong that people perceive others as smarter if they’re wearing black regardless of their actual intellectual level.

Doctorates and judges wear black robes, the black-feathered crow is the most intelligent bird in the world, and priests carry deep religious knowledge. It’s no surprise black is seen as the color of wisdom.

Only people with high intellect can have incredible self-control and discipline that are also linked with black.

Furthermore, we tend to think that people with power and authority are smart, as they had to deserve their place in society.

A black wedding gown represents that a bride is a wise person who knows what she wants and prefers to think before she speaks.

Confidence & Courage

You should be highly confident to wear a black wedding dress. As it’s an unconventional wedding dress color, you won’t be able to avoid extra attention.

This color is courageous and a bit rebellious – perhaps, that’s why teens love black clothes so much.

Data shows that over half of color perception survey respondents consider black to be the color of confidence. It’s the perfect option for job interviews, first dates, your wedding day, or any other event where you are in the spotlight.

Individuality

In a sense, black is the most creative color, broadcasting self-sufficiency and individuality. While other colors strive to stand out, bursting with brightness, black doesn’t need it. It’s already the king of all colors.

People admiring black color often have creative professions. This color doesn’t intervene with the thinking process, allowing your brain to focus on your deepest thoughts. The endless mystery of black awakens our imagination.

People excluded from society or family are often called the black sheep.

Although this idiom typically has negative connotations, being a black sheep isn’t always bad – it depends on the context. Sometimes, it simply means that you have your own opinion.

Only the most creative brides who value their personal preferences and stand their ground can wear a dramatic black wedding gown. Such an attire broadcasts to others that you’re a strong personality and don’t go with the flow.

Devotion Until Death

Black color is traditionally associated with death and grief.

That’s the main reason black wedding dresses aren’t as popular as colorful options even nowadays when the rules aren’t as strict. Many people can’t overcome these negative associations.

Indeed, a black wedding dress for a church ceremony isn’t a good idea since every liturgical color has a special meaning.

Brides wishing to wear a black dress for the reception should consider choosing a more traditional dress for the religious ceremony.

However, outside of the church, we can interpret the black color meaning differently. Sure, it’s associated with death, but newlyweds promise to love each other until death do them part.

Thus, a black wedding dress is a perfect symbol of devotion until death. It embodies eternal love that withstands the trial of time and troubles.

Famous Black Wedding Gowns

If you’re planning to wear black for your wedding, you’re in good company – the list of celebrities wearing black wedding gowns is impressive.

Sarah Jessica Parker’s 1997 minimalistic black wedding dress with a voluminous skirt remains one of the most iconic examples of creative wedding attires to this day.

In 2020, Christine Quinn also wore black for her wedding, though her off-shoulder dress embellished with crystals was much more extravagant than Parker’s. Christine’s dramatic red lips are the perfect makeup for a black wedding dress.

All-time punk princess Avril Lavigne chose a black ball gown dress for her 2013 gothic-themed wedding. She paired it with a black bridal bouquet and black smokey eyes.

Ellie Goulding decided that a black dress would be too much for the ceremony and instead chose a modest, high-neck white dress. However, she still rocked a seductive black dress with a slit for the reception.

Perhaps, Tina Turner’s 2013 bridal outfit is among the most creative wedding dresses of all time. She chose a black Giorgio Armani dress covered in Swarovski crystals with a voluminous layered black-green taffeta skirt.