It may sound cheesy to some, but a wedding is an important day in one’s life. There’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting to make it a little bit more special. At the risk of sounding pretentious, I’ll say that a non-conventional wedding can be more interesting than a traditional one.

The Knot even declared the most popular bridal aesthetic of the year 2023 to be non-traditional wedding dresses. According to them, extravagant celebrations and maximalist fashion are the result of the post-lockdown era. Many to-be-weds had to postpone or cancel their wedding plans altogether. Now that they can finally plan their celebration, it’s extravagance and uniqueness galore.

To find out more about the world of unconventional weddings, Bored Panda reached out to Kat Williams. She is the editor and founder of the Rock n Roll Bride magazine. She is also an Amazon #1 bestselling author of the book Rock n Roll Bride: The Ultimate Guide For Alternative Brides. Kat is a specialist in non-traditional weddings and unique bridal looks and kindly agreed to share her expertise with us.

The magazine was born out of lack of inclusivity in the industry. Its creator Kat Williams decided to start Rock n Roll Bride when she was planning her own wedding. “If you didn’t have a big budget, if you didn’t want something traditional and if you didn’t fit into the straight, white, able-bodied bridal mold, there was nothing for you!”

Their mission statement reads: “You don’t have to be wacky; you don’t have to be offbeat and you certainly don’t have to be intentionally ‘different’ – you just have to be you.”

We asked Kat what she considers a wedding outfit that is truly different. “Of course, there's the more obvious things like going to something that isn't white, or is an unusual, more fashion-forward cut,” Kat says. “But I think accessories can really make or break a bridal look too. You can take the most traditional ivory dress and really make it your own with a statement shoe, jackets, belts, gloves and your jewelry choices.”

There’s a reason why more and more people opt to have non-conventional weddings. “These days couples want their wedding to be a reflection of them more than ever,” Kat explains. “It’s not about blindly following tradition or trying to 'keep up with the Joneses' anymore. The modern couple want a day that is unique and will make people go ‘wow.’ This will, of course, extend to what they choose to wear too.”

There’s also no denying people want to share their special day on the internet. “Social media has a huge part to play in this as well, as people are posting their weddings on TikTok in particular and going viral more easily than ever,” Kate acknowledges.

During her years as an alternative bridal magazine editor and creative director behind bridal photo shoots, Kat has seen her fair share of stunning dresses. Although it’s almost impossible to choose just one, she names the DiDomenico Design rainbow dress as her current favorite. The Lucy Can't Dance's Phoenix gown is one that also caught her attention during last year’s 2023 New York Bridal Week.

The Rock n Roll Bride magazine features a variety of non-traditional bridal looks: from punk to multicultural, from Barbie to Halloween themes – you can find a wide assortment of dresses. Some looks ditch the dress altogether – it’s 2023, women can wear a pantsuit or a jumpsuit to their wedding and look just as fabulous.

The idea is not that world-shattering or particularly new. “Consider alternatives such as a jumpsuit, a matching top and pant set, or something a bit bolder like a colorful wedding dress or even a black dress," Alicia Lloyd told Brides.

"A traditional white wedding gown is not for everyone, and I always encourage clients to choose something that will make them feel their most confident and showcase who they are on their big day."

Bespoke Bride also offers some tips and ideas on how to make your wedding dress stand out. They advise ditching the usual neck accessories and going with a back necklace. It’s not as bold as usual jewelry, but still eye-catching enough. It’s a great way to complement a strapless or an open-back dress.

Ombre is everywhere these days. Hoodies, hair – even wedding dresses can be dyed that way! It’s a great choice for a wedding that’s less formal than usual. The length of the ombre effect depends on the person.

For a subtle look, tip-dyeing is the perfect choice. But for more fearless and adventure-seeking brides, Bespoke Bride suggests starting the ombre effect from the top of the bodice and finishing with a bold color at the hemline.

“Traditional” does not only mean a white wedding dress. Dresses from other cultures also fall into this category. We’ve covered what traditional wedding dresses from around the world look like before.

Generally, it’s the wedding looks featuring something outside of the conventional Western white-adjacent gowns. They can be colorful, include lots of intricate accessories and, in some cases, even face painting and decorating.