Black is the new, well, black when it comes to bridal fashion. While black has traditionally been shunned from weddings (for the bride as well as for guests), this particular "rule" is starting to fade away for many. The wedding dress wasn't always white, either; this has been a relatively recent tradition in terms of wedding gowns.

The non-white wedding dress is more of a European idea, so for some of the best choices in black wedding dresses, you may want to look to designers from that continent. For example, a black Xena wedding dress is available from Just Brides Ltd, a U.K.-based retailer.

Pictured below is an option from Nordstrom.

If you don't want to go full-black, black accents have become popular, especially for evening and more formal weddings. You can incorporate this dramatic color on a sash, neckline or even in your bouquet instead of wearing a black gown if that's just a bit too much for you. Wearing a black wedding dress is for the confident bride-to-be who isn't concerned with mere tradition, so if that describes you, you might want to look to colors other than white.