Does Your Wedding Dress Have To Be White?

When you decide to tie the knot, you want everything to be perfect on your big day – and this goes for your dress too! If wearing a white dress makes you feel pale, self-conscious or you’re simply scared you’ll spill something down it then don’t worry! No blushing bride should wear white just because they feel like they have to. Here are our tips on choosing a wedding dress that follows your personality, not tradition.

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Try pastels

If you love the thought of going against tradition but you’re nervous about jumping right in at the deep end, consider going for a subtle pastel colour. Whether peach or lemon, mint or light blue, pastel shades are soft, beautiful and delicate – all good words to describe a bride. A dress in a pastel shade still feels very wedding-esque too, which means you can stand out from the crowd while still playing it quite safe.

Think rich

To really get away from the tradition of the white wedding dress, throw caution to the wind and go all out in rich and vibrant tones. For a look that’s so glamorous it’s practically regal, try jewel colours like emerald green or sapphire blue – you’ll feel just like royalty on your big day. If that feels a bit wintery for what may well be your summer wedding, try bright sunshine colours such as sparkling turquoise or lively yellow and you’re sure to be the happiest and most radiant bride in town.

Your hair and makeup

Don’t just think about the colours that you’re going to be surrounded by, remember the other colours on you! This means considering everything from your skin tone to your eye colour to really make everything perfect. You’ve probably got a good grasp on which colours suit you, but if not consider treating yourself to a professional colour analysis. Think about what hair and makeup styles you want for your big day and how these compare with the colour of your dress. For instance, a bright red lipstick may not work well with a pink-toned dress or a beautifully-styled blonde hairdo might get lost against a gold dress.

Your colour scheme

It’s your big day so it’s completely normal for you to want to be the centre of attention. With this in mind, remember to consider your overall colour scheme when you’re choosing the colour for your dress. You don’t want to have a disaster on the day with your dress clashing garishly against your wedding palette but at the same time, you don’t want a colour that means you fade into a sea of similarly-toned bridesmaids, floral decorations or seating arrangements. If you’re worried about being too different, you could treat your bridesmaids to some quirky or unusual bridesmaid gifts that could gently tie all of your looks together.

What colours say

Don’t forget that the colour you wear can say a lot about your personality – and everyone you love will be there to see it! For example, red is often thought of as the colour of love, but it can also seem as feisty as it does passionate. Blue is so tranquil and calming, it’s actually recommended for stressful situations such as job interviews – so it may be a good choice if you’re nervous. Of course, this shouldn’t necessarily be a deciding factor in your choice of colour but at the very least, it’s a fun thing to consider!

Keeping these tips in mind, your dream dress can be any colour that you desire and you don’t have to stick to what tradition dictates. The most important thing on your wedding day is that you feel comfortable, beautiful and most of all, happy!

Image credit: Lauren Ross at brides.com