Rhiannon Hendricks
Picking a wedding dress colour is a highly personal decision and there are no rules. While white and ivory are the most popular colours for wedding gowns, brides today are increasingly choosing a variety of colours, from champagne to blush to non-traditional colours like black, blue and lavender. The colour of a wedding dress was traditionally symbolic—white symbolised purity, while red and blue are considered lucky in some cultures. However, modern brides are more likely to choose a colour that suits their skin tone or the style of their wedding.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Skin tone | Pale skin tones can be washed out by true white dresses, but darker skin tones and yellow undertones (olive skin) are complemented by this colour. Ivory suits most skin tones, as do champagne and almond. |
| Hair and eye colour | Blondes, redheads, and those with light eyebrows may suit a dress that emphasises their "juiciness", such as a gown with golden undertones. |
| Personality | A red dress is bold, passionate, and full of desire. Orange conveys youthful vitality, strength, and flamboyance. Yellow symbolises intelligence and wisdom with a hint of humour. Green symbolises nature, compassion, and loyalty. Blue is peaceful, pure, calm, stable, and loyal. |
| Season | Spring colour types include golden skin, grey, blue, or green eyes, light eyebrows, and blonde, straw-coloured, red, or light brown hair. Summer colour types have cold-coloured hair (blonde, ash, dark) and light eyes (grey, brown). Autumn colour types have soft facial features, golden or olive skin, and warm-coloured eyes (grey, brown, amber). Winter colour types have dark hair (brown, black), white skin, and light or dark eyes. |
| Contrast | A coloured fabric will make the lace on a dress stand out more than an ivory or white dress. |
| Lighting | The colour of a dress can look different in various lighting conditions. |
| Tradition | White symbolises purity and was made popular by Queen Victoria in the 19th century. However, modern brides are increasingly choosing non-traditional colours, such as black, blue, or lavender, to make a statement. |
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What You'll Learn
Skin tone
First, identify your skin tone. Most brides fall into the pale, fair, medium, olive, or dark skin tone categories. Then, determine your undertone by looking at the veins in your wrist. If they appear blue or purple, you have cool undertones; if they look green, you have warm undertones; and if they appear blue and green, you have neutral undertones.
If you have fair skin, colours like ivory, champagne, blush, and mocha will complement your skin tone. These shades have a warming effect on your skin, preventing you from looking washed out. Cool-toned colours like champagne and blush are especially flattering on fair skin. On the other hand, pure white dresses may wash you out. If you're looking for an alternative bridal look, opt for pastel shades like cream or peach.
For olive or tanned skin, warm-coloured wedding gowns such as off-white, cream, champagne, and gold will look beautiful. These shades will complement your skin's warmth and add radiance to your complexion.
Darker skin tones are generally complemented by bright colours such as ivory, pale yellow, light grey, and pure white. These shades create a striking contrast against darker skin, ensuring you stand out on your big day. Darker skin tones can also carry bold colours like emerald green and navy blue, especially outdoors.
Ultimately, the most important thing is to choose a colour that makes you feel comfortable and confident. Try on different shades and consider the lighting of your venue when making your decision.
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Fabric and silhouette
The fabric and silhouette of a wedding dress are important considerations when choosing a gown. The material will influence the dress's formality, style, and pricing, as well as the theme of the wedding.
Fabric
The choice of fabric will depend on the season, venue, and theme of the wedding, as well as the silhouette of the dress. For example, a beach or park venue calls for a lightweight fabric such as silk, chiffon, dotted Swiss, or georgette, while a winter wedding may require thicker fabrics like taffeta, velvet, or suede. The time of year should be considered to guarantee optimal comfort on your special day.
Lace is a popular choice for its intricate, romantic, and versatile design, although it is one of the more expensive options. Other fabric options include satin, tulle, organza, crepe, damask, and dupioni.
Silhouette
The silhouette of a wedding dress is its shape and style. Some common silhouettes include:
- A-line: Universally flattering with a nipped-in waist and flared skirt.
- Trumpet: Similar to A-line but more fitted, this style is good for those who want to accentuate their curves.
- Mermaid: A form-fitting style that flares out at or below the hips, often with a dramatic flare.
- Sheath: A straight-cut, slim-fitting silhouette that contours the body and flatters brides of every height.
- Column: A slim-fitting, straight-cut silhouette without shaping, often made with structured fabrics like taffeta or brocade.
- Ball gown: A dramatic silhouette with a full skirt, often made with structured fabrics like dupioni.
- Tea-length: A vintage yet contemporary style with a full skirt that hangs at the natural waist and a hemline that falls just above the ankle.
When choosing a silhouette, it is important to consider your body type and personal style. For example, a sheath dress can elongate a petite bride's frame, while a trumpet or mermaid style can accentuate an hourglass figure. Ultimately, the most important factor when choosing a wedding dress is finding one that feels most like you and captures your unique style.
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Lighting and setting
When it comes to choosing a wedding dress colour, the lighting and setting of your wedding venue are important considerations.
The type of lighting at your venue will affect the appearance of your dress. Natural light will showcase the true colour of your dress, so be sure to view the dress in natural light before making a decision. Certain shades of white, such as diamond white or silk white, may appear differently under various types of light. For example, white satin can take on a silver or blue hue depending on the lighting. Chiffon, on the other hand, tends to reflect warmer shades.
The setting of your wedding also plays a role in dress colour selection. Natural lighting in outdoor venues or art galleries pairs well with natural tones. Modern spaces like hotels or lofts, on the other hand, can handle bolder colours. Additionally, consider the time of year you're getting married. Spring weddings often feature soft and fresh pastel colours, while summer weddings embrace brighter colours. Fall and winter weddings usually incorporate darker shades, metallics, and neutrals.
It's also essential to think about how the dress colour complements your skin tone and personal style. While traditional white dresses create a formal look, ivory dresses are more romantic and vintage-inspired. Diamond white, a shade between stark white and ivory, flatters a wide range of skin tones, especially those with yellow undertones. If you're unsure about your skin tone, consult a professional at a wedding dress salon.
Ultimately, the choice of wedding dress colour should make you happy. Don't be afraid to break away from tradition and choose a colour that reflects your unique style and vision for your special day.
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Cultural significance
The colour of a wedding dress often carries cultural significance. In Western cultures, white wedding dresses have symbolised purity and grace since the 19th century, when Queen Victoria wore a white lace gown to marry Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1840. Illustrations of the wedding were widely published, and many brides opted for white in accordance with the Queen's choice. Prior to this, Western brides wore their best finery, often in vivid colours, with black being a popular choice in Finland.
In Eastern cultures, wedding dresses are often colourful and elaborate, imbued with symbolic meanings unique to each region. In China, red symbolises good luck, happiness, and joy, so brides often wear red paired with gold jewellery on their wedding day for good fortune. Traditional Chinese wedding dresses are made from silk or brocade fabric, with a mandarin collar and knotted silk-wrapped buttons called pankou. The fabric may also feature a phoenix, dragon, or both; symbols of good luck and a harmonious marriage. In India, bridal jewellery is an important part of the wedding look, with each piece holding cultural or spiritual significance. Gold jewellery is also common in South Asian and African wedding dresses, denoting wealth and acting as a safeguard for the bride. Nigerian weddings involve the whole community and span several days, with traditional garb worn for the ceremony, and Western attire for the white wedding.
In medieval Europe, blue was a popular colour for royal brides, conveying wealth and purity. Less affluent brides wore lighter blues in plainer fabrics like wool or linen. In Ireland, green is often used to signify luck and fertility, though an overuse of the colour is thought to bring bad luck.
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Personal preference
Ultimately, the colour of your wedding dress comes down to personal preference. If you have a preference for a certain colour, don't let anyone tell you that you shouldn't wear it! However, there are some considerations you may want to take into account when choosing a colour that suits you.
Firstly, you may want to consider your skin tone. While there is no set formula for matching a dress colour to your skin tone, certain colours may complement your skin better than others. For example, true white wedding dresses tend to wash out paler skin tones, but they can look excellent on darker skin tones and yellow undertones (olive skin). On the other hand, ivory wedding dresses tend to suit lighter skin tones, as the warm hue contrasts with cool undertones. If you have a darker complexion and want the details of your dress to stand out, you might opt for a darker base colour, such as mocha. If you want a lighter shade that still allows details like lace to stand out, you could consider a nude or blush colour. Blush is considered a universally flattering colour, as it tends to have a slightly pink undertone that allows white lace to stand out without washing out the wearer.
Another factor to consider is the amount of contrast you prefer. If you like the look of lace, a coloured fabric will make the lace details pop more than an ivory or white dress. If you prefer a softer, more subtle look, ivory may be a better choice.
To find the right colour, it's a good idea to try on as many different colours as possible, paying attention to different fabric tones and how they look with your skin tone.
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Frequently asked questions
The most popular colours for wedding dresses are shades of white and ivory. However, some brides opt for non-traditional colours like black, blue, lavender, orange, yellow, or red.
The ideal wedding dress colour for you will depend on your skin tone. For example, true white dresses tend to wash out paler skin tones but complement darker skin tones. Ivory, on the other hand, suits almost everyone, especially those with lighter skin tones. If you have an "autumn" appearance with golden or olive skin, you might opt for a dress with a matte fabric and a heavier structure.
White is a bright hue with no mixes or shades of any other colour. Ivory, on the other hand, has a slight tint of cream, giving it a warmer colour.
The colour of your wedding dress can hold different meanings. For example, red symbolises boldness and passion, orange symbolises youth and vitality, yellow symbolises happiness and wisdom, green symbolises inventiveness and loyalty, and blue symbolises peace, purity, and good luck. However, modern brides may consider this factor less important.
There are no rules when it comes to choosing a wedding dress colour. It is important to keep an open mind and consider what makes you feel your best. You may want to select a colour that suits the style of your wedding or opt for a colour that is simply flattering on you.
