When is a white wedding dress not a white wedding dress?

For many a white wedding is the ultimate in sophistication and simplicity, others seek something bold to make a statement.... red maybe? Or rich autumnal colours?

Finding “the one” when searching for a wedding dress means getting the right shape, the right price, the right detailing and above all the right feel.  But what about the right colour?  White is easiest...... or is it?

 

White may seem like the obvious and in some ways simple choice for your dress but you might be surprised to learn that white is not the most popular colour for bridal gowns in the UK.   That honour goes to “Ivory”.
But let’s stick with white for a moment and consider why most brides are looking elsewhere.  One reason may be that for many skin tones pure white is a difficult colour to wear, for the fair skinned it has a tendency to drain colour, for brides who have experimented with tanning solutions a white gown can bring out (and there is no easy way to put this) an orange hue!  But there are further complications with white.... consider for a moment that you’re decorating your living room.  A quick trip to the DIY paint section will give you a massive array of white and “whitish” paints...simple white, aged white, old English white, milk white, spritzer, purity, fine silk, mascarpone, gallery white, champagne white, cream white, beige white, sand white, stone white, sail white and brilliant white are all whites offered by just one manufacturer.  With wedding dresses it’s just as varied.  Different designers use different fabric suppliers and sometimes different fabrics across their range of dresses so it’s hardly surprising that there is some variation from one dress to another.  Whilst we are talking about fabrics it’s worth pointing out that the differing texture of fabrics mean that they reflect light in different ways and will therefore alter the colour.  Natural fabrics such as silk tend to reflect light in a more random way and this causes the fabric (especially white) to take on colour from the  surroundings.

So with all those whites available brides why are still opting for “other” colours?

Unlike paint manufacturers bridal gown designers do not usually describe a more creamy white as “white with a hint of cream”.  This reluctance may stem from the message that a white wedding dress originally gave.  A generation or so ago white was the choice to symbolise purity... therefore white with a hint of apple for example would have been giving the message “nearly” pure!  Not such a desirable theme for your wedding day.  So when designers want to use a colour that is “white with a hint of” they are much more likely to call it something like “Rose” or “pale gold” or in the case of creamy whites.... Ivory.

OK... so what if I’m looking for a colour to make an impact!

Today couples more likely than ever to want to pick and choose elements of a traditional wedding and add into these their own ideas.  This has led to some couples moving away from the white/ivory gown to something a bit different.  Fashion plays a big part and, like them or loath them, star weddings also play a part in setting the colour trend.  With pinks, golds and the metalics of Carrie’s “Sex in the City” wedding dress  featuring strongly in the glossy magazines it’s likely that these colours will continue to be seen in bridal showrooms around the UK.  The season also seems to have a significant influence, spring brides will often favour lighter colours possibly with a shot of colour as an accent.  However, the increase in autumn and winter weddings has led to an increase in rich reds, claret, moss greens and, something that seems to be capturing the imagination, chocolate brown hues.  With all this colour choice there are however some things to be wary of.
If you’re planning a bold coloured gown check with the officiant (the person who will be marrying you) that the colour is acceptable.  Consider how you will tie the colour of the dress in with the groom, bridesmaids and other attendants.  A dark coloured wedding dress may leave the bridesmaids having to contrast with a lighter colour... effectively making them look more like the brides than you.
If this is all a little bewildering remember this basic advice......when choosing a dress get the shape right first then consider the detailing (including colour) second.  There is no point in buying a dress that is the wrong shape for you just because it was the only one you could get in your colour.

Posted: Fri 28 Mar 2008 14:00:00 pm.

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