Pick The Right Colour For Your Dress

Your big day is approaching-you’ve booked the day, the venue and have told the important people. But have you decided on the colours that you will use? Colours are usually forgotten about when it comes to wedding planning, but it is probably one of the most important things to consider before planning your big day.

Why is picking the right colour important? Well if you want to have a running colour scheme throughout all aspects of your big day, you need make sure that you pick a colour scheme that will flatter yourself and the important guests-such as your bridesmaids. So before you start looking for the right products for your big day-chose the right colours!

Before shopping for a wedding dress most people assume that traditional wedding gowns are white-but you’ll be surprised to know that there are many shades of white, so finding the right shade is key to looking great on your big day.

Make sure you consider any changes to your skin tone – are you planning on having a tan on the day? Or will your summer tan fade by then? Try to shop for your dress while you have the skin tone that you hope to have. If you’re having a winter wedding, then try to find the right shade of white before going on holiday, or if you are planning on having a tan then fake the tan when trying on dresses. The smallest change in skin tone can make the biggest difference!

Whilst hair and eye colour plays a key role when selecting colours for your make up, the most important factor of choosing the colour of your gown is your skin tone. Typically there are two main ‘types’ of skin tones: warm and cool.

Warm skin tones tend to have a slight yellow, or golden, undertone to them, whereas cool skin tones have a blue undertone to them. But how do you know which one you are?

1-Look at the areas around your eyes – if the skin on these areas look slightly pink or blue then you probably have a warm skin tone.

2 – Although we assume olive, or darker skins have warm tone they tend to actually be cooler skin tones. If you tan easily then chances are you have a cool skin tone.

3-Look at the veins on your arms. If they appear to be blue then you probably have a cool skin tone, but if they appear to be more green then you probably have a warm skin tone.

4- The final trick is to tie your hair back and then hold a piece of blue or yellow fabric to your face. One should enhance your skin, and one should appear to make you look rather drained and tired. If your skin looks better against the blue fabric then you have a cool skin tone, and if the yellow complemented your skin better then you have a warm skin tone.

While these tests work for a lot of people, it is not a perfect system for everyone, so if you are still unsure then try and visit a colourist who will be able to guide you and tell you exactly what colours complement your skin tone.

So you know what skin tone you have, now you need to figure out what complements it. If you did the 4th skin tone test, then you will know that yellows tend to suit those with warm skin tones- so it’s no shock to know that almost any colour with a yellow undertone will complement those with a warm skin tone, and the same with cool skin tones and colours with a blue undertone. Simple! But when choosing between shades of white, it can be hard to tell what will look right.

Stark White
-This is the brightest and crispest shade of white. This shade of white has a blue undertone to it, so it’s great for cool toned brides, especially those with slightly darker skin tones (such as olive or tanned skin).

Silk, Diamond and Natural White
– These three shades of white are slightly more subtle than stark white, but are still rather bright. If you’re unsure about finding the right shade of white, then these 3 are the safe options as they suit the majority of skin tones.

Ivory, Eggshell and Candlelight
– These are yet another shade down from Silk, Diamond and Natural white. The yellow undertones in these three shades or white make them look almost slightly cream coloured and suit those with a warm skin tone incredibly well.

Rum or Champagne White
– This shade of white has pink undertones, which can look incredible on warm toned brides.

-Remember that the dress you try on in the store has also been tried on by others so the colour may have faded slightly. Most bridal boutiques should have sample patches of the fabric, so you can hold that against your skin to make sure the actual colour of the dress looks perfect.
-Ask if the dress comes in any other colours. You may only been shown a version in Stark White, but it may be available in Ivory too!
-If you’re still unsure about if it’s the right shade of white, then why not try a dress with some colour in it? Even if the entire dress is not colourful, a small detail such as a coloured belt could change the look completely.

If you want to wear white shoes on your big day, then simply find a pair in the same shade of white! And if you have your heart set on a certain pair in a different shade, then why not try to have them dyed? Just make sure that they are made of a suitable fabric.

Now you know what shade of white to wear, but what will your bridesmaids wear?