sing a rainbow

Ever since I first clapped eyes on Gwen Stefani’s white and pink ombré John Galliano gown in my mum’s dog-eared HELLO! way back in 2002, I’ve been self-confessed sucker for the brave use of bridal colour. Whether it’s a touch of blush pink a’la Stefani, a bold electric blue high heel or crazy pastel unicorn hair (it’s a thing, I promise), I can’t get enough of splashes of the rest of the rainbow gang against all of the ivory. Who decided that white should have all of the fun, anyway?

The current bridal runways have been full of key trends including capes (already featured here on Brides Up North) bare shoulders, plunging necklines, oversized bows and – wait for it – colour.

So what are the options for a girl who wants to go beyond the pale?

Well, first up there’s the dress. I’m not saying that you necessarily have to go down the Dita-von-Teese purple showstopper route; Vivienne Westwood may approve, but your prospective mother-in-law might never get over it. I’m thinking soft hues like Pantone’s Colours of 2016 Rose Quartz and Serenity (a heavenly bluey-grey); less Camila Batmanghelidjh and more Jessica Biel.

Top designers such as Maggie Sottero stock a range of delicately coloured dresses without straying too far from a conventional palette, including pewter, light gold and silver. Sassi Holford peppered her gowns with colourful petals for 2017. Candy Anthony are famed for their coloured 50s frocks, or coloured waistbands and underskirts teamed with traditional white and ivory; a perfect ‘sneak peek’ of colour rather than a rainbow riot. Our lead sponsor Charlotte Balbier also included a riot of floral colour in her beautiful Untamed Love collection.

My personal favourites, Anthropologie’s BHLDN, stock an amazing range of bridesmaid and maid of honour dresses in a host of subtle hues which could easily stand in for a bridal gown – not too off-the-wall, but different enough to make a statement. The best? Maybe the rose gold sequinned Alana dress which would look the part at a smart city wedding, or the delightfully boho Inesse gown for a more countryside affair.

There’s also a popular trend for bridesmaids to wear different coloured dresses to create a palette that reflects the chosen colour scheme of the day, such as sugary pastel tones. Check out Maids To Measure, twobirds Bridesmaid or ReWritten.

If you’ve got your heart set on an ivory dream of a dress, then perhaps your man could get in on the colour action instead with an unusual choice of jacket, tie or shirt. Times have moved on since Jamie Oliver donned a powder blue suit and we’re seeing braver and broader colour options for blokes all the time.

Or how about a vibrant headpiece? You could embrace the current feather trend with a hairband or combs, or there’s always the option of including some colour in your veil or via a floral crown headpiece. There are literally hundreds of Etsy retailers ready to handcraft a headpiece to your specifications and Pinterest is brimming with inspiration. It’s an easy way to incorporate the traditional ‘something blue’ or pay a nod to the rest of your colour scheme.

The day of the mid-heel ivory slingback as the only bride-appropriate footwear is well and truly over. Shoes are an area where many are prepared to be a little more daring – subtle coppers, pinks and rose golds all look stunning but, depending on season and style, emerald green, midnight blue or vermillion packs a real punch. There’s little more thrilling than the peep of a coloured toe from under a pale dress and whatever your style – vintage, modern, romantic – there’s plenty of options to suit every budget, from high street to designer.

So let’s hear it for the lovers of colours!