Choose a stylish wedding dress in a subtle colour that will suit your wedding colour scheme

For most people, the archetypal image of a wedding dress is a long flowing white gown, complete with a veil and floral bouquet. And while the actual style of the dress may alter, the colour white never usually does. However, if you're getting married in the near future and you're reluctant to wear white, it's important to remember that it's not your only option. Indeed, there are many other subtle colours that could be appropriate, as well as options that will suit your chosen wedding colour scheme.

If you want to avoid wearing white but you're not bold enough to go in a different direction altogether, think about choosing a different shade of white. Rather than a traditional crisp white gown, you might want to think of a dress in ivory or cream. These shades offer different gradations of white that will look subtly stylish and unconventional, without causing great distress to any traditionalists in your wedding party.

On the other hand, brides that are willing to veer away from hues of white altogether will find a range of other subtle options at their disposal. Consider pastel shades that suit your skin-tone. Possible choices include cherry blossom pink, duck egg blue, lilac, pale green or a tasteful light yellow. The actual shade you pick will primarily depend on what matches your skin tone, so it's advisable to take a group of friends or family members along when you're dress shopping for a well-rounded set of second opinions. However, you should also think about how well the colour of your wedding dress will match the colour scheme of the event, if you've already decided on one.

Choosing an apt wedding colour scheme is an important step in organising your celebration, since it will inform the colour of your decorations, your flowers and your bridesmaid's dresses. If you're still looking for wedding dresses and you're yet to choose a colour scheme, it's possible that you'll be able to simply use the colour of your chosen dress - or a variation of that shade - as your theme. Alternatively, if your colour scheme has been chosen, it's important to ensure that your wedding dress doesn't clash.

Ultimately, if you're unable to contemplate wearing anything except a white wedding dress to your big day, you should bear in mind that your entire outfit needn't be white as well. Indeed, tweaking your accessories to match your wedding colour scheme is an attractive way to modify your outfit. For example, your hair ornaments, shoes, jewellery and especially your bouquet can be artfully chosen to match the colour theme at your wedding, giving your traditional dress choice a modern lift in the process.