A purple wedding dress - daringly different

Joining the ranks of rebellious wedding dresses that are fast becoming the alternative option for modern brides are purple bridal gowns. They’re becoming a more familiar sight at fashion shows, and have captured the inspiration of designers like Henry Holland.

You will find them in all shades like lilac, lavender, and deep purple, with some coming in block colours and others with heavy purple embroidery or panelling on a more traditional white gown.  Purple is traditionally a royal colour, and to this day it still conveys a strong sense of nobility, elegance, mystery, magic, and opulence. As purple bridal gowns are available in so many shades, there is pretty much a colour available to suit all seasons. Spring and summer weddings are perfect for making use of light hues such as lilac and lavender, whilst autumn and winter months are ideally suited to deep purples.

Purple looks fantastic next to virtually any colour, so you can take full advantage of this fact by making use of different shades throughout your wedding to contrast and complement each other. Popular colours that look stunning with purple include pink, white, silver, and blue.

As with most light colours, soft lilacs look better against tanned and darker skin tones, whilst mid-to-dark purples can make pale skin look luminous. That doesn’t mean you have to rule out your favourite shade however, and you can also seek the help of a fake tanning professional to give you a more bronzed glow. 

Light purples look beautiful in intimate or daytime settings by giving a truly dreamy effect, whilst darker, more dramatic shades are more suitable for large and lavish or evening affairs. It’s a great shade for brides of all ages and sizes, and if you’re not quite feeling brave enough to go for a head-to-toe block colour, you can incorporate lighter, contrasting colours into your white/ivory gown and choose a bouquet made from lavender, lilacs, freesias, pansies or purple tulips.