Red wedding dresses - go for bold

Far from screaming scarlet harlot, red wedding dresses are all the rage at the moment, and have been appearing all across designer catwalks since 2011.

From Vivienne Westwood’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Bride dress that appeared at the 2011 Luxury Wedding Show in London, to the strapless, glamorous ruffled gown of Oscar de la Renta, and several stunning creations from Vera Wang in wine, scarlet, and burgundy.

This colour is fast becoming a firm favourite among modern brides seeking an alternative to the traditional white bridal gown.

Red wedding dresses can convey a number of messages. The shade is not only associated with love and warmth, but it also boasts boldness, passion, courage, and strength, making it a great choice for brides who really want to make an impact.

Obviously, you’ll want to make sure your gown compliments your skin tone, and red bridal gowns in particular do need approaching with caution. Very bright reds can leave you looking washed out, particularly if you have a pale complexion. So, as a general rule of thumb, if you have pale skin, go for blue-reds, and if you have darker or tanned skin, bright and orange-reds will really compliment your complexion.

When it comes to body shape, red is a fairly flattering hue as it lies in the middle of the colour spectrum. However, if you have curves you’d rather conceal, a darker shade such as wine will help give the effect of slenderness, as will mid or full-length sleeves. Equally, tall, athletic builds will look pretty as a picture in a full-length ball gown-style skirt, with a fitted, strapless bodice.

Red bridal gowns are the ideal choice for the modern, confident bride-to-be. Plus, they also look particularly stunning during the weeks around Valentine’s Day and Christmas.