The bride’s gown doesn’t have to be solid white, especially since color accents are increasingly more available. A blue or red sash around the waist is striking and still very bridal.

The groom and his guys can also sport colour in their ties or on their cuff links. But colour will be most prominently displayed throughout the day in the bridesmaid dresses.

Some fervent folks might want to match the dresses to the invitation ribbons, the favour tags, and the bouquets but this is not the only way to define a style.

Mixing and matching dresses in varying shades — pink and orange, or pale green and yellow — can sometimes make a statement stronger than uniformity.