Choosing the perfect wedding dress color is key to feeling beautiful and confident on your big day. Discover expert advice from Lovella Bridal, Los Angeles' premier bridal boutique, on how lighting, photography, and fabric contrast influence your gown’s final look. Ideal for stylish brides shopping for designer wedding dresses in Southern California.
When it comes to planning your dream wedding, choosing the perfect wedding dress is one of the most exciting, and sometimes overwhelming, parts of the journey. But beyond finding a silhouette or neckline you love, one of the most underrated decisions is selecting the right wedding dress color.
At Lovella Bridal, the best bridal boutique in Los Angeles, we’ve helped thousands of brides find their dress and one of the top questions we get is: “What color should I order my wedding dress in?”
Let’s break down what you need to know so you can confidently say “yes” to the right shade for your big day.
Watch: How To Pick The Right Wedding Dress Color For Your Wedding
If you are a bride to be shopping for your dream wedding dress, you are probably thinking about what shape and style bridal gown you will like the best. From ball gowns to fitted dresses, to sparkle and lace embellishments, there are endless possibilities when it comes to choosing your bridal fashion. But what about color? Should you opt for a pure white wedding dress, or consider a gown with champagne or blush undertones?
To help you decide on wedding dress fabric choices, tune in to our latest bridal fashion advice video to learn how to pick the right wedding dress color for your wedding day.
Wedding Dress Color Options: More Than Just “White”
Why Wedding Dress Color Matters
You might wonder, “Does the dress color really matter that much?” The short answer is yes, especially in photos.
Your wedding photos and video are forever. A gown with an ivory lace overlay and champagne lining, for example, will often photograph with more depth and contrast, highlighting the intricate lace details far better than tone-on-tone ivory. In contrast, an ivory-on-ivory gown may appear more subtle and classic, but can sometimes lose detail in photography, especially in bright light.
If you're having an outdoor Los Angeles wedding (hello, sunshine!), the way your dress photographs in natural light is essential. We often encourage our brides to view their gown in natural light, such as near a window, to truly assess how it photographs. The fluorescent lights inside a bridal shop can make the dress details appear different than in natural light.
And while we are talking about light and photos, be sure to take photos of the dresses you are trying on. While the detailing of a certain dress might seem obvious when looking in the mirror, some detail can be lost when translated to photos. A blush or nude lining might seem in stark contrast to an ivory lace overlay when you look in the mirror, but you might find that the overall look is much more subtle in photographs.
Pro Tips from Lovella Bridal Stylists
At Lovella, we know how important it is to feel confident in your gown choice. That’s why our bridal stylists have rounded up their top tips for choosing your wedding dress color with ease. If you're not sure which wedding dress color is right for you, we're breaking it down with simple, must-know tips...
Tip 1: See It Before You Order It
We strongly recommend trying on the exact color combination in person before placing your final order. Brides often try a sample gown in one color, then choose to order it in another without ever seeing it, only to be disappointed when it arrives.
Real Talk: 9 out of 10 times, brides end up preferring the color they originally tried on.
At Lovella, we often carry a sample gown in the color combination that the bridal designer recommends. But since we are a large store and offer a collection of plus size gowns, we may order the same version of a particular dress in a different shade for the plus size gown. That way our brides can make an informed decision based on what they actually see and not just imagine.
Tip 2: Use Photography to Guide You
Ask your bridal stylist to take photos and videos of you in the dresses, especially in natural light. This is one of the best ways to see how the color reads on camera, which is what your guests (and your future self) will see for years to come.
Tip 3: Don’t Overthink the Designer Color Names
Pearl, Oyster, Off-white, Ivory, Light Nude, Soft Blush... we’ve seen it all. The terminology is endless. And every designer uses a different term for each shade. There is little consistency within bridal fashion on color names and shades. What matters most is how the color looks on you. Trust your eye and trust your stylist.
Tip 4: Tone & Contrast Make a Difference
Consider contrast when choosing your gown’s color. A darker lining, such as champagne, mocha, or nude, under ivory lace enhances detail and dimension, while tone-on-tone combinations like ivory on ivory or white on white create a softer, more traditional look but can sometimes lose visual interest in photos.
Not sure? Ask your stylist to show you side-by-side comparisons using fabric swatches or layered linings underneath a sample gown.
Tip 5: Know Your Designer's Options
Some bridal designers offer dresses in only one color option. Oftentimes, it's the one they feel photographs and fits best. Others offer multiple color choices and customizations. If color is important to you for cultural, religious, or personal reasons, let your bridal stylist know from the start. We'll help guide you to designers who can deliver exactly what you’re envisioning.
Choose the Color You Feel Beautiful In
At Lovella Bridal, our goal is to help every bride feel radiant and confident on their wedding day. Whether you fall in love with classic ivory, a romantic blush tone, or something completely unexpected, the best dress color is the one that makes you say: “This is me.”
If you’re shopping for your dream wedding dress in Los Angeles, we invite you to experience the Lovella difference. Our expert bridal stylists are here to guide you through every detail, from fit to fabric to the perfect color for your big day.
Wedding Dress Shopping Tips from Lovella Bridal Los Angeles
We hope you have found this advice helpful for deciding what color wedding dress to order. For even more helpful advice when it comes to bridal styling and the wedding dress shopping experience, be sure to check out our past posts:
- Should Your Wedding Dress Match Your Wedding Venue?
- Should You Buy a Wedding Dress that is Classic or Trendy?
- Wedding Dress Size Charts Explained
- Why Every Bride Needs a Bridal Stylist While Wedding Dress Shopping
Meet Lovella’s Wedding Fashion Expert in Los Angeles
Our wedding dress shopping tips and advice are from Nayri, Lovella's own, in-house wedding fashion expert. Nayri is truly the expert when it comes to bridal fashion and wedding style. As the Wedding Fashion Expert, Nayri is the top bridal fashion stylist and the best-selling author of the book "I'm Getting Married And I Have Nothing To Wear," the ultimate guide to helping brides find their wedding day style and their perfect wedding dress. You can subscribe to her YouTube channel or listen to her podcast for more helpful and practical advice on wedding dress shopping.
