There really is no escaping the limelight on your wedding day. Whether you like it or not, all eyes will be on you and the camera will be flashing in your face all day long! So of course, this is the one day of your life that you want to look your absolute best. Brides often focus on perfecting their hair and make-up, or going on a crash diet to look as slender as possible on the big day; but what they don’t always think about is how the colours that they are wearing could affect their appearance. If you have never even considered this before, don’t worry! We have enlisted the help of Karen Brunger, founder of International Image Institute, an image consultancy company based in Toronto. As an expert of colour and image, Karen gave us some indispensable advice about how to choose the right white for your wedding dress and of course, we had to share her wise words with you.
The week leading up to your wedding can be a seriously stressful one and so a guaranteed way to ensure that you look radiant rather than run-down is to wear your right colours. Karen told Zankyou, “If you are wearing white, there are many variations, so you want to find the one that’s right for you. Your best white will bring healthy colour and smoothness to your complexion, sparkle to your eyes, whiteness to your teeth, and gleam to your hair. Your face will appear to ‘lift’, and your jawline will be more defined, enhancing your happiness and vitality. The overall look is harmonious and ‘wow’!
By contrast, whites that are not your best can make your complexion jaundiced, anaemic, or pasty, and emphasize shadows and blemishes. They can make your eyes and hair appear dull, and tinge your teeth with yellow or gray. They can make your face appear to ‘fall’, bringing a look of sadness or tiredness. The overall look is distracting and unfortunate!”
If you have previously had a personal colour analysis like the ones that Karen offers, you will have a white in our swatch wallet. If not, Karen is here to help with some guidelines that follow seasonal colour analysis. You may find that you fit obviously into one of these 4 palettes:
1. Winter
Your Colouring
- Natural hair is black or brown-black.
- Complexion is cool and reflective – whether milky white, clear rose, olive, cool brown, or deepest cool brown.
- Winter Prototypes are Megan Fox, Lucy Liu, Kim Kardashian, Naya Rivera, Ariel Winter, Keke Palmer, and Zoe Saldana.
The Colours that Suit You
- Best white is pure icy snow white.
- Harmonious jewels have bold colours – sapphire, ruby, emerald, and diamond
- Best flowers are dramatic and vibrant – red rose, fuchsia, magenta orchid, hot pink peony, purple iris, and blue anemone are some examples.
- Complementary colour scheme is strong, cool contrast – white, black, bright purple, electric blue, or hot pink.
2. Spring
Your Colouring
- Natural hair is golden blonde, strawberry blonde, caramel, or bright warm brown.
- Complexion is transclucent and shiny – ‘peaches and cream’ or ‘strawberries and milk’. You may blush easily!
- Spring Prototypes are Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Renee Zellweger, Drew Barrymore, Reese Witherspoon, Katherine Heigl, and Taylor Swift.
The Colours that Suit You
- Best whites are light cream and vanilla.
- Harmonious jewels are light, bright, and clear – aquamarine, amethyst, tanzanite, peridot, and creamy pearl.
- Best flowers are light and bright with yellow – yellow freesia, spray crysanthemum, yellow rose, lilac, sweet pea, and cherry blossom are some examples.
- Complementary colour scheme is light, bright, fresh, warm, and lively – cream, yellow, peach, lime, fresh green, turquoise, aqua, or clear violet..
3. Summer
Your Colouring
- Natural hair is ash blond or taupe-brown.
- Complexion is cool, soft, matte and light – ash-rose or soft porcelain.
- Summer Prototypes are Emilia Clarke, Cara Delevingne, Amber Heard, Liv Tyler, Katy Perry, and Angelina Jolie.
The Colours that Suit You
- Best white is soft white or ivory.
- Harmonious jewels are soft and opaque: white pearl, soft opal, moonstone, spinel, tourmaline, rose quartz, lapis lazuli, and turquoise.
- Best flowers are soft and smokey in colour – hydrangea, tweedia, stephanotis, baby’s breath, jasmine, and succulent.
- Complementary colour scheme is cool, smokey and hazy – powder pink, old rose, soft strawberry or raspberry, mauve, faded blue, or smoked purple.
4. Autumn
Your Colouring
- Natural hair is red, auburn, red-brown, or warm black.
- Complexion is warm and opaque – beige, golden beige, mocha, golden brown, deepest warm brown. You may have freckles!
- Autumn Prototypes are Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, Julianne Moore, Debra Messing, Rachel Weisz, Selena Gomez, and Kate Middleton.
The Colours that Suit You
- Best whites are antique white, heavy cream, eggshell, and ecru.
- Harmonious jewels are natural and warm: topaz, tigers-eye, citrine, carnelian, malachite, moss agate, and jasper.
- Best flowers are bold and natural – sunflower, marigold, lily, orange amaryllis, heliconia, eucalyptus, and fern.
- Complementary colour scheme is warm and earthy – gold, orange, terracotta, russet, umber, moss, or teal.
If you don’t find yourself in one of these palettes, that’s okay! Many people are between palettes; for example, Penelope Cruz’s colouring could place her between the Autumn and Winter palettes. Nicole Kidman’s natural colouring could place her between the Autumn and Spring palettes. If you’re not able to easily place yourself, you may want to book for a personal analysis with an experienced and reputable Colour Consultant, just like Karen!
For more information and advice, make an appointment with Karen to find the colours that will make you look and feel amazing on your wedding day and every day. Wear your ‘wow’ colours, look your radiant best, and have a beautiful wedding!
If you haven’t yet found someone to take care of your floral designs, check out our Top 5 Wedding Florists in Toronto or if your search for a photographer is still ongoing, take a look at our recommendations for Canadian Wedding Photographers!
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