Red, pastel or ivory: choosing your bridal colour

Red is still the colour most of our brides choose, but about a third now come in asking for blush, mint, ivory or gold. There is no right answer. There is, though, a way to decide that you will not regret when you see the photographs.

Start with the time of the ceremony. Pheras in the afternoon or under a shamiana in daylight suit pastels, which look soft and fresh in natural light. Evening ceremonies under warm lamps flatten pale colours to beige, while deep red, wine and rani pink hold their richness.

Then consider your skin. We drape fabrics on you by the window in our C-Scheme studio for exactly this reason. Warm, golden skin usually glows in brick red, coral and gold; cooler, pinker skin often looks better in wine, deep maroon or rose. Ivory suits almost everyone if the embroidery adds warmth near the face.

Think about the venue. A palace courtyard in Jaipur with pink sandstone walls will swallow a blush lehenga in photographs; a garden lawn or a white marquee will flatter it. Ask your photographer what they have seen work there. Finally, there is family. Many brides wear red for the pheras and their chosen colour for the reception. That way the grandmothers are happy and you still wear the shade you love. We sketch both in your first consultation so you can compare them side by side.