Bridesmaid Colours for a Red Bride (and for Pink and Pastel Brides Too)

The bride's outfit decides the bridesmaids' colours. The aim is simple: in every photograph, the eye should go to her first, and the group around her should make her outfit look even richer.

If the bride is in red

Red is strong, so bridesmaids look best in colours that are either softer or deeper, never another bright red.

• Blush and rose pink: soft, romantic, and they make red look deeper.

• Champagne, gold and ivory: they pick up the zari in a red bridal lehenga.

• Emerald and bottle green: the classic contrast with red, rich for an evening wedding.

• Wine and maroon: a deeper version of the bride's colour, for a tonal look.

Avoid: another bright red or orange-red. In photographs the bride stops standing out.

If the bride is in pink

• Lilac and lavender, a soft neighbour to pink.

• Mint and sage green, a fresh contrast.

• Powder blue, for a cool, pastel palette.

• Deeper rose or magenta, for a tonal look, as long as the bride's outfit stays the heaviest.

If the bride is in pastel or ivory

• Slightly deeper pastels: dusty rose, sage, mauve. These stop the group from washing into one pale block.

• Gold and champagne, which add warmth beside ivory.

• A single jewel tone such as teal or emerald, if the bride wants contrast.

Read more in pastel bridesmaid lehengas.

Three rules that work with any bride

1. Keep the bride heaviest. Bridesmaids can match her colours but should carry lighter work.

2. Think about the light. Soft colours for a day function, deeper ones for an evening. See bridesmaid lehengas for a day wedding.

3. Choose a palette, not a single shade, if the group is large. Three or four related colours look planned and give everyone some choice.

Getting the colours made

When you start a bridesmaid and family order, tell us the bride's outfit colour and share a photo if you have one. Our designers will suggest a palette and show you fabric in those colours. There's no minimum group size, each person sends her own measurements, and you should start about four weeks before the first function.