Theres a reason many brides find Richmond in southwest London a great place to get married. The beauty and lushness of the available venues help make the event quite unforgettable, just as weddings should be, and there are plenty of experts around to help you with your needs - such as flowers, catering, invitations and wedding dresses. In Richmond, weddings are big, colourful events and its up to you to make sure theyre the colours you like.

With such rich settings as Kew Palace and Richmond Park, how do you determine just what colours you want to prevail for your own particular theme? Here are a few pointers when deciding your bridal colours.

Colours Set The Tone

Its an important decision your choice of colours sets the tone and look for your entire theme so its one that must be made with a lot of thought. While white in all its different shades is definitely a mainstay for the dress, you will still need to decide on a colour scheme for everything else: dcor, flowers, clothes of the entourage and even the food.

Its a decision you need to make early on, before making other arrangements to make sure everything is well coordinated, which is why its a priority that ranks as high as choosing from the array of wedding dresses. In Richmond, the ambience and settings of the wonderful venues differ greatly, so you will need to consider the setting as well as the formality or informality of your ceremony and reception.

Traditional, Older Buildings

To make sure youre definitely the centre of attraction when choosing from wedding dresses in Richmond, you will want to consider your venues carpeting, drapery and decorations. Walking down the aisle in one of the stately houses or palaces in Richmond Upon Thames would suit wearing a classic, ballgown-type of gown. If the site has strong colours as many older buildings do with their richly patterned curtains and drapes youll need to select a colour scheme that complements but will stand out - such as in neutrals like creams and off-whites. You can still add a splash of colour here and there but remember that the objective is to highlight without looking garish.

Gardens and Lawns

Brides should be the most beautiful blooms when getting married in an outdoor setting such as one of Richmond's beautiful gardens, such as the Princess Of Wales Conservatory. Look to the season for inspiration fresh and light colours for summer and spring, golds and muted, rich colours for autumn and winter. This shouldnt mean that pastel are your only options during spring or brown during autumn, though but try to make sure that the hues and tones you choose are suited to the colours of the foliage.

Consider Your Entourage

While brides will have no worries selecting the perfect tone and shade of white from the range of wedding dresses in Richmond, remember that your entourage - including your flower girl, maid of honour and bridesmaids - will need to wear a contrasting colour (that also ties in with the theme and venue). But be prepared to allow for different variations in shade and tone for them no single colour is flattering to everyone.