Let's face it, there aren't that many white weddings these days. Many brides are living with their future husbands prior to the big day. A colored wedding dress is a fashion-forward, vibrant option for a bride who would rather discard tradition in favor of a look that is more befitting her stage in life.

Reasons to Wear a Colored Wedding Dress

White isn't a color that works for everyone, yet for some reason, most brides feel obligated to don a white, ivory, or champagne gown. If you look like Casper's long lost twin when you try on traditional wedding dresses, a colored wedding dress might be a great alternative. Colored wedding dresses are also instant classics in non-traditional venues, like art galleries and museums, where the dress will stand out as part of a vivid color palette. For example, a red gown can be stunning in the midst of a black and white reception. Colored wedding dresses can sometimes be cheaper than their traditional counterparts, given that there is less of a demand. Finally, if you want to make a statement, a colored wedding dress will do all the work for you.

Reasons to Avoid Wearing a Colored Wedding Dress

The biggest reason to go traditional when choosing a wedding dress is that you'll successfully avoid all of the gossip and commentary that will start the second you don something other than a pearly white dress. If you don't have a strong backbone, save the colored wedding dress for your reception and call it a day. You should also stick with white if your parents are paying for your dress and have certain expectations for how you will look in family pictures.

You should also avoid colored wedding dresses if you're worried that you'll look out of place at your own event. At the end of the day, the only way you'll know if a colored wedding dress is right for you is by trying a few on. Once you compare your look in both traditional and non-traditional looks, you'll know which one feels right for you.

How to Find a Colored Wedding Dress

Once you've decided to go with a colored dress, start scouring bridal magazines and online sites for designers that you particularly admire. Most top designers offer one to two colored dresses per season, but often don't feature them with the same frequency as they do traditional white wedding dresses. If you find a designer that suits you, consider calling a local bridal salon and asking whether or not the designer has released any colored wedding dresses in the past two years.

If you're willing to go with a less formal dress, scope out the bridesmaid dresses offered by your favorite designers. You might find something that you love for a price that you'll adore even more. Remember, it's not how much you pay, it's how hot you look.

Colored Wedding Dress Tips

If you're going to go with color, lay off the bling. A colored wedding dress is accessory enough, and you'll end up looking like a tawdry street girl if you add too many baubles. Keep your hair in check and resist the urge to bump it up to Dallas-era proportions. Avoid dresses that are too tight or too bright- both will make people question your decision to tie the knot anywhere other than Vegas. Most colors are fair game, but think long and hard before you decide to wear a black wedding dress. Case in point? Sarah Jessica Parker, who donned a black number for her marriage to Matthew Broderick and promptly regretted it when she viewed the pictures post-nuptials. When in doubt, consider this: you're not going to a wake, you're getting married.