Colour Paranoia - Is There A Cure?

You may have observed this affliction in many brides you have come across in the past and definitely will in the future. Namely "Colour Paranoia". Its onset comes on at the first arrangements for a wedding. She wants a certain colour and everything, I mean EVERYTHING must match!

Is there a cure? Yes, it usually happens the day after the wedding when it just doesn't matter anymore! In the meantime it can be very stressful for the nearest and dearest to the afflicted bride to cope with the condition.

Choosing a colour or a theme for a wedding can be based on current fashion, a favourite colour or the liking of a certain chocolate bar with its iconic coloured wrapper. Many brides have had an idea since they were young of what colour they would like, unfortunately if this colour is not in fashion when the aforementioned bride comes to organise her wedding then the onset of the paranoia may become apparent.

I myself, did experience such problems when I married back in the last century (1994). I had a December wedding and wanted a rich deep red as my theme. Unfortunately at that time everything was pastels and everyone looked at me as if I was mad, especially the balloon lady who thought my combination of ivory, deep red and purple balloons was just too wild to contemplate. I wanted deep red though and I was going to have it. Because I was a lucky girl with many talented family members I did manage to get mostly what I wanted. They searched high and low for me and mostly came up trumps, although the fresh flowers I always wanted had to be swapped for dry/silk combination, again because of my colours and time of year. The advantage is though I can still pop into my loft and look at my flowers when I am feeling nostalgic! I did end up making items myself to get the right match, and it was this experience that eventually led me a few years later to start my website doing bridal accessories.

I think the only advice I can give with regards to colour is perhaps to go for a neutral look and use colour as a highlight i.e. accessories, balloons, ribbons. Or look at bridal magazines, websites etc, and see what is on trend at the moment. Join forums on the popular websites so you can talk to like minded ladies who can sometimes help you out with suggestions or point you in the right direction regarding purchasing that 'special item'. Colours that on trend will obviously have more items available in them than that unusual shade of dusky violet. Some bridal wear sites are also starting to make fabric available for purchase to be used for accessories etc.

Also for the sake of your sanity keep yourself with a Plan B, and Plan C and possibly a Plan D in mind when sorting your wedding. Entrust family members, friends etc with a mission to find a certain something. They will probably enjoy the challenge, but don't come down on them if they fail, remember it might just not be possible to get what you want.

With this problem with colour in mind, when I launched my own website doing bridal accessories then I made it a selling point that I would do my best to help a bride get the colour she wanted or at least make useful alternative suggestions! I haven't been beaten many times with the colour problem but if it does you have to remain sensible about it.

If you do find you may be suffering from "Colour Paranoia", then take a step back, breathe deeply and keep in mind that your wedding day is special but it is only the start of a bigger, more important venture - your life with your partner of choice and that may bring many more important challenges, many of them wonderful but some challenges will definitely be more important than whether your napkins match your bridesmaids!

By Annette Renkevic
Annette Renkevic – Bridal Bits 'n' Bobs

www.bridalbitsnbobs.co.uk