What Are the Complementary Colors for a Champagne-Colored Bridal Dress?

While white is the most traditional color for American brides to wear, some women prefer a gown of color. Two alternatives are champagne beige, a light tan akin to the color of watered-down ginger ale, and champagne with pale pink undertones. To ensure that you stand out on your wedding day for all of the right reasons, research colors that complement your champagne gown.

This faint color looks good with vintage or off-white shades, particularly ivory. Because champagne beige is actually a very light hue of tan, colors in the brown family, such as chocolate and caramel, readily complement it. Dusty shades of pink, spring green and deeper shades of green and peach -- an orange with subtle brown undertones -- all look good with champagne beige. For a beach wedding, a champagne dress with chocolate or caramel incorporated into a hat or shoes would complement the sandy location.

Similar to champagne beige, pink champagne looks good against ivory and chocolate. While black tends to be too stark against a color as faint as pink champagne, some darker shades of blue are an attractive match, and powder blue helps create a dreamy and soft look. The darker shades of pink, such as fuchsia, provide a warm balance to the coolness of pink champagne, while wine, burgundy and other darker colors in the red family are also pretty with pink. For a garden wedding, a pink champagne dress accented with ivory or fuchsia in the bouquet or on a sash is an elegant, setting-appropriate look.

Both champagne beige and pink champagne bridal gowns are typically made of fabrics that give them a sheen, such as satin or silk. Otherwise, they look flat and bland. Natural metallics tend to go well with them. Bronze and copper -- browns with varying levels of orange or red -- flatter champagne beige. The coolness of silver and platinum complement pink champagne because of the white in its base. For an evening wedding, pops of metallics in bold jewelry, opera gloves or pumps can look stunning.

Go with just one secondary color, and don’t overuse it. An accent color should complement your champagne dress, not upstage it. If you feel you can work the accent color well into only one accessory, the bouquet is an easy way to incorporate more. Or work the secondary color into a wrap if you plan to wear one during the reception. Beware of yellow gold, because it clashes with both champagne colors and can be loud and overpowering. Finally, when considering accent colors, give weight to what may look best as the primary color for your bridesmaid gowns and groomsmen accouterments. You want your supporting cast to look fabulous, too.