Ask the Experts: Boldly Going Where No Dress Has Gone Before

Q: When I envision the perfect wedding dress, I don’t see white. I’m dreaming in a purple haze! Dare I boldly break with tradition?

A: “The idea that brides absolutely must wear white is old-fashioned,” says Mary Helen Ranieri, owner of Suky in Ardmore, who notes the salon now carries a sheer organza bridal gown in deep purple by Ulla-Maija. Accessorizing a colorful frock is tricky, and Ranieri advises a simple approach. “Instead of a veil, the bride might wear a beautiful gold brooch in her hair,” she says. — Eileen Smith