Many brides are hard-pressed to choose colors for a winter affair since they associate weddings with pale shades and diaphanous fabrics. The experts agree that a winter wedding is a wonderful opportunity to indulge in rich colors.

Eileen Livers, author of The Unofficial Guide to Planning Your Wedding, believes that "for bridesmaid dresses, there are nicer colors to choose from in winter. In spring, people get scary with their pastels." She suggests un-scary burgundy reds and deep purples for winter weddings: "When you think tasteful and elegant, it's these really rich colors that come to mind." As opposed to cotton candy pink and periwinkle, we presume. And bridesmaids are more likely to rewear a burgundy, or a black, gown than they are to pull that seafoam green number out of the closet again.

If you don't want your color scheme to be too dark, incorporate metallics into your palette. Silver and gold are both appropriate for winter, especially around the holidays. Use gold ribbons in your bouquets or accent arrangements with silver bells or Christmas balls. Pinecones or acorns spray-painted silver or gold are also a festive addition to a winter table.

Red is also appropriate and in vogue for a winter wedding. When Matt Lauer and Annette Roque wed in October 1998, Roque carried roses accented with berry sprigs, while her bridesmaids wore red satin and her flower girls burgundy velvet. Red Chinese lanterns adorned the reception tent.

"Red has become very elegant," Livers explains. "But don't combine it with other colors, tone it down with whites and blacks and gold."

Another extreme, and very elegant, color scheme for a winter wedding is all white. Ivory and/or white flowers, twinkling lights and candles can combine for a magnificent effect. Livers even suggests outfitting your bridesmaids in ivory. But she warns: "This will only work if your own dress is very fancy."

(Photo of the cover: The Unofficial Guide to Planning Your Wedding
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