Should your maids wear white?

Yes, says Stacey-Marie Chalk,  founder of wedding planning business Cherry Topped Bespoke Weddings (cherrytopped.co.uk)

"If a bride wants her bridesmaids to wear white then why shouldn't they? There's an increasing amount of freedom and movement away from the traditional rules in weddings today.

The late Victorian tradition of bridesmaids wearing colour so as to not distract from the bride has been famously challenged by Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, as her sister, Pippa Middleton, walked down the aisle in a stunning white Alexander McQueen gown.

Even if you aren't one to break with tradition, then you could still dress your bridesmaids in white. There's an old superstition that says the wedding party should all be in white because it confuses and wards off evil spirits, so they can't harm the bride.

An entirely white wedding party, if done well, can look extremely elegant. If you want to have a hint of colour, then bring it in with accessories for your bridesmaids. If Catherine, and even Princess Diana, can have their bridesmaids wearing white, then so can you!"

No, says Lucy Watson, wedding Planner at Lucinda George Wedding and Event Design (lucindageorge.com)

"Traditional etiquette dictates that it is inappropriate to upstage a bride by wearing white. With the entire rainbow at your disposal, why would you choose white for your bridesmaids?

White is a risky choice to pull off successfully, especially if your bridesmaids have different skin tones and body shapes. Also, an abundance of white can affect balance in photos and videos.

White can work, but only in exceptional circumstances. Pippa Middleton's white dress was undoubtedly (and perhaps ironically) intended as an understated choice to avoid clashing with all the colour featured elsewhere on uniforms, clerical robes and even the red carpet in Westminster Abbey.

If your bridesmaids will be wearing white, take care to make sure you stand out. The easiest way is to wear a veil. Choosing short dresses for bridesmaids and giving them bold jewellery, coloured sashes, trims or shoes teamed with bright bouquets that differ from your own can also do the trick!"