Choosing Your Wedding Colors: A Guide for Designing Brides
- Sussing Out Your Style
- Destination: Home, Sweet Home
- Your Secret Romantic Style
- The Gown's the Guide
- Adjust for Geography, Venue and Season
- Essential Color-Choosing Tools
- Color Schemer
- Sherwin-Williams Color Generator
- Big Huge Labs Palette Generator
- Make a Mood Board
- Making the Most of Your Choices
- And They Lived Happily Ever After ...
- Chime In!
- Comments (3096)
And even if you're getting the cake from Ron Ben-Israel, he's not going to ask you whether your wedding theme draws elements from 14th century Venetian court dress ... he'll ask you about your colors.
A mere generation ago, planning the wedding was a lot easier. It expressed your social class, and your parents' tastes. Even if they had particular ideas, the market couldn't offer much in terms of individual design. But these days, your wedding expresses your personal style in a way it never has before. Translation? The pressure's on!
Sussing Out Your Style
Some brides can solve the color question without thinking too much about style. They might have a life-long love for purple. Or, their venue might have strong hues they need to coordinate with. Or, when they picture their wedding, they already see their bridesmaids awash in certain colors. Easiest of all: sometimes they already have a theme in mind.For others, it's not that simple. Still, you can quickly pin down the styles that get your heart beating almost as fast as your fiancé does. Does Martha Stewart's relaxed, preppy look command your undying devotion? Do you pray you can someday actually subscribe to H&M magazine? Did Vera Wang's modern, moody Bolshevik collections incite heavy breathing? This gives you some major clues.
Destination: Home, Sweet Home
Still, even if you don't consider yourself a fashionista or a Martha devotee, all's not lost. Instead, let's turn our eyes back to home and hearth.Many brides aren't just looking forward to a wedding, they're also buzzing with anticipation over the dream house they plan to share with their beloved. And in the process of hunting down this love nest, most spent lots time mulling over their personal style. What did you picture in your mind's eye as the right setting for your new life together? A rangy colonial with a gabled roof? A warm, log-sided farmhouse with a wood stove in the kitchen? Or did you dream of finding a downtown loft bursting with recessed lighting and monochromatics, and flip through the new IKEA catalog to pick out your cabinets?
Or consider: do you dream of filling your home with antiques you can pass down to your children? Look to seasonal-inspired color schemes and ballrooms. Plan to drape your bedroom ceiling in yards of mosquito netting? A fairytale wedding drenched in candelabras, gold braid and gauzy swags might fit the bill. Collect exotic objects from all over the planet? Try an art museum for your setting, and a sophisticated or daring palette.
And if you're one of those eclectic types who pairs Amish rocking chairs with aboriginal artifacts, use this old designer trick: think of the last bit of art or furniture you bought to spruce up your house. That tells you what's on your mind lately.
Your Secret Romantic Style
So, you know your domestic style is Eclectic Contemporary. Congratulations: that means you're holding a black-and-white wedding with chartreuse accents and ostrich feathers in a huge SoHo loft, right?Hold it: not so fast. Why? Because many brides have a special romantic style that exists in a universe by itself. You might be thrilled picking out Art Deco style spaceships for your pendant lighting. And yet, when it comes your wedding, you might picture something a lot more traditional.
So even if you're the most fashion-forward girl on the block, take a moment to consider whether your wedding vision doesn't actually go back in time by few hundred years. You might secretly harbor a special place in your heart for New England autumns, Victorian elegance, English cottage style, or even timeless fairy tales. And if that's true, rest assured you've got plenty of company.
The Gown's the Guide
But how do you tell if this stylistic gotcha's operating in your case? Here's the secret: go get your dress.For many brides, The Dress is a journey that starts with many preconceptions, but ends in the unexpected. Finding the dress is usually a case of recognizing it once you've tried it on, not knowing ahead of time what you'll wear.
And once you've found it, the dress will offer some big clues about your Romantic style. Captured by a demure ivory gown covered in Alençon lace, with a button-back closure? Start your search with pastels and neutrals that suit a 1930's vintage or feminine garden wedding. Fell hard for a sleek, diamond white v-neck that's all about the lines? Investigate the crisper, more playful palettes we see today, such as black and white, aqua, bright pinks, lime green and corals.
Adjust for Geography, Venue and Season
Now that you've unearthed your personal style, it's time to look outward. If your style's traditional, for example, start with a hotel ballroom. If you want a strong seasonal feel for fall, try a rustic barn. Cultivated gardens go well with traditional, Martha-esque tints. Tents weddings are a blank slate: you can make them as classic or brazenly modern as your heart desires.Geography, too, plays a role in your colors. Tropical affairs in the blinding sun are often showcases for the brightest hues of all: coral and orchid, for example, or aqua and orange. Evening white-tie affairs in New York City? Not so much.
Many brides are in the middle, and want to weave in at least a seasonal hint. Fortunately for them, most seasons have palettes both traditional and modern. For example, a classic summer wedding might feature cornflower blue or sage, where a modern one draws on fuchsia and lime green, or orange, pink and black.
Even flowers help set the style. For example, a profusion of pinks in a bouquet of roses and peonies says English cottage. Mini-sunflowers and chrysanthemums says New England country. On the other hand, the color blocking in a hand-tied bouquet of purple callas is strongly modern.
Essential Color-Choosing Tools
Now you've got a style in mind, let's get to the art of actually picking colors. Here are a few can't-miss tools.Color Schemer
You'll need to create a free account, but this wonderful site has user-created palettes aplenty that you can search by keyword. Once you've registered, hit the "search schemes" button and enter words that fit your vision, like "fall,""garden," "sunset," "winter." Or free-associate with adjectives like "nautical," "peaceful," "modern," "preppy" or even "trendy." We promise, you'll be hooked.Sherwin-Williams Color Generator
Hit their site, and choose "FIND COLOR." Click on any color that draws you, and you'll automatically pull up two accent colors that complement it. Cool.Big Huge Labs Palette Generator
Have a photo on your hard drive that seems to capture your wedding's heart and soul? Upload it to a palette generator, which will kick out most of the main hues involved. Unless you're on the beach, use one of the more neutral, calming colors as a primary (e.g., use it for bridesmaids or table linens), and the more nervous, high-energy colors as accents (use these in table napkins, chair sashes, ribbons, and some of your flowers.)Make a Mood Board
Once you've narrowed down some favorites, start grabbing photos (for your own personal use, of course). Make a special folder on your hard drive, and save photos that seem to fit the colors, setting and season you're going for. If you've got any photo editing software, start putting them together in one big image. This will tell you more than thousands of words how your look will play out.
Making the Most of Your Choices
Now that you've got your colors, how can you really make them shine? A problem that plagues some brides is an oversized fear of chaos. Although it's simple, most weddings aren't at their best when the groomsmen's vests and ties exactly match the bridesmaids' gowns, which in turn match the bride's sash.So, choose your colors wisely and stick with them, but strive for designing more than matching. Brown and ivory are neutrals when chosen thoughtfully, so use their many shades for a sophisticated, monochromatic look. If the bridesmaids wear mocha or persimmon, the men will look great in chocolate brown. And even if the flowers call for a palette of orange and yellow, let a little green or cream sneak in for dimension. Check for too much of a good thing: when the entire wedding party wears matching brown or black, the effect can be overpowering.
And They Lived Happily Ever After ...
When all's said and done, you're sure to have a great feeling about your colors, and how they fit your personal style. Even if the scheme you hit on isn't "I've loved that all my life!", it might be "I never would have thought of that, but I love these together!"Picking your colors is a journey, just like finding the dress, or knocking all those planning items off your checklist. But hitting on the right colors, theme and setting for the ultimate expression of your own Romantic style? That can be the pleasure of a lifetime.
bonnie i think your on to something!!
ok then definitely go with the pale pink instead of the blue sounds gorgeous! i think you have your wedding!!:D>- to keep the brown from being to harsh pick a creamy chocolate brown( i actually love brown it is a main staple in my clothing and they will be able to wear those dresses again which is key ) since your adding glitz why not let the bm wear strappy gold or silver shoes. now on the floral ribbon to wrap your bouquet with. i got another idea wrap with jewel encrusted ribbon. boy that sound pretty to me. you could wrap your bouquet in brown just make sure the guests notice you before the bouquet. that is the only thing i was thinking just give it a test run. or hang crystals from the brown ribbon to lighten it up a bit. even though your using pale pink dont be afraid to add pale blue to just your bouquet for the something blue it would be unexpected and expected at the same time. i really think glitz goes in this room it is kinda lofty style and old sharm at the same time. for more brown add simple brown table runners to each table or put flowers in brown containers ( you can use these later too!) i personally think all you will need is just the brown containers cause too much brown will be cluttered with the style of this room. you could even rent brown chargers to lay white plates on. now this wouldnt be bad. since you like pink(which before that is the apricotish pink i was talking about) go with white and champagne roses with calla lilies. these are expensive but your florist can give you cost cutting tips. defineitly go with the champagne/white color scheme. add accents of brown which is already in the room and pale pink. this is not to much color. it will be soft and romantic perfect for nightime. i think lighter colors show up better at night. dark colors get lost. especially in photos. i wish i was there to help you!! 
i was in art most of my life this would be a blast!! i only did weddings for friends. i like doing the color/decor part. craft stores and hobby lobby will have all the jewel ribbon, crystals, and wood containers you need. check out other places like we have a trevors in our mall. home decor store. most places should have what you need. and dont forget. you can put candles, and flowers on table and order arrangements to put around the room in focal points. this is actually an old custom. they use to not put flowers on the table. write back!! i will help further!!
Hi Stacey,
Thanks you SO much for al of your ideas and super helpful websites!! The floor and curtains are a sort of beige (maybe a bit blue?) color, and the reception is at night, so it’ll be dark for at least the dance part.
I looked at the style me pretty (without starfish and reversed color) and I love that look! Exactly what I was thinking. I’m beginning to really like the WHITE AND CHAMPAGNE wedding. Although it’s beautiful, I don’t think that the blue is really what I had in mind, and I’m thinking a pale pink may be a nice accent color. I love the idea of a bouquet of white and champagne roses OR champagne cala lilies,AND I also love pink and white peonies. I also love the idea of adding more sparkle with beading, crystals, and candles. Centerpieces in brown wood sound amazing. Any ideas for where I could get see something like that?
I don’t need the brown color, but do u think it would add anything to make it an accent as well? Would the handle of the bouquet being brown be too harsh with all of the the other light colors? I’m still considering the brown bridesmaid dresses (cocktail style).
I feel like I’m really leaning toward an elegant, soft, candlelit, very white/champagne feel. If I did all of that, would brown bridesmaids be out of the question?
Thanks so much for everything!!!!!
Bonnie
blake since i cant send my board could you make one and post it up according to the ideas ive given on both the calla lily color scheme and also the brown and blue color scheme? itd be fun!! thanks
wow blake thank you!! i wish i could something is wrong with my computer it wont let me send anything or copy and paste on here and i use to be able too.i even have to break my posts up. if i figure out what it is doing i will post it!! again thank you so much!! weddings are a passion of mine. i fun hobby and i love helping!! stacey
just for research. go to stylemepretty.com click on inspiration boards. check out all the ideas. if you did use pink look at the pink one with the donuts etc. that pink is so pretty. you know even if you decide to put the girls in brown all of this will still work. anyway how do you like the champagne and white color scheme? is this ok? it is classic. you’ll still love it years from now and not stuffy.. oh yeah you could put centerpieces in brown wood or metal(wrought iron) containers this would be amazing with candles!! and so elegantly chic. if you decide on just candles tuck greenery and few flowers around perimeter it would STILL be gorgeous.
2) go to floralpoetry.com
3) artfool.com
4) elegala.com
) stylemepretty.com click on january 2008 scroll down to lyndsey hamilton wedding that is one of the elegant blues i am talking about. isn’t thas wedding BEAUTIFUL!! hope all this helps please write back let me know what youve narrowed it to!!
Stacey could you post the board when you’re done? :-? Sounds fascinating! I love your ideas.
bonnie, sorry about all this. i played around with a wedding inspiration board on my wordperfect. apricot isnt gonna be what i thought. it takes away from everything, made it look cluttered. i love white or white and cream weddings. incorporate glitz if ya want beading, crystals. think about adding grapes to centerpieces. what time is your reception? i thought pops of blue went better. i mentioned call lilies before ax the roses and go with these if you prefer, you carry a mix keep tables with champagne calla lillies and girls carry white call lilies tied with brown ribbon.
http://www.susanyandbighamweddings.com/accessories.htm (champagne calla lilies have a touch of pinkish apricot) check out calla lily collection. be right back again!!
ok i am back
let bridesmaids carry white roses with greenery(to me greenery makes things look better) tie off with brown(to incorporate the brown you like) 
just a touch will make impact. you can carry a beautiful mix of both the champagne and white roses tied off with a ribbon that has mix of white, champagne, a touch of elegant blue) have cake in a gorgeous shade of blue. not gawdy but elegant or tie with a shade of blue beading. if you keep your color palette neutral you can add splashes of color here and there and look classy. dont 4get bm can also wear black. anyway… decorate ceremony with neutral color scheme in chosen flowers and LOTS of greenery(cuts down on costs) with ribbons and candlelight. be right back
bonnie, hi. what color are the drapes and carpet write me back and i can help even more you dont want colors clashing. that view!! so best thing not to take away from it. this is what i would do. put bridesmaids in champagne dresses as long as it suits their skintone(this is important). this color can wash people out. ok i found a tablescape by alice charlier that would be fantastic!! go to style me pretty / Alice Charlier (eliminate starfish!!) reverse the colors. they have darker cloths and white flowers you choose opposite. like sandy beige sahara roses. gonna send 2nd post. my computer wont send 1 long one.
Hi Stacey, I’ve attached a picture of the hotel ballroom….
Hi Stacey,
Thanks so much for your reply! I really do love the apricot/pink roses and the cala lilies. My problem is I like too many things! I’m still undecided as to whether to make the bridesmaid dresses chocolate brown or champagne in color. Maybe champagne with a chocolate sash … I might be leaning towards champagne bridesmaid dresses because brown bridesmaid dresses and black tuxedos may be a bit darker than I’d like for the wedding party.
If I went with champagne bridesmaid dresses, could I still incorporate pink/apricot as well as chocolate brown as accents? The hotel ballroom is fairly neutral in color and has 3 walls that are covered in windows that give a panoramic view of the water and city. There will be a lot of white (tablecloths, napkins,seat covers, and my dress). I just don;t know if champagne, pink/apricot, brown, and white is too many colors! I plan on having lots of candles as centerpieces and decorations). I can email you a pic of the ballroom if you’d like….
Thanks in advance for any help!!!
Bonnie:D
1) Nattie at WeddingPhotoBios (I love this)
2) Aqua Blue Wedding at favor ideas
3) Aqua ideas thread at LIWeddings – see aqua and peach pic. that is so pretty and refreshing. not to mention SIMPLE!
4) Playa Martineau — see crystals picture
5) floral arts (event design in bahamas)
6) Jodi & Aaron in real weddings at Brides (this is all white but check it out you could add aqua and yellow it would be a wow factor)
7) style me pretty scroll down to wine country elegance with a twist. some ideas? simply lovely
Heather I hope these help!! good luck
Hi everyone.
I have chosen my main color, which is an aqua color at DB called tropic. It is a shade or two darker than Tiffany blue. I was thinking of pairing it with either peach or yellow and alot of crisp white. Does anyone have pics of either of these combinations?
hi sarah, rustic elegance sounds good. decorate with lots of branches!!!and white lights gorgeous and economical. go crazy with branches from the arch even add flowers of choice roses and daisies would be beautiful. candlelight add simple ribbons that puddle to floor for pew markers or just have something like arrangements at beginning of aisle. if outdoors can also hang floating ribbons in majestic trees.
serve a southern style wedding menu i am from louisiana and it is simple, appropriate for outdoors. decorate reception with greenery, chosen flowers use mix and match containers, or my fave wood boxes for flowers. or skip all together and use cake or food centerpieces like fruit. i personally like floral to be in focal points around the area not so much on tables. use grapevine, and any natural element you can find.
think about doing the reception in chocolate brown and champagne add paprika, yellow, and white flowers for pop. can add hanging crystals in greenery to let light bounce off. i love paprika it looks like a rust burnt orange. i changed my mind on my decor and this is my idea inspiration: the brides cafe, under weddings look at davida and chris. And see this bridesmaid dress Siri
check out those bouquets. see House Party at Brides check out that wedding gorgeous!! you could easily make this more semi formal/formal. if need be. and the charm comes from borrowing items from family members and reusable bought stuff. i will ONLY buy what i can reuse i dont want to spend $$ on stuff only to throw it away or it perish. i just can’t see that. write back and let me know what you think so i can help more. FOR ALL BRIDES: CHECK OUT WEDDING INSPIRATION BOARDS. GO TO STYLE ME PRETTY, THE BRIDES CAFE, BROOKLYN BRIDE, ETC. OR JUST TYPE IN WEDDING INSPIRATION BOARDS. THESE ARE SOOOOO HELPFUL!!
I was wondering if anyone could help me with my wedding colors!!! I am in serious need of assisstance! I have narrowed two colors down. My bridesmaids will be in Paprika and Champagne. The only problem is I don’t know where to go form there. Flowers, decorations, the works! I know I don’t want the whole wedding to be Paprika, and my married name is going to be Crabtree, so I wanted to stick with that theme. Very rustic and outdoors(y) . SO if anyone had any suggestions, I’m listening! Thanks for your time, A little stressed, Sarah
hello dear
I am getting married in Nigeria on the 1st of nov, i have no idea what colours to use.
Bonnie what color is the hotel ballroom? I think one of the most elegant color schemes is chocolate brown and apricot or a romantic peach, even an apricot-pink. Plus brown is paired with a different color than traditional blue or pink. it would be striking and give the trend some difference. With calla lilies in this scheme it would be fantastic. on google images type in apricot roses and calla lilies just for an idea. i know you may be thinking that is a fall scheme. definitely not just for fall. i’m telling ya its elegant without trying to make it that way. so it would be supereasy to plan. yeah!!
write back with hotel ballroom colors and maybe i can help more.
Hi everyone,
I’m planning my wedding colors, but having a tough time. I’m having the reception in the summer at a hotel ballroom. I really like chocolate brown. I was thinking of mixing the brown with champaign and tiffany blue (or champaign and pale pink). Do you think ether of those would match? Any other suggestions for brown to make it classy but a hint of color?? I’m thinking lots of candle light for atmosphere. Any suggestions would be awesome!!! Thanks so much!
Jonni – The latest Restoration Hardware catalog has shams edged in chocolate satin with tiffany-blue ribbon. They are amazing. If you’re thinking about those colors, you might find some inspiration there….
I am getting married in October ’09 and have already chose black, white & tiffany blue as a color scheme, but im not sure if thats very appropriate for the season. I was thinking maybe brown instead of black but im not sure along the lines of flowers and bridesmaid dresses. Please let me know what you think, i’d appreciate it!
hello nneka. its difficult to provide comments to guide your choice of a colour theme if you dont offer some information to guide our recommendations, e.g. some colours you like, some colours your hubby likes, the theme of your wedding, the colour theme of the venue of your wedding. since you know its a september wedding, you can start by checking this out: Month by Month: Wedding Themes and Colors for Every Season and proceed to spend time reviewing all the comments on this page, you are bound to get a headstart.
Hello Yuwa, I hope you like christmas colours cos this is a perfect time to use them…..here are a few options to consider: ruby red and gold, ruby red and white, ruby red and lime green, green and gold, shades of green, all white, white and gold accents and etc. you will need to take your venue into serious consideration though since Decemeber is a good time to have an outdoor wedding in Nigeria, if its outdoor, and already has a lot of greenery, then using all shades of green may not be the ideal and if its indoor, the colour theme of the hall needs to fit into the colour theme you eventually go with….have a fab time planning your day.
I am getting Married in December {A week before christmas}, Nigeria. and I have no clue on which colours to use for my wedding.
PLEASE H-E-L-P
hello nneka, start with colours you and your partner like, and the colour theme of the venue of your wedding ceremonies. this will guide your selection. if you need help with deciding on the final combination of colours, do let us know.
I am getting married in September in Nigeria and i have no CLUE on which colors to use for my wedding.PLEASE HELP….
Hey,
Im getting married May 30th 2009. I jus started to do some window shopping for the up coming wedding, Im mostly doing evrything hand made and from home, my mother is very crafty and she has done her own wedding and others. This is the dress i want to go with, but my friends seem to think it is too plain for the type of small, large wedding that i want. My colors are Pink Lime green and choc brown. I am using gerber daisys. Im not sure what i want my bridal party to wear, but i was thinking a choc brown kind of like a cocktail looking dress. I dont want the men to wear black i think its jus to dark. I want a dark warm wedding but springy and up beat with the pink and green. Im so confused and dont know what to do. I need some Outside opinions!
Also, The cake!! I had the cake i wanted in mind, and my mother has a history of making awsome cakes, She always told me to never ask her to do mine though.. but of course she is!. The cake i want she cant exactly do because it is like a topsy turny cake, so i am forced to find another idea! She wants to get a stand that makes it look like each tear is floating, i havent really warmed up to that idea mostly because i cant find any cakes that are on this stand, I really need some ideas. Please HELP!!!
Nikita
hello franca, really sorry about this. you are likely to find something else you love if you keep looking. please dont let this dampen your spirit, ok……
Kala, I’m getting married this July and I picked out almost the exact same colors! I picked a more vibrant green (David’s Bridal calls it Clover), champagne, and Lavender. The purple really makes it pop. My wedding dress is Ivory and Champagne so it works really well together! With the pale green, I’d probably try a softer shade like Lilac, but I think it would look beautiful for you.
I getting married May 2009! I need help picking out colors. So far I have pale green, champagne, and cream. And wedding dress will be off white or ivory
Hi Roli,
am so sad now,pamela and funke said i cant get that particular gown ,that it is a 2006 gown and dat why u got yours was becos u got it before spring.i really feel bad.