Choosing Your Wedding Colors: A Guide for Designing Brides
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 collection for fall 2007 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 ...
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.
Chime In!
Stuck on colors, and looking to chat? Upload some starter pics that shows us your venue, your dress or whatever you're working with. Tell us the season or theme, if you've got one ... then post away!You Might Also Like ...
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- From 40s Fantasy to Designer Deco: the New Black and White Wedding
- Pink Theme Weddings
- Is Orange & Fuchsia Too Loud for a Wedding?
- A Pale Pink & Champagne Springtime Wedding
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brea, stylemepretty.com check out ideas and inspiration, flowers and decor, and inspiration boards. another idea: use greenery centerpieces in amazing containers surrounded with candles. or axe the floral/greenery and do bread in baskets(this would go over well!!) been looking at italian restaurant pics, most are decorated in a way you wont need much. already beautiful/heavily decorated. definitely stick with neutral color palette in tuscan theme earth tones. use bolder colors in small doses, bouquets, cake, bout. greenery plays up the wrought iron in the restaurants too. dont like the brown? then go with olive/sage green dresses. consider grapes in your decor. consider vintage lace or beads for bouquet wraps.
hi brea,
try Calamigos Ranch ( i think this is all the website you need so many ideas!!
i like the wedding with branches centerpiece easy and cheap but what a statement add roses to and and it would be soooo pretty) also type in calamigos ranch wedding in google images. idea?? i think a soft cocoa brown and cream with white and gold would fit add pops of color like a deep red and cream bouquet and floral decor. add bits of yellow or orange berries(to tie in) i am not sure what the restaurant looks like. do you have a pic?
I need help choosing wedding colors. I’m getting married at the end of September next year and the reception site is an italian restaurant that has a rustic feel. I’m not really into yellow or orange but want colors that will look classic and match the restaurants decor. Any suggestions?
ndidi ok, write back with your location, style of wedding, etc.. i would love to help you!! short on time, no problem, there want alot of info on your post, i need more details thank you!! by the way congrats!!
i need to make a decision on colors .im kinda short of time
mayen, you need lots of greenery(this is your green in color combo) and some white.alter:4 bamboo poles draped in floaty white fabric, dripping in greenery. bridesmaids in navy carry bouquet at sweet pea(represents a tropical purple sunset). you carry white bouquet wrapped in “something blue” navy ribbon. i think using this scheme WOULD resemble a sunset at tropical beach, with linens representing sand and tinted water for ocean.:D:D>- hope i’ve helped!!
mayen, go to sweet pea gardens. then weddings look at photos link scroll down to summer 2006 bridal bouquet using purples. using this color combo think tropical beach setting. for brown use sand colored linens, with palms. candles? float candles in blue tinted water with shells/pebbles/sand. be right back.
Hi Iphy, you could do either the pink/green is more fun while the sage/ivory is more timeless. personally, i would do the sage/ivory. if there is anyway possible try a test run. it is always good to look at it right in front of you. i think if you put all colors on the bridal party and in the decor it will be alot. keep the bridal party classic while the rest of the decor is colorful!! write back if you need more help!! good luck!!
Hi Stacey, pls I’m wondering if I culd do pink shirt with sage tie for the grooms men or is it sage shirt with ivory tie. Pls advise. Thanks.
I am having my wedding in in 10/2/2009 at the Graycliff in NJ, i would love to have a tropical theme, e.i using palms as center piece for flowers,
but I like navy blue, purple, green and brown.
i need help
FROM STACEY… just wanted to congratulate all the brides on their weddings. after seeing your ideas,i know you will all have beautiful weddings. i know brides go thru so much planning their wedding not to mention juggling other things in life. remember take some down time, you deserve it!!
even though my daughter had a low key wedding it was still kinda stressful. pedicures did her wonders she said!! take the planning in steps and don’t overwhelm yourself or stress over the small things,it all works out in the end anyway! this way you CAN enjoy the planning process and relish the big day!! again congrats and the best the luck!!
Iphy, i LOVE that! i didn’t even think of that. keep guys in black and sage. with what i have listed below i think it would be dreamy and refreshing. not to mention summery elegance!! you’ll be sure to get oohs and ahhs with your colors!! write back if you need more help!! I always check the board. and HAPPY wedding planning!!:P:P:D>-
Thanks so much Stacey I luv your idea but I was wondering if I culd use sage for skirt and ivory for top for the bridesmaid, pls advice what do you think of the combination. Thx.
blake,
i just wanted to take this time to thank you for all the visuals you have done 4 me it means alot!! i love your ideas on this board they are fantastic!!
hi whitney yes there are coral roses!
See: chicajones profile at the knot
Cheryl’s floral designs (scroll down)
they come in light-deep coral so talk to your florist. google image search coral wedding and coral roses, even coral and yellow wedding. Good luck!
Thank you for all the ideas! I really like the sound of the yellow, bright coral and bright aqua! My fiance loves blues and I love pinks and yellows!! Do you know if I could find roses in the coral color? I wanted to kinda do all roses for my flowers maybe some calla lillies.
Whitney, some ideas for you!
StyleMePretty board: “I Like Yellow”
Combine yellow with hints of tangerine. Use lots of citrus (lemons in cylinders, urns). Add touches of deep lemon-leaf green, gold ribbon for contrast and some glam.
Snippet & Ink: Amanda’s Blue & Yellow Wedding This uses a really pale pastel blue/periwinkle with yellow. These are great, relaxed, outdoor colors with a touch of country garden to them. Or for yellow with more of a robin’s egg blue (my yellow-and-blue personal fave), see Early Spring Sweetness.
There’s always yellow combined with lavender and peach and just a touch of sage for a very traditional, feminine look.
Tropical: yellow with bright coral or bright aqua.
This doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, but anyone who wants to get more assertively modern with yellow can pair it with bright lime green, or black & white damask, or my personal ‘new’ favorite, yellow & gray. If anyone’s interested in yellow & gray let me know and I’ll post a few pics.
HTH! Any of these sound kind of appealing?
i am needing help picking colors for july! i really love yellow!! any ideas of what i can pair with it. i need HELP FAST!!
I like pretty and simple also!
Iphy
Butterfly Sweets cakes
Flowers up north
Watanabe florals /weddings (scroll down to the pink, green, white bouquet)
Iphy,girls in sage chiffon dresses carry bouquet above (paler pink calla lilies if you choose). you in ivory,carry blush/ivory roses. why not use all those colors in your palette? theyd look stunning! see bouquet above (watanabe)? thats the bouquet i think is a knockout!! see how there is a tinge of yellow thats how id add it thru bi color flowers.
BASE colors would be sage and ivory.ivory linens sage runners, ivory candles.blush and ivory roses centerpices, picking up the mixed bridesmaid bouquet colors putting only on cake and certain focal points. put your put guys in black and sage. look at davidsbridal.com bridal party in these colors.
write back and let me know what you think!!:P
Hi Stacey, sorry i meant summer, I’m a Nigerian, and the wedding will take place in lagos, I have colors like sage, light shade of pink and yellow, or ivory, pink and sage. pls advice on which of this colors to use and how i can combine this colors for my chief brides maid, brides maid, my family and friends. Cheers