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 ...
- Month by Month: Wedding Themes and Colors for Every Season
- The Meanings of Colors in Weddings
- Dreaming of a Dazzling Green Theme Wedding
- A 5th Avenue or Beach-Style Aqua Blue Wedding
- 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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kelly, use all three colors in pops of color against all white or beige.
google image turquoise and pink wedding, aqua and lime wedding, and turquoise wedding. then google search floral arts bahamas for lots of ideas!! suggestion: girls in turquiose, carry pink and lime green flowers tied with turquoise ribbon, lime slices in centerpieces with flowers, etc.
jessica i was actually thinking guys should be in a brown vest etc, to match the girls. but yes! you can do what you thought of! just make sure the pink and blue looks grown up!:D you could have bm in brown and have moh in brown with a colored sash or just the plain pink or blue. i just think with the color combo it would be more elegant. send me a pic of the dresses you have picked so i could give better advice. with girls in brown you can still put guys in blue, just pick one color to stand out with the brown and white, and just add the rest as pops of color. write back if you need more help!:P
i love the fresh picked look and the brown dresses! i never thought i would but i do!
my sister is going to be my junior bridesmaid and i found a dress that is short brown and has a pink bow on it and for my bridesmaids a brown loose strapless a-line with an empire waist that is gathered on one side with a bow that would be blue. and for my maid of honor i found a blue fitted a-line dress that also has a bow but i was thinking that she could have a pink bow. should her dress be blue with the pink bow so its different and then the best man could wear pink and blue while the groomsmen wear blue? i really like the idea of each of the bridesmaids carrying a different color bouquet but i was thinking that they could have white and blue and then my moh could have pink and white and i have a combination of the 2! what do you think?! :”>
i am engaged, and we are planning to get married in december. i live in Botswana,Africa. .and december its summer here. . am having problems with choosing a theme color. . i love turqouise, but feel it might be too much, i also love pink and ,lime. . please help. can u send me suggestions on colours.
thank u
jessica, you can and should have all colors, this is how i would plan it if it were me,
(check out Perfect Wedding Day blue bouquets: blue handtied and the white pink and blue) with red roses in the mix it would be so pretty)
you carry a blue and white bouquet, let them carry a bouquet like shown on page, set against brown dresses, use brown and white as your main colors with the rest added here and there, you can let bm choose a single color from the mix and let each one carry say all pink, all blue, all white etc. as for silver, put silver in centerpiece containers, jewery, etc. any metals you use in the wedding.
for inspiration you can google image wildflower wedding bouquet or multicolor wedding bouquet. it will be elegant. and have that just picked from the garden look. just imagine going thru a garden and gathering a bouquet and how pretty all those colors look in a vase. thats what i envision. also you can have chocolate brown linens if you wish. the colors set against it would be happy and elegant!! hope this helps!! dont freak out see you can have it all!!!
:P:P:P
i am currently planning my wedding for march of next year and i am FREAKING OUT!!! :((
i love the idea of pink red and white in the bouquets.
i also like the idea of chocolate brown blue white and silver…
WHAT DO I DO?!?!?!?!?!?!
should i mix the 2 ideas and use pink blue white and silver!?!?
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
joyce,
http://www.stylemepretty.com/2008/01/wedding-by-lynd.html
these colors would make a pretty wedding. its a great base for that contrasting color your talking about.
joyce,
http://fayeandgreer.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html (scroll to ice blue wedding) love this with pale yellow. if your not fond of this then choose ice blue, dark blue(put girls in this), add white and silver, with pops of icy pinkor lavender. another idea, believe it or not would be a deep emerald green or lighter if you prefer and set with icy blue and white you could also add a soft cocoa. this would be beautiful. this color combo is not just for summertime!! just make sure the wedding is mostly white to pull it off. another idea: is ice blue and copper with hints of fresh green, i saw a christmas tree one year with this. it was jaw dropping. just look for copper brown(for instance lantern colors) instead of traditional brown. add pops of white and some winter berries here and there. last idea: ice blue, bronze, with hints of peachy-apricot.(the color candles give off against snow) with greenery of course. good luck!
Mrs. P, here’s another green & red from the Green weddings page. I’m not quite sure about the gold, I’ll think about that :-?
joyce,
see icy cool wedding colors with a hint of pink
also think of of light blue and navy blue. the combos are endless and brown i love that too. good luck.
Mrs P, sorry… uncle passed away and my computer went bust had to use daughters or library computer. i check when i can.
http://www.savannahweddingdesign.com (scroll to the red) you are going to need alot of greenery and summer type flowers so it wont look holidayish and this pic shows how.
dont ya luv it?! so bright and elegant and summery. on the knot website they have tons of pics under real weddings under colors or season. wedding channel has lots of ideas too. look under photo galleries under wedding flowers and go from there good luck!!. wish i could post pics!! sorry brides i hope links to websites are okay.
Hi guys, just stumbled upon this site and could use a little help. My wedding is in December and I’m getting all confused about the colours. I would baby blue but am not sure what colour I should combine it with. I wanted a very contrasting colour and am thinking of mixing it with chocolate brown. Do you thinks it would look good
Stacey and Poodle,
You have gone quiet on me. I mentioned I`ll be having a garden wedding. I decided to use Ivory, gold and red to add a brightening factor. I would only like to use fresh flowers on the top table. I would appreciate centerpiece ideas on these colors.
shelly, its ok to feel overwhelmed,there ARE so many choices!! You ought to see me picking out lotions/body wash.smile! my suggestion is to keep things simple.I know i sent alot of info. If you cant narrow the pinks down then use monochromatic pinks, many shades of that color, add a few red roses and greenery set this against the ivory i talked about.
ok shelly, gonna hit ya with more websites this is the colors i was talking about before… go to chateauatforestpark.com, Featured Reception #6, check out the wedding cake.( i would personally pick these colors and add some softer pink mixed in too)
this IS romance. isn’t it breathtaking! i am a sucker for grapevine and lights too. check out “brothers and sisters wedding” (tv wedding) just swap lavender for pink. here it is on youtube.
also on youtube see dylan and toni 90210 wedding. it is pretty. these are simple straight to the picture websites. i hope i am not heaping to much on you!! look forward to hearing from you!!!
Thanks a lot for that Stacey! Those sites are really useful. Its taking me a while to go through the pictures but I have been gathering lots of ideas. I will keep you posted and will definitely be in touch when I have narrowed things down or get stuck… at the minute I am starting to feel overwhelmed:D I
hi shelly, there are so many pics to list. so go to google images and type in red and pink wedding, red and pink wedding bouquet, etc. dont image but google web search: links 2 love weddings (lots of ideas here) and elegala.com photo gallery has amazing stuff! theknot.com has real weddings and you can select the colors for a visual. brides.com has wedding styles you can look at in romantic. or type in what you want to see. when you narrow it down write back and i can help you out.
my first thought was blush pink, deep red, add touches of lighter green set against sheer ivory linens on dark wood tables with darker chairs, candlelight, sheer ribbons, crystals, pearls. use all roses decor, sprinkle rose petals. girls would be beautiful in pink or red chiffon their choice!! lots of ivory!! want it to look like enchanted forest? add lots of greenery, very nice wood containers, with few berries (for effect), flowergirls in flowy dresses with flat princess shoes, flower halos with flowing ribbons, parchment paper invites, a romantic must by the way!!:P and a feather pen. i could see a beautiful dark green velvet covered guest book. this is the stuff dreams are made of, i am a hopeless romantic, so well… i am speechless!! :P:P
lori, here are some ideas first being my fave just add silver!! the library computer wont send posts or save them to send so just google image these:
1) purple wedding
2) purple and orange wedding (from tastefully entertaining website which is my fave just add silver)
3) another purple wedding from tastefully entertaining:
i truly hope these help. i would use different shades of purple, add a beautiful orange, keep my silverware, candleholders, etc. in silver. oh please do a lighter purple tablecloth with the darker purple and the orange set in silver centerpieces. wow!! i can see it now!! happy planning.
Hello!
I am planning a wedding for May/June 2009 and would really appreciate all the help I can get. My favourite colour is pink and I was hoping to use this with red (hoping to create a romantic theme) but I can’t seem to find pictures of the two so that I can decide which shades would be best. Also, how do I incorporate these colours throughout the event? Any ideas? Pictures? Thanks in advance!
I am having a June wedding in a garden setting. I know that I am having silver as an accent color. My fiance’s favorite color is purple and mine is orange. If someone could please give me some suggestions on a color scheme using either one or both of these colors that would be greatly appreciated
heh bola, yes i do like that alot. using maroon and gold as your strong colors. i am not sure what your venue looks like but could your girls pull off a deep shade of burnt orange? don’t be afraid to have your other colors in the ones listed below and then put your girls in a shade of green say: emerald. your probably gonna have evergreens mixed in and the evergreen could really play off green dresses. you could do the same with the other color dresses too. i suggest using lots of gold etched glass votives. add the evergreen, on gold linens topped with maroon and orange flowers.