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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I am doing the decorations for a cousins quinceanera. her colors are turqouise and lime green, and her theme is butterflies. I am thinking feather vases on the tables. Just because it looks nice, and they are cheaper than flowers. I need to know where I can get alot of white butterflies so I can paint them in her colors and do spray glitter. I found some eiffel tower vases at http://www.flowersandsupplies.com
they are $2 and up depending on which size you get.
hi
i am gettin married next year. my man wants it early next year but am thinkin maybe a summer wedding late in the year. if not then we ve to compromise on having a winter weddin. his favourite color is blue. mine are green,brown and gold. i havent yet got a color code but if we are goin to use blue then am thinkin blendin it with some pink.as for the other color scheme am thinkin green, brown n gold or replace the green with a deep maroon or red.
please advise me. l keepin movin in a circle. my idea of my color would be a blend of contrasting colors.
thanks in advance
oops the picture didnt work the first time so here it is
Thank you Stacey for your help! I found a lot of great ideas using those searches and put together a little collage of photos that portrays my vision. I put a picture of invitation that I love but are way too expensive, does anyone know where I can find something similar at an affordable price? I have been having trouble finding yellow invitations.
megan i am sorry my post with the davida and chris research is yours. my bad. i put jessicas name :”>
jessica, that is gorgeous!! you have to post pics after your wedding! have a great day!! stacey
this is sort of hte look im going for.
its really sloppy but it gives a small picture.:P
heh Megan, then consider a shade of grey.or put them dark grey with yellow ties. this looks pretty great with yellow. scroll below to april 10th 2008, i did a post for sarah. up above the pics is a link for davida and chris at thebridescafe. if this doesn’t spell country and lemonade and cookies i dont know what does.
there are to many pics to list. so go to stylemepretty.com (be sure to check out november 2007 they have a country chic wedding on there from megan) also google image country wedding and country chic wedding (there are lots of boards to pull up) check out all the real weddings and also while your on thebridescafe check out things there too. you will find so many ideas. when you narrow down things let me know. i will help more!! look forward to your reply!!
heh jessica, that sounds pretty and simple to do. i hope i helped even in a small bit. good luck and happy future!!
I just got engaged and am beginning the planning process for an October 2009 wedding. I love the look of either a soft or bright yellow paired with chocolate brown and since it will be a Florida wedding I think that should be ok in October.
I want the BM’s in yellow knee length dresses but no clue what the guys would be wearing. The problem is that my FH does not like the look of the khaki or brown suits but I dont like black and brown together. It is going to be a semi-casual, outdoor wedding. I was kind of going with a southern, country chic type feel (reminiscent of homemade cookies and fresh squeezed lemonade). I am looking for advice either with other options for the guys to wear with that color pallet or another option for the chocolate brown to pair with yellow and still get the same feel. I appreciate any help/advice!!
i think i should just go with brown blue and white with little pops of silver and pink in the flowers and centerpieces.
i found a dress that is gorgeous and more march appropriate length wise and it comes in blue and espresso!
jessica, here is what i mean, sorry for the confusion. I GOT IT! I went back and read your posts again. junior bm in brown with pink sash ok, put bm in brown with blue sash sounds good. with moh in the blue from the bm dress sashes, (if you choose a different blue other than their sash it might look awkward) ok… for the moh sash i dont think i would put one in a different colorlike pink or blue, i would keep that sash same color as moh dress, otherwise it would look to birthdayish especially added with the multicolor florals. now… if moh sash color IS A MUST then stick to a brown sash, this would be sooooo pretty and it will tie all the girls in and make the wedding party look like they belong together. everyone will have their distinction still!!:D:P
i know what i was thinking that threw us off. i thought you were thinking about putting the bm in red! am i back on track??? smile!! i just looked at jim hjelm website at the dress. doesnt appear they have a brown sash for that so go with a solid color blue. loved the coordinating junior bm dresses!! the thing here with differnt purchase places, is make sure all the blues match since your going with sashes. this may actually change your color choices if you cant match.if that is the case. then go with solid brown on all girls, just different style for moh . have junior bm in brown with colored sash only. and have the bouquets different to represent distinction. write back and let me know.:D
i am confused now… :”>
can you post a picture board with how you think it should look…
Valerie, it is such an easy, classic, and utterly beautiful color combo. ive always thought so. just add draping amaranthus and greenery(lots of it)! of course put girls in red, guys in black, add touches of gold and white and there you go done!! smile!! of course i like the black dress look for girls too, and it sure would make that red pop!! dont 4get the candlelight to make it even more spectacular!! i love the old world lighting in a loft style setting. so mix old and modern, i believe this combo will do it!!
Check out this wedding posted at Embellishment:
you can add a crystal garland ebellishments, to resemble a wintry ice. this would be amazing!!
jessica, hi, so sorry i wasnt able to give more advice yesterday. I may not be helping you like you need. hope i am not making you more confused.
i am worried that it will be to much color happening. to ground lots of flower colors it has always been recommended to have a solid background to ground it. i do know when you have many dress colors the bouquets need to be the same to give a sense of flow. my suggestion is have a red bow(or color of bm dress you choose, pink bows would be pretty) on the flower girls dress and the moh to tie it in better. that way there is a unity look without being exactly the same. i wish i knew of a wedding planner but i dont. i wish you the best of luck, if you need any more ideas please write back i would love to help you with this.
Need help with colors for wedding. It’s in winter and I’m thinking a deep red, black, and gold. What do you think?
kelly go to martha stewart weddings’ Fuchsia & Taupe gallery. this is what i mean by putting it against beige. dreamy isnt it? it is in the new martha stewart weddings magazine. or view photos on the website. i love this scheme!!!!
is it ok that i am using 3 differnt dresses even though they are all similar?
i REALLY like the short brown one for my sister and i really like the blue one and they are both similar. does the maids dress look too out of place? i could also have the maids wear the same dress as my moh and just have them wear it in brwon instead of the blue.
with the guys, i have always thought that brown and black clash together so if i put them in a brown vest what else would they wear?
PS-does anybody know of a wedding planner that i could talk to?
jessica, yes i loveee those dresses i love the blue hands down!!
the designer for my jr maid is Winnie Couture Bridesmaids and its the dress that is brown with a pink bow, my maids dresses are by Dessy Collection and it is the red strapless dress, and my moh dress is designed by Jim Hjelm Occasions and it is a strapless blue with a green bow but all of the changes i would make are in my las comment!
PS is it ok that my dresses are all different?