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
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- 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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please i’m having my wedding in Benin- Africa in December this year, i was thinking of using a lot of white with a little red. Please what do you think and can you help me with some more ideas. Thanks
Hello Stacey,
My fiance’ and I plan to marry in the Spring. We have planned as far out as May 2010. The ceremony and reception will take place on my fiance’s, Aunt’s property. This BEAUTIFULLY landscaped property is located in Jackson Louisan and consists of 12 acres to include a pond and several gardens and trees. We plan to have roughly 50 people of close friends and family. I really would like the scenery to look elegant but not overdone. I am worried that it will be more like a back yard barbecue which is NOT what I want. I would like the ceremony to take place in front of the pond, but do not like the idea of having an archway at the alter, I am uncertain of how I should decorate. I want simple but very elegant. If you have any ideas, and pictures for thought. I would most certainly appreciate it.
Hi Stacie!
I’m getting married in November 2008 and I’m still having trouble deciding on which colors to make my wedding. I was thinking having a rusty green with gold, or sage, peach, and brown.
Also for my bridesmaids dresses I was thinking about making them the green color that would go along with my wedding…. however my largest problem is my fiance is in the army and will be wearing his dress uniform (which is green!)…
I would love to have those colors for my wedding, but what shall I do???
okay i have and idea of what i want but im not sure can u give me an idea….i kind of want a tropical(orange,yellow,red) type thing or i would like something with the flower of a lily
kachi, just google image white groom suit ( I love the last pic 2nd row, this is a great suit!!) you should be able to buy or rent this anywhere they have suits and tuxes.
kelli, just google image fruit wedding for more ideas. yes i love purple and red together. you could do the all purple wedding in the varying tones. put strawberries in silver containers surrounded by candlelight in beautiful clear and silver votive glasses. setting small posies of mixed purple shades in glass containers at each place setting. they should be small though.
silver and white with your purple would be beautiful!! unless your going for a more rustic tone let me know !!:D remember using dark colors can look black at night especially in photos!! so lighter shades are best.
kelli,
see Purple & Green with Envy
also google image purple wedding outdoors for lots of pics.
also purple and blue wedding. then purple wedding.
personally i love the monochromatic wedding in just purple just different shades of it. i like silver as the metal accent. white shows up great at night in tents and linens. also google image purple and pink wedding for more pics. and outdoor wedding lights for different suggestions!! let me know what ya like and we’ll go from there!!
Stacey
thank you for the advice it has helped me a lot have decided to go with the olive green and silver theme my only problem l have is that wat do l do with the rest of the decor and we have resolved to having a garden wedding so l have enough green to spread around.
kristin, this is the look i am talking about. soooooo romantic. just add the black wrought iron with the roses for tall centerpieces, if your room is tall if not, then go for lower wrought iron. mixed with the champagne gold and a TOUCH of silver (in the containers)and shimmery white this could be WOW!!!! add ethereal branches and candlelight. some greenery and you have a wedding!!! strewn rose petals.
kristin, i am going to work on yours. there is a pic i am looking for cant find it. will be with you as soon as i find it. by the way there are some red wedding pics below, that may help. the pic i am looking for is a black wrought iron centerpiece dripping with red roses. i think this would be gorgeous!! saw a christmas mantle one time with red roses as the theme and it was utterly beautiful!! it had a champagne gold accent. by the mean time google image red roses wedding also champagne rose for inspiration. you have picked an easy color scheme. just put guys in black with red bout. girls in red with champagne roses bouquet tied with a matching deep red ribbon. you carry the red roses tied with champagne ribbon. you can add white to your scheme. have a velvet red guest book with romantic feather pen. oh yes, add pale peach roses or pale yellow to the mix if ya want, would look elegant.
Please everyone, i need help with my fiance’s suit. i want to be kind of want something unique like a white suit but i can’t seem to see a very nice one. a lot of people are discouraging me bout it but i want to be sure dat it won’t be nice before i give up d idea entirely. my wedding colrs are turquoise and rose red like in d attachment. i was thinkn of him wearing a cream or white suit , white or cream half coat,white or cream shirt and d only thing of clor would be d tie which would be turquoise.where i could get a nice one would be cool as well.
I WOULD BE VERY GLAD IF ANYONE COULD HELP ME OUT HERE.
I am getting married on December 30. I would really like my colors to be deep red and champagne……my fiance said money isnt a problem, and to pick whatever i want, he wont interfere….does anyone know of a web-site that has those colors? I want my chair colors to be champagne with a dark dep red sash around them…any advice?
One more quick question, I was doing google searches and found some people using fruit as their color, for a summer wedding (which it will be the start of summer here in Australia in October), can anyone give me ideas of how fruit would look in a wedding. Say like purple with every red accent being strawberries. Or purple with yellow lemons. Something like that?
Hi everyone,
I have a wedding in October in Australia at my fiance’s parents place on their property in the outback. His mom wanted the ceremony near the gardens she’s planted. The wedding will be outdoors and go from early evening till late at night. We are trying to make it somewhat casual but still a pretty and “put-together” kind of wedding but it will be a large wedding, 100-150 people, most of which will probably end up sleeping over cause its hard to get out there. We will be having a bush cook come make some traditional aussie food. I’m pretty easy going about the whole thing because i want it to be fun but I also want it to be seen as a nice wedding as well. I have no idea what colors to choose. I know my maid of honor’s favorite color is purple so I was trying to tie that in. I was thinking something along the lines of purple and lime green or turquoise and purple. If anyone can give me suggestions on outdoor weddings, color theme, or even lighting for weddings outdoors at night, that would be great. Thanks for your help.
holly, google image pink and green wedding for lots of ideas, to many to post!:D
then google image pale pink wedding, pink wedding,romantic pink wedding, and romantic pink and green wedding. lots of stuff to search but will be well worth it!!:P after narrowing down some ideas write back with your wedding date etc. and we can go from there. would be happy to help in any wayi can!!:P
Those purple and green and brown pictures are EXACTLY what I had in mind! this is so perfect! Thank you for giving me the visual I definiely needed!
I am looking for a really pretty pink and a pretty green that will go together….I need some help
Thanks
jessica, almost forgot. make sure the navy blue in the suits match. take your dads suit with you to match the blues. if you do this consider putting girls in lighter blue. or another idea: you could even go as far as putting gm in grey to pull the stripe from your dads suit, if you do this put girls in navy..
hi jessica, i think these are just what the doctor ordered! yes yes yes use daisies gerber or shasta. before you had a black, white and pink wedding replace the black with blue. pink looks great against blue. google image blue wedding and blue and pink wedding for ideas. your dad’s suit will be fine. i think this will work out, so he wont have to buy another suit, and that having him in the wedding means so much to you. heh tell him he was the inspiration for your color scheme!!(i bet this will make him smile), and still give you what you want. it doesnt matter if the guys have solid blue suits, the stripes in your dads suit will set him apart like it he was meant to wear a suit with stripes and it will not clash. add your touches of pink here and there. ot leave it out and go with all blue and white either or… i would use light blue also with the navy blue. it looks sooooo good together. even add other blues like blue grey in pic i sent you,which is my fave. yes with the pink touches from light to medium. i think varying tones will set your wedding apart and give it depth, creativity, and a summer elegance. write back and let me know what you think.
jessica, a few more!!:P