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
Pages: « 40 … 12 11 10 9 8 [7] 6 5 4 3 2 … 1 » Show All
hi,
we opted to use deep chocolate brown.. what nice color can we combine with it other than pink…. please help.. thanks
Thanks Erin! That’s a great idea… I’m thinking of having about 6 bridesmaids, and that’s quite a lot… anyway, i may have to take your advice into consideration!
thanks again!
Thanks Erin, I was a bit unsure about half the bridesmaids in green and half in lilac. I think i might just make most things choc and green with the lilac as an accent here and there. I’ll check out the choc dresses to see is i find any that i love.
personally I dont like the idea of half the bridesmaids in lilac and half in green. you could do green dresses and then lots of purple and green flowers in the bouquet or the other way around. you could also consider brown dresses with lilac and green sashes. My bridesmaids LOVED their brown dresses with brown sashes (MOH sash was champagne)
why not a black and white dress? Depending on the formality of your wedding polka dots or a pinstripe dress in black and white would look great. You do not have to go with a bridesmaid dress - check out local shops and department stores (although if you have MANY bridesmaids this is not as easy of an option)
Arielle,
I’m doing the same colors and my personal opinion is only the bride should be in full white. I was going to try for my bridesmaids to be in black dresses with maybe a white trim/ruffle and/or sash and then their bouquets for the red accent.
I’m thinking about doing a traditional black and white wedding with a red accent. I think it’ll be classy. Red roses for flowers. But i was wondering, should my bridesmaids be in black or white dresses?:-? I don’t want red, because i just want a small accent of red. Any suggestions??:?
Hi,
My wedding is next september and i’m thinking of using chocolate brown as a base and lilac and seafoam green as accent colours. My bridesmaids will be in seafoam green with lilac sashes. I’m not sure if 3 colours will be overkill and am wondering whether to make half lilac and half green? any ideas/ tips?
Hi Leah
I am in South Africa, so it will be very hot on our side thats why i say it will be springtime (29 Dec 2007). But i really love the whole idea of fruity and apples and lime. Maybe add a bit of gold as well! I am also not sure whether a meringue or staright cut dress would suit me. I just am having a lot of stress with planning!. Only starting this Saturday to go for gown options, but will see how it goes. The venue is a wooden flooring cherry colour. So wonder how that will be helpful. Please advise! :((8-|
I am in desperate need of help. My wedding is early April 2008 and I have done nothing-except for book a church, reception hall, and ordered my dress-for the wedding!! I am so overwhelmed with what I need to do and my fiance really wants to be involved in decision making too…which is actually making things more difficult because that means we have to have time to sit down together and really go over things…our big dilemma right now are teh wedding colors…my gown is an ivory and I would love to have a champagne/gold/pearl color theme for our wedding…we are going VERY formal with about 350 people…are these colors okay for a spring wedding?? and, what kind of flowers would I choose for these colors??? So confused and full of so many ideas!! Any help/advice is much appreciated!
temmie just put the groomsmen in black which is the most popular for them in suits or tuxes whichever your wedding formality is. with burgundy or gold even white underneath with just a colored boutenniere in the wine color. and put your girls in gold or wine whichever looks best on them. you could also give the color and have mix and match separates like at davids bridal that way they could choose. actually i would go to their website for ideas. they have a ton. alsso look at what you should wear at formal, informal, semiformal weddings etc. for the bride groom and wedding party.
hi dearie, thanks a million times for the special advice. Truly I appreciate. Leah, I think I would as well go with Gold and White but I seem to have problem with what you refer to as wedding part(y) being black. Also if I’m to go with Gold and White, what do you think the Groom’s men could wear(as in colors)?
temmie wine and gold are all you need for a november wedding with either your choice of white or cream. since those are your fave colors i wouldnt even look anywhere else. for some sparkle well thats easy. i would actually do a white and gold wedding theme this goes with everything anyway and add touches of wine in the decor, bouquets, cake, etc. plus wine is perfect for your bridesmaids complexion ( it is like burgundy) unless they look good in gold?? go to google images and type in white and gold wedding decor this will give you some ideas. you could add crystals for wow factor. i would make sure the wire the crystals are on are gold instead of silver though. another idea…put wedding party in black for sophistication. even if its not formal. the girls especially, would have a dress to wear again.
i like wedding ideas with small details and big impact so if it were me… i would definitely go with the gold and white add touches of wine, and put the wedding part in black cause it would look elegant without alot to it mainly because of the colors. if you would write back and let me know your theme and ideas thusfar i would love to help.
kimberly, i was doing some research and colors that look good on all bridesmaids/skintones are narrowed down to these 3: burgundy, red, and periwinkle. the website said those are failproof. good luck!!
hi dearie, pls help me out. I’m getting married by Nov 10th and i’m still battling with my wedding colors. I love wine and gold (they are my favourite color). pls could you help me with the colors that could go with either of them. Or better still advice me on nice colors to make my wedding reception sparkling.
I am getting married july 28, 2008 and i have no clue what colors i want my wedding to be! I’m mainly worried cause i want a color that will look good on all my bridesmaids… and that they will fell comfortable wearing! please help!!!!
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/?id=2770977...
cordie here is this photo of the tulip bouquet. if it still dont work go to google images type in pink wedding bouquet tulips it will be a istockphoto website. its so pretty!!
heh cordie i am gonna send you some links if it will take. if you love pink then go for it. i would choose an ice pink, white and black. if you dont like black choose brown. i would put the bridesmaids in black with pink tulips, groomsmen in black white undershirts small ice pink flower. flowergirl in white with either a black or pink sash. have her throw petals of ice pink, mint green, and white petals. for a pop of color. or whatever color the carpet etc. is in your choice of location. if red carpet add a few of those just to pull in. for the petite bride they say no ballgowns but i have found you can wear one if it is not poufy, so it wont overwhelm your petite frame. they do ballgowns with a straighter skirt but the right amount of fullness. go to google images and type in pink weddings, then type in pink wedding cakes, pink wedding bouquets, pink wedding decor
http://www.istockphoto.com ( here are the tulips i think this is beautiful)
http://www.syonpark.co.uk ( check this out)
http://www.essortment.com/lifestyle/weddingbouquets_sfge.htm
also go to this favor ideas and type in pink theme weddings
if you want just 1 flower which is easier but not necessarily more inexpensive then i would go with the tulip, or the rose, even the peony. you could even add greenery such as pine boughs with ice crystals. you can buy these at craft stores. or add hanging ice crystals just here and there with the pink and the lights it would look magical. i hope this helps. you can keep these colors and decor to adjust them to a informal wedding just by the attire only. carry this into your reception. let the crystals be your touch of winter. i would serve hot cocoa with or without peppermint in the cups. and marshmallows. you know if you dont want to carry a bouquet you could carry a hand muff if it is cold where you live. depends on your climate according to your fabric. but a dress store will help you. from your ad it sounded like you were looking for a formal semiformal wedding approach with a twist. i hope this helps
am 5.3, do y’all think a ball gown will do me justice?
Hey babes, my name is Cordelia and am from Nigeria.My wedding is February 2008 and am yet to pick colours.My best colour is pink and my intended loves green.Wat colours would e suitable.I want a very classy wedding….Have not even decided on my wedding gown nor colors and fabric for my maids….pls help a sister