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 getting married on May 17 2008. My first set of colors were Wine and Cream but I think that it may be too dark for that month and I would have to special order lots of things if i stick with that color. I figured that I could keep the cream color and use maybe a Peridot color(which is my birthstone anyway) but now after so many months of looking at the wine colors I dunno where to start anymore and time is winding down. Should I use it as a accent color? I’m trying to do all of this without the help of a bridal consultant.
hey there, i am getting married 7/29/08 and my colors are coral and celedon (light green) and i think the 3rd accent color is going to be apricot(a suggestion by a bridal consultant) for the flowergirls, are these good color combinations. if they are not can you suggest maybe a third color because the coral and celedon are the main colors. i also need some suggestions for the bouquets and flowers. my dress is going to be ivory.
Shamalon, there are some other winter/aqua / “Pool” color brides over here … see if you don’t get some great ideas.
The aqua blue wedding
Hi Jessica! I hope you don’t mind, I combined your beautiful dress with some photos, tell me what you think.
Pink and champagne are sweet together … classic and feminine. No question that champagne sashes and pale pink sashes will work together. They are so complementary, they almost seem to be in the same color family. And there’s a lot of movement these days toward varying the table and chair treatments a little more than we usually do … we can use more color than we think, so I think your idea is great.
To me, your dress has an incredibly sweet, vintage feel (as you say). I see this going with very cottage garden, English-style flowers. Especially peonies. Then, roses and rununculous in soft pastels. Ivory hydrangeas … very cottage. These fluttery types of flowers will look just amazing against your dress.
As you can see a little pale green crept into this board, with the cake. I let it stay there because it seemed to bring out a bit of a third dimension. I could really tell the difference when I took it out. Other things here that I think work well with your theme is the very classic look of the cake design and the silver cake stand, and the faceted crystal on the tables.
Obviously this is just one of many looks you could go for. But your colors are beautiful and timeless … you can’t go wrong.
Oh, I almost forgot: these colors could easily have a bit of French feel too, so you might get some ideas here:
a Paris Theme Wedding
Reviving Versailles (Some Antoinette Magic)
Hi guys! I am getting married June 28, 2008. My colors are champagne and pale pink. The brides maids have champagne dresses with an ivory sash tied right under the bust and my two little sisters are going to be jr bridesmaids and for a touch of color are going to wear pale pink dresses. My dress is ivory with champagne beads and has a very antique look t it. I can not decide what flowers to use for the reception and what color sashes to use for the chairs! The lines are going to be ivory with ivory seat covers. I was thinking maybe one table with all pale pink sashes and the next with all champagne sashes so on and so on. Still is that a good idea? And waht flowers should I use? Has anyone ever done these colors before and if so could send me pics? I’d be so thankful! Thanks
8-I am so stress out over colors I orginally started out with baby blue and now it’s Tiffany blue and brown. Once again it was so hard to find the color tiffany blue so I changed again to David’s Bridal Pool Color. Now remind you my wedding is January 19 so it will be winter time I need help please which colors should I choose??
Hi,
I’m getting married next October and have a question about colors. Originally I was going with brown dresses for my bridesmaids and burnt orange for my flower girl. Now I’m stuck on red and black….I know the other colors are typical for October and should stick with them, but I keep coming back to the red and black. My theme is Fall, so I;m not sticking to 1/2 specific colors. My question is…would red/black go with a fall theme? I don’t want it to look tacky! Any suggestions….please!
ks… i love the fruit idea and definitely keep your colors they are fresh and classic. you have a color scheme that is you wanted to add say…green apples with a touch of red on them or other fruit or flowers it would come alive. you cant go wrong. here are some websites to check out.
wedding bee — apples and limes and marshmallows, oh my
and see DIY fruit wedding centerpieces
Here at favorideas check out apple theme weddings and also
dreaming of a dazzling green wedding
Rochelle
I used chocolate brown and a cafe color for the most part but used bright red apples on the tables. The two colors were lovely together. Just make use to use lots of white or cream so things don’t get too dark unless you want something really dramatic. If you want drama add a metallic bronze or copper would be fantastic with your colors.
Our favors were homemade crabapple jelly and candy apple kits for the kids. I love the idea of homemade caramel apples for your favors as that seems to be the inspiration.
Hi, I was just curious if Apple Red and Chocolate Brown would go together well. I want something that is elegant, but just slightly different as well. I am getting married in October and these colors make me think of caramel apples.
jessica
Saw this invite a while ago and loved it.
check out
http://www.hellolucky.com/custom/index.php/wedding/GetAQuote/15#
Or if clicking on that link doesnt work go to the main page for http://www.hellolucky.com and pick ‘weddings’ on the tab bar.
then browse the wedding section. the design is called enchanted garden
I think that these are similar to the colors you are talking about
they work well together and would go with your finance’s dress blues - if he’s wearing them (I’m canadian so i hope i’m getting that right!). throw in some navy here and there at your reception or maybe have MOH in navy with the other BM in your pool blue or just a sash on MOH in dark blue (the possibilities are endless). The darker color helps ground the light colors and would tie into his blues. Hope this helps!
fgrace
my august wedding was dark chocolate brown, cafe (check Alfred angelo for a swatch) and ivory. My flowers were a coral color while the bridesmaids carried white. I thought it was beautiful. The great thing about brown is that ANY color will go… you could try a cantaloupe color, pinks, greens, yellows, coral, lilac - just use a couple of shades of the same color. ask your fiance what he would like - maybe you can come with a combination together!
thanks jen.. but my future husband doesn’t like blue… will taupe or graying thing go with deep dark chocolate brown… or if monochromatic , what colors would be nice with it?
thanks
I am gettin married in Febuary my fiancee is in the militaary so its hard for me to plan this wedding without him here i was going to go with the colors honey dew green and a pool color blue cause they are our favorite colors but i dont know so i was hopin for some ideas.. if you can email me with some that would be super to be honest i dont know where to start..lol thanks
Hi Erin,
I never thought about coral, that’s a great idea, I will play with the color and see how it looks. Thanks!
hi,my wedding is coming up dec 8 2007 in Nigeria,i was thinking of using purple n pink,do u think the colours go together?
its an out door wedding.
jenni
with your baby blue you could go for a pale yellow. this would be very soft, lots of floaty fabrics. If you want something with a little more punch consider going for a coral color (orangy pink) with lots of cream or white. I would avoid using blue flowers in the bridesmaids bouquets, instead go for a contrasting color.
Hey fgrace, a good color to go with a chocolate brown is blue. Usually a lighter shade, but I would play around with that palette!
Hello,
I am planning to have a spring wedding in May ‘08. My favorite color is baby blue, so, I was planning this color for my bridesmaids. I need another color that will go well with it. Maybe a pale yellow? Any ideas?
i’m getting married in october, and wants a tangerrine color not to bright, need help in choosing what colors are in a orange also another color to go with it.