Choosing Your Wedding Colors: A Guide for Designing Brides
- Sussing Out Your Style
- Destination: Home, Sweet Home
- Your Secret Romantic Style
- The Gown's the Guide
- Adjust for Geography, Venue and Season
- Essential Color-Choosing Tools
- Color Schemer
- Sherwin-Williams Color Generator
- Big Huge Labs Palette Generator
- Make a Mood Board
- Making the Most of Your Choices
- And They Lived Happily Ever After ...
- Chime In!
- Comments (3096)
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 collections 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 ...
When all's said and done, you're sure to have a great feeling about your colors, and how they fit your personal style. Even if the scheme you hit on isn't "I've loved that all my life!", it might be "I never would have thought of that, but I love these together!"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.
Just can’t figure a color for my wedding, I went to the bride expo last weekend thinking it would make me decide on what color scheme, however, now I’m more confused than ever! I’ve always dreamed of having red roses, however, my favorite color is BLUE…I NEED HELP!:((
hi its me again, i’m planning on on a small wedding reception and later a buffet for close friends and family members. But i’m a bit confused concerning the wedding reception because i want to serve chicken, sausages,khebabs, pastries and salad with lots of drinks but i want it to be cocktail-like in the sense that i don’t want the guests to sit because it will be very short. PLEASE how do i achieve that because i’m wandering where they are going to put their drinks or food in case they want to set them down. PLEASE HELP ME!
hello joycee, here is a tip: a fish bowl, partly filled with water, with white and orange flower petals and green marbles/pebbles or potpourri in these 3 colours or floating candles. i think orange, green and white is alrit too, and will be nice.
What Roli said!
Also, Mel, you might want to see Fields of Gold: November Weddings … which covers pretty much the color schemes Roli suggested.
hi mel, subtle colours are ideal for november weddings: gold, creams and browns. a rust orange in combo with cream and gold is worth considering.
I am planning for my wedding some time in May this year, do you thing Red, Green and either of white or gold would be nice? I,m really confused in choosing the right theme for my wedding. I would really appreciate any help given to me. Thanks
need help….were having an engagement party this monday jan.28 as requirement for our midterm exams in Catering subject as hrm sudents, do you think orange, green and white would be nice? i’m having problems on what centerpiece to use … please help… thanks!
thanks prisca. im glad i could help. actually i got the years wrong in my earlier mail. my wedding was in august 2007 and the trip was in may 2007. i kinda forgot we were in 2008,lol.
Thanks so much Roli, you are a darling! The websites have been so useful. I hope to get in touch in case i have any more questions. Thanks once again.
hello prisca, i think its fine to have the best man in black like the other groomsmen if any, and the groom only in white. I have seen a few pics with bridal parties like this, I believe you might find some on the http://www.davidsbridal.com website. Id share a tip, I just got this red dress from Debenhams. I bought it online, they only had size 14 in stock at the time and I am a size 10 but I loved it so much, I bought it anyway and plan to give it to me seamstress to amend. Thing is, I was in the UK in May 2006 and bought the same dress in pink for my BMs, my wedding was in August 2006.
It wasn’t on sales then, so it was pretty pricy. I couldnt buy one for myself then cos i had other wedding expenses to cope with and wasn’t ready to commit funds to something i didnt quite need at the time, but i kept vigil at the debenhams website almost daily since August and when it finally came down to half the price in December, I quickly bought it. I dont know if they still have it in stock at the moment but its a lovely red dress, with a silver brooch, and the shade of red is so so unique, and lovely on my dark skin. just sharing: here is the link for the dress: Debenhams
Hello Meg, dont worry much, and don’t let the date/season of your wedding restrict your colour theme/choices much, i mean these should guide your choices but its your day, you pick the date and you decide just how you want it to look. Pink and Brown is a stylish/chic combo and there is so much you can do with it. The Pink/Mocha theme below is elegant. Bet you already can imagine how your bridal party is gonna look now.
Hello Yeng, Blake has said it all. I totally agree that lime green and purple is a lovely lovely combo.
yeng, see purple & lime green above
I think it looks great, don’t you? Purple and green is a slightly modernized version of the super-popular pink and green. I think it’s hard to go wrong with these very contemporary, vibrant colors.
You might also want to see a Purple-Theme wedding, or take a look at Jennie’s Lime Green and Pink polka dot wedding. Even though the latter uses pink, she really goes to town with electric versions of those colors, and the result was a knockout.
Hi Meg, if chocolate brown seems too grounded and dark for May, why not mocha?
I love these photos which do something a little unusual (esp. the pattern on the groom’s tie, and the romantic black lace over the bridesmaid’s mocha gowns), but look very sweet with that brown sugar coloring. I think this scheme would work wonderfully for a spring or early summer wedding.
hi roli! I will be getting married this august, i still havent decided yet on what color to use. im thinking of purple & lime green will that be ok? me and my fiance would like blue since it is our favorite color but my brother used the color in his wedding. so im thinking of other colors that will look great. will purple & lime green be ok? pls help!!!
I do not have anyone from my wedding yet on this blog however I am having a hard time with my colors for a May 2009 wedding. I love pink but I am also mature enough not to go for bright or barbie pink more something like a very pale pink. I really like chocolate and browns but it’s May not Oct. Any one have ideas?
hi Roli, thanks so, so much. I also wanted to know if the groom can be in a white suit with the best man in black suit. Do you think they’ll match? i just want the 2 of us to be in white. Please what do you think?
Hi Prisca, a red and white wedding is ideal for your December wedding. Strong bright reds usually look better with white, darker reds with cream/beige. Suggest you use a single shade of red with white and silver accents as your theme. You could try crimson red. You could have your bouquet in all red roses, a white weding dress, silver hair and neck accessories, bridesmaids in red dresses with silver or white sashes and other accessories (shoes, hair piece etc) and if they have bouquets, all white bouquets, this could also be white with some red, but not too much. hall decor in red and white fresh flowers mostly, chairs covered in white with red sashes, tables in white long table covers, then red patterned jacquard smaller table cover with a lovely centre piece such as a fish bowl partly filled with water with red petals flowing at the top, or a high glass vase filled with white stones/pebbles and fresh flowers towering over the vase, lots of lights around the cake table and high table, groomsmen in black suits, white shirts and red ties in shades close to those of the BMs, if you want a waistcoat, you could use white or red, and a white cake with red and silver floral designs all around the body of the cake, with a silver cake knife tied with a red ribbon. Your BMs could also wear mix and match outfits in a combination of red and silver, red skirt, silver top with red sash and silver sandals and a red and white and silver sinamay and feathers hair piece and of course silver jewelry. there is just so so much you can do.
Hello Jodit, red and gold is a great combo. Go for it.
Hello Stella, its always easier to start with the colours you love. Lets know what colours you love, what colours your partner loves, and we can take it from there. Dont fret, its so much easier to pick a colour theme than it often seems. Are you having a bridal party? 4 weeks is not a lot of time dearie, so i hope to see a response from you in 24hours.
Hello Tamzie, lovely ideas for your clour theme. I suggest a Rose Pink, sort of like the background colour where you have the white and brighter pink polka dots on this website.
Hello Cindy, pink and red together requires some effort in putting it all together to yield a lovely result. Personally, I don’t like the combination. You love these two colours, so I’d suggest you use shades of pink from pale to fushia/hot pink and a touch of white. Red is not eactly hot pink but having shades of pink is quite romantic, beautiful and glamorous too. Ask you florist to put these together so you can see, also look at pink with red so you can make a decision that works for you.
Hi Vanessa, pinks and greens do go together, and are used quite often. I had it at my wedding and I have seen it used at many other weddings, sometimes with a touch of gold. A light turquoise/aqua with hot pink will be a lovely combo, its really just how you use it thats critical, i mean in what proportions. I just don’t think they would look right together, I know. You could throw in some hints of white.
hello kiki, im glad i could help. all the best as you prepare for your beautiful day.
Please my wedding is comming off in December this year in Ghana and i would really love a red and white wedding. could you please give me ideas on how to combine different shades of red? i’m also confused about how to combine the colours in the brides maids dresses and whether to add silver.PLEASE HELP ME!
i am getting married in July 19 :”>. i have soooooo confused what color i should do. Please help me. I am going back and forth with Red and Gold. but i am having a hard time choosing.
Pleaseeeeeeee help me
my wedding is coming up in a months time and i have the problem of choosing 2 colours that goes together.can you pls help me
Please, my wedding is in spring n my colour theme is shades of green (especially mint n olive), and a touch of pink. Wat do u think and wat shade of pink would be most ideal?
:(( I’m getting married in June 08′ and I having troubles picking out my colors I really like pink and red but is that enough…should I use a third color please help I’m going insane
Hello. I would like to have aqua or a light turquoise-esque and a fuschia or bright pink color as my May wedding colors. Do you think these colors would look right together? I can’t seem to find and pictures of these two colors together. According to color palettes pinks and greens don’t belong together.