Chocolate Brown Weddings
But now, it's like the most visible Hilton heir: Paris — just Paris. Everyone knows who you mean.
Chocolate Brown is the color that fuels any number of high-flying color schemes. It's the go-to hue, whether it's a fall wedding that needs a touch of naturalism, or a fresh concept by a "design progressive" bride armed with a Gocco press, a bucketful of Etsy bookmarks and shelves groaning with artisan papers.
Alas for the chocolate-tigued, that's a migration not likely to happen — at least not soon. The world's still crazy-in-love with chocolate, and all its savory cousins: coffee, mocha, tan. Its hoped-for heir apparent, steel gray, has made inroads ... but has yet to take the wedding world by storm.
And that might not happen right away, because among the neutrals — unlike gunmetal gray! — chocolate brown is warm. Inviting. Feminine, even.
Pair it with just about any imaginable pastel or bright tropical hue, and you've got intimate, instant chic.
How to Get Down With Brown
But later on in the craze, we started to see new hues: butter yellow, lime or apple green. And that original pink got bumped up to sizzling fuchsia. We saw ultra-warm pairings like salmon, peach and burnt orange take their cue. So did aqua and teal.
As royal purple and eggplant colonized the pages of Vogue, they too started flaunting their charms against a field of chocolate brown. So did lavender.
Now, cutting-edge weddings interweave brown with fire-engine reds, copper and oranges, adding exotic touches like pin-tucked linens and fringe. Sometimes, you see brown with burgundy, a dark but elegant pairing ... and sometimes with crisp, patterned black and white.
Beautiful Byways
To most eyes, it's the warm and 'poppy' colors that meld best with chocolate brown. Still, there are blessed exceptions. Cool sage and brown launches the ultimate West Coast palette, especially with twigs or branches, bamboo, palm-leaf, handmade papers and other natural materials.Also down with brown: monochromatics like champagne, khaki and cream. All this adds up to a Tuscan vibe that's positively royal. Just add dabs of gold, olive or brick.
Designing Brides
Everyone knows the traditional wedding: tulle, rose and shasta daisy affairs infused with lavender, pale yellow and other blushing hues.Then, you've got naturalistic weddings — keyed to the blazing hues of a New England hillside in fall.
Here, you see all those sassy, style-infused hallmarks of modern events: patterns (paisleys, damasks, moroccan or henna-style, just to name a few!). And bright chunks of contrasting satin ribbon.
Then, you see cakes stacked in 'gift box' designs, or flaunting quilted, embossed or hand-painted fondant, ribbons, or graphic accents (polka dots, swiss dots, art nouveau swirls or preppy stripes, anyone?).
And modern centerpieces look sharp in this setting: think trays full of wheat grass studded with gerber stems. Or clear cylinders filled with 'drowning' florals and topped with a floating candle.
Papers are uber-important, too. As for invites? Spunky and graphic, if not outright letterpressed in some swanky coastal atelier.
In other words, chocolate brown weddings really are all about detail.
Dialing Up Table Details
Because brown functions as a neutral and can be dark in quantity, this wedding offers the perfect excuse to mix up table linens and centerpieces. Drape some tables with chocolate brown linens and others with cream or mocha, alternating overlays.Then, for focal points, mix up your centerpieces in color and style. If your colors are pink and brown, work in some pale green and peach blooms to add depth to your palette. Use higher centerpieces on some tables, lower on others, and simple lanterns or hurricane lamps on still others.
Funkified Florals
Want actual brown blossoms in your bouquets? Take a look at chocolate brown cosmos, hot chocolate mini-callas, or sultry leucadendrons, to name a few: all of which look fabulous with cream mini-callas or green orchids. Fiddleheads are another super-stylish accent.
For bridesmaids in brown, monochromatic cream bouquets in a tight posy style are simple but stunning.
Over-the-Top Touches
As always, a candy buffet looks terrific in a color-popping wedding like this one.For fun photo ops outdoors, hand your bridesmaids some super-bright parasols in your alternate color and ask them to pop 'em. They'll look like free-wheeling flowers in pics.
And here's one fun last idea for chocolate brides: liven up your bridal attire with a pair of bright heels to match the theme: fuchsia, teal, or lime green!
Talk Back!
Tell us about your chocolate brown wedding. What's got you stumped? What gorgeous designs have you found, or created?
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Hi, I am getting married next year Jan in South Africa on my parents farm. High summer. Although am thinking mainly whites and creams, I would like crimson red and apple green accents. They are good colours for the farm but not sure if it will be good for a wedding. We’ll be in a marquee and the garden is huge and green… what do you think? I envisage long tables, white table cloths and chair covers, possibly a cream overlay of some sort then a green apple at every place with their name in silver on crimson card in a piece of wire stuck into the apples. I have an enormous family so will propbably have 6 (gulp) bridesmaids though they won’t have any duties really, its just to honour them. I don’t want it to be too matchy so thought 1 could be in turquoise, another in crimson, apple green, royal blue, berry purple and chocolate brown. We could all have bouquets of red roses and silver shoes… what do you think? Could it work? Or not???? Would appreciate your honesty!!!!
Have added a photo of a tent where they use the green and red colours beautifully…
Thanks Cara
Cara,
That is very pretty using those colors! I think with the girls in different colors with the red would work very well since you are using a colored but still neutral decor. I love it!! The bm will too because they can choose something that flatters their skintone.
Thanks Stacey,
I really appreciate that! Sometimes you just need a bit of encouragement:-)
Cara
Hello,
I am helping to plan and coordinate my cousin’s wedding (June 2010). She wants to do peach, ivory and chocolate brown. Can anyone suggest how to pair the peach with the brown. The bridesmaids will wear Peach dresses and the groomsmen in brown tuxes.
Any suggestions. Not sure if they really go together.
Tanya,
Gorgeous color scheme.
* this is more coral but it shows how it can look
* wedding board
* I gave you brown and pink cause peach can either go more orange or more pink depending on the shade. It looks pretty much like this
* beautiful
* or this
Tanya,
* idea
Tanya,
* this is a great site to show how well the colors go
Hi Ladies!
I’m getting married this may and i was planning to do brown and light blue, but then when we bought the bridesmaids dresses none of my girls liked the way the brown or light blue colors looked so we went with marine (dark blue). i thought i could still make the brown and light blue work but now my aunt’s freaking out saying its too many colors. can i still use my original colors??
Lexi,
Oh it is beautiful when paired together! I made a board to show you. I used hydrangeas in pale and deep blue.
I am using chocolate and green..more of an apple green. I was wanting another color too, maybe just in the flowers though. Can someone help me find pictures of green and brown weddings with a little splash of pink thrown in?
Megan,
* pics
hey
am planning a wedding for sometime this year and i was thinking to use chocolate brown and yellow…but i am wondering how it will all look..think its more on fear of the outcome since i have never seen that combination….
any ideas :
naomi,
chocolate and yellow is a great combo!
* some ideas
* real weddings
* xtra pics
thanks for your response
how do i combine the colours onto the mens suits….the are wearing black suits..but i dont know how well they can incorporate the colours chocolate brown and yellow
thanks
naomi,
You could have them in just traditional black with a colored boutonniere or have them wear a chocolate vest with black. Black is a classic traditional look which goes with everything, even is the girls wear chocolate. Think any formal event, like balls, charity functions, red carpet. Guys wear black when the girls wear all different colors. It is timeless.
* here is black and brown tuxes, they look sharp!
Hi all. I am planning my wedding for August of 2010. I have fell in love with all the manzanita centerpieces. I am using chocolate brown and green. It’s a small wedding, there are 12 round tables and I am putting the branch centerpieces on 6 of the tables and the other tables i have some tall vases i thought about putting some green apples in. I found that manzanita actually means “little apple” so i thought this would work out well. Does anyone think this will look crazy?! I am so stressed! Also, I just ordered brown tablecloths for the tables but am having white chair covers…some have told me this wont look good but i dont have the extra money to get brown chair covers as well, plus i think it would be too dark…please HELP!
Megan, It will be fine. Just put white napkins on chocolate linens. Keep the green to the centerpieces. See how much chocolate sashes are. You may be able to get a great deal with your table linens and chair covers.
*Look close at this board, reception
* I gave the tips above if you decided to use sashes but look at how brown and white will look, with the green? WOW! beautiful! Love those white napkins!
Megan,
I think I would keep the vases of apples for the centerpieces for a fresh look then have a manzanita branch centerpiece on various tables, like placecard table, etc. around the room in well placed spots. consider buying crystal garlands or prisms to hang from a few branches.
Hi all,
I love all your ideas.. i particularly like the last modern board made by Stacey!
Can anyone tell me where you find these? I was wanting a candlelight ceremony, and that one looked gorgeous! Thanks
Tara,
Hi! Which pic were you referring too? I have the details on all the boards and I will gladly pass it along!
Hi!
I am getting married August 28, 2010 and I want to use chocolate brown as one of my colors. The guys are wearing black tux with brown vest so I was thinking of also using black as a second color. I know both those colors are dark so are there any recpetion ideas that would incorporate both those colors and not look so dark?? Im open to using a brighter color as well…..HELP!!!
Richelle,
What are your venue colors? and what type theme do you have? Also are there any certain colors you like/dislike? I like to ask what colors the groom likes too. It could be his favorite color would be perfect!
My colors are chocolate, clover green(david’s bridal color) and gold. I was thinking of doing chocoate linens with chocolate chair covers and clover sashes with gold chargers. And have the centerpieces with calla lillies or some other type of white or cream flowers in it. Is this too much chocoloate or should it be okay?
Deb,
sounds wonderful. I like the idea of using simple calla lillies with this, cause I think the green stems in a clear glass and candles would really look nice, complimenting the clover even more. If you want I could look at your venue. Just provide the link or pic and I could envision how it will look in the setting.
Thanks Stacey! Here is a link to their website. They don’t have good quality pics on there, so I’m not sure how much of a help it will be, but here you go
http://www.walkertheatre.com/index.asp?p=50#grand
Deb,
Why not have brown linens with gold chair covers, brown sashes, then pull your green in the centerpieces with green/white florals. For extra green find green/gold candle holders and simple white votives. or something like this…..
* i like this table alot putting the clover in the napkins. pulling in the white callas and green flwoer like hydrangea or green orchids. If you do it like this then have chocolate linens with or without white sashes. I also love the floating centerpieces in the background. pulling the gold into your favors, cake, and votive holders. This would compliment your setting very well.
Thanks Stacey!! I love that idea!! That’s exactly what I will do. I think it will look great!!
I would love to see pics of your wedding. My daughter’s colors are sage, choco, and cream.
June 6, 2010 wedding in at 6:30 eve. ceremony outdoors in austin
I wish I was getting married before your daughter so I could have sent you some pics, but I am getting married in September.
Hi there. I’m getting married next October and I’m looking to do a monochromatic wedding so as to be a sort of contrast to the bright fall colors that will surround our outdoor wedding. I have been thinking black, brown (the bridesmaid dresses are chocolate), and cream with variations of the brown elsewhere just so it isn’t too dark. The problem is, I can’t find pictures of monochromatic weddings, and I really don’t want to do something that’s common like brown and blue or brown and orange for fall. I guess I should add that I’m looking to mimic a sepia-toned antique photograph. Everything thus far is going for the vintage look. Can you help me with this?
Andrea,
I have a board maybe you can see the brown/black.
Andrea,
*Brown and gold would work really good.
* this really looks sepia
* look at the coloring on this invite, pretty close?
* love it!
* pic
* oohhh, like this.
* this too
* brown weddings
* more pics
Andrea,
Here is brown/cream…
* link
* with ivory
Hi stacy , Im getting marry in June 19 in a country club in california, is a really nice place, a lots of wood and nice green courtyard as a view. I picked lilac color, but people suggest i should combine it with another one. Any ideas that can help me to make it really pretty…. also ideas of decoration, i have seen really nice coments and suggestions you make, please can you give me some advises.
Rocio,
* paired with green
* another view of same wedding
* stunning when paired with grey
* real weddings
* classic when paired with brown
* using light to dark shades of purple ( monochromatic color scheme) gives a very elegant look without using other colors
i actually think if you use the monochromtic color scheme it will look GORGEOUS! paired with simple white or ivory. accent the flowers and centerpieces with crystal branches. have florist add crystals or rhinestones in centers of roses in bouquet or use rhinestone bouquet wraps. with the venue description, I think the monochromatic will accent its beautiful setting.
How about a contrast color like silver. Are you doing a white or ivory?
HELP MY WEDDING IS JUNE 12. 2010 AND I’M LOST ON DECORATIONS FOR THE CERENONY AND RECEPTION. BOTH CEREMONY AND RECEPTION ARE OUTSIDE, MY COLORS ARE FUCSHIAI AND EXPRESSO. CAN YOU PLEASE PROVIDE ME WITH SOME IDEAS AS FAR AS TO DECORATIONS AND WHAT COLOR CHAIRS AND LINENS WOULD GO REALLY WELL WITH MY COLOR THEME.
I just did a Fushica and Expresso wedding in Altanta Geogia in Novermber 2009. We used expresso table clothes with Fushia Pink runners. Centerpieces were 15″ glass with branches and fushia pink gerber daisies. The chairs for the wedding were white. We tied Fushia pink sashes and expresso sashes on the chairs. We used sherards hooks with kissing balls made up of fushia pink gerber dasies with expresso ribbon… Really beautiful…
Hi Michelle,
I am getting married in August of this year and my colors are the same. I am also using the espresso table clothes and fuschia runners, but my dilemma was the white chairs. I didnt want to spring for chaircovers, but didnt know if the white chairs would look nice. By any chance to do you have a picture of your reception table to post. Thanks
Tonya,
* here are some links
* fuschia with chocolate runners would really be beautiful
Hey Ladies! I’m getting married in August of 2010 in North Carolina. The place in which we are having both the ceremony and reception is a cottage on a lake that has a guest house, party house, tons of land and trees. It is beautiful! I want to keep the mood very happy and upbeat. My original color was pewter with hints of black and white. I love the color because it screams power and sophistication. However, after looking at a million websites and television programs, I am really loving chocolate brown with a bright yellow (since it will be summertime) or yellow and orange. I also believe that it will be easier to find favors and flowers around the two latter combinations. Thoughts? Ideas? Feedback? Plllleeeeaaassseeee. I’m meeting with my bridal party soon so I would love to hear back from you. Thank you so much and congrats to all of the other brides on here.
Shelley
shelley,
i really love the idea of brown with lots of white, yellows, with orange.
I just ran across this and was hoping I could pass it on to someone, check it out…..
*jawdropping!
let me know what ya think!!
Stacey, thanks so much for your response. I looked at the link and it was absolutley beautiful. The flower arrangements were great (especially since I’m also looking for ideas). I will definitely consider the brown, orange, and yellow combos. Thanks again!
Wow! Tons of great info here! I’m getting married on February 18, 2010. My dress is champagne. The bridesmaids looked really nice in DB’s truffle dresses next to me in my dress. I wanted to add ivory for decorations and one other color, but I’m having a hard time choosing something. I wanted burgundy, but now I think it might be too dark with the champagne wedding dress and truffle bridesmaids. Any suggestions? Also, do you think it will look OK if my dress is the only champagne colored item or do I need to incorporate it in the decorations, flowers? I want this other color to be in the bridal party somehow too….flower girl and ring bearer maybe…and/or accents on the bridesmaids? I’m so overwhelmed with the color decision…please, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I’ve added pics of the venue too:) The walls are a mocha-colored.
Jill,
* look at this. I think this is gorgeous and would really compliment the room ( of course you could keep the centerpieces more simple, i thought the colors would be great)
i actually think burgundy would be perfect! if your wanting something a little softer green is beautiful. submerged green orchids surrounded by candles. white linens, champagne runner. you could also do a soft brown runner or table linen with burgundy rose centepieces and candles.
* idea
*the knot
* color idea pic
Jill,
here is a board i threw together to show how beautiful the burgundy is.
Thank you so much! I love the ideas! I am going with a deep red, so your suggestions were perfect.
Hi, i see the venue pictures and the place looks amazing. if you dont mind my asking, what state and the name of the venue please? and also i think burgundy just might be ok or in that color family
hi,
im getting married in june 2010 , and i really dont have a theme my colors are green olive and chocolate ( dark brown ) do u think i can still make something pretty ? i didnt know about themes
wendy,
oh yes! i would use all cream or white flowers in one type such as roses to give it a romantic “pretty” feel. plus it makes it super easy with one type/color flower.
* lots of beautiful pics
* real wedding
*real wedding project wedding
Stancy thanks a lot for your ideas it really help me a lot specially cause i have being very busy lately. But your ideas and links were very helpful!
Cream color roses with a soft, sheer gold ribbon accent would be very feminine. Or go for a “woodland/forest” theme. Use birch branches in your centerpice, and moss and natural stones as accents. Make small terrariums for centerpices and use wood tables with no cloths . . . just placemats.
Brown and olive give off a warm and comfortable feel . . . it will be beautiful.
hi!
i really like your website….it provides a lot of insight, too much perhaps that i’m getting crazy with the color scheme…i need help! my fiance and I both love the chocolate brown and apple/mint green color, could we add crimson red in the palette or is dark pink better? we’re getting married in July 2010 and i’m going to send the link of our venue…please…please.. please help us….without the colors, we couldn’t move forward…thanks a lot… http://www.weddingsatsplendido.com/
I think either color would work . . . your reception site has lots of wood and either color would work. Brown with red accents and just a touch of granny apple green would look very “fresh” . . . you could also go for a clean, sleek oriental look. Good Luck!
thanks….any ideas on the table settings?
Brown tablecloth
brown or green napkins
white plates
red and green apple centerpice OR
green apple centerpiece w/red votives or red rose petals scattered on the table OR
a green and red floral centerpiece
The photo on the inspiration board is as close as I could find . . . .I think a little red would
in the centerpiece would make the table “pop”
Also, a centerpiece made with a green wine bottle and red flowers would work
thank you very very very much nancy! now, i can visualize the colors blending well together…thanks…
i’m planning a brown and blue wedding and cant seem to find the right cake, bridesmaid dressing and the perfect gown with a little touch of brown
I highly recommed going to the Alfred Angelo and David’s Bridal websites and mixing and matching a blue dress with a brown sash.
Hey Brides,
I have a tone of baby pink and brown items for sale. I have pillow,garter etc..
hey! I am gettin married in May 2010 and am using brown with pink accents. Do you have pictures of your items you are selling and a complete list of the items, because I am very interested! thank you!!
my wedding colors are chocolate brown with pink accents. do you think it will be too much brown if i use brown linens and napkins?? or will it look nicer if i use white linens to cover my round tables with brown napkins and use some pink to tie it all in???
ashley,
you could have white linens and brown napkins which will look great! or have brown linens with white napkins. but i would have chocolate linens with pink accents and pull the white in the plates.
*pics
i agree with this suggestion! very classy and elegant
Hi there, I’m not getting married until 2011, but I’m trying to get a start on some planning. I’m stumped on colors. I had wanted lavender and pink, but I love the chocolate brown and pink color theme. I am having red tulips as my flower (its the first flower my fiance gave me). I would even mind having all colors, but wouldnt know how to incorporate them…it does seem like a lot of colors maybe. Any help on a decision would be EXTREMELY appreciated. :) Thank you so much.
melissa,
i wouldnt recommend searching for colors until you book your venue. You will want colors and style to go with your location. Which month are you getting married? Spring or Summer would be a great choice cause you could have a main color scheme of chocolate and white and pull in spring bouquets of different colors. Location is everything, it could be the venue wouldnt go well with multi colors depending on if it is ornate or simple. If you already have your venue, do you have a pic or link?