Month by Month: Wedding Themes and Colors for Every Season
Still at the start of your wedding planning process? Ever wish you had a guide to help narrow down the themes and colors that really suit the time of year you're holding your wedding?Here we try to do just that. Keep in mind: a grandly-decorated venue is a blank slate you can transform into anything, any time. And some of these themes and colors are great for year-round use, though we didn't want to repeat them over and over (like Black & White or Fifth Avenue Aqua).
But if you're here for some great color combination or theme inspirations for January, June, or anything in between, read on!
March, April
If your climate cooperates, this is a wonderful time to celebrate spring's earliest bursts of color, flowers and delicate life forms: Lilies of Valley and Shasta daisies, daffodils and tulips, butterflies and dragonflies. Brides are instinctively drawn to pastels like lavender or yellow, whimsical and romantic pairings like red and pink, or combos with a modern bent like pink and lime green. A monochromatic look using all shades of pink is also totally spring (and stunning).Some popular themes for spring? Cherry Blossom, Butterfly, and Irish or St. Patricks, to name a few.
Also, popular spring color combinations that double as themes include Aqua Blue (Fifth Avenue Style), and Pink & Green.
May, June, July
Summer brides sometimes complain that they can't find any summer themes, besides the usual beach or garden. Not to worry though: there's more here than you might expect. Summer also offers some of the most brightest, most energized palettes for brides who aren't afraid to play it modern. Contemporary picks include orange and fuchsia, green and hot pink, black against any kind of eye-popping-color, and chocolate brown and pink (or aqua).Favorite themes for summer are numerous, but here are just a few: Garden, Daisy, Enchanted Forest and Victorian Garden, Beach, Starfish, Hawaiian Luau, Preppy/Nautical and Poolside. Don't forget Patriotic or Baseball, Fairytale or Asian Garden, Polka Dot or 50's Retro, and South of the Border, Rustic Country or Western.
Color Themes for the warm summer season include all kinds of Green, Cornflower Blue, Orange & Fuchsia, Black & White Toile with summery accents like yellow or pink, Aqua Blue (beach style), and the lighter purples, like orchid or Aubergine.
August, September, October
The colors alone bring this season near to the hearts of many brides who can't imagine tying the knot any other time of year. From russet to pumpkin orange and cinnamon to vanilla, the scents and famers' market decor of an outdoor Autumn wedding makes a setting like none other (not to mention the awesome photos!). Another plus: the grapes are ripe, and it's time to celebrate a brand-new season of wine.Popular colors for this time of year include latte, mocha and chocolate brown, rust orange and burgundy, hunter green and gold. Nature-minded themes are all the rage right now, including New England Harvest, Harvest Modern and Halloween, "Perfect Pear" and Apple, Tuscan and Wine Theme, Herbal and Rustic Country. Chocolate Brown also amounts to a theme ... one that suits the season to a 'T'.
November
November's long been a sticking point for brides who want to stay close to nature, but aren't huge fans of the bright, brassy colors of autumn. We've try to address this dilemma with our new "Fields of Gold" page, which pays homage to the natural world and November's subtler palette of creams and golds. For more urban, indoor and delectably chic approach, seize on this time of year for a 1930's Retro / Art Deco Theme, with its November-friendly palette of gold, ivory, sepia and black, and its oh-so-apt nostalgic feel.
December, January, February
Friends and family are stuck inside, desperately hoping for a romantic diversion. Which is why this time of year's about making big, elegant gestures: going back in time, playing with lighting levels, indulging in romantic fabrics and heavy molding ... in short, transforming an ordinary interior into a portal to another world. Favorite colors for this time of year include ice blue, silver and white, gold, red and green, metallics paired with black, ivory on white and vice versa, and all the shimmery jewel tones.Top themes that fit the season include those with a pale palette and opulent look, such as Calla, Parisian or Versailles, or those with a holiday feel, such as Christmas, Victorian Christmas, Winter Wonderland, or Diamond or Crystal Theme. Of course, Valentine's Day is a natural for those marrying in February, but the bold red and white palette works just as well for any other deep-winter setting.
Finally, maybe it's the Oscars, or just a need to cut loose after too many dark afternoons, but there's no better time of year to hold an Old Hollywood or even Vegas theme wedding.
As for color themes that suit this time of year? All-White, Regal Red, Black & White, and Royal Purple make good options.
Hello, im getting married 11/8/08 and my colors are expresso brn, burnt orange dresses, the guys are wearing brn vest and ivory shirts, the flowers are orange gerbra daises for the girls and deep red for me
Erica,
I love the idea of an fairy theme. Try watching the movies “A Midsummer Nights Dream” and “A Fairy Tail” for inspiration.
To Erica;
I saw table lanterns with tinkerbell on them at LTD commodities. They are really cute and would be perfect for a fairy themed wedding.
I am having a spring wedding. The reception venue has a balcony over the beach and looks out over water. My main color is an aqua blue called tropic from Davids Bridal. In their pictures they have it paired with lemon yellow bouquets and I would like to work that color in. Does anyone have any pictures or ideas for this color combo?
I just got engaged on Valentine’s day and have no idea where to begin! I am debating between a May 09 wedding or an Aug. 09 wedding. One thing for sure I am using chocolate brown as my bridesmaid dress, they are from my cousin’s fall wedding and all the brides maids will be the same, but I was thinking of pairing it with lavender (my favorite color) and a light yellow. Just wanted some input on how that would be for those times of year??
We haven’t set a date yet but we know we want it in the spring. I would love our colors to be our favorite colors so its extra special. My favorite is pink and his is sky blue. I have to be careful we don’t want it to look like a baby shower. The ceremony will be outside with Cherry Blossoms. Cherry Blossom is not really our theme, I just want the ceremony with them because of all the petals flying around. DO you think the colors and the blossoms will clash? Can it be Done?
Our wedding is going to be in Oct. 2008, and our theme colors are ivory. shimmery gold… do you have any ideas for more elegant and fun colors?
My wedding is in September 2009, after reading so many letters I’m beginning to think that my colors will be wrong for this time of year. These are my fvorite colors which are blue, silver and deep ivory. I’m having a hard time decided what other shades of blue should be used for this formal wedding. Although it is formal I believe that the men can wear suits. What do you think and also my girls are wearing different shades of blue as well ass different dresses but on the same style of order. Please help it’s starting to stress me.
im getting married on august 1st 2009, i have my dress picked out i think but everyone is rushing me to pick the colors of my wedding so we can move on with other plans..and i cant decide! its driving me crazy!!! my flowers are for sure calla lilies and white roses or red roses possibly… all we (my fiance and i) have decided is we dont want pink…does anyone have any helpful hints??? please!!!!:D
I’m getting married around May 2008 and I am thinking of using this three colors Red Green and gold. I’m still trying to figure out what to do for floral arrangements what do you think about my selected color.
we are mature adults getting married on aug. 8. I am thinking of an evening wedding and have chosen the colors, claret, midnight and gold….do you think these are too dark for an indoor night function?
help Im trying to get objects to float in a vse of water any suggestions ? does mineral oil work
What objects?!?!
My wedding will be in May next year.. I wanted a really simple theme so we thought of cream and gold.. is it boring or sophisticated? Both the wedding and reception will be outdoors..
i’m having my wedding august 08, its on the beach and i was thinking of burnt orange, pink and peacock blue??? would these colours go?:-?
I am planning to get married this dec. but i wanted a fairy land type of theme or like a fantasy land of them. I ma not really good in colors, can you help me out by giving ideas. I woould appreciate if you can send photos as reference.
Thanks.
Im getting married about october or november. I know that the colors are brown and a bright color. BUT Im not really a brown person. I dont know what to do:(! What colors are for october-november that is not brown? Or what good combination can I make that will look elegant bur fun at the same time:P?
Hello!
I will be getting married this August 2008, Im kind of confused which color combinations to choose. My options are purple & lime green, purple & silver, burgundy & old rose. My fiance & I have the same fave color which is blue but the problem is, my brother used the color for his wedding last year. Please help! Thanks!
I am having a spring wedding and my main colors are mossy green and pink, but I’m thinking about adding hints of other pastels as well like maybe peachy orange, seafoam blue and buttery yellow. Would this be too reminiscent of the 80s and 90s “rainbow weddings?
Hey Tiffany, I think those colours are great together. The orange and fuschia will be an excellent contrast with the royal blue.
I’m having sage and seamist as the main colours for my wedding. Any advice on flower colours? I need something to contrast the greens and also need some brightness!
I’m having a hard time putting colors together for my upcoming summer wedding (July ’08)… So far im thinking Fuchia pink, Champagne, and possibly Silver, But I still feel like im missing something! (Maybe a bold/bright color to compliment the pink?)…. I don’t know…. Is anyone else having this problem?… Any suggestions?
Hey Anqoinette, I think that chocolate truffel and burnt orange look good together. You could also pair it with a cream color!
I chose to go with a blue and silver wedding but my wedding is in March. The blue is a blue-ish grey color called Serene. I thought about stargazer lilies as my flower to brighten it up and make it more spring-y. What other colors would brighten it up without making it look tacky? Please help…
I am having difficulty coming up with a color palette for my wedding scheduled for 8/8/2008. The ceremony is outdoors reception inorders. I want something that pops but not yo bright and not to dull. Any ideas?
Im getting married October ’08 and my colors are brown, gold and ivory. Anyone else having that color scheme?
My bridesmaid dresses are royal blue. I like the colors orange and fuchsia roses together. Do you think that would look good together?
do you think lilac purple, sage green and a chocolate brown could be used at the end of August as well???
I’m getting married around July 2008 and I know these aren’t typical Summer colors, but I really like the idea of bright pink with royal blue and gold accents. I’m still trying to figure out what to do for floral arrangements.
I’m getting married Dec 2008- while we are still in the process of finding a banquet hall – we have decided on our colors… the bridesmaids are wearing royal purple gowns, the guys are wearing black tuxes with platinum/silver vest sets. I’m trying to figure out what to do for centerpieces at the reception as I am very interested in a Winter Wonderland wedding… I’d like the reception to be all about candlelight, snowflakes, etc. Just dont know what to do!?
I am getting married Oct 2008 at the beach and the guys aren’t wearing tuxedos. He wants them to wear blue shirts and kahki tommy bahama pants and I want the girls to wear a pumpkin or orangish color. What blue and orange shades look good together?
I am getting married on Sept 20th 2008 and I wanted a butterfly theme wedding. Is this too late in the year to do that?
hey, I am getting married oct 2008 and I am trying to figure out my colors, so u think chocolate brown, purple, and green could work??
Hi Jennifer,
Purple, brown and green are lovely! That’s a very modern palette, too. You could call that the “next generation” of chocolate brown. At first, you only saw pink or aqua with it, but now you see people getting more experimental and pairing chocolate brown with purple, green, yellow, coral and other new colors like you’re doing here.
Take a look at this pic and see what you think. I think with a modern color scheme like this, you can use it almost any time of year. I also think purple is a wonderful color for fall. It can be used as a dignified jewel tone with a lot of mystery.
In this pic is a very saturated, poppy set of greens and purples, so if you think this is too bright for fall, you could always dial it back and make it more “traditional” by choosing royal purple and sage green instead of the brighter colors shown here. Either way, it’s going to look gorgeous.
amanda,
Stacey,
Thank you so so much! You are awesome!
Thanks!!!
nichole,
*great for ideas
i personally love pairing the blue/grey or grey with the green and brown with lots of white. it looks very clean and fresh. for
thanks. you dont know how much of a BIG help you have been. You NEED to be a wedding planner:-)
mary,
you are more than welcome and thank you for the compliment, it means more than you know!!
stacey, i want a butterfly wedding theme.. is it possible to do it in a beach reception? can you please help me or any suggestions in decorating the receptions place and church & any idea on invites that is unique..i really like the message in a bottle invites but its a beach wedding theme.. plz help me…
thanks
zette,
oh yes that would be very nice!! i love butterflies!!
*real beach wedding with butterflies
*butterflies
this is my idea. i would suspend white butterflies on a string over the dancefloor, place little butterflies among th ebouquets, centerpieces, on rim of glassware. anywhere you might want a extra guest at your wedding. when i made the mood board, i had it in mind for you to use all white butterflies. i thought how great it would be to hand suspended from your wedding arch made out of billowy fabric and bamboo. think hanging crystal garlands from your arch and having butterflies hanging on them.
stacy, thank’s very much..
Amanda,
That is stunning!
AWESOME! You really think so? That is splendid! I really put some thought and effort into it to make it just right. I just put together all my favorites from different areas of the ceremony/reception ideas I’ve gathered. I am now working past the colors finally! I really think I’ve got them down. Just need to figure out the best look for my bridesmaids and table linenes. The centerpieces and flowers are all figured out now. I am on the biggest task right now though and that is figuring the menu! I was thinking quite the erray of foods…hmmm. Hard to be sure and not overdue it though!
Thanks again for the mood board idea!
sapphirebrook,
* beautiful!
stacey,
thanks very much i really appreciated your idea.. i will settle for turquoise, aqua and green.. anyway, what shade of green will look beautiful with these two shades of blue?