Wedding planning is tough enough. But efficiently working your way down the checklist is more difficult without a chosen color palette. This is why we advise that you learn how to choose wedding colors and pick your colors early. Doing this task early enough puts every other thing in perspective.
Armed with colors, you know what dress to buy, how to decorate venues, choose stationery, and create a cohesive theme. Also, colors send messages and set the mood for the day, so you want to get it right. But the issue is, do you know how to choose your wedding colors? Just in case you don’t, here’s a “how to choose a wedding color guide” for you!
This post answers all your questions and shows you the way forward.
Brides Often Ask
What is the most popular wedding color?
The most popular wedding color of all time is the white, champagne, and ivory combo. Almost every wedding has a touch of these colors either as a base, supporting colors or accents. They are classic neutrals and pair perfectly with every theme, style, and venue. They also represent peace, life, and class.
What are some popular color combinations?
Trending wedding color combinations lean towards nature, season, personality, theme, and significance.
- Owing to these reasons, we see popular color combinations like beige and champagne for industrial-chic weddings.
- For a romantic setting, beautiful shades of cinnamon rose and dusty rose to dominate.
- Terracotta and greenery are quite popular colors for bohemian weddings.
- And couples going vintage often use the Pantone brown and rose gold combo.
- Rustic weddings are a hit with various shades of gray.
- And for a nautical/beach wedding, we see lighter blue, dusty blue, and Burgundy combo.
What is the Pantone 2023 color of the year?
Viva Magenta! Pantone 2023 color of the year celebrates life and self-expression. Its powerful vivid purplish red shade balances between red and blue, representing the inner strength to withstand all challenges. PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta is here to make us stronger!
What are the most popular wedding themes?
- The most popular wedding themes include rustic, for couples that want a natural homespun touch.
- A beach themed wedding fits a couple leaning towards a relaxed and classy day.
- The vintage theme speaks antique touches and timeless elegance.
- For couples who want to activate the locale and laid back charm, try the country wedding theme.
- Couples who want an intimate romantic wedding surrounded by lush beauty will have a garden-themed wedding.
- And for a playful, whimsical, and nostalgic wedding setting, the Disney theme is best.
How many colors should a bride choose?
The standard rule is to choose a maximum of three colors unless you’re going for an ombre or neutral look. Tie up your palette with a metallic color as an accent. If you go bringing more than three different colors together, your wedding will look like a riot.
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Main things to consider when choosing wedding colors
Knowing how to choose colors for the wedding palette goes along with making thoughtful considerations. Find out the things you need to consider before making your color choices.
Think about the season
You don’t have to follow a trend if you don’t feel like it. But some colors are natural enhancers for each season like you’ll see.
Popular fall color combinations
- Blush, frost, and boysenberry are calm, and romantic, and have rich fall colors for Bohemian weddings.
- Pineapple, charcoal grey, and Cardinal red is a bubbly plus laid-back combos for industrial-chic weddings.
- Hunter green, orange, and brown are luxurious, lush, and energetic for a country wedding theme.
- For a nautical or beachy setting, hot maroon, cameo pink, and Aegean blue are the perfect combo.
- Silver, beige, and dove gray is a whimsical combo for the perfect fall wedding.
Nature inspiration examples for choosing fall colors
Fall is arguably the most beautiful season of the year. In choosing colors, get inspired by the red, orange, and then yellow colorful leaves. Look at the warm and vibrant color of the environment. Think about the rich jewel tones of the landscape. Ripe, and tastier fruits, foods, and the lively countryside.
Popular Winter Color Combinations
The winter season is a calm and cold one. But you can bring some fire with Marsala, Aubergine, and a bright red combo.
- For a classic wedding theme, black, gold, and ivory is a perfect blend.
- Peach and forest green with a metallic accent will fit a rustic chic theme.
- Marigold, cream, and turquoise is a serene yet powerful palette fit for whimsical a wedding.
- And for the boho or waterside wedding, white and dusty blue or indigo and orchid combos are perfect.
Nature inspiration examples for choosing winter colors
Winter is cold yet stunning. Natural elements like a fluffy white blanket of snow can make a panoramic picturesque. The blazing orange, red, and blue cozy fires and colorful veggies with fruits keep you inspired. You can also draw inspiration from winter blooms like roses, orchids, French tulips, mini gerberas, gardenias, Casablanca lilies, and more.
Popular spring color combinations
- For a magical and elegant wedding with rustic quality, work around a dusty blue and white color palette.
- The light pink, white, and ice blue combo is great for rustic, vintage, and modern elegant themes.
- Green and coral is a refreshing and vibrant combo for country chic and outdoor wedding styles.
- The delicate gold and mint combo is a classic and refined choice for the timeless couple.
Nature inspiration examples for choosing spring colors
Spring is the best season for outdoor weddings. You can get inspired to choose colors from the clear blue skies. Think about the bright days, blooming bulbs, and budding tree leaves. The earth also gives off rich tones as it thrives, creating ethereal palettes.
Popular summer color combinations
- Sage and poppy is a warm yet serene combo that lends credence to tropical tones and leafy motifs.
- Green, white, and gold is a summer color combination for the classy, neutral, and glam color palette.
- Cream, classic blue, and grey is both a romantic and hypnotic combination.
- Orange, pineapple, and pale pink is a vibrant sorbet sweet combo for a playful or bohemian theme.
- And for every kind of outdoor wedding theme, embrace lilac and lavender combo.
Nature inspiration examples for choosing summer colors
The fiery vibrant sunshine during the day and Tetrazzini sunset is a glorious color inspiration. The sun transfers energy to everything, bringing them to life. Also, look at calm water, budding flowers, and bleached leaves. There’s so much in summer nature to tickle your fancy.
How do I choose a color scheme for my wedding? I want something that’s unique and will stand out to my guests.
We are here for this! We are PANTONE addicted and constantly renovate our style following the latest seasonal color palette and proposing innovative ideas for a unique wedding design.
Our trends research and development are done partially “live” traveling and discovering the world, partially online with a press review of the most famous Wedding and fashion Blogs worldwide.
Then we use Pinterest to collect the ideas and give the choices to our couples.
– Ilaire, Phuket Wedding Planner
Consider the venue
The layout of your wedding venue determines the kind of colors to choose from. Is your wedding outdoors or natural? Then choose colors that blend into the surroundings and not compete with it. Go for earthly tones, bold or bright palettes. If you’re working on an ornate indoor venue, embrace neutrals and pastels. These tones enhance the aesthetic presentation. But if the venue is bare, then you can do your magic by assembling your colors from scratch.
Make some research
Before you decide on your final color palette, you should make some research. Some of your favorite hues may not be easily found. So you have to look at your choice flowers to ensure that your colors are available. Know how to choose linen colors for curtains and tables by checking textiles. Check for hues available in stationery card stock, decorative accents, and accessories. Also, check real weddings and look out for color combos that appeal to you. Judge them based on cohesion, photograph compatibility, accessibility, and personal style.
Choose what you like:
As you choose colors, remember that they should be expressions of your personalities. So choosing your colors mustn’t be about trends, but what you love. What’s your signature color? Check your dress closets, makeup box, shoe collections, and even your kitchenware. Chances are that you buy colors that you love most. Incorporate them into your wedding because, like we always say, it’s all about you.
Stay away from trends if you don’t like them
We’ve seen many beautiful wedding color trends for 2021/2022. But if you do not care for trends, the goal is to remain classic and timeless.
- Shades of green like pistachio, avocado, matcha, will be the toast of nature that has inspired weddings.
- Light blue tones like cornflower, periwinkle, French blue, and powder blue are great additions to modern and romantic themes.
- Elegant pastels like mint green, lavender, lilac, and bubblegum pink are everything whimsical.
- We’ll also enjoy throwback bright; like yellow, fuchsia, teal, cobalt, and bright red for glam and classic look.
However, rather than work with trends that you don’t care for, go personal. What do you love doing? What destination do you want to have your wedding? Who’s your dream designer? What are your best flowers and music? What time of the day do you want to have your wedding? When you figure these out, your wedding is halfway planned.
What Style Are You Going For?
It’s not cast in stone that one must go buy specific colors for a wedding style. But some wedding styles must have a touch of specific colors to pull them off through seasons.
- Romantic
Shades of pink, blue, and ivory. - Vintage
Gold, turquoise, light blue, cantaloupe, apricot, moss, and honeydew. - Whimsical or Boho
Yellow, blush, white, salmon, daffodil, mohair, and muted neutrals. - Modern Contemporary
Shades of blue, red, green, neutrals, and metallic. - Rustic Country
Jewel tones, greenery, grey, lavender, champagne, and hazelnut. - Garden
Lavender, green, blush, coral, peach, yellow, and pastels. - Southern
Golden pumpkin, navy blue, green, ivory, and gold. - Classic Formal
Black, white, pink, blush, and grey. - Nautical
Sea glass blue, coral, fuchsia, navy, and silver. - Eco-Natural
Olive, mint, sage, emerald, and grayed jade. - Tropical
Teal, Purple, Green, Silver, Beige, and orange. - Christmas
Shades of red, brown, green, neutrals, and gold.
What Looks Good With Your Skin Tones?
When choosing wedding colors, consider how they complement your skin tone. Let’s look at them in categories.
Light
For light-skinned beauties; ivory color best complements your skin tone, others may make you look pale. The best textiles for this color are lace and crepe. Build around it by incorporating pastel metallic Champagne, pale pink, and taupe. Add one vibrant color for some life.
Medium
Beauties with pink and gold undertones will look stunning in champagne and blush colors. Buy these colors in lace, tulle, chiffon, and organza textiles. Build around them with taupe, greyish green, greenery, and gold for an ultra-romantic look.
Dark
While paler skin tones will be quite subdued, dark or olive skin tones will shine through in diamond white. Source this color in satin and crepe, while you go minimal on accents. Build around the color with bright coral, sorbet hues, blush pink, and buttercream yellow. Together, they look effortlessly chic.
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How/Where Do I Use Wedding Colors?
Whether monochrome, ombre, or a collection of colors; moderation matters. You can infuse them into your theme without going overboard as we’ll see.
Wedding attire
You can add colors as accents to your dress. Also, incorporate them in the shoes, jewelry, and hairpieces. For the men, it can be a shirt, pocket square, cummerbund, socks, or ties. For the bridesmaids, make it a blend of dress, shoes, corsages, hair, and body accessories.
Flowers
Incorporate colors into bouquets, bouquet wraps, corsages, venue floral arrangements, centerpieces, and decor.
Stationery
Distribute your colors through the invitation suite like box, envelopes, save the date, invites, and RSVP cards. Take a step further to create cohesive program cards, place cards, menu cards, escort cards, and thank you cards. The scrawl on them with matching expert calligraphy.
Linens
Incorporate your main color as a base for dinner napkins, dinner table linens, chair covers, drapes, or sashes. Also, cocktail linens, table runners, aisle runner, pew, or chair swags.
Bars
There are unique ways to infuse your wedding colors at the bar. They include Mugs, decanters, custom drinks, ice buckets, straws, and cocktail napkins.
Cake
Feed your colors into the cake aesthetics. It could be the color of the icing, toppers, and other accents. If you’re opting for cake alternatives, infuse your colors in the dessert. Alternatives give you more to work with.
Other decors
Look out for lighting that matches your color palette. They range from torches to lamps, flameless lanterns to string lights, chandeliers, etc. Choose mismatched colorful vases and potted plants for floral arrangements. Opt for a seating chart, wreaths and garlands, favors, and candles in your color palette. If there’s a need for blankets, shawls, parasols, and flip flops for guests; create a colorful cohesive look.
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Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Wedding Colors
Colors are the core of every creative affair, which include weddings. Find out how to maintain a stunning yet sane palette by avoiding these mistakes.
Choosing Only Trendy Colors
It’s a fact to have trending colors every year. But don’t be forced into choosing trending colors if you’re not big on them. Trends will fade but you are timeless.
How to avoid: Opt for what defines you. Choose your own “best colors.” Colors that define you. They don’t have to be in season. It’s all about what you’ll always love. Throw in a neutral, pastel, or metallic accent depending on the style you’re going for.
Selecting Only Bright Colors
This is probably the biggest knock when choosing wedding colors. We forget that the eyes need to rest. Everywhere looks lighted up and it becomes blinding and distracting.
How to avoid: They may be your favorite colors but balancing is key. Pair a bright color with a muted one. Also, opt for tones that are in between colors. Choose cranberry instead of red, coral instead of bright orange, or plum in place of amethyst. This way, even the most blinding color combinations look classic, sophisticated, and chic.
Picking Too Many Colors
Unless you’re planning a circus, picking too many colors is a disaster waiting to happen. Your wedding will either end up looking ratchet or disjointed. The guests could also feel unsettled having to deal with so much going on.
How to avoid: If you feel the need for many colors, go calm. Incorporate pastels and neutrals, such as cream, ivory, whites, nudes, grays, and beiges.
Forget About Your Venue Colors
For natural and aesthetic venues, you must consider the color they bear. If you bring in your colors without due diligence, they’ll clash badly. This will in turn give the venue a look that’s not commensurate with your wedding event.
How to avoid: Don’t scrape off the colors present, rather work your colors into the venue. Highlight accents from the venue that you like instead of hiding them.
Limiting yourself picking 1-2 colors
While we’re against having a color riot at your wedding, don’t play too safe. Picking just one or two colors will give your wedding a boring, drab look.
How to avoid: If you’re so laid back play with colors that are serene yet lively. Cobalt, cerulean, peach, blush, lilac, emerald, Fuchsia, coral, teal, and violet are great options. Choose any three, throw in pastels, neutrals, or metallic; and you’re set!
Knowing how to choose wedding colors is a “course” that every intending bride must take. This will help you tie all the wedding details in a cohesively and efficiently. We have put together a guide to help you when choosing your wedding colors. From FAQs to colorful seasons, skin tone, how to apply, and mistakes to avoid, we’ve got you covered! Check out the post, get inspired, and create a stunning palette!
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