Can’t Choose a Wedding Theme? Start With Colors
ARTICLE TOOLS
RELATED ARTICLES
A theme is a popular way to plan a wedding, but using colors to inspire the design for the event is a practical alternative offering greater flexibility. By choosing the right color palette, letting one’s style and personality come through without adhering to countless thematic-driven elements provides a fun opportunity to plan the party’s decor, table settings, centerpieces, and other key details.
Working with a favorite color may make it tempting to use just that one hue throughout the décor. This will only create a dull and artificial atmosphere. Far more appealing would be a palette of contrasting colors applied to the various decorative elements. The following examples illustrate just how versatile and creative such color palettes can be as inspiration for a wedding look - whether these use light color contrasts, warm color contrasts, or cool color contrasts. The results are startlingly distinct—both visually and emotionally.
(1) Light Color Contrasts
Base Color: Pink
Contrast: Yellow and Green
Pink is a sweet, feminine color, but too much of it throughout the décor may make the party appear overly saccharine and juvenile. A color palette with pink as the base color can use lemon yellow and lime green accents for contrast—instantly creating a light, cheerful look. This color scheme is perfect for a wedding reception held on a springtime afternoon, as it brings to mind a fancy English tea party.
Table Elements
1. Cotton tablecloth in pastel pink
2. Cake with creamy yellow frosting
3. Guest favor - a white tulle purse filled with French madeleines
4. Basket of bright pink mini roses tied with a pastel pink organza ribbon
5. White porcelain teapot with silver trim
A pastel pink cotton tablecloth can serve as the backdrop for the entire table display. Pink-trimmed white plates may be laid on cream-colored place mats, accompanied by a white porcelain teapot with silver trim. A cake with creamy yellow frosting may serve as part of the decor as well as a delightful dessert for guests. A basket of bright pink mini roses tied with a pastel pink organza ribbon carries the same color palette, but with darker hues.
Such a celebration calls for favors as pretty as they are delicious. A goody bag may be used to carry such treats as cookies, marshmallows, French madeleines, or chocolates.
(2) Warm Color Contrasts
Base Color: Red
Contrasting Colors: Burnt Orange and Brown
Red as part of the color palette of a wedding celebration certainly makes a bold statement, but using a palette consisting solely of red shades may be overpowering. Thus, warm colors such as burnt orange, brown, and a muted shade of gold are recommended as contrasts in a red-based table setting.
Table Elements:
1. Lacquered gold leaf tray
2. Porcelain favor box wrapped in a 12″ red organza circle
3. Heart-shaped chocolates
4. Red roses in a dark green pot
5. Porcelain favor box wrapped in a 12″ gold organza circle
These colors are best played up in a glamorous centerpiece laid on a tablecloth of white linen. A lacquered gold leaf tray can play host to the elements of the centerpiece, such as a scattered handful of heart-shaped chocolates and scarlet roses in full bloom arranged in a dark green pot.
The earthy tones of this palette’s accents are perfect for an Italian-inspired event, such as a reception with a Roman or Tuscan theme. In keeping with such a theme, special treats like chocolate-dipped biscotti or amaretto cookies may be presented in tasteful packaging in colors of red or olive. For petite-sized candies, these items may also come tucked into boxes with a fleur-de-lis motif and wrapped in fabric. Trays or platters in an antique gold finish may be used to display them as part of the party décor.
(3) Cool Color Contrasts
Base Color: Light Blue
Contrasting Colors: Navy Blue and White
Light blue is a lovely, relaxing color. However, if a party’s color palette is based solely on this hue, the setting may appear pale and washed out—not exactly befitting a festive occasion. Wedding party décor with light blue as its base can be enlivened with touches of navy blue and white.
Table Elements:
1. Light blue satin tablecloth
2. Miniature porcelain shoe filled with white Jordan almonds
3. White brocade gift boxes with satin and organza ribbons
4. Clear crystal beads
Showcase this color palette in a towering centerpiece created out of stacked favor boxes in white. This approach offers an economical way to fashion an attractive centerpiece on a limited budget—not to mention doubling as packaging for the items hidden inside. Assemble this centerpiece on a light blue satin tablecloth that complements the white boxes. Navy blue comes into play in this arrangement with miniature porcelain shoes reminiscent of Delft blue ceramics. These petite mementos serve as whimsical decor elements for the table.
To extend the fairytale effect of this centerpiece, fresh rose petals may also be spread at its base for a soft, natural appeal. As a finishing touch, clear crystal beads and blue and white faux pearls scattered on the table add a delightful twinkle to the entire display.
While a party theme may be an exciting challenge for many, planning a theme in the hope of ensuring a perfect wedding can be limiting at times. The good news is that, in lieu of a theme, color serves as a wonderful unifying element that can be parlayed as a great source of inspiration for the party décor. After all, a wedding party is not about staging a theme. It’s about celebrating that once-in-a-lifetime moment.
[…] http://www.bellenza.com - Can’t Choose a Wedding Theme? Start With Colors. […]
My wedding reception is in a beautiful sunny room with a rich gold leaf ceiling. I want to continue my bridal colors of pink and green into the reception, but I don’t think it will look very good. I really want to use pink and green and I can’t repaint the ballroom ceiling! Help!
What an interesting color for a ceiling! If you still want to have a color of pink and green and are concerned about the clashing of these colors with the ceiling, then you can certainly have a muted or pastel palette in pink and green.
The pink can be given a soft tone, while you have mint green, pistachio, or even moss green. The key would be to use them in subtle ranges considering how ornate the ceiling is at the venue.
Good luck!
Hi! I want yellow as my base color for my wedding this coming May 2009. May I ask what color contrast would be great. thanks! Pls. help me.
Yellow is a wonderful color especially for a May wedding. Some great color contrasts include matching yellow with various hues of blue such as teal, navy blue, or periwinkle. It is also a nice color to match with black, but this combo may not be for everyone. You can also coordinate a nice yellow and orange palette, yellow and brown, or yellow and pink combination. Isn’t yellow a great color!
I like red color for my January 25, 2009 civil wedding. just for the reception…but is it kinda proper for the beginning of the year to have this kind of motif…do u have other suggestions besides burnt orange and brown something to make the warm color feel cooler…i don’t know if i’m explaining myself clear. You see i’m also a preggy bride…pls. help! thanks!!!
That’s a great question. You can opt for a color in shades of lilac for a cooler palette that still gives you a “warm” feeling. Then, you can pair it with a color like brown!
I have my wedding in july yellow, gold and brown are my colour. How do i combine them ?
Great question! Congratulations, too. That is definitely a nice color combo. I’d apply yellow as the dominant color while using gold and brown accents. Flowers such as yellow dahlias, tulips, and even sunflowers are wonderful to have as centerpieces or as your bouquet trimmed with brown ribbons and gold brushed berries.
As for your gown, you can even opt for an ivory one because it works well with yellow. Your bridesmaids can wear pretty pastel yellow dresses with a brown sash. Picking the right shade of yellow here would be key as you don’t want your bridemaids dressed in a loud shade of yellow. And then your wedding cake can be an ivory one that is embellished with tiny yellow flowers, chocolate brown swirls, and even edible gold leaf. Hope this helps!
Hi. My wedding is in nov 2009 at a Christian sanctuary. Ceremony and reception will be held at the same place. we have chosen gold as our motif. please suggest color combinations for gold. thanks
Gold is a great color that can be matched with a variety of hues and shades. If you prefer warm colors like red, orange, fuchsia, pink, and yellow, then you can match gold perfectly. Adding an additional color such as olive green is also possible. Some nice color combos are: red and gold, fuchsia and gold, and then adding a hue of green to the palette. When looking for something on the cooler side, lilac, or purple goes beautifully with gold! You can also try aqua and gold!
Hi, I will have my wedding in asia this november. I like to use the Tiffany blue as a base color. I also like to use red especially for the flower. Do you think the blue and red will look good together? Would pastel yellow be a good third color. I love to hear your suggestion.
Matching Tiffany blue and red is a great color combo! I love it! Actually, it all depends on the shade of red that you choose, so a darker shade of red would be nice, but be sure to use red in a balanced way - not too much or it can look overpowering. Putting a third color like pastel yellow, though, might not work well because it might clash with the two other colors. You may want to try ivory or cream instead. Here is an example of how ivory is used:
Host a Classic “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” Engagement Party
Thanks
Hello! Be getting married 1st quarter of 2010. But as early as now im so excited on planning for the Big Day. I plan it early for i want to enjoy the whole process of it. =) I want Orange as my base color, any additional contrast color for it? Help me, please! Thank you.
Orange is great with any of these other colors: aqua, brown, apple green, or yellow. It is also beautiful with fuchsia. It all depends on your wedding style. For instance, an orange and aqua palette is great for a beach-inspired wedding, while an orange and apple green is a refreshing color combo for an elegant garden wedding in the summer. Orange and brown would be more appropriate for a wedding in the fall, but this color combo is also nice in the summer. It all depends on what suits your taste! The key is to use orange in the right amount without going overboard. Even a minimal amount of orange can make a nice impact. For some examples using orange, you may want to read this articles we created:
Salute a Summer Wedding with a Citrus Theme Table Setting
Bring the Caribbean Home for a Jamaican Inspired Engagement Party
3 Truly Tropical Table Ideas for a Caribbean-style Wedding Celebration
Have fun with this color! Good luck and best wishes!
I am having my wedding in august of 2009. the groom is wearing a dark forest or hunter green.having a hard time to find color for my bridesmaid and flowers to match that shade of green.if any good ideas please let me know, thankyou.
That’s actually quite an interesting color palette of dark green/hunter green. It also appears as an emerald hue. Therefore, you can probably use a contrasting color that will not make the whole scene look completely green. Say, for example, ivory. The bridesmaids can wear ivory dresses with a pretty green sash that would complement the look very well.
As for flowers, to bring out the richness of green, you can have flowers in yellow together with a mix of ivory blooms for a nice finish. Some examples are sunflowers, tulips, zinnias, or even roses. You can even infuse some browns and greens in the bouquets. The mood comes out as being completely elegant and refined (not heavy and dark) as the color of hunter green is brought to life with lovely, contrasting colors.
i get married in june 2009. i have a problem as i would like the bridesmaid dresses to be light purple/ lilac or similar colours but the room where i am having my wedding reception is a yellow and red bold colours, its a roman-themed coliseum room. can i have some advice on colours for both the bridesmaid dresses and the reception room
Depending on how dark of a shade is the red at the reception room, you may still be able to use lilac or light purple dresses because they don’t clash with yellow. If you prefer to be on the safe side, you could select dresses that would complement the look of the reception in hues of brown or even burgundy. Ivory bridesmaid dresses can also work because it is a neutral color! Since it’s a summer wedding, silk shantung dresses in a light shade of orange are nice, too. Good luck!
Hi I’m getting married in September- my bridemaids are wearing navy blue dresses and I am having a hard time coming up with a colour scheme. Also I need some help with centerpieces ideas. Can anyone help !
Hi Im planning my wedding for February 2010 and I’ve started by choosing tulips to use as theme. The color for them will probably be fushia/orange. But I’m a little confused with what other colors I may use to decorate the tables. I’d appreciate if you’d help me by suggesting a color palette that’ll go with the tulips.
We get married in July. I would like to have black table cloths, at the moment have silver sprinkles for the tables but wondering about what colours to use for centre peices(would like to use maroon & silver)? Also can you suggest what colour wedding dress would look good. Am only having a flower girl & still undecided on her dress too.
Hello everyone! Thanks for stopping by. I’ll provide our responses below:
For Christi (navy color scheme) - That’s a great color. You can have a monochromatic color palette consisting of all shades of blue. Matching it up with turquoise is also very elegant! Imagine a beautiful white gown with a navy blue sash, a white magnolia bouquet (to bring out the blue!), centerpieces consisting of pretty flowers in blue hues such as hydrangeas, and a lovely wedding cake made with Tiffany blue icing. If you are looking for more ideas on using blue, check out this slideshow called Showcase the Brilliance of Blue.
For Jeli (tulips inspired theme) - I love tulips! And with fuchsia and orange, you’re looking at a vibrant color palette ready for Spring. I would suggest that you try tempering it with some green hues. Or even incorporate touches of ivory and perhaps some metallics such as silver or gold accents. You can put in some sunny shades of yellow which go perfectly with orange and fuchsia. What a cheerful color palette! For additional ideas, please see our slideshow on fuchsia called Spice Up a Wedding Party With Fabulous Fuchsia.
For Jackee (black tablecloth) - When working with black tablecloth, you are looking at a very dramatic color scheme. I wouldn’t use colors such as maroon because it will just make the tables look entirely odd. I would suggest a “soft” color such as pink together with some touches of silver or even a darker shade of pink for some added contrast against black. As for the dress, you are definitely looking at a chiffon gown with lots of ruffles for a truly feminie look paired against a sophisticated black and pink color palette. For your flower girl, dress her up in a pretty pink dress with a ballerina-inspired design. For more inspiring ideas using this color combo, see A Modage Wedding Shower for the Contemporary Bride.
Our wedding will be in Aug 2009. We really like the aqua/brown combination. A friend suggested changing the color palette to tie it in better with the reception room, which has dark red curtains with gold chivalry chairs. Do you think it is important to incorporate red into our colors or it will be ok if I stick with our original color combination? Much thanks!
Greetings Matt:
I don’t think it would be necessary to change your color palette just to tie in better with the red and gold colors of the reception. It would be fine to have an aqua and brown color combination because of the nice contrast they have against red and gold. In fact, if your colors were to be too “matchy” with red and gold, you might end just seeing red and gold everywhere.
What you might want to do is to soften the overpowering color of the red curtains. Perhaps you can incorporate some soft flower colors like ivory. You might even suggest to have the curtains tied with a gold-like tassel in order to create some interesting aspect to the decor.
Liz
Hi! Be getting married on March 2010. Still can’t decide on our color motif. my fave color is red & my groom’s blue. Can you please help us come up with a color scheme? Really need your help.
Congratulations! Even if it is still in 2010, it’s never too early to look for ideas!
A nice color combination that you can consider is red and aqua or turquoise. The look can be chic and modern with touches of either gold or silver. You can have the bridesmaids wear pretty silk shantung dresses in aqua (I don’t recommend red for the dresses because it will just overpower the entire color scheme - stick with subtlety), the wedding cake can be made of fondant in aqua and then decorated with pretty red flowers or sugar-made floral accents, and then your groom can wear a tie or bowtie in aqua! As for your gown, consider a classic A-line gown with a red sash or similar embellishment. Then carry the gown with a gorgeous red bouquet of roses and make a stunning statement!
i’m getting married summer 2010. we’re planning to have a beach-inspired wedding. we dont have any idea on how to come up with a color scheme. and also can you make a suggestion for our invitations, etc… thank you so much..
A great color scheme for a beach wedding is blue (aqua, turquoise, light blue, or navy) and burnt orange. Or you can also go with a completely monochromatic color scheme with just one hue of blue. The look can be very stunning! You can then have your invitations designed with a pretty seashell logo rendered in a lovely blue font. Since it is a beach-inspired wedding, you may want to have a nice modern look to the decor intermixed with organic elements such as shells and plants. As a finale, have your wedding cake made with gorgeous white buttercream icing or fondant and then topped with beautiful shells (made of sugar), and decorated with some blue and burnt orange accents.
By the way, congratulations! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi i m getting married in the month of december 2009 and i choosed yellow and green as the wedding color theme.. Would like to know if thats the right choice and could you please help me with some good decorative tips and would butterfiles be a good theme for the colors i have slectd..Thanks
Congratulations Ingrid! I think your color palette probably matches your personality so I wouldn’t change it. While most weddings in December would typically have a more winter-like palette of blue, silver, and lilac, if you want a yellow and green color scheme, then what you can do is to present it in some chic way. Think in pastels! Perhaps even with an eco-friendly look that has butterflies and touches of nature. And with green and yellow, a touch of orange is a nice way to accent the entire look.
Consider flowers such as roses, marigold, or dahlias. You can also add natural elements such as lemons and limes. Here are some pictures:
http://www.bellenza.com/wedding-ideas/decorate/salute-a-summer-wedding-with-a-citrus-theme-table-setting.html
As for the butterflies, make some paper cutouts of butterflies in different sizes and then decorate them with glitter. Add these cutouts to the table decor such as placing them on the table or even interspersed through the flower centerpieces, or use them as your place cards tucked as a garnish on a wine glass. Be creative! Here is an article with some butterfly cutouts:
http://www.bellenza.com/wedding-ideas/decorate/salute-a-summer-wedding-with-a-citrus-theme-table-setting.html
For the wedding cake, this is real chance for you to have fun and incorporate the theme of butterflies. You can have a pretty yellow cake decorated with whimsical sugar butterflies rendered in hues of orange, yellow, and green. Add some green touches of leaves, too. If you prefer to opt for cupcakes, have them made with frosting to match your color palette and then topped with a sugar-made or marzipan butterfly! Cookies are also fun as a favors. Bake some butterfly-shaped cookies and sprinkle with yellow sugar crystals. Here are some examples of cakes:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/letthemeatcakes/2843055569/
http://www.cucamongacakery.com/images/celeste069_002.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sutterby/3166770337/
Well the reason i choosed yellow and green was bcz tht is a very good combination and the reason i hv not choosed blue or silver or colors like red, orange was because those colors are very common in the area i stay and i was lookin for sumtin very differnt and thn i came up wid yellow and green.. well u hv given me really good tips and website address. Could you please help me with your email id if its ok wid u so that i can get in touch incase i have any more questions. It wud really be great.
hi,we’re plannin to get married this may.we’re thingking to have a silver and yello for our motif, is that a good match motif for us?.could u suggest me what is good color for us please.thank
Greetings Michelle!
A silver and yellow wedding can actually be quite sleek and modern. You can also add touches of white and/or ivory. Very nice colors! I suggest flowers such as tulips in both yellow and white for a unique centerpiece or even bridal bouquet. You can even choose whimsical sunflowers! As for your wedding cake, a lovely ivory 3-tiered cake with buttercream icing with yellow sugar ribbons lined at each layer liked a band would be beautiful. The topper can be made of lovely yellow sugar flowers shaped like mini callas. For a pretty cake picture, see this picture. Have fun with this color palette!
HELP! I am so overwhelmed with all of the beautiful colors. Our wedding date is July 10, 2010. I keep changing my mind from purples to greens to corals. I love the champagne color with a beach theme and I could maybe incorporate the coral with it. Bu then my mind goes back to a classy look with black and white and then accent with a watermelon color. I want it to be something eye popping! Please help.
Hi, I am helping my cousin with her wedding. She loves very pale pink but was not sure what her other 2 should be. I decided we go for ligther shades of sliver and green.The light silver is to tie everything in. It an afteroon wedding and we want an airy feel. Do you think the 3 colors are a wise choice. Please do let me know. Thank you
LaRue (Fuchsia question):
Color can definitely be overwhelming! A color palette that would definitely pop can consist of fuchsia and green. If you want to add a third coolr, you can accent it with black and white. A layer of silver accents would also be quite stunning and yet you can still achieve a classy look. Consider bright flowers such as dahlias, green moss, and light pink flowers such as peonies or mums. If you want more examples of how to match fuchsia, you can view this slideshow:
Spice Up a Wedding Party With Fabulous Fuchsia
Nelita (Pink quesiton):
A pale shade of pink can be very lovely! You can match it up with any of the following colors: lilac, chocolate brown, sea green, yellow, or cornflower blue. If you prefer a light and airy color scheme, I suggest a lovely pink and green combination with a preppy feel. You can use pastels to create a very relaxing look. Two colors would actually work fine and if you want a third color such as silver, it’s also okay. I’m enclosing an example of how this palette can look like, be sure to view the slideshow:
Fun and Preppy Favors and Party Fare
Hi! I’m getting married in September 2010 and I am having a hard time making a decision on our color scheme. My fiance and I have agreed that we love chocolate brown and champagne, but we are having a very difficult time deciding on what accent color we want. My bridesmaid dresses are chocolate brown with champagne sashes. I am torn, because I know that time of year is prime to do a “fall theme” with bright oranges and reds, but I’m not sure that’s the direction I want to take. We are having the wedding at a location overlooking Lake Erie but not on a beach per se. I would love to incorporate some kind of beach feel with the brown and champagne without doing a full-fledged “beach theme”. We have some lanterns we may borrow from a friend in a variety of sizes and colors that we would love to use for the centerpieces. Also, the walls are a pale yellow color with big open windows and hardwood floors. Please Help! I would really appreciate any suggestions!
Wow! That sounds like a really exciting wedding. And in front of a lake, how much more romantic can you get! If you want to have a semi-beach feel that would still go with the location of your wedding, then any of the following combinations is possible:
1) orange or maybe a color close to coral and brown with accents of gold - you can even apply champagne as an accent color
2) light aqua and brown with subtle hints of peach and champagne
3) yellow and brown with hints of ivory and gold, including champagne
4) champagne and chartreuse with accents of gold and brown
note:*adding accents of gold will make the other colors come out beautifully
These color combinations should work with your overall table decor by incorporating subtle shell decor accents intermixed with fall elements. The key is apply these elements in an elegant way that doesn’t speak all-out beach, since you want to have a fall feel to the decor.
Hi! I am having a wedding July 11th. We are doing a morning wedding/brunch receptions. I have no idea what color palette to use. I like pinks and oranges but I think that is to bold for morning. I like the orange and lime mix as well. I just need so artistic help! What do you like is a great color scheme right now. For bridesmaid dresses/ flowers/ decor:) Thank you so much!
Congrats! Actually, having orange and pinks is fine for the morning as long as they are applied in soft tones of pastels. With this color scheme, you can have a very elegant reception.
We have an example that you can look at of a breakfast inspired by a Southern Belle theme. Here we used an entire table setting of soft colors coupled with accents of mint green and silver. Flowers such as pink gerberas, roses, or gardenias would be wonderful for this kind of brunch. Your bridesmaids’ dresses can be in pink on silk shantung fabric which looks absolutely gorgeous!
Hi,
i’m having a wedding Sep 09th and my problem is with matching the color, i know i would love to have kiwi green and mocha/chocolate brown but i’m not sure how to match them especially for the groom’s men. My bridemaids will wear a kiwi green dresses with a brown sash.
please help me with the idea of making my wedding a stunning and memorable day
What a beautiful color palette! I’m thinking that your groomsmen can wear chocolate brown suits which are so classy and have a wonderful appeal in the summer. They can wear men’s ties that have a green and chocolate brown design such as stripes or polk dots. For something whimsical, they can try green bow ties, too! This color scheme and style will then match perfectly with your bridesmaids’ dresses. The key is to be able to coordinate the “style” of both the groomsmen and bridesmaids’ so that they essentially enhance each other. I’d say that you will definitely have a very cool and chic kiwi green and chocolate brown wedding with this kind of approach!
Hi Liz,
Thank u very much for ur response. What i would like to ask u is that the Groom would love to wear something different from the groomsmen and i suggested that maybe he should wear a gold/cream waistcoat and the suit can be the same as theirs. What do u think? The other question is that is it necessary for the men to wear waistcoat and if yes then what colour do u think will suit them well? my theme color is kiwi green and mocha/chocolate brown.
Hi. I have a very hard time coming up with theme colour for my December 2009 wedding. I had chosen pink and silver as my theme colours. I would like a suggestion for a third or even fourth colour to blend in well with the two.
It should be perfectly fine for the groom to wear a gold/cream waistcoat and a brown suit! As for the groomsmen, it’s really up to you as to whether the groomsmen should wear the same color of waistcoat, however, you may want to have them wear a different color such as a light brown or tan. A shade of green might also be fine.
That’s a wonderful color palette! You may want to try a shot of fuchsia that would work beautifully with pink and silver!
Hi, I’m having a July 2010 wedding and have a question about colours! I really like the orange and fuschia combination but want it to have a formal feeling to it. I was thinking of accenting with a black and white damask print (like with damask overlays on the tables) and having linens be black and white. Does this seem okay? Also, any other ideas on how to make the two colours seem evening-like?
A nice way to add a formal style to your color palette is by incorporating some metallic colors. While black would be fine, it may appear to be too strong, since you would have fuchsia and orange as the key colors. A bit of gold or silver accents will make a nice addition especially against the reflection of candlelight.
May you please combine/mix the colours for me, I will get married in Winter or midSummer
Hello! Due to marry in December!! Colours are royal blue/light blue and silver (silver mainly as an accent colour). What would you suggest as unique table decor and for lighting? The reception will be in a hotel banquet hall/ballroom and we cannot do much with decor as far as hanging things up (like lights) go. I was thinking of using fibre optics to create a blue/silver “winter wonderland.” Do you think it is a good idea? Please help!! Thanks so much =-)
Some great color combinations for a winter or mid-summer wedding are:
Lilac and silver with touches of matte silver
Aqua and silver
Emerald green and gold
Pink and gold
Ivory and orange
Chocolate brown and lilac
They can be used for either season, so you don’t have to be tied down to browns or blues.
Victoria:
For such a romantic winter wedding, you are looking at candles everywhere. Create a scintillating table scene with centerpieces housed in glass or metallic containers. Using the element of water is also a nice addition. The reflection of candlelight against elements such as glass, metal, and water will be stunning. Also, you can try using tiny decor elements such as acrylic beads, marbles, or crystals in the centerpieces. As for using a fibre optics display for the centerpieces (I assume), this is fine as long as the cables to light them aren’t exposed. But, if you want to achieve a more natural look, candles would be best. You can use them in various sizes and lengths to get an interesting look. Even floating candles would be great!
Liz
i am using the colors red and champagne for my wedding in May of 2010. I would like some ideas for using the loose crystals and calla lillies as centerpieces for the reception.
Hello Liz,
Our wedding is planned for Mid-November 2009, but I’m still having trouble finalizing colors. I would love to give the feel of a romantic fall afternoon/evening (candlelight), but with a modern/classy element.
I like the idea of burnt orange/brown, but don’t want orange overkill. I also really like red, but don’t want a “Christmas” theme.
Can you suggest some schemes with three or four colors that would carry the theme and allow some “pop” of color?
THANKS!
Sonia:
For such a striking and elegant color combination, a beautiful arrangement of red flowers such as roses, ranunculus, and of course, callas would be perfect in tall (super tall) glass vases filled with clear or frosted loose crystals. If you prefer a shorter arrangement, you could try placing the flowers as a group on long rectangular vases that are filled with crystals. The latter would definitely be dramatic and modern at the same time!
===========================================================
Colene:
For your wedding colors, since red was a color you really liked, how about considering a color palette consisting of burgundy, orange, and a dash of brown! This would be ideal for the fall, but also has a very modern look to it. If you prefer other color combos, you can try any of the following:
1) red, fuchsia, and orange
2) plum and moss green - adding dashes of gold would be brilliant
3) red and aqua with accents of silver
4) burgundy and gold with ivory
Best,
Liz
hi, my name is brittany and i am getting married this Sept. 26, 09. my colors are kiwi and mocha/chocolate brown. im having problems deciding on flower colors. my reception tables will have the chocolate table cloths with a kiwi table runner. can you help me find colors for my flowers that will look good with my color comb?
thanks
Hello my name is Shanequa. I am getting married February 27, 2010. I know I want my colors to be chocolate brown, champagne, and I would like another color that would pop as to say. I am not sure what would look nice with these two colors. Any suggestions?
Hello Brittany! Some beautiful blooms that would coordinate well with your chosen color scheme are those in ivory, white, and even yellow. Examples include: magnolias, lillies, callas, roses, and parrot tulips. You can also add a hue of green with flowers such as hydrangeas or green mums and even fuchsia like dahlias, anemones, or peonies to spice up the flower arrangements. Moreover, these two contrast well enough with brown!
hi brittany
i think adding a little pink or lilac to your flower choices would set off the green and brown nicely. your kiwi green will blend with the leaves in the flowers arrangements so adding a contrast color will make the flowers more attractive.
since green and brown and considered “neutral “colors in the florist’s world ( meaning , any color will go with them ) you can experiment with color swatches from a paint store and see which colors you like best before you spend lots of money on flowers .
victoria n.
A great color to match with chocolate brown and champagne is gold! It adds an elegant pop of color. You can also add orange or yellow instead of gold as highlights. Just be sure to balance these colors carefully. But, they work just as nice as gold. Thanks!
Hello Im a late starter in my wedding planning we are getting married on the 16th of december and can seem to pick the perfect color we dont want the normal december wedding color “red” we was thinking of a blue or somerhing like that but dont want people to come to our wedding and be talking about how blues arent fordecember weddings. I personally wanted a kinda snow flake wedding with all diff kinds of blues and whites i thaught that would be beautifull. We are fun loving 21 year olds we have a 1 year old daughter and we want something that reflects our personality and view on life which is family, fun , and love all the time… PLEASE HELP!!!!
For a December wedding, if you want something different from the traditional reds, then you can have a nice color combination of periwinkle and silver. And a little dose of ivory! It’s not quite blue, but you get the romantic feeling of a winter wedding with this hue. A color like lilac would also work nicely!
Incorporate sparkling touches of silver, but put in some crystals and candlelight. Then, consider flowers such as hydrangeas, irises, or roses. To add elements that reflect your fun personality, have a snowflake confetti spread around the centerpieces!
Hi,
I’m getting married in May 2010 and have my heart set on dark red bridesmaid dresses. We’re having an outdoor, tented reception and I have no idea what color combinations to use. I love red/orange, but don’t want to make it look too much like a fall palette… Can you suggest an elegant color palette?
Thanks!
Juliane
Hello Juliane:
If you want to have a fall wedding without having a traditional color palette typically associated with fall, then I suggest a nice color combo of plum or eggplant purple, apple green, and chocolate brown. Instead of brown, you may also substitute navy blue. And I’d also add a lighter shade of green for additional contrast. Think jewel tones!
If you still want to have dark red as one of the colors, then you could opt for a palette of chocolate brown, magenta, and eggplant.
Best,
Liz (The Wedding Bistro)
Hi Liz would these colours be good for a December wedding Watermelon and Tan and the mini bride and ring bearer will wear ivory what flowers and other accessories could we use.
Watermelon and tan is certainly a nice color combination! While not popular for a December wedding, I think you should go for what you like! As for the flower girl and ring bearer, imagine a pretty ivory basket filled with champagne rose petals and a ring pillow in a lovey shade of ivory. You can also incorporate some bright accent colors such as orange and fuchsia into the scene. Consider flowers such as dahlias, zinnias, or bright gerberas! Or another option is to add a cool hue of blue such as aqua.
Hi Liz,
Thanks alot sounds great however where would you suggest i include the orange and fuchia or even the aqua in the scene.
Will surely use the champagne and white petals did not want the traditional December wedding colours getting married on December 12, 2009.
Original colours were canary and latte but persons in the bridal party are dark in complexion
Perhaps you can apply the fuchsia to the bridesmaids’ dresses. In this way, they will complement their complexion. Make sure though to test the actual fabric colors! You may also want to have accents of orange on their dresses just for variety. When applying the aqua, this is just an option if you still want some cool hue in the palette. This can be incorporated into your table decor such as some hydrangeas.
Hi Liz,
I have decided to with Chamoagne and a Deep Red for my wedding in December. My question is how should I incorporate those color into my table settings for the reception? What should I use for the table linen and for the the chair cover and the sash around the chair? Any suggestions?
Sorry! I meant Champagne!=)
Champagne and deep red (maroon) is one of my favorite color combinations. And it is just perfect for a December wedding! Imagine flower centerpieces consisting of callas, zinnias, and green hydrangeas with hypericum berries. You can also intersperse ivory blooms!
To welcome guests at the reception, have your florist create a wreath using red pepperberries. As for the table, imagine ivory satin or brocade linens with shimmering organza swags for the chairs. You can also incorporate accents of gold with gold place frames as favors that are placed atop beautiful ivory china and gold cutlery. The look is romantic, upscale, and very classy!
Congratulations, Eve!
Hi Liz,
I am set on having yellow, gold, and white to be my colors for the wedding. However, the reception venue my fiancee and I fell in love with is not available on July 3, 2010, but is on July 4th. I love the fact that we will be able to see fireworks and have sparklers as favors, but I really don’t want to focus much more on the 4th of july, and do not want to include red, white and blue as the colors. July 5, 2010 will be our 10 year anniversary which is why I am set on that weekend. Any suggestions?
First of all, I think you have a very clear idea of what you want for your wedding! That’s such a romantic way to celebrate a 10 year anniversary! The colors you’ve picked are wonderful! If you really want to have a more distinctive look and feel far from the traditional red, white, and blue that is typically associated with July 4th, then I would include chartreuse, olive, or some green hues as your additional color. This is an example of the colors:
Imagine beautiful floral centerpieces of green hydrangeas, green spider mums, and yellow zinnas. Green cymbidium orchids alone are gorgeous, too! The overall look says summer elegance! You may also want to check these inspiration boards for more ideas:
http://blog.weddingwire.com/index.php/weddings/color-palette-yellow-green-and-a-hint-of-blue/
http://snippetandink.blogspot.com/2008/03/board-159-diy-green-and-yellow.html
http://tastefullyentertaining.blogspot.com/2008/05/pale-yellow-summer-wedding.html
http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2008/06/04/real-weddings-reggie-megan-3808-part-ii/
I’m getting married this November and I choose espresso color with a champagne sash and my mistake was that my flower girls will be the same color. Is this bad? If so what color do I change them to? HELP!!! Also what other colors can I combine with chocolate brown and champagne? Any suggestions? This is so stressful than fun.
An elegant and safe color to match with chocolate brown and champagne would be gold. You can also incorporate hues of green or even yellow. This will break the monotony of just having brown and champagne. As for the flower girl dresses, having them in the same color would be fine as long as you can apply some green or yellow.
i am getting married this oct.
but i have the biggest prob here.i’ve decided gold and white to be my wedding’s color. but now,my mom want it to be pink and white.
this is so stressful. is there any way i can have both color without making it look weird? i am having an asian-malay-wedding.
pls help.
What you can do is to have a pink and gold color combination! It is actually quite nice and you can add touches of white or even ivory. Ivory would be nice because it adds a more elegant look to the color scheme. Think of flowers such as magnolias or pink peonies as your bouquet. The dress can be in chiffon, and made in pretty ivory or ecru with subtle hints of beads and embroidery. You can also try blush pink roses which have a nice hint of pink, too.
We also have an example of a display that we did which uses pink and gold. Here is the article we wrote:
http://www.bellenza.com/wedding-ideas/decorate/dreamy-decorations-for-a-midsummer-nights-dream-wedding-party.html
We are getting married on April 10, 2010. The one flower I definitely want to use for my wedding is Stargazer or Pink oriental lilies (very similar color-wise). I’d like to use the pink in those flowers as the main color in my wedding, but I’m having a hard time picking another color, and then a white/silver/gold to go with it. What do you think would be the best to use?
Greetings Tera. Since stargazer lilies essentially have a fuchsia color, you can match them up with a beautiful combination of chartreuse and pink similar to what we have created below:
You can then add touches of gold to serve as accent colors.
hey im gettin married august 2010 in the beach… our colors are burnt orange with champagne….with a lil gold…do u think that will look nice or should i change a color???? any suggestions??
Hey
I really need your help, I’m having a 21st in October and i have not sent out Invitations or started with any arrangements as i do not know which colours to choose, i like the Red, burnt orange and brown idea but i’m lost because every time i see a better colour combination then i want to change it… I’m not to sure what to go 4, IM LOST. PLEASE HELP… Please also advised me on the table deco and any other Deco…
Please assist im pressed for time, as it is the 10th October 2009..
Many thanks..
Jamie Bond
Somthing else that i forgot to add is that the 21st will be in South Africa and around that time it will be Spring and i am trying to run away from the typical Oranges and reds altho those are the colors that i had said i liked, its just that they might seem a bit too common for Spring..
Regards,
Jamie
Hello Dee. The burnt orange and champagne color combo is fine with some gold, but since it is a beach wedding, I suggest some blue hues. You may want to put in some aqua.
Congrats Jamie. What a beautiful time to have a wedding in South Africa! I suggest a pretty color palette of peach and mint green. Their beautiful for a Spring wedding yet not so common. Imagine beautiful Spring flowers such as gerbera daisies! Here are some articles that might interest you with some more examples of Spring colors:
Ideas to Bring on a Southern Belle Bridal Shower Breakfast
Dreamy Decorations for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream Wedding Party” - a pink and orange palette
Jump into Spring with Fresh Wedding Colors
My wedding date is set for July 17. I need helping choosing wedding colors. I have no idea what color is apprpriate for this month or what colors go together. Any assistance will be great!
Hi Liz, thanks so much for helping the future brides!I have read some of your inputs, and I’m really looking forward to hearing from you about the color combination that I am pondering on since our wedding will be on Oct. 2009(Hall setting). It will be an evening event, and so I am deciding on what will look best with gold, is it okay to match it with aqua, or with peach? I want to wear a pure white gown, will it be fine if female sponsors will be wearing an off white gown?What can you say?Please help.Thanks, and more power to you!God Bless.
A nice color for an August wedding is pink because it is neutral enough for a summer wedding. You can have a pink color palette consisting of pretty lilacs, white, and silver. It is classy and very elegant! Check out our own color combinations using pink, click to view the slideshow.
Hi! I am so lost on what colors I should use for my mid september wedding. I love so many colors that it has been difficult to choose one. Specifically, if I can find a base color for my bridesmaides maybe that can help me choose accent colors. My reception will have gold chairs and I really want bright vibrant flowers. I love the color emerald and brown with gold or burnt orange…Please any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks so much!
Hello Mandi. Emerald green is a beautiful wedding color that you can match with gold and brown perfectly! Your flowers can be ivory with hints of some orange or lilac. Another option is moss green which matches nicely with emerald green and brown. Then, you can work in hints of ivory and gold, too. We also have another example of emerald green with red in A Wedding Party with a Romantic Tuscan Ambiance.
You can also have a green and orange color combo as well. EAD Weddings has an example that you can check out consisting of emerald green and mango.
Hi. I really need your help. We are getting married on February 14, 2010. Nothing elaborate just a small wedding only a maid of honor, best man and maybe a ring bearer and flower girl. We will be hosting a brunch immediately after the ceremony. I want to create an intimate elegant affair since only family and close friends will be attending the brunch. I love the idea of black and white with red as the accent color; however, I am concerned that this will be too elegant of a color scheme for an afternoon brunch. I am also concerned about the cost of roses around that time of year. Please any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I am also open to other color choices.
While you can certainly have a black and white color scheme with red roses as the accent color, it does seem a little bit on the formal side considering that the event is a brunch. What you may want to do is to soften the look with touches of ivory and instead of a strong color like red, you may want to try peach or pink. You can even incorporate other accent colors like mint green and silver. We have an example of party that uses this color. Here is a link to the example we created:
Host a Classic “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” Engagement Party
I’m planning my March 2010 and am trying to choose my colors. I love the elegance of black and white but want to incorporate some color since it will be close to Spring. My favorite color is green and his is silver. Anyone have some ideas? Thanks!
You may want to incorporate mint green or a very light shade of green, since it is also close to Spring. When working with black and white, a more muted shade of green would work nicely. Then you can also add some silver as a pretty accent color.
I am getting married on June 12, 2010 and I still can’t fiqure out the color scheme that I want. I know I want Tiffany blue which I will use light aqua since it is very close to Tiffany blue. I don’t know what color I should pair it with. Can anyone help with ideas?
Thanks!
Greetings from Bellenza! Silver is a lovely color to match with Tiffany blue. You can also incorporate some ivory. Think of beautiful ivory magnolias as your centerpieces, crisp white and silver cutlery, and pretty blue table napkins to match the whole table setting. We have created a table setting as an example. Please read Host a Classic “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” Engagement Party.
I am getting married in Nov 2011 (long time away I know) but was wondering about colour combinations for winter wedding - thinking about dark green or chocolate brown, purple and champagne - what sort of combination of these would work! Was aiming for classy and simple winter wedding so any other suggestions appreciated!
I am getting married on 28th December 2009. I am still confused on what colour to match my maroon colour. Someone please help with some ideas. Thanks.
Maroon has become a very popular color of choice for weddings! It can be matched beautifully with plum and gold. Consider burgundy which has a darker hue to it as well. Nevertheless, you can match maroon nicely with callas and roses. Then your bridesmaids can wear pretty iridescent taffeta or organza dresses in maroon. An iridescent fabric color will give the event a more stylish and elegant look beyond ordinary maroon, which tends to look very overpowering in photos.
hi, i am getting married on may 15, 2010. I have a light champagne colored wedding dress and im not sure how to color coordinate my wedding party. i wanted to use pink for my bridesmaids, however im not sure of the shade. also the banquet hall im using has a lot of red & gold, which made me consider red dresses for the (bm) can i use these colors during this season? please help, any ideas appreciated !
Liz,
I need your help immediately im trying to plan my wedding for february 27, 2009 and the colors i want are: Chocolate, Orange, Turquise, And Apple Green. I need your help far as a theme for my wedding it will be an evening wedding and a layout for my colors for as bridesmaids, maid, and matron.
I’m getting married July 24, 2010 and am definitely using sunflowers. However, I’m having a hard time coming up with a color palette. I love red, orange and yellow but am afraid it’s too fallish. Any suggestions? It’s driving me crazy!!
Liz - I am getting married in July. Orginally I was thinking of having my colors be blue and yellow but now I am liking green and like a vintage purple. My mom thinks the purple and green is not very summery. What are your thoughts?
will you please advise on nice combination colours with burnt orange
hi i am helping my sister with her wedding on april 2010 …. its summer here in the philippines …. the reception will be fronting the beach at 5 pm (sunset to be exact)……..i am thinking a color combination of fuschia pink and aqua blue with a dash of gold? do u think i have the right pallate of color..? and i am also thinking to have a lantern surround the venue…….choice of flower will be sunflower withsome orchids in the entourage…small pink and aqua blue balloons will also be scattered in the red carpet of entourage …flower for the bride will be tulip(pink) with touch of dancing lady(yellow)….for the bridesmaid flower of choice will also be pink rose with dancing lady (yellow)…..well we havent decided yet ,,…. please help us to organize the color scheme….the theme at the reception… and at the church.. thank you….
Hello! I am having a real tough time deciding what colors to choose for my Sept 2010 wedding. The ceremony and reception will take place at a country club with a fantastic background of maple trees with their fall leaves. I love jewel tones and am not particularly fond of pastels and “light” colors. I was originally thinking of a cranberry, plum and vintage gold combination but I’ve been thinking of some different colors lately. Now I’ve been thinking of an emerald green and plum combination, perhaps with a shot of either champagne or gold. I see a lot of dark green and lighter purple/violet and/or dark puple and light green combos but not the two darker colors together. Do these two dark jewel tones go together or would it be just too dark of a pallete??? Help me please!
Hello Ian.
Since it seems like your sister will be getting married in a gorgeous beach location, try to make use of nature to guide your color scheme. You don’t need to incorporate too many bold colors or even metallics here because the backdrop of the beach and the lush greenery can provide most of the color that you will need. I think a fuchsia and green color palette would be ideal especially since you are located in a tropical location. Adding yellow highlights (minimally) would be nice, too. You can also incorporate white or ivory to balance things out. Think subtlety in this case. So for example, your bride’s bouquet can be made of beautiful fuchsia dahlias, lisianthus, and even some hibiscus. Go light As for the bridesmaids, let them carry pretty flower pomanders using flowers in fuchsia and yellow. As for the wedding cake, consider an all white cake decorated with bold fuchsia flowers. The look will be stunning!
For Tarina.
Greetings! You seem to have a good idea of what you want, but let me suggest some color combinations:
1) Dramatic - plum and gold with chartreuse highlights
2) Regal - gold and apple green with brown
3) Sophisticated - dark purple, lavender, and brown with gold
Liz,
I need your help immediately im trying to plan my wedding for february 27, 2009 and the colors i want are: Chocolate, Orange, Turquise, And Apple Green. I need your help far as a theme for my wedding it will be an evening wedding and a layout for my colors for as bridesmaids, maid, and matron. What are some good ideas far as the reception? With the table decor how do you think i can include all of my colors
Greetings! I think you have chosen a lovely color palette. Since it will be in February, you can already incorporate a more Spring-like feel so an appropriate theme would be something like a citrus or apple-inspired theme. With colors such as chocolate, orange, turquoise, and apple Green, I’m thinking that incorporating fruits into your decor would be a nice way to spice up the decor. Think centerpieces with green hydrangeas, some orange-hued flowers such as calendulas, and filled with sand together with some woodsy elements. You can also have fruits such as oranges and limes to lend a hand at adding more color. All of this depends, though, on what is your base set of colors for the event. You may want to consider orange and apple green as the base colors, while the other colors can be used as highlights.
As for your reception, think of an ivory wedding cake that is decorated with main colors of your event. The contrast of ivory against orange, turquoise, and/pr apple green would be stunning. A whimsical look to the cake would also be nice–think geometric shapes or polka dots that mimic fruits! For your bridesmaids, consider pretty silk shantung or organza in a shade of olive or something close to apple green. Your Maid of Honor can then wear a gown that has a darker shade of green.
Here are some additional ideas that offer up an orange and green palette:
A citrus-inspired table setting
Orange and green wedding colors
BHG centerpiece with green
Green and orange tablescape
Good Day!
My wedding date is on January 31, 2010.Our motif id blue,green and pink.how to combine those?and what good color for that?
Thanks.
Greetings! Congratulations, too! I would suggest a very light color palette for these 3 colors. Actually, what I have below is light coral, sea green, and an aqua blue color combo. I imagine this kind of palette to have some gold or silver accents together with shades of light ecru or ivory. Very elegant and light!
Hi Liz,
Thank you for giving sometime in my queries.But all of this are light colors, is it good during night time?my wedding is at 4pm and my in laws asking if those where good in picture during night time.
Thanks and more power….
Hello! Actually, light colors can look amazing at night especially when you incorporate the right kind of lighting. Think of it as a romantic reception decked out in lovely paper lanterns or similar ornamental lighting like Christmas lights. The look can be just as dramatic or even more impressive when working with pastels. If you love metallics such as gold or silver, this is also a nice way to lend a hand at enhancing the scene. Good luck
Hi Liz,
wow i noticed you bothered to answer almost all the questions posted here! so impressed..! i’m having a church wedding followed by a dinner reception,in Singapore! I’m think of having a maroon/burgundy,black and ivory colour theme for the reception,as the catering skirtings will already be ivory with maroon overlaid on top(2 toned). I will be wearing a white wedding dress for the ceremony ,but after that will be changing into an olive green dress/turquoise dress. What do you think ?how else can i bring out the colours of the wedding?what colour should be ‘accent’ colours ,how do i make sure the colours don’t alsh so much?oh i also forgot to mention that the church itself is completely white in colour,rather modern traditional looking with some stained glass. there’s green grass surrounding the entire wedding reception area!
looking so forward to your expert suggestions on how i can better coordinate the wedding colours =)
Congratulations to you! It seems like you have a good idea of what you visualize for your wedding. As for the color combo of the tables, instead of having a black and burgundy palette, you may want to opt for teal and ivory alone instead of incorporating dark colors like black and burgundy/maroon, which doesn’t seem to match well in this example.
Since your wedding venue as a whole seems to be in a very light, modern setting, with lots of natural lighting, using a palette such as turquoise or olive green would be ideal. Moreover, since you plan to change into a dress in these colors anyway, you may want to extend it to the overall color of your wedding. Consider an ivory or white and olive green or turquoise color palette with brilliant accent colors of yellow or gold that would brighten up the wedding beautifully!
Hi Liz,
We’re getting this May 2010. It’s gonna be a Garden / Sunset Wedding and the thing is we haven’t got a motif yet.
We’re thinking of something Citrus Color (green, yellow, orange) as our motif.
Can you please help me what would be the best match?
Many Thanks.
I’m getting married in June in the evening (5 pm) & am having a hard time deciding on colors. Originally I selected Tiffany Blue, Silver & White but am torn between apple red (a little lighter than burgandy), Black & Silver. Would that even be appropriate for a summer wedding?
For each color scheme, what colors would be appropriate for bridesmaid shoes, mothers dresses & flowers?
I think a nice motif for your chosen color palette would definitely be citrus, but you can also pursue a flower motif with sunflowers and tulips–very appropriate for a garden setting. You can also have a whimsical one using geometric circles, strips, or checkerboard. My personal favorite is a citrus theme.
Cyndy:
For such a color palette, your original choice is actually quite classy! Consider having a touch of ivory as well such as having a bridal bouquet of pretty magnolias. Then your bridemaids can be dressed in lovely silk shantung dresses with a white sash.
As for the mother of the bride, she can then wear a beautiful ivory gown so as to distinguish her color from the bridesmaids. And for your wedding cake, consider a gorgeous Tiffany box inspired cake with a diamond ring as your motif. I think this is a nice way to bring out the elegance of the palette without looking too “themish” in style. Perfect for a summer wedding.
I’m getting married on Oct. 2010, i had a hard time thinking about our motiff. I prefer red and yellow coz it’s a lucky wedding motiiff on that year based on what i read. Any suggestion of what color is the best combination or does the combination red and yellow good?
Hi, I have been looking for my wedding colors for too long now. I have found something I think I can settle with, but, I am not thrilled. I want to be thrilled! I like too many colors. My favorite is purple and his favorite is black, but we don’t want a “dark” wedding. We want something bright and airy, but also elegant and graceful, but playful too. See why we are having such a hard time? He is Black and I am white. So, we thought about black/white wedding, but decided it might be too much. I settled on chocolate as the base color since we both like it and it blends well with most other colors. I like pearl, gold, burnt umber, all brown shades especially champagne, latteand mocha, a variety of greens, varieties of pinks, yellows, and some other orangey shades. We also have a lot of red in our closet, so it too must be a color we like. I love cherry wood finnish color in our home. I am in-love with sunrise and sunset colors. Our June wedding will be on a majestic lake in Montana with ruggage beautiful mountains as the backdrop (with snow on them still). Our reception will be at the same location, on a lighted deck at night. I plan to have loads of candles rather than ceiling lights if we have to have it inside. I love deep romantic lightening. We have been planning to combine a western BBQ (my heritage), Soul food (his heritage), Hawaiin food and Jamaican food (our favorite foods) together for the reception. I love Bird of Paradise flowers as well as asian lillies, cherry blossoms, irises, but my favorite flower of all is the yellow daffodil.
We plan to have a butterfly release at the end of the ceremony as well as fireworks at the end of the reception.
I hope you can help me with the colors/theme. Please. I am having a hard time, and have been struggling with this since May 2008 and have until June 2010. But, feel I’m running out of time fast!
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding in June of 2010. I would fully take advantage of the outdoor scenery in Montana. Then I would incorporate a color palette with nature-inspired hues in a tri-color combo, but you can also apply any of these colors in twos:
1) Palette #1 - Imagine a garden filled with summery citrus hues like pastel green, orange, and yellow. Your decor can make use of organic elements from bright oranges to limes. This is perfect for your outdoor candlelit event, too. If you’d rather incorporate your favorite flower, then make your theme “yellow daffodils.” It’s perfect for a summer wedding and you can still match them with green and orange hues elegantly.
2) Palette #2 - With chocolate brown as your base color, you are looking at a sophisticated summer soiree with purple (or light lavender) set against chartreuse or yellow green. The decor is inspired by a ton of verdant foliage together with beautiful hydrangeas. Add some metallics such as silver or gold to truly glam up the look!
3) Palette #3 - This is a playful color scheme of brown, pink, and fuchsia. Your decor can consist of fresh flowers such as peonies, anemones, and ranunculus! Integrate some light pink flowers such roses. The look is a romantic flower garden set against a majestic lake.
Thank you for your ideas! I trully appreciate it! So, while I am looking at the color palettes, what do you think of a mixture of the pallets? Such as, chocolate and brown as the base focus, using orange, and pink for the centerpieces, pulling fuschia and yellow and green in by use of flowers, and then adding the chocolate to the table linens with pearl table runners to add some “white color”. Is that good? Or do you think it would be too much?
HI Liz! I will be getting married on December 2010 but since both me and my fiance` are working overseas we are already starting to plan for it this early.
I find it really hard what color motif would be in for that season. Im thinking of plum as the base color and would mix it with a light shade of celadon green but I dont know if its a good color combination.with regars to flowers I am really an orchid lover so I’m planning to have cymbidium orchids for my bouquet ,can you suggest what other flowers would be nice when combined with cymbidiums? THanks a lot and best regards.=)
It is certainly fine to mix the colors of the palette. In fact, that would be a wonderful way to infuse different colors from the use of pink and orange in the centerpieces to mixing in a little bit of fuchsia, green, and yellow. I would probably go easy on the fuchsia, since it is very overpowering colors when placed against other colors. Other than that, it should be okay. As for the table linens, I would just stick with colored linens without the brown.
Hello Jesse! Celadon green with plum is fine, but you may want to consider a color such as chartreuse, which has a little bit more yellowy hues that go better with plum. It can be a very sophisticated color palette! See example below:
Think of white callas and white cymbidium orchids, or even a variety of other orchids such as phalaenopsis, dendrobium, or cattelaya. Another option is to have plum callas. These flower combinations are actually quite stunning as opposed to most bouquets you see nowadays.
Extend the orchids to other elements of the wedding such as a wedding cake topped up with a cymbidium orchid or have one made with draping orchids on a three-tier, white cake. Check out this lovely palette from lotushaus.typepad.com featuring a lovely plum and chartreuse wedding with an elegant Asian flair - click here.
Best,
Liz
Hello!! I am getting married September 2011, plenty of time but i am soo stuck on what colors to use! I found my dress by chance and i LOVE it, it is not white though its an antique pink, im not sure what colors i should use to go with it but i dont want to have colors that will make me “blend” with my wedding, like any bride i want to shine
I could really use some advice!! Thank you!!
Hi!….I have my wedding in december2010 yellow, gold and brown are my chosen colors…do i have a right combination for december??? pls give me some suggestions…thanks!!!;)
Antique pink is a wonderful color that you can pair with gold. Consider a glamorous pink and gold color palette with stylish trimmings reminiscent of old Hollywood. Think of modern meets vintage with the look. Use pink in various shades with a muted shade of gold, too. If preferred, you can also infuse some touches of ivory! The key is to make the look classy.
Hi I am helping my sister with her wedding in April 2010 her colours are maroon,cream and champagne.I am not sure how to use the colours for table deco and centrepieces.I want to create a wow factor to their wedding.
Congrats to all!!
I am in early stages of planning a June 25, 2011 midafternoon wedding. Considering maybe an outdoor venue. My fiance and I both would like to go with apple red for our color…but not sure what color to accent it. We want romantic….. semi-formal. Is apple red an acceptable color for this time of year? And should I pair it with cream or white?? what about black? Would black take it to a super formal level?? i’m afraid the black will take a ‘gothic’ look which we do not want. HELP!!!!!
My favorite colors are Red and Yellow. Am I crazy to think I can do both of those colors for my wedding and it still be elegant??? Please help!
what will be the best color motif to combine in gold?
Palesa - Maroon, cream, and champagne are gorgeous! Think of pretty calla lillies together with cream roses, while adding some chartreuse zinnias. I would also add some gold and crystal accents to your centerpieces. Imagine gilded containers filled with rich textures of fruits such as plums –adding to the maroon side of your palette!
Jeanie - Apple red is actually a versatile color that can be matched with aqua, lemon yellow, and pistachio green. You can also pair a bold color of orange or fuchsia with apple red. They should be fine for the month of June. As for me, I prefer to match apple red with aqua, while adding some cream touches of vanilla. It brings out a classy and elegant feel. Be sure to add some accents of silver or gold, too.
Shelley - Red and yellow are actually beautiful colors to match up. It can be a bright red with yellow hues or a blood red color. They say summer all the way, but it can also be a fall palette. Imagine pretty yellow blooms such as daffodils, chrysanthemums, and tulips. The key is to use red more as an accent color so that your wedding doesn’t get blanketed in everything red. Use it sparingly and the color will come out for you nicely. Add a third color like ivory or gold, too. These can balance out the palette as well.
Hi -I am getting married in January and would like a black and silver theme with touches of white to brighten it. Would this look right?
I was thinking of black chair and table covers with silver chiffon bows and then having candleabras with white and black flowers? Is this too much black?
Any other suggestions are welcome.
Hi - I am getting married in August 2010 at a winery. I’ve picked out my bridesmaid dresses - they are hunter green with a white sash. My fiance and I both like hunter green, and I think it looks good on almost everyone. I am struggling in deciding what a good accent color would be/what flowers would look best. I was thinking pinks, but I’m not sure that it will work with the hunter green. The reception venue is has light yellow walls with a light reddish/orange/pink accent and hunter green trim. Any ideas? Thanks!
hi liz,
I will be having a church wedding this DEC 2010, we havent decide yet what will be our motif.. I really like it to be color blue..and im thinking if aqua blue combined with black and white would be fine?
please advise..please give me insights as well the colors that i could combine blue with.. thank you..
tomomi
Hi - I am getting married in July 2010 and I am having a hard time choosing my color scheme. My dress is ivory and the groom suit is black. There is no bridesmaid. I am thinking on gold and ivory but looking for bold summer colors that will be romantic/warm. The reception will be held in a school hall so I need to brighten the atmosphere. Please help me. Thanks
Hi liz,
I am getting married on december of this year and would like red,lemon yellow and lime green as my motiff. Do you think its a good combination?The reception will be held in the garden and it will be a mid afternoon ceremony. Please help. Thanks
I am thinking of Apple green, aqua , and white for my informal wedding on a hillside in Montana….what do you think?
Hi! We are having our wedding in late October. I’m crazy with the color purple or any shade of violet or I guess any color that belongs to the same color family.
I have a total of 5 bridesmaids (including my maid of honor) and I want each of them to wear a different color. The other sponsors will be wearing champagne and I was thinking of doing purple, dark to light hues but I don’t want the darkest color to stand out from the crowd. So, can you give me a set of 5 colors that we can do for my bridesmaids without having to go with a really dark hue? Thank you.
Hi Liz,
I’m glad I was able to find this site. Truly of great help for us bride-to-bes. My church wedding is set in early 2011 (too early, just excited) and I find it hard to look for the perfect color combination for my entouarge. Everytime I see a new color combination in the internet, I easily change my plan. I just want a classy wedding reception and I think I like either gold/silver/old rose to be the accent colors. Can you suggest of other colors that best suit these accent colors? My reception venue will be in a hotel. Please help me.
hi, may wedding is on may, please give me an idea of which color combination is best….. thank you…
Hey Liz
Im glad i have been able to find this site! Wonderful site and ur very helpful.. I am getting married end of this year (december 2010) in Africa ..im actually having troubles deciding colors as im going to have 2 celebrations prior to the wedding. For the wedding we have chosen ivory champagne and mauve…for my send off party ( this is like a send off dinner prepared by the bride`s family..its really huge and like a mini bridal wedding) I was thinkin of red shades maybe burgundy or maroon can you please advice which colors will best match with it..i would like 3 color combinations for this occasion. Would love something nice and unique..thank you sooo much Liz…
Burgundy, mauve, and even red make a nice monochromatic color scheme. But, you can also have a purple or blueberry hues as illustrated below with these three 4-color combos. You can even incorporate a shot of silver or brown depending on your preference. My personal favorite is the combination red and brown, while having a darker shade of red and then some mauve. I also think incorporating the purple or even magenta will make your palette look more unique and interesting! Feel free to mix the colors below and find the right color scheme for you.
wow! Thanx so much…I will let you know what i have come out with..the colors are just brilliant.Thanx Thanx.
Hi, My daughter is having difficulty deciding on colors. She really wants chartreuse, a light (subdued) orange and plum scheme. The venue’s ceiling is painted in white and aqua (featured in Martha Stewart Weddings/Fashion Issue), so we would like to incorporate the aqua too. Please help !
Hi, I have upcoming wedding in May 2010. I cannot decide my wedding motiff. Color blue is my fave color . kindly give some contrast or pallete to combine with..
Thanks!
hi liz, im thinking of yellow and blue as my wedding motif.. what shade of blue and yellow would match with bronze for my third motif. thanks
hi, my wedding is on november 2010, please give me an idea of which color combination is best for yellow and red and what flowers suits for accent
Hi Liz,
Me and my boyfriend were planning to have an afternoon wedding, maybe will start at 3 pm but we cant decyd what will be our motif. Can you help me regarding this probz? i love brown, is it nice to an afternoon wedding? or any suggestion of color. Thanks a lot!