Purple: The Most Dreaded Wedding Color Gets A Makeover
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Throughout history, purple has been widely documented as a color of privilege often associated with royalty. During medieval times, dyes that produced the perfect shade of purple were so costly that only kings and queens could afford them, hence the term “royal purple.” While many would not consider it for a wedding, this bold and mysterious color is actually brimming with creative possibilities for decorating a shower, tea party, or reception. Typified as regal and sophisticated, it can turn charming and pretty when matched with the right palette of colors. Table settings, centerpieces, and favors–all can take on an unexpected appeal with the tasteful use of purple.
Purple’s Perfect Partners
The basic color palette for light purple would include shades of pink and green.
Purple comes in a wide spectrum of shades, making it ideal for a sophisticated look. A basic color palette for light purple would include pinks and greens. Thus, shades like lilac, thistle, or periwinkle may be paired with white, baby pink, lime green, powder blue, and even silver or gold. Deep purple would work best with chocolate brown, pink, and green, as well as a touch of royal or cornflower blue.
Another elegant use of purple is in a monochromatic color scheme such as lilac, lavender, and amethyst. Attractive accents for these would be brown, silver, or cream. Applying any of these palettes to the party table settings would definitely make a statement.
Put Together a Stunning Table Display
Porcelain boxes with dainty floral designs and lilac ribbons are set against a pale lilac tablecloth.
A table setting with a light and airy purple palette uses a pale lilac tablecloth with subtle damask patterns as its canvas. Glistening silver flatware and delicate fine china receive a charming touch with purple pansies resting on crisp white table napkins. For guest favors, porcelain boxes with floral accents and a pretty lilac ribbon rest beside each place setting.
For a table setting with a darker color palette, violet, dark pink, and silver make for a rich display, while a combination of purple, blue-violet, and slate blue creates a dark and exotic feel. Apply these to the table linens and decor accents for the desired effect. Dainty floral sachets in lilac or lavender pouches may be displayed as part of each place setting for the guests to take home afterwards.
Create Unique Centerpieces
Whether floral or edible, a purple-based centerpiece would be most attractive with the use of elements that have this color in varying degrees. For an edible centerpiece with an interactive purpose, tiered trays may be filled with a delectable mix of cupcakes with lavender and pink frosting, purple foil-wrapped chocolates, and lilac-colored almond dragées.
Give Gifts All Pretty in Purple
Pomander-shaped sachets can come in the loveliest shades of purple and can be matched with pink for contrast.
Whatever the occasion’s theme, purple may set the tone–both in the favors themselves and in the packaging. Whimsical pomander-shaped bags can be filled with delicate lavender oils, potpourri, or scented glass beads. Jordan almonds in a pretty purple shade may fill a silk pouch. Grape-flavored crystallized candy may be presented in purple boxes, and then arranged as an attractive table centerpiece.
Though purple comes across as a strong color, it actually offers such a wide range of shades to work with. From the deepest violet to the most delicate lilac, it can establish the desired look for the occasion through tastefully-crafted table settings, centerpieces, and guest favors. Indeed, purple need no longer be the most dreaded wedding color.
External Resources
- - Purple Wedding Reception Ideas - A slide show from Brides.com.
- - Purple and Blue Wedding Bouquets - A slide show from BHG.com.
- - Purple Party Themes - A list of party planning ideas from Confetti.co.uk.
I’m actually having an aubergine and chartreuse color palette. I know a lot of people call purple the barney color, but I love it!
How can I make purple frosting what color can I mix
Would chocolate and royal purple mix? II love these two colors but should i add another color?
Isn’t chocolate brown and purple a beautiful color combo? You can even incorporate a third color like cream or ivory or a pale shade of yellow as a nice accent color. Even a shot of green is also nice.
Below are two additional posts that show how purple is used:
Go Choco Loco for a Bridal Shower
The Sweetest Packaging for a Chocolate Themed Party
I just love all of the elegant hues of purple! I’ve started a series of blog posts just dedicated to lilac weddings with color suggestions, dresses, inspiration boards, etc. Check it out:
http://dahlias-day.blogspot.com/2009/04/lilac-inspiration-boards.html
Would lime green and a dark purple, almost like a grape purple, be good to use?
Yes, lime green can be matched with dark purple. If you are looking at a shade close to a grape purple, just be sure that it isn’t too dark because very dark shades may turn out blackish in the photos! By the way, moss green or even chartreuse goes very nice with dark purple.
would like to know what color would go with lilac and still look nice. i need it for reception decoration
Lilac is a beautiful color that can be matched with chocolate brown. We have created a unique display using these two colors. Please refer to our article at:
I have a question, I want a fall themed wedding where I want to include the colors of leave in the fall but my fiance’s favorite color is dark purple. Any ideas on how to pull this together
My husband wants to wear a gray suit and I want my maids to wear lavenda and purple how can I make the colours look great?
My wedding is in June, my fiance is wearing blue shirt and groom’s men pink shirt and I still want to use lilac and purple for my bride’s maids. Pls, is this a good combination? Pls advice
so I am getting married Aug 7th and going with Expresso Brown and Fushia and I want to accent Lavendar?? Any advice. Mainly in flowers and decorating.