Wedding Color Conundrum: Finding Your Perfect Match

Choosing a wedding colour palette can be a daunting task, especially with so many options available. However, it is an important step in the wedding planning process as it helps create a cohesive aesthetic for your special day. While it may be tempting to follow the latest trends, it is important to select colours that reflect your personal style and taste. A good place to start is by considering the season, location, and theme of your wedding, as well as what colours will complement your venue and create the desired mood or atmosphere.

Choosing a colour scheme that complements your venue and its surroundings

Visualise Your Venue and Surroundings

Consider the existing décor and surroundings of your venue when choosing your colour scheme. If your venue has a lot of decorative elements, use those details to influence your colour choices. For example, take into account the colours of the carpet, walls, lighting fixtures, or the view outside. By choosing colours that complement these elements, you can enhance the features you love about the space without creating a visual clash. On the other hand, if your venue is a "blank slate", such as a tented reception, barn, or outdoor area, you have more freedom to choose any colours you like without worrying about clashing with existing décor.

Consider the Season

While there are no hard and fast rules, certain colours do lend themselves to specific seasons. For example, dark jewel tones like emerald green and navy blue tend to suit cold weather surroundings, while bright and bold colours are perfect for summer celebrations. Pastel hues are often associated with springtime, and holiday-inspired colour palettes can be fun for weddings around festive occasions.

Think About Your Wedding Style

Your wedding colours should reflect your personal style and the overall vibe you want to create. Are you going for a romantic, bohemian, classic, or glamorous atmosphere? For instance, a Gatsby-inspired theme might call for metallic gold and purple, while a nautical soirée could feature blue and white.

Pick Flattering Colours

Don't forget that you and your wedding party will likely be wearing your chosen colours, so select shades that flatter your skin tone. Consider universally flattering colours like medium and darker shades of eggplant, powder blue, navy, and red to ensure everyone looks their best.

Create a Cohesive Look

To avoid a disjointed look, limit your palette to a few complementary colours. You can choose one base colour and two to three complementary accent colours, or opt for a tonal colour palette with different shades of the same colour. Adding a metallic accent, such as gold or silver, can also add interest without overwhelming the overall look.

Selecting colours that flatter you and your wedding party

• Consider your wedding attire: If you plan to wear a suit, think about choosing a tie or pocket square that matches your colour palette. If you're the bride, consider your bouquet and accessories, and how they will complement your dress.
• Universally flattering colours: Opt for medium to darker shades such as eggplant, powder blue, navy, and red. These colours tend to flatter a variety of skin tones and hair colours, ensuring that everyone in your wedding party looks their best.
• Skin tone considerations: Pay attention to the colours that flatter your skin tone. If a particular colour doesn't suit you, feel free to remove it from your list of potential wedding colours.
• Wedding party attire: Keep in mind the attire of your wedding party. They will be standing next to you in photos, so choose colours that complement their skin tones and hair colours as well.
• Play with gradients: If you're having trouble deciding on multiple colours, consider opting for different shades of the same colour. This can create a modern, monochromatic look and make it easier to dress your wedding party.
• Consult professionals: If you're unsure about colour combinations, don't hesitate to consult wedding planners or vendors. They can provide valuable advice and help you create a cohesive and flattering colour scheme.

Opting for a holiday-themed colour palette

Winter Wonderland

Take inspiration from the magic of winter and opt for a colour palette of icy blues, silver, and white. This combination will evoke a sense of enchantment and elegance. You can also incorporate natural elements like evergreen branches and pinecones, and metallic accents to enhance the winter wonderland theme.

Holiday Cheer

For a wedding during the holiday season, embrace the traditional Christmas colours of red and green. These classic shades instantly bring cheer and warmth to your celebration. To avoid going overboard, keep the actual holiday décor to a minimum and let the colours shine through in your floral arrangements and table settings.

Valentine's Romance

If your wedding falls on or around Valentine's Day, consider a colour palette of various shades of red and pink. From crimson to blush, this romantic combination is perfect for a wedding celebrating love. Add a touch of white or cream to keep the palette soft and airy.

New Year's Eve Glamour

Ring in the new year with a glamorous wedding featuring a colour palette of black, gold, and silver. This elegant combination is perfect for a black-tie affair. Add a splash of a soft accent colour like pale mauve or lavender to keep the overall vibe timeless and sophisticated.

Easter Pastels

For a springtime wedding around Easter, opt for a pastel palette of blush, peach, and ivory. These soft hues will create a romantic and airy atmosphere. Take inspiration from the holiday and incorporate playful details like Easter eggs or pastel-coloured chocolates as favours or décor.

Halloween Mystery

If you're tying the knot on Halloween or embracing the autumn season, a colour palette of deep purples, oranges, and blacks will set the mood. Add a touch of metallic gold or copper for a hint of glamour. Don't be afraid to embrace the holiday with whimsical décor like pumpkins or spooky accents.

Using the colour wheel to select analogous, complementary, or triadic colours

Selecting a wedding colour palette can be challenging, but the colour wheel can be a useful tool to help you decide. The colour wheel was invented by Isaac Newton in 1666 and it shows the relationship between colours. Using the colour wheel, you can identify harmonious colour combinations. Here's how you can use it to select analogous, complementary, or triadic colours for your wedding:

Analogous Colours

Analogous colour schemes use three adjacent colours on the colour wheel. This means they are side by side or next to each other on the wheel. For example, you could choose a colour scheme of red, red-orange, and orange, or blue, blue-green, and green. Analogous colours create a smooth transition from one colour to the next, resulting in a harmonious and cohesive look. To balance an analogous colour scheme, choose one dominant colour and use the others as accents.

Complementary Colours

Complementary colour schemes use two colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel. For instance, you could pair blue with orange or purple with yellow. This combination provides a high-contrast and vibrant effect, making the colours appear brighter and more prominent.

Triadic Colours

Triadic colour schemes use three colours that are evenly spaced on the colour wheel. This means they form a triangle on the wheel. For example, you could choose red, yellow, and blue, or green, violet, and orange. Triadic colour schemes create bold and vibrant colour palettes while still maintaining a sense of balance.

When selecting your wedding colours using the colour wheel, keep in mind the overall vibe and atmosphere you want to create. Consider the season, location, and theme of your wedding, as well as your personal style and preferences. You can also use the colour wheel to adjust the saturation, value, or intensity of a specific colour to create the desired effect.

Picking colours that reflect the season and location of your wedding

When it comes to picking colours that reflect the season and location of your wedding, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, think about the season in which your wedding will take place. Each season offers a different colour palette that can enhance the overall aesthetic of your special day. For example, if you're planning a spring wedding, consider soft hues like blush, sky blue, lavender, and ivory to capture the essence of the season. Summer weddings call for bright and energetic hues such as hot pink, lime green, orange, and turquoise. In the autumn, draw inspiration from nature with earth-inspired tones, dark greenery, and dried florals. For a winter wedding, think about regal and opulent colours like royal purple, red, and white, or deep jewel tones.

In addition to the season, the location of your wedding will also influence your colour choices. If you're getting married in a rustic barn, warm colours or neutral tones will create a cosy atmosphere. On the other hand, an elegant ballroom venue calls for crisp and clean colours, often paired with metallic accents. If you're tying the knot outdoors, take inspiration from the natural surroundings, such as the foliage, the sky, or a nearby body of water. For beach weddings, turquoise and dove grey can be a perfect combination, while a mountain wedding might incorporate earthy tones like brown and green.

When deciding on your wedding colours, it's essential to start early. This will guide other aspects of your wedding planning, from choosing the right venue to selecting flowers and decorations that complement your colour palette. Remember, your wedding colours should reflect your personal style and the overall vibe you want to create, so don't be afraid to get creative and think outside the box!

• Spring: soft pinks, blues, yellows, and ivories; lush greens; dusty rose.
• Summer: bold pinks, oranges, and yellows; light blue; jewel tones like garnet and aquamarine.
• Autumn: warm shades like rust, olive green, and burgundy; iridescent colours like soft grey and silver.
• Winter: royal purple, red, and white; jewel tones; icy pastels like ice blue and lavender.

Frequently asked questions