Black Tie Wedding: Color Schemes For A Classic Look

Coordinating bridesmaids and groomsmen is a pivotal part of wedding planning. While it might seem tricky, it's an easier task than you think. The key is to find commonalities to make a seamless pair. One of the first rules for picking a suit colour is to ensure it fits the overall style and theme of the wedding, including the bride's dress. When it comes to black tuxedos, you can add a pop of colour with the accessories. For example, if your wedding palette is teal and coral, the groomsmen could wear coral or gold accessories.

Monochromatic looks

Choose a Monochromatic Colour Scheme:

Start by selecting a colour that will serve as the foundation for your monochromatic palette. This could be a neutral shade like black, grey, or navy, or a more vibrant hue that complements your wedding theme. Consider the wedding venue and overall style when making your choice.

Groomsmen Attire:

For a sleek and sophisticated look, dress the groomsmen in black tuxedos. Black is a versatile colour that pairs well with various shades and can create a cohesive aesthetic. You can add a touch of individuality by incorporating different textures or patterns in the groomsmen's accessories, such as ties, pocket squares, or waistcoats.

Bridesmaids Dresses:

To complement the groomsmen's black tuxedos, consider dressing the bridesmaids in elegant black dresses. Black is a timeless and flattering choice that will create a stylish and sophisticated monochromatic look. You can add interest and variation by playing with different dress styles, fabrics, and silhouettes while still maintaining a cohesive aesthetic.

Accessories:

Enhance the monochromatic theme by incorporating complementary accessories. For instance, the groomsmen could wear black bow ties, pocket squares, or waistcoats. You can also add a touch of contrast by introducing a secondary colour through accessories, such as a bold pocket square or a colourful boutonnière.

Play with Textures and Fabrics:

Create visual interest within the monochromatic palette by mixing and matching different textures and fabrics. For example, you could pair sleek satin dresses with velvet or tweed suits, adding depth and dimension to the overall look.

Add Subtle Accents:

If you want to incorporate a touch of colour or break up the monochromatic palette, consider adding subtle accents. This could be in the form of jewellery, shoes, or small details like buttons or embroidery. These accents can bring a hint of individuality to each bridesmaid's and groomsman's ensemble while still maintaining the overall monochromatic aesthetic.

Remember, the key to a successful monochromatic look is to create a cohesive and elegant aesthetic. By choosing a colour scheme and carefully coordinating the attire and accessories, you can achieve a stylish and memorable wedding party look.

Mismatched shades

If you're worried about clashing, there are a few simple ways to ensure your bridal party looks stylish and put together. Firstly, decide on your wedding colour palette. This will be used throughout your big day, from the flowers to the decor, so it's important to spend time on this decision. You're not limited to two or three colours; instead, you can have primary wedding colours and secondary "accent" colours. We recommend choosing 3-5 colours for your palette.

Once you've decided on your palette, pick 1-2 primary colours. These will be the colours seen predominantly throughout your ceremony space and will help determine what colours your bridal party wears. Consider what these colours would look like as a suit or a dress to make sure you love them.

Now, for the fun part: mixing and matching! If you want to keep things simple, you can have your bridesmaids wear different shades of the same primary colour. This creates a dynamic look without being too intimidating. You can also mix and match colours, textures and fabrics to create a unique bridal party look.

To ensure the groomsmen complement the bridesmaids, stick to neutral colours like grey or black suits and add pops of colour with their accessories. Their ties, pocket squares and even socks can match the bridesmaids' dress colours. If you want to get creative, you can also choose suits in colours like cream, white, red or beige.

Remember, it's all about finding commonalities to create a seamless pair. You can choose one matching element, such as a colour, pattern or print, to tie the whole look together. For example, the bridesmaids' dress colour could match the groomsmen's ties, or vice versa. Ordering fabric swatches can also help you coordinate colours and fabrics stress-free.

So, don't be afraid to mix and match! With these tips, you can create a stylish and cohesive bridal party look, even with mismatched shades.

Complementary colours

When it comes to choosing the colours for your bridal party, it's important to remember that you don't have to match your bridal party completely. Once you've accepted that fact, it will be much easier to choose your bridal party's outfits.

If your groomsmen are wearing black tuxedos, you have a lot of options for complementary colours for the bridesmaids' dresses. Here are some ideas:

Royal Blue

A bold and bright colour that can add a fun pop of colour to your wedding. Royal blue is a great choice if you want your bridesmaids to stand out. This colour can also be easily matched with the groomsmen's accessories, such as their ties, pocket squares, or even socks.

Navy Blue

Navy blue is a classic and elegant choice for bridesmaid dresses. It is a darker shade of blue that can complement the black tuxedos without being too matchy-matchy. It creates a cohesive and sophisticated look for your bridal party.

Dusty Blue

Dusty blue is a muted and soft colour that is perfect for any wedding season. It is a trendy choice that can add a touch of romance to your bridal party. Pair it with groomsmen's accessories in a similar shade of blue for a monochromatic look.

Purple

Purple is a regal and elegant choice for bridesmaid dresses. It represents extravagance, dignity, and magic. You can choose from classic shades like iris, wisteria, and plum, or more modern shades like mauve, Tahiti, and lavender haze. Purple is a bold colour that will make your bridal party stand out.

Emerald Green

Green is making a comeback, and emerald green is a stunning choice for bridesmaid dresses. It is an elegant and bold shade that will complement the black tuxedos beautifully. Emerald green adds a touch of nature and sophistication to your bridal party's look.

Neutrals

If you prefer a more subtle and classic approach, neutral colours like champagne, biscotti, silver, or ivory can be a great choice for bridesmaid dresses. These colours are timeless and elegant, and they will complement the black tuxedos perfectly.

Accessories

Ties and Pocket Squares

The most common way to coordinate groomsmen with bridesmaids is by matching their ties to the colour of the bridesmaids' dresses. This creates a uniform look that is aesthetically pleasing and avoids a mismatched appearance. If you want to avoid an exact match, you can opt for a shade or two darker or lighter than the dresses, or choose a complementary colour from your wedding palette. For example, if your bridesmaids are wearing lavender, the groomsmen could wear plum-coloured ties. You could also consider patterns such as polka dots, stripes, or pin dots to add interest.

Vests

Adding a vest to some of the groomsmen's outfits is another way to create visual interest and variety. Vests can be matched to the colour of the bridesmaids' dresses or be in a complementary shade.

Socks

Socks are a fun way to add a subtle pop of colour to the groomsmen's outfits. Choose a colour that complements the overall wedding palette or the bridesmaids' dress colour.

Shoes

Black patent leather shoes are a classic choice for formal black tuxedos. However, if you want to add a bit of contrast, brown suede shoes can be a stylish option.

Lapel Pins and Cufflinks

Lapel pins and cufflinks are small accessories that can add a touch of elegance to the groomsmen's outfits. Consider choosing a colour or design that ties in with your wedding theme or the bridesmaids' dresses.

Bow Ties

For a formal look, bow ties are a great option. Black or white bow ties with matching pocket squares can create a sleek and elegant appearance.

When choosing accessories for your groomsmen, it's important to keep in mind the overall style and theme of your wedding, as well as the bridesmaids' dresses. You can opt for an exact match or coordinate by using complementary colours and patterns.

Seasonal colours

Spring

For a spring wedding, green is a popular choice. Shades like sage green, sea glass and emerald are perfect for this season. You could also opt for a more neutral palette with shades of grey and blue.

Summer

For a summer wedding, consider a colour palette of sea glass, sage green, or blue. Blue is a timeless and classy choice that complements every skin tone.

Autumn

For an autumn wedding, you could choose a palette of darker, richer colours. These could include burgundy, emerald, and shades of purple.

Winter

For a winter wedding, deep emerald green is a stunning choice. You could also opt for a more unique palette with shades of purple, from pale lilac to deep violet.

Frequently asked questions