Wedding Color Schemes: Their Meanings

Choosing a colour scheme is an important part of creating a wedding theme. While some couples opt for a favourite colour, others consider the mood and meaning of the colours. For instance, red symbolises strength, health, and vitality, while blue represents youth, spirituality, peace and tranquility. Meanwhile, orange evokes creativity, joy, and enthusiasm, and yellow signifies happiness, wisdom, and intellectual energy.

Couples may also choose to base their colour scheme on the season, location, or a shared interest.

White: Purity, innocence, new beginnings

White is a classic and elegant colour that has been revered for centuries. It is often associated with purity, innocence, and new beginnings, making it a popular choice for weddings. White can symbolise a fresh start and a desire for a simple life. It can also represent honesty and seriousness.

In the language of flowers, white roses, in particular, embody purity, innocence, and new beginnings. They are often given as a token of respect, honour, and humility, and they are a common choice for weddings, baptisms, and other formal events. White roses are also appropriate for funerals and other solemn occasions as they can convey sympathy.

In the past, brides rarely wore white. They instead opted for rich colours and sumptuous fabrics that symbolised wealth. Blue, for example, was a popular choice during the Medieval and Renaissance eras as it conveyed femininity and purity.

Today, white is a timeless and versatile colour that can be paired with a variety of other shades. It can be used as a base to showcase interesting textures and colours, or it can be used as an accent to create a crisp, clean look. White can also be used to create a sense of simplicity and elegance, making it a popular choice for weddings.

When choosing a colour scheme for a wedding, it is important to consider the mood and meaning of the colours selected. White is a versatile choice that can represent a range of sentiments, from purity and innocence to new beginnings and a fresh start. It is a colour that can be used to create a timeless and elegant aesthetic for a wedding.

Red: Strength, health, vitality, passion

Red is a colour of strength, health, and vitality. It symbolises increased enthusiasm or interest, and the confidence to pursue your dreams. It is a colour of power and passion. A deep red is often used in wedding reception venues and is typically chosen by someone outgoing, vigorous, and impulsive. People who love red are also often optimistic and open-natured.

Red is also a colour of passion, love, and loyalty. It is a bold and beautiful choice for a wedding dress, and is considered traditional in many Eastern cultures. In these cultures, red symbolises good fortune and happiness, and is believed to hold the power to ward off evil and unhappiness. Red also symbolises fire, which is considered one of the Earth's essential elements, and therefore represents strength and power.

In Western culture, red is a non-traditional choice for a wedding dress. It is a strong, bold colour worn by those with a vibrant personality, while white is still the traditional choice to symbolise a demure and innocent persona. However, Western brides are increasingly stepping away from tradition and choosing dresses simply because they like the colour. A red wedding dress is a confident and radiant choice that is sure to make a statement and stand out from the crowd.

The different shades of red also carry different meanings. Bright red symbolises passion, while dark red is simple and modest. Fuchsia looks elegant and soft, peach-red is bright and gorgeous, rose-red is fresh and luxurious, and burgundy is deep and gentle.

Blue: Calm, serenity, youth, spirituality

Blue is a very popular colour for weddings, and with so many shades available, the options are endless. Blue is a calming colour, and it is often associated with serenity, peace, youth, and spirituality. It can also symbolise loyalty and faithfulness.

Blue is the colour of the ocean and the sky, and it has been used in ancient civilisations' rituals, as it was believed to represent heaven. In ancient Egypt, blue crystals were used in rituals, and Cleopatra crushed blue gemstones to use for vibrant cosmetics. Blue is also said to represent femininity and purity. During the Medieval and Renaissance eras, brides often wore rich colours and sumptuous fabrics that symbolised wealth, and blue was a popular choice.

Today, light blue is a popular choice for weddings, as it promotes calm and serenity and complements a variety of other colours, especially other light and pastel shades. It also contrasts beautifully with white, off-white, peach, and dusty yellow. Navy blue is also a popular choice, especially for weddings near the sea, and it pairs well with pink, bright yellow, coral, and metallic colours.

Blue gemstones are believed to promote spiritual awakening, serenity, and tranquility. They are said to relieve stress and calm the mind, encouraging relaxation and a healthy change in perspective. Blue is often used to represent a connection to water, which symbolises freedom, relaxation, and escape.

Green: Nature, harmony, balance, wealth

Green is the colour of nature, harmony, balance, and wealth. It is a versatile colour that can be incorporated into a wedding in many ways, from attire to décor, and is suitable for any season.

Green is a refreshing and energising colour that evokes a sense of nature and the outdoors. It is a popular choice for weddings, with many beautiful shades to choose from, such as emerald, sage, olive, mint, and forest green. The shade can be chosen based on the season, style of the wedding, and personal preference. For instance, olive and sage greens are perfect for spring and summer, while emerald and hunter green are ideal for a formal reception.

Green symbolises harmony and balance and can represent a new state of balance, hope, renewal, and peace. It is a colour often chosen by relaxed, compassionate, and loyal people who tend to be frank, sociable, and modest. It can also indicate a refined personality with a unique and flexible outlook.

Green is also associated with wealth and money, especially darker and richer shades. It is a sophisticated colour that can evoke a sense of luxury and glamour. For example, emerald and hunter green can add a touch of natural, earthy flair or a glitzy, luxurious edge to the wedding décor and attire.

When used in a wedding, green can be paired with various colours, such as white, ivory, gold, blush, navy, and even bolder colours like red and purple. It blends seamlessly with natural surroundings, making it an excellent choice for outdoor weddings, adding a touch of freshness and vibrancy to the décor.

Green can be incorporated into a wedding in numerous ways, from subtle accents to a primary colour in the palette. It can be used in invitations, attire, jewellery, bouquets, bridesmaids' dresses, grooms' tuxedos, signage, aisle décor, centrepieces, cocktails, and cakes. A dark green wall or a garland of greenery suspended from the ceiling can create a stunning backdrop for photographs.

Overall, green is a versatile and meaningful colour choice for a wedding, symbolising nature, harmony, balance, and wealth, and it can be tailored to the couple's unique style and vision.

Purple: Royalty, luxury, power, mystery

Purple is a colour steeped in history and has been associated with royalty, luxury, power, and mystery. It is a bold choice for a wedding colour scheme, but one that can create a sophisticated and elegant atmosphere.

The colour purple has long been associated with royalty and nobility. In ancient times, the dye used to create the colour was rare and extremely expensive, as it required a large number of crushed sea snail shells to produce even a minuscule amount. As such, only the elite could afford clothing and other items in this colour. This association with royalty and nobility has persisted, with Queen Elizabeth I reserving purple robes for the royal family, and the colour being chosen by fashion icons David and Victoria Beckham for their wedding ensembles.

Purple is also a symbol of luxury and wealth. The rarity and expense of the dye in ancient times meant that only the rich could afford it. This connection has continued throughout history, with purple being used in the Byzantine Empire, also known as the "Empire of Purple", to symbolise divine power and eternal majesty.

The colour also conveys power and ambition. It is a favourite among authority figures and those in power, from ancient kings and emperors to modern-day politicians. The boldness of the colour can be intimidating, but it also embodies strength, prestige, and ability.

Additionally, purple is often associated with mystery and spirituality. Its rare and mysterious nature may cause it to seem connected to the unknown, supernatural, and divine. Different shades of purple can also evoke different feelings, with light purples being associated with romantic and nostalgic feelings, while darker shades can represent sadness and frustration.

Overall, the colour purple is a regal, sophisticated, and powerful choice for a wedding colour scheme. It can create an atmosphere of luxury and elegance, while also conveying a sense of mystery and spirituality.

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