Wedding Color Palettes: Decoding The Meaning Behind The Invites

Wedding invitations are an opportunity to get your guests excited about your big day. The colours chosen for wedding invitations can help convey the mood and tone of the event, and tie together decorative details such as flower arrangements, table decor, and attire. When it comes to wedding invitation colour palettes, it's important to consider the couple's favourite colours, the venue location, wedding date, and reception theme.

Choosing a wedding colour palette

Your wedding colour palette is one of the most defining features of your big day. It will subtly tie together all of the decorative details, from the invitation suite and flower arrangements to the attire, table decor, and even the wedding cake. Choosing a specific wedding colour palette (or staying within a general colour family) will help you create a design that feels visually cohesive and flows from start to finish.

Where to Start

The best way to figure out what you like is by perusing inspiration. Your wedding colours should capture and evoke the mood you want for your nuptials. They should also tie in with your wedding narrative and the type of emotion you want to invoke.

Questions to Ask Yourself

• What colour will the bridesmaids wear?
• What are the main colours of the venue?
• In what season will the wedding take place?
• What are the main colours of the bride’s bouquet and table centrepieces?
• Does the wedding have a theme?

Colour Combinations

When it comes to colour combinations, you could opt for:

• Complementary colour combinations: colours that lie opposite one another on the colour wheel. These combos generally energize viewers—ideal for a wedding invite with a bright and playful tone.
• Analogous colour combinations: two to five colours that lie next to one another on the colour wheel. Use this mix to offer the viewer a soothing experience.
• Triadic colour combinations: three colours that are equidistant from one another on the colour wheel. If you were to draw a line connecting the three hues, you would get a triangle shape. Try this to create a sense of peace and harmony, fitting for any wedding invitation.
• Tetradic colour combinations: one primary and two complementary colours, plus one additional colour to highlight the accents. The four colours are distributed evenly around the colour wheel.

Rules to Keep in Mind

• Choose one or two main hues, then select one or two secondary colours (one of which should be a neutral, to help blend those focal point colours seamlessly).
• To finish it off, choose a fun accent shade—such as a metallic like gold or silver—that you'll use sparingly throughout your event.
• Not all shade combinations work well together, so it's helpful to keep basic design rules in mind when curating a tasteful palette.

The meaning of colours on invitations

The colours chosen for wedding invitations are an important part of the overall impression that the invite will leave on guests. The colours selected for invites often tie into the wedding's theme and set the mood for the event. Colours can also be used to communicate something about the event, such as whether it will be formal or playful.

When deciding on a colour palette for wedding invitations, it is important to consider the following:

• The season in which the wedding will take place
• The main colours of the venue
• The colour of the bride's dress and bridesmaids' dresses
• The colour of the groom's suit
• The main colours of the bride's bouquet and table centrepieces
• The wedding's theme, e.g. classic, modern, fairytale, or rustic
• Black, white, and silver: A classic combination that can be personalised with a photo of the couple.
• Red and green: A vibrant and playful combination, perfect for a wedding with a bright and cheerful tone.
• Dusty rose and glittering gold: A romantic and elegant choice, ideal for a springtime wedding.
• Soft peach, muted mint, and charcoal: A perfect palette for a springtime wedding, with a dreamy garden theme.
• Yellow and orange with purple and dark green: A captivating and mysterious combination, hinting at an adventurous wedding.
• Shades of green: A natural choice for a wedding taking place in nature, creating a soothing and harmonious effect.
• Blue and yellow: A beachy combination, evoking a relaxed and summery vibe.
• Icy blue and pale yellow: A good fit for a winter wedding, with a cool and elegant tone.
• Wooden palette: A rustic combination of bright light copper and dark hickory, creating visual depth.

When creating a colour palette for wedding invitations, it is generally recommended to stick to one or two main hues and one or two secondary colours, one of which should be neutral. An accent colour, such as metallic gold or silver, can also be added to draw the eye.

Complementary, analogous, triadic and tetradic colour combinations

When it comes to wedding invitations, colour plays a huge role in the overall impression your invite will leave on your guests. The colours you choose must tie in with your wedding narrative and evoke the mood you want for your nuptials.

Complementary Colours

Complementary colours are those that are opposite each other on the colour wheel, for example, blue and orange or red and green. These combinations create a high-impact jolt when paired together and are often used to draw attention to a particular space within a design. They can be quite effective when used in small doses, but a complementary colour scheme is difficult to get right when used in large applications and should be avoided for text.

Analogous Colours

Analogous colour schemes often mimic the colour schemes found in our natural environment and can create a calm and relaxed feel when applied in design. Analogous colour schemes consist of three colours that are side by side on the colour wheel. It can be tricky to ensure that enough contrast exists when using this type of colour scheme, so it is recommended that one colour is chosen as the feature colour, while the other two take a supportive role.

Triadic Colours

A triadic colour scheme consists of three colours that are spaced evenly around the colour wheel; when linked by a straight line, they form a triangle. The three colours used in this scheme tend to sit well together and can be quite lively and harmonious. As with analogous colour schemes, it is recommended that one colour governs the design while the other two complement it.

Tetradic Colours

Tetradic colour schemes use four colours arranged into two complementary pairs.

When deciding on a colour palette for your wedding invitations, it is important to consider the mood you want to evoke and the overall impression you want to leave on your guests. The colours you choose should tie in with your wedding narrative and can be used to communicate different emotions and themes.

Seasonal colours

Spring Wedding Colours

Spring is a time of renewal and rebirth, and spring wedding colours should reflect that. Think pastels, warm pinks, soft yellows, coral, and greens. For purples, go for softer shades like violet or aubergine. If you're getting married in March, it might still feel a bit wintery, so consider bolder colours like Tiffany Blue, Chiffon Yellow, and Seafoam Green. April is all about the soft lemon, pistachio, and sky blue, while May is the perfect time to bridge the gap between spring and summer with cornflower blue, freesia lilacs, peony pink, and sunflower yellow.

Summer Wedding Colours

Summer is a vibrant season, so don't be afraid to go bold with your colour choices. Think yellows, pinks, and jewel tones like garnet, aquamarine, and citrine. If you're getting married in June, mix it up with greenery, yellows, and greys, or go for a beach theme with turquoise and dove grey. July is all about nostalgia, so try coral, custom peach, Grecian, and ice. August is a tricky month, as it can feel like the end of summer or the start of autumn. Go for yellows, oranges, bold browns, and neutral greys.

Autumn Wedding Colours

Autumn is the time to embrace softer, earthier hues like purples, greens, and reds. Iridescent schemes like soft grey and silver also work well for this season. For September weddings, a mix of fall and summer colours is appropriate. Try burgundy and dusty shades, or rust and sage. October is all about muted colours, gold, copper, and brown. And in November, start thinking about winter with a mix of muted and bold colours like teal, blue champagne, fuchsia, and grape.

Winter Wedding Colours

Winter is the perfect time to go for regal and opulent colours like royal purple, red, and all-white. If you're getting married in December, colours associated with precious metals like grayed jade, velvet, and silver are also appropriate. In January, you can get away with pastels like ice blue, baby blue, lavender, or dusty rose. And in February, it's all about love with red and bold pinks, as well as deep blues, golds, greens, and purple.

Colour questions to ask the couple

The wedding colour palette is an important aspect of the wedding invitation as it sets the tone and mood for the event. Here are some colour-related questions to ask the couple to help guide your design process:

• What colours do you both like or dislike? This can be a good starting point to narrow down the options and understand their preferences.
• What colours will the bridesmaids wear? It is essential to consider the attire of the wedding party to ensure the invitation colours complement their outfits.
• What are the main colours of the venue? The venue's colour scheme can inspire the invitation palette, creating a cohesive look and feel for the event.
• Will the wedding have a specific theme? A classic, modern, fairytale, or rustic theme will influence the colour choices for the invitations.
• What season is the wedding taking place in? Different seasons evoke distinct colour palettes—spring might call for pastels, while autumn may lean towards warmer, earthy tones.
• What colours will be featured in the bride's bouquet and table centrepieces? Considering the floral arrangements can help create a cohesive colour story that extends from the invitation to the event decor.
• Are there any specific cultural or symbolic colours you want to incorporate? Certain colours may hold special significance for the couple, such as the traditional red in Chinese weddings, which symbolises luck, joy, and happiness.
• What mood or atmosphere do you want to evoke with the colours? Colours can greatly influence the overall mood of the event, from elegant and sophisticated to playful and whimsical.
• Are there any colours you want to avoid? Knowing colours they dislike or want to stay away from can be as helpful as knowing their likes.
• Do you want to include metallic colours? Metallics like gold, silver, or rose gold can add a touch of luxury and shine to the invitation design.
• Are there any specific colour combinations you have in mind? They may already have a vision for complementary or analogous colour schemes that you can build upon.

Frequently asked questions