Wedding Color Schemes

Popular Color Schemes

Butter Yellow

Lavender

Magenta

Lime

Surf

Sand

Rose

Coffee

Fuschia

Tangerine

Black

Pink

Mocha

Tiffany Blue

Gold

Burgundy

Purple

Orange

Turquoise

Sage

Pastel Green

Mustard

Eggplant

Orchid

Having a wedding color scheme (not necessarily a wedding theme) is an easy way to coordinate and unify the look of your wedding and all of the decorations.  By selecting two or three colors at most, you can create the perfect vibe that will pull everything together, from the flowers  to the wedding cake.  The key is to stick with colors you like; those that you typically wear or those with which you decorate  your home. Basically, they should be colors that make you feel comfortable and that reflect the style wedding you want. There are many ways to go about choosing wedding colors. For example:

  • Play favorites. This one is a no-brainer. Pick one feature color that you are particularly fond of, and one or two others in the same shade to accent it. This monochromatic scheme is easy to do. For example, if you love blue, choose midnight, royal, and baby blue as the main colors and keep everything else neutral (such as in white or beige).
  • Use a color wheel. Complementary colors (those that are opposite each other on the wheel) are very popular choices for weddings because they add vibrancy and contrast. Examples include pale yellow and lilac, pink and mint green, or salmon and powder blue. Related colors (those that are next to each other on the wheel) include maroon and plum, pink and lavender, or lemon and sage. These colors make decorating a breeze.
  • Take a hue cue from your favorite flower. If you are planning to use specific flowers for your arrangements, coordinate your color scheme around them. Bird of paradise  are a trendy purple and orange, irises  can spur a purple and yellow scheme, and poppies  pave the way for a vibrant reds and yellows.
  • Use your bridesmaids' bods to narrow it down Check out some dresses  that your bridesmaids would look good in and see what colors are available in those styles. Since you don't want the reception or ceremony decorations to clash with the bridesmaids dresses, this usually helps narrow down color options.
  • Follow the trends. If you check out interior design magazines or follow the latest fashion trends, you might notice that popular colors combos are black and pink, soft brown and rose, cocoa and Tiffany blue, pink and green, fuschia and tangerine, and purple and orange. Check out YourWeddingCompany.com for the latest color trends.
  • Think seasonal. Because people often choose flowers that are seasonal, the time of year in which you choose to marry can offer a good starting place for selecting colors. Wintry tones are deep and rich, such as burgundy, hunter green, and midnight blue. You can accent these shades with sparkling gold or silver to add a festive touch. Fall hues are warm reds, oranges, and yellows. Spring and summer yield pastels and bright colors, respectively. This is certainly the right way to go if you are planning a seasonally themed wedding.
  • Meditate on the meanings of colors. Some colors evoke different feelings and are known for meaning particular things. Green symbolizes fertility, while white symbolizes peace, for example. Check out this article at About.com to learn more about the meaning of colors and more.
  • Be a team player. If you and your spouse-to-be are sports fans, use those colors as a scheme.

Whichever colors you choose remember that they will play a large part in the overall look and feel of your wedding, from the invitations to the cake. Don't forget that these colors might be part of the attire for you and/or your bridal party so you want colors that will flatter each person's skin tone. Also think about how the colors you choose will compliment the reception and ceremony sites.

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