Although a lot of brides think that choosing a colour for their wedding will be a snap (white, white or perhaps slightly off-white?) in fact the signature colour scheme you choose for your wedding will affect your entire theme decision. Not everyone in the wedding party will be wearing white, after all! And do you really want the reception hall to look pure white like it was just bleached?
When choosing colours for your wedding you are in fact choosing the look and feel of your bridesmaid dresses, flowers, invitations and probably other subtle details too, such as the groomsmen’s waistcoats and table decorations. So now how can you possibly choose, knowing the impact this will have? Do you want that lovely duckegg blue which has been your favourite colour for years, or do you have a more gothic attitude and would love to be daring with an entirely black wedding?
The main thing to bear in mind, especially when it comes to bridesmaid dresses, which are probably the biggest “colour block” in your wedding party, is actually the material. You can actually get away with more or less any colour scheme regardless of the time of year as long as dresses are in the right materials. Don’t have your poor bridesmaids sweating in wool dresses in the middle of July, or shivering in chiffon in early January.
That said, there are some common choices which go quite well with particular seasons. On the whole paler and pastel colours are better in warmer months, while rich colours work well to complement winter weddings or enhance the rich pallet of autumn.
Spring and Summer colours:
- Periwinkle blue
- Ice blue
- Mint green
- Pale lilac
- Yellow
- Pastel pink
- Light turquoise
Autumn and Winter colours:
- Navy Blue
- Blood Red
- Plain Black
- Pillarbox Red
- Ocean Blue
- Deep Cinnamon
- Ivy Green
You should also bear in mind that if you want to mix two or more colours they will need to coordinate properly. Avoid clashing colours unless you want to go for a very eclectic style – purple and orange may work fine for comic book covers, but probably not for your wedding! Some colours work better as backgrounds or bases, while others are good at standing out so are ideal for highlight or “spot” colours.
A good approach is to start with a basic colour and then follow with lighter or darker shades in the same sort of hues. For example, you could take yellow and gold, then highlight with green accents, or pink and lilac with bright red details.
Summer Weddings
Summer weddings are very popular thanks to the weather! Bright colours always look good at this time of year, as they take advantage of the flowers in bloom during the warmer months. Make the most of the sunshine with a splash of yellow and gold, or some softer pastel touches on invitations and bouquets.
Some popular summer colours include turquoise dresses paired up with silver accessories for a bold but classy look, or a colourful fuchsia wedding theme with matching flowers. Pink and red themes also work well and are a great excuse to have lots of roses at your wedding!
Autumn Weddings
Autumn weddings are a good time of year if you like deep, rich colours. Red, golds, yellows and oranges are all excellent choices here to match up with the falling leaves, especially if you’ll be getting married outdoors.
Don’t be afraid of brown at this time of year, as it can look very striking when paired with coppery colours or deep ivory. A rich red can be very appealing and when paired with a red rose bouquet will really set an intimate mood.
Winter Weddings
If you aren’t opting for a Christmas themed wedding, you can still take advantage of the season by using rich greens and reds for a winter colour theme. Alternately consider using stark silvers and pale blue colours with a snow and ice motif for a “winter wonderland” feel. If you aren’t using holly, mistletoe and pine cones for your flowers, you can try daring seasonal decorations made directly out of snow and ice sculptures. For richer accents, try a burgundy wedding theme or navy blue accessories.
Spring Weddings
This season is always associated with new growth and pastel colours are often very popular so pale greens and blues work well, along with yellow, pink and lavender. Spring is a great time of year for flowers so make a splash with a big bouquet of tulips and peonies, or even daffodils. If you have light, airy music and lots of chiffon decorations and accessories you’ll end up with a beautifully dreamy atmosphere for your springtime wedding.
Things To Remember
Make sure you can get bridesmaid dresses in your chosen colour before you start looking at other accessories! If you want a particular type of flower in your wedding bouquet, work around the colours it can come in when you are looking at choosing your wedding theme. Finally, don’t forget to make sure that your colour scheme does not clash with the wedding venue, as that will ruin the entire effect you are trying to achieve. Best of luck planning your colourful wedding, whatever the time of year!
