Made in the Shade
Kimberly Ryerson
Pick a color…but, not just any color. The hue you choose for your wedding scheme will be incorporated into every aspect of your nuptials – invitations, bridesmaids’ dresses, favors, flowers, table linens, wedding cake, etc. – so decide on a color that you and your fiancé really love. While your choices are as plentiful as a box full of crayons, choosing your wedding colors doesn’t have to be an overwhelming task. Here’s what you need to know about choosing the right colors for your wedding.
Have you chosen the sites for your wedding ceremony and reception, yet? You might want to make these decisions before picking out your color palette. If not, you run the risk of choosing colors that will clash with, rather than compliment, the décor in each of these locations. Giving careful consideration to the shades used on the walls, and in the carpeting and draperies of your selected locales can prevent a color catastrophe. “One of the biggest wedding-planning disasters can be falling in love with a color before picking your event sites,” says Mark Kingsdorf, owner of the Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants in Philadelphia. “Colors that work against your ceremony or reception space can take a lot of effort and money to cover up.”
Another key factor to selecting your wedding colors is the time of year. The season you choose to get married in will often influence your color scheme. Soft, gentle pastels work well for spring, while you may want to go with bright, bold colors if you’re having a summer wedding. Fall weddings can be a great time to feature harvest hues or those that reflect the striking shades of the changing foliage. Winter weddings centered around rich colors such as red, silver, deep blue and burgundy can be breathtaking. Keep in mind that some flowers are not readily available year-round. If you have your heart set on using a particular colored bloom, be sure to plan your wedding during the season when those flowers can be easily obtained.
Also consider the type of mood you want to create when deciding on the colors you want to incorporate into your big day. For example, vibrant colors can add drama and excitement to your event, while softer colors will produce a more romantic ambiance. Many brides also consider the symbolic meanings behind certain colors when making their shade selections. Green is the color of nature, peace, and harmony. Purple is associated with royalty, mystery, and spirituality; while red represents beauty, strength, passion, celebration, and luck. Light blue indicates health, happiness, patience, and creativity; and yellow symbolizes friendship, optimism, and happiness.
Looking for other great ways to get color ideas? Lynda Barness of I Do Wedding Planning and Consulting, also based in Philadelphia, says a good place to start is right in your own closet. A thorough review of its contents will give you a good idea of the colors you like to wear, which in turn indicates the colors that make you the most comfortable. “Perusing the produce aisle at your local supermarket is also a clever way to help you select your wedding colors,” says Barness. “Place different fruits and vegetables next to each other to experiment with various color combinations.” Other sources sure to lend plenty of inspiration are the paint section of a nearby home improvement store (whose paint chips provide a convenient collection of complimentary colors in various palettes), fabric stores, interior design magazines, and the latest fashions straight from the runway. Don’t forget to look to those colors that have sentimental meaning to you, such as the color of the shirt he was wearing on your first date.
“Once you’ve chosen your colors, go to a color wheel,” says celebrity wedding coordinator Joe Monastero, Jr., founder and president of JSM Private Events based in Chicago. “Make sure that your color selections are complimenting, not clashing. Colors opposite each other on a color wheel can provide a good balance – for example, pink and chocolate, tangerine and apple, and lavender and apple all go well.
Most wedding experts suggest limiting your color choices to two hues – three at most. Using more than three colors can make your affair appear uncoordinated or even strange. Once you’ve selected your colors, careful placement of them is also important. “Overuse of your colors can result in a carnival-like feel to the wedding,” says Monastero.
Because your wedding colors are associated with so many aspects of your wedding, the ones you choose can allow you to truly personalize your event. As wedding trends quickly come and go, focusing on what’s really important to you when planning this significant detail will ensure stylish wedding memories sure to stand the test of time.