how to pick colors for your wedding
I polled Instagram for some topics my brides were wanting to know more about, & chose this question to start with!
THE QUESTION: Best Wedding Themes. I really can’t decide between pink & red, & I really only want one.
Since I already wrote an in depth article discussing the difference between theme & color scheme & how picking adjectives to describe your ideal wedding will you help you more than just colors, I’ll focus on the second part of the question.
One Color vs Multiple
Personally, I would say having at least two colors is easier than just one. You essentially have a primary color (the main color) & a secondary color*. Anything big or large would be the main color, & some of the smaller things would be the secondary color. Having that second color in small doses can add a lot of depth & dimension that is visually pleasing & adds the right amount of pop.
The secondary color is also useful for breaking up large blocks of a different color. If your table cloths AND the napkins AND the centerpieces AND the bridesmaids sitting at the table are all the exact same color, it begins to blend together & be overwhelming no matter how pretty the shade of pink may be.
Main Color – Bridesmaids’ dresses, tablecloths/table runners, main flowers in bouquets, bride’s shoes
Second Color - Accent/small flowers in bouquet, napkins, color of names on invitation
* Not to be confused with the actual primary colors (red, yellow, blue) & secondary colors (orange, green, purple.)
Monochromatic Weddings:
If you’ve decided to have a monochromatic wedding, here are some ways to do so without blasting your guests with the same color over & over. Remember, the key is adding depth & distinction from one object/item/person to the next. In other words, don’t put things of the same color directly next to each other.
Shades of One Color
Utilize shades of your color that can help add definition & variety. Pick your favorite color, then use lighter or darker shades of that color as secondary colors. Make sure those shades are actually in the same color family. Not all blues are the same & therefore won’t all go together. Use an online tool like this color generator & select the monochrome or shades option.
Red is one of the very few (if not the only) exceptions that doesn’t really have shades. Once you go lighter, it instantly becomes pink.
While the example below isn’t necessarily shades of the same color, each bridesmaid dress is a different material & with slightly different metallic accents. These dresses worked flawlessly with each other & each lady felt super comfortable in the dress she chose.
Use Neutrals & Natural Materials
Use white or another neutral whenever possible to break up too much of one color. Adding in natural materials like wood, leathers, metals (gold, silver, etc) or greenery (yes it’s technically green but occurs in nature) or colors like white, tan, & black are all ways to add variety without necessarily adding a color.
Think of your wardrobe. While you may have on a pink dress, your accents may consist of nude sandals (neutral), gold jewelry (metallic), & a leather purse (natural material).
Treat these like secondary colors & be intentional with them. If you choose gold, don’t randomly add in silver. If you incorporate wood, try to keep it all similar stains or types of wood.
In the example below, the only color this bride used was navy. Her bridesmaids’ dresses, the table cloths, her invitation, & the velvet chairs were all the same shade of navy. But, she had greenery everywhere, metal accents in the centerpieces, & incorporated the wood of the venue to finish off the look.
Take your venue into consideration
This is a very important step to not overlook. While most new wedding venues remain pretty neutral & white these days, older venues, churches, or venues like hotels that do more than just weddings may have some bold colors that should be considered before picking your colors. Or, if you’ve already determined your colors & haven’t picked out your venue yet, pay attention to the colors of each venue you visit. Is there red carpet in the sanctuary? Does the hotel have large abstract & brightly colored paintings on the wall of the ballroom?
One of my favorite weddings I’ve photographed was one of the brightest. That bride did an amazing job of picking the right shade of blue for her bridesmaids that perfectly matched the blue accents of their venue & tied everything together.
