5 Things to Consider When Choosing Wedding Colors

When planning a wedding, one of the first decisions you’ll make is to nail down your wedding colors. But it’s not as easy as you might think. You could keep it simple and just choose your two favorite hues. But we think there should actually be some thought behind this decision. Our advice? Consider these five things before finalizing the color palette for your big day!

Your Venue

This is HUGE! Take a good look around your venue. Note the artwork, upholstery, wall paper, and even the carpet. Steer clear of any colors that would clash with these. You want everything to be cohesive. If your color palette clashes terribly with the décor of the venue, your guests could be left very confused because their eyes won’t know where to look. For example, many hotel ballrooms have colorful carpet with crazy patterns. (Hey hotels, we’ve never understood this, BTW!) If your hotel’s carpet is burgundy and navy blue, a lavender and sage green wedding might look totally out of place. Consider the overall picture!

The Time of Year

Fall and winter weddings tend to feature darker, richer colors. Meanwhile in spring and summer, we see pastels and brights. Of course, there are no hard and fast rules about this but a hot pink palette may seem a bit out of place at a January wedding. Similarly, you don’t often see jewel tones at June nuptials (although it could be quite beautiful!). None of this means you can’t choose off-seasons colors, but you might want to give some thought to the time of year.

Wedding Flowers

Think about what kind of flowers you’d like to have. Do those flowers come in the colors you’re considering? Or would you be open to another accent color for florals? For example, while a gray and light blue wedding can be really pretty, there really aren’t a ton of blue flowers. And there certainly aren’t gray flowers. All white or all pink florals would make for a contrasting pop though!

Skin Tones

Think about your potential colors and how each would look in the form of a dress or other attire. Consider these shades and the skin tones of your bridal party to ensure that everyone looks and feels their best. Someone with a very pale skin tone may not feel their absolute best in a very light shade of pink, for example, whereas black tends to look great on everyone!

Your Style

How would you describe your wedding? What is the overall atmosphere and feel you’re trying to create? Now think about how the answers to those questions connect to color. If you’re going for casual and playful, lean toward bright, fun, or whimsical shades. For a timeless, chic affair, opt for a classic neutral, like black or navy, with an accent shade and even a metallic. Trying to create drama? Jewel tones are your friend. Think about what vibe you want your wedding to give off and then determine what colors put you in that mind set.

Any other things to consider when choosing wedding colors? What colors did you select and why? Did any of the above play any part in your decision?  Comment below and upload a photo to social media tagging @burghbrides and using #burghbrides so we can see your wedding day color palette!