Choosing the Perfect Wedding Color Palette
Let’s say that all your life you’ve loved the lavender color palette: You’ve painted your bedroom with it, filled your closet with it, and even dyed lavender streaks in your hair when you were in college. Now you’re getting married and want the entire wedding color palette to be, yes, lavender! Sound amazing? Maybe not…
While you may truly love one color, be it lavender, cotton candy pink, or cherry red, you will actually want to choose a full wedding color palette—typically three to four colors—for your wedding. Not only will this make styling your big day easier (since you’ll have multiple color options to work with), but the overall look will be more interesting and chic.
Still not convinced? Here are six reasons why including more than one color in your wedding color palette matters.
1. Your Wedding Photographs Will Pop
Because your photos are the only wedding element that will last beyond the big day itself, you’ll want to give major consideration to how those pictures will look. And color is a huge make-or-break component of photography. By choosing a wedding color palette you love (and perhaps already live with), your beautifully framed pictures will not only be vivid memories but also become part of your décor.
2. Your Invitations Will Captivate
Your invitations will set the tone for your wedding and express the scope and creativity of your style. Embrace and incorporate complementary colors into this literal first impression of your wedding. You’ll immediately inspire all your guests and send a message: informal, semi-formal, or formal. Pick the dominant color by layering paper and ribbon. Make sure the font is clearly legible—don’t sacrifice readability for style.
3. You’ll Create a More Dramatic Overall Design
As your guests enter your venue, they will see a gorgeous array of colors reflected in the design style. Having shades of one color can be tasteful and pretty. However, incorporating a variety of hues (or even patterns of the same hue) into your décor, from your tablescapes (tablecloths, napkins, and chair covers) to your lighting, will make a super glamorous statement.
Of course, you do have to think about balance: If you are set on a color you aren’t sure will mesh with the ambiance you are trying to create, choose the subtler color choice. While you want to be creative, also be careful with the dominant color. This is all about complementing, not distracting.
4. You’ll Add Variety to the Florals
Your florist will add some shades of color to your request so they can fulfill the order, including greenery. But when an actual wedding color palette is used, the bouquets and centerpieces are much more dimensional and have that blog-worthy look. Imagine hyacinth blue and buttercup yellow or radiant orchid with deep purples and pink. These combinations are far more impactful than one color would be on its own. (For more flower and color inspiration, check out all the bridal bouquet varieties on our Pinterest page!)
5. You’ll Make Your Bridesmaids Look Gorgeous
Your brunette bridesmaid may not look as fabulous as your redheaded bridesmaid in the same color hue. By choosing variations or dipping deeper into the complementary wedding color palette, you will enhance their beauty. Your pictures will look more interesting. Mixing and matching colors of bridesmaid gowns is a major trend right now that’s not going away any time soon—embrace it. And remember, you can always accessorize with the complementary colors, too! The moms will appreciate it!
6. You’ll Make Outfit Shopping Easier for the Moms
Most moms search for dresses or gowns that flatter their figures and their current hair color. What better way to offer them a choice from which to choose, and still have the entire wedding VIPs’ wardrobe maintain that designer look? Giving the moms a choice of color allows them more leeway to find cuts and shapes that really work for them without sacrificing your wedding style.
Choosing the right wedding color palette is crucial to creating a beautiful and cohesive wedding. By incorporating a variety of complementary colors, you’ll ensure that every aspect of your big day is as stunning and memorable as possible.
