How to Pick Wedding Colors

Wedding colors are one of the biggest decisions a bride has to make when planning her wedding. Since the colors will be used in decorations, flowers, clothes, invitations and table linens, among other things, it is important that the color both be one that looks good and is compatible with the season. Here are some ideas on how to pick a wedding day color.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Decide whether or not you want to have a wedding theme. If your theme is one that limits your color choices, you automatically have a range of colors you need to work within.

2. Consider the season you are having your wedding in. Autumn and winter weddings look best in warm colors like reds and oranges while spring and summer colors can be pastels or greens and purples.

3. Find out the color of your birth stone or your mother's, if that color works for you, it might add another layer of meaning to your wedding day.

4. Go to your local nursery to get inspiration from the flowers that are in season. Since flowers play a large part in decorations you can choose a color based on the flowers you can easily get.

5. Keep your venue in mind when looking at colors. The drapes, seating and walls all need to go well with the color you end up picking.

6. 
    

   Make a list of all the colors you and your groom like, and the ones you absolutely don't want in your wedding. This will help you come up with a shortlist of colors to consider.

7. 
    

   Look at ribbon samples to find colors that both look good on you (as an accent color on your dress or veil) as well as suit the theme for your wedding.

8. Talk to your cake designer, florist, wedding designer and wedding invitation printer about the colors that can be incorporated into all three things.

9. Go looking for bridesmaid dresses. Since you need to choose a color that looks good on all your bridesmaids, it will be helpful in narrowing down your list of potential colors

10. Look at having two main colors and an accent color that is complementary to these. Complementary colors are the ones that are opposite to each other on the color wheel.

11. Once you have your colors, get them incorporated wherever possible. You can get your veils ribbon, flower arrangement ribbons, invitation edging, and text colors to be in your accent colors while the other accessories, favors, invitations, linens and flowers can match the main colors.

Tips & Warnings

• Limit the number of colors you use to two or three.
• Talk to your wedding planner, if you have one, about colors they recommend. Sometimes they can mention colors you might not have considered before.
• Talk to your veil and accessory designer to incorporate colors into the edging of your veil, your tiara and your jewelry sets with color ribbon, crystals or pearl accents.
• Look at as many color samples as possible before making your first shortlist. Sometimes colors you may not see in your everyday life can look great in wedding decorations.
• Try to stay away from colors that don't look good on you, or in pictures.

Resources

• IrisD Bridal