How to Choose a Color for a Wedding

Choose a flattering, seasonal color scheme that will make for an amazing event

By Cynthia Myers

Photo by Bold American Catering

You want your wedding to be a beautiful memory and a reflection of you. Maybe you've spent years dreaming of your beautiful white gown, and a fairy-tale castle of a white cake. But white isn't the only color involved in a wedding. Your wedding colors could end up being echoed in everything from the bridesmaid's dresses to bows on the chairs to your groom's socks. They're colors you're going to be seeing a lot of for months, so it's important to make a selection you really love.

• What You Need to Know
• Talk to your wedding florist about your color considerations, as he or she will know which colors are in-season and what might look best in your particular venue.
• Use a color wheel to help you find complementary and contrasting colors.
• Paint chips from the local hardware store can help you narrow your choices and see what colors look good together.

Step 1:

Look first to your favorite color. If you've always been drawn to purple or green or blue, chances are you'd like to have that color around you for your wedding. But even if this question is easy to answer, you still have to decide what shade of your favorite color you want to use in your wedding and what other colors go with it. Lavender and aubergine are both shades of purple, but they evoke different moods and styles. One is light and delicate, and the other is sophisticated and formal.

Step 2:

Look in your closet. See if one hue or family of colors dominates. This may be your favorite color, or it may be the color that looks best on you. Your wedding colors should definitely flatter, so look to your favorite outfits for inspiration.

Step 3:

Study your home. You spend the most time here, so chances are you've already decorated it in colors that speak to you. Go to the favorite room in your house and ask yourself if the colors you find there have anything to do with why you like it so much. Decide if these colors would look good in your wedding.

Step 4:

Consider the season. By now you should have a family of colors in mind for your wedding. Fine-tune your decision by thinking about the season. Lighter shades work best for a spring wedding, so if you've decided on purple and green for your wedding, go with lilac, accented with pale green. Summer's bright sun demands stronger tones, so move to a deep lavender and a richer green. Fall is a time for harvest shades such as aubergine and forest green, while winter white provides a rich backdrop for jewel tones such as amethyst and emerald.

• Tips & Warnings
• Limit yourself to two main colors to avoid diluting the effect. A single color can also be striking and effective or one main color in different shades.
• If you are torn between color schemes, you can use different combinations for different events. Choose one set of complementary colors for the ceremony and reception and a different scheme for the rehearsal dinner or bridal luncheon.