Top Wedding Colors

Create your own palette from this spectrum of colors

By Lynette DiPalma

Photo by Michael Graham Photography

Choosing the colors for your wedding is one of the key ingredients to creating just the right tone and atmosphere for your guests. While it may be tempting to choose your favorite colors, think about the impression you're trying to create with your ceremony. Whether you're trying to set a formal tone or break the mold with something playful, paying careful attention to your color palette can go a long way toward creating your dream wedding.

Reds

Few colors evoke passion and romance like the color red. Fire-engine red adds a splash of vibrancy and can be both romantic and exotic. For a more subdued look, try a rich burgundy. Red is offers a host of options when it comes to complementary colors. White, for example, is a great companion for any shade of red. If you're looking for a richer, more opulent atmosphere use red with gold or black.

Greens

Soothe your guests with green. Emerald hues create a plush, sophisticated, wintry look while mint is an excellent choice for a spring wedding. Holiday weddings can be made resplendent with festive colors by using emerald green and poinsettia red, while mint green can summon up visions of the sea when paired with light blue.

Purples

Create an opulent environment by choosing purple. A regal color, purple is a versatile, luxurious and decadent color that will fit any wedding, traditional or nontraditional. For a lighter, fairy-tale look try lavender. Any shade of purple goes well with metallic colors, but can also look good with a complementary shade of red or green.

Oranges

Brighten up your festivities with playful orange. Oranges are associated with summer weddings, but also work strikingly in a fall ceremony. Combine orange and yellow for a festive look. If you would prefer a more subtle ambience, try a shade of peach.

Neutrals

Try an understated and classy look by using neutral colors. Browns and off-whites can give your wedding a sophisticated yet earthy look. Off-whites come in various shades, ranging from cream to ecru, and look sophisticated when layered together. Brown looks particularly striking with turquoise or orange.

Blues

Try the versatility of blues. Navy blue fits a strong, traditional wedding theme while baby blue works well for a lighter, more subtle look. Blue is a color that can stand on its own for a wedding, but navy blue can be paired with cranberry or yellow. Royal blue looks great with silver, buttery yellows or pink.

Pinks

Create a playfully romantic setting with pinks. Pink can run the gamut from cotton-candy pink for a pretty spring wedding to a hot pink for a bold statement. Different shades of the color look great when used together, particularly if you're going for a tropical look.

Metallics

Celebrate with metallics. Both gold and silver add sparkle to your wedding. Choose just one metallic color for your wedding to avoid overwhelming your other colors. Gold looks especially rich with red or purple, while silver is equally at home with blue or black.

Classics

Impress your guests with a sophisticated palette of simple basics. Black looks stunning in combination with white for a look that is both classic and formal.