Wedding Color Palettes: How to Create One for Your Wedding Design
Your color palette is essential to your wedding design. It’s something that most couples don’t put much thought into. The first place they go is Pinterest to look for ideas. If you are hanging out on Pinterest on the regular and trying to find some new inspiration you might be waiting around for a while. It’s actually that bad. With 2020 being the year of small weddings which were thrown together rather quickly without design focus, you are not going to find a ton of fresh ideas out there. It’s a repeat of everything we saw in years past. You also might continue to see the same old color palettes for a while. The reason for this is the smaller weddings this year were not focused on design. They were focused on intimacy and just getting legally married. You might have to wait until 2022 or 2023 to see photos of some fresh wedding inspiration and color palettes.
Is this resonating with you and are you tired of seeing the same old color palettes? Don’t worry, I’m here to help you break free from the same old thing.
Meet the Wedding Designer
Hey there, friend. If you are checking out my blog for the first time, let me introduce myself. I’m Angela, the owner and lead designer over here at Elite. You can read more about me here. I started planning weddings 8 years ago. I started designing weddings shortly after that.
There are a lot of Hudson Valley wedding planners out there. Not many planners offer wedding design services. A wedding designer is different from a planner in that a designer focuses on the visual elements and guest experience while a planner focuses on logistics.
If you wonder what our design services include, head over here to read more about the service. You can also learn about our planning and coordination services here if you need some help with logistics.
Pssst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page so you can refer back to it later when you are ready to create a color palette.
Today I’m going to take you through creating a color palette that’s not outdated and represents your one of a kind style. I will show you how to use the color wheel, teach you how to choose a color palette, and encourage you to be a trendsetter.
How to Choose a Color Palette for a Wedding
Start with your fav color(s)
When choosing your color palette, start with your favorite color or colors. You can build off of that and come up with something unique to you. It’s always best to go with a color you love then try to use a color you have never felt excited about. You want to be excited by your colors and have fun designing. Don’t choose a color just for the sake of choosing one. You will regret it. Trust me.
Choose 4 to 5 colors
You want to have a little variety in your color palette. For example, if you select just blush and white, you are limiting your creativity. Having other colors will draw the idea to different areas verse feeling very bland. You can expand your color palette to include white, blush, ivory, gray, and silver to make it a little more interesting. This might look something like flowers are blush and white, plates are white, charger plates are soft gray, the napkin is ivory, and your flatware is gold. Your table cloths can be a different color, maybe a darker shade of gray or shade of ivory to match the napkin. Experiment and see what you’re drawn to.
Find a Color Palette Using the Color Wheel
Use the color wheel to create a wedding color palette. You want to choose a good selection of colors to play with for the design process. You can add complementary colors (colors across from each other on the color wheel) or analogous (or harmonious) colors (colors next to each other on the color wheel). Check out the color wheel below to find wedding color palette ideas.
What to Avoid When Choosing Wedding Colors
Working against the existing decor
I highly recommend avoiding colors that work against your venue’s interior design. If you are in a ballroom with patterned and colored wallpaper, don’t use colors that work against it. I have seen couples do crazy things like copying the decor from a nature-inspired barn wedding to design their ballroom wedding. Don’t do it! You want to work with the interior design or color, not against it. It will definitely be noticed by your guests and talked about.
Copying what someone else has done
Don’t be afraid to use colors you don’t see on Pinterest or Instagram. I will let you in on a little secret. Most couples choose the same colors year after year because they don’t know what else to do. It shows a lack of effort or creativity. If they knew these color palettes out there were 5-10 years old; they probably wouldn’t want to use them. It’s always easier to fit in than stand out. It’s your wedding so do you. Don’t be afraid to shy away from what’s in the mainstream.
Now Go Be a Trendsetter
The easiest way to get your guest to remember your day forever is to do something they have NEVER SEEN BEFORE! Even if it’s just one small design element that you go a little offbeat on. Maybe you do something really creative like wear a floral garland as a headpiece and walk barefoot down the aisle! It’s better to stand out than have an average wedding that nobody remembers after the night is over.
Let’s Create Your Color Palette and Design Together!
Are you feeling inspired? Which type of color palette are you considering incorporating into your wedding day? DM me on Instagram to chat about your wedding color palette!
Or, if you are ready to get started working with a wedding designer, contact me at angela@elitewedevents.com or through our contact form here.
