Choosing Your Wedding Colors

Altmix Photography

​“What are your wedding colors?” If you’re currently in the process of planning your wedding, you’ve probably heard this question more often than you’d like. While some people may know what colors they want for their wedding before they even get engaged, it might not be as easy of a choice for you. If you’re having trouble picking out your colors, or don’t even know where to begin, keep reading for help in choosing your wedding colors.

Where to Start
There are a few things you should keep in mind when picking out your wedding colors. The first is to know how many colors you need. Most wedding pros recommend limiting yourself to 2-5 colors. More than five colors can be overwhelming on the eyes while one color often isn’t enough.

If you are set on one color and don’t really want another color to go with it, you can get around being stuck with just one by incorporating different shades and hues of your one color. You can also play around with textures to add more dimension to your scheme, or even add metallics such as gold, silver, or copper to work as accents.

The next thing to consider is your venue. If you already know what your colors are and are set on sticking with those colors no matter what, take that into consideration when choosing a venue. If you’re looking to have a vibrant wedding style with bright yellow and orange, you may not want to choose the grand ballroom. If you’ve already decided on a venue, you can start eliminating colors or themes that don’t match the space, and focus your time and energy on finding color schemes that tie in well with your venue.

Mistakes to Avoid
While bold colors are definitely a popular option these days, this trend can be tricky to master. Some brides make the mistake of choosing two or more colors to be the main focus, resulting in a clashed look that is harsh on the eyes. When you choose two bold colors to be the focus, the colors end up competing with each other rather than working together. Instead, choose one focus color and use your other colors as accents to add an extra pop.

​Another mistake to avoid is not matching your colors to your mood. If you’re going for a moody vibe, you probably don’t want to have a color palette full of pastels. If you want a relaxed environment, an overly bright color scheme won’t give you your desired feel.

Source: Pinterest

Use Pinterest Wisely
Don’t spend too much time on Pinterest. Now I know, this sounds crazy. I mean, the whole point of Pinterest is to help you find wedding ideas, right? As fun as Pinterest can be, sometimes it adds to the stress by giving you too many options, too many trends, and too many picture-perfect designs. You’ll spend more time stressing over making decisions rather than actually settling on a color. My advice is to decide on your color scheme first and then go to Pinterest to find creative ways to bring those colors to life.

If you absolutely feel like you need to go to Pinterest to choose your color schemes, I still recommend having a general idea of what direction you might want to go. Use Pinterest to see what colors go well with the mood you’re looking to achieve or to find the perfect shade of your favorite color. If you know you want your main color to be some sort of yellow, go to Pinterest to find what accent colors go well with mustard or how to use canary yellow for table decor. Have fun with Pinterest, but don’t let it overwhelm you.

Still Stuck?
If you’re still unsure of what colors to choose, there are some tricks to help you find your style. Go through your closet and take note of which colors and textures grab your attention and which pieces you tend to gravitate toward. You can also look around your room or house to figure out what styles and colors you feel represent you well.

When picking out your wedding colors, don’t overthink it too much. You don’t have to have exact matches of the same two colors. Are the bridesmaids dresses a slightly different midnight blue than your table runners? Don’t fret! Chances are people won’t notice much, if at all. And if you’re still worried about not having perfect matches, play around with textures. Texture can not only hide shade variations but can also add more dimension to the overall look and feel of your wedding.

If you need extra help, there are tons of resources to direct your decisions, such as style quizzes or mood boards. You can also look to those around you to give you ideas and help you narrow down your options. And at the end of the day, pick what reflects your style and personality the most!

Brides who read this also enjoyed Wedding Inspo Accounts to Follow!

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See all the different color schemes Four Oaks' brides chose over on our gallery pages!

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