How to Pick Wedding Colors in 7 Steps

A wedding color scheme, also known as a wedding color palette, is a selection of different colors used in every element of your wedding day celebration, such as your attire, wedding flower centerpieces, invitations, table linens, and wedding cake design.

Choosing specific colors for your special day provides color inspiration for all your wedding planning decisions. Your chosen color scheme helps you create a wedding theme, which gives your celebration a specific feel, such as fun, formal, or chic. For example, pastel color combos might feel romantic and soft, whereas jewel tones feel bold and dramatic.

“Colors really reflect an emotion, not only with you as a couple, but as your guests walk into the room.” —Mindy Weiss

Coming up with color ideas for your wedding day may feel daunting at first, but once you’ve made your selections, it will make the rest of your wedding planning easier. These simple guidelines will help you on your wedding color journey:

1. 1. Consider the season. A spring wedding ceremony set under blooming trees will feel different from a summer beach wedding, and you can choose wedding colors to match. Jewel tones frequently feel like fall wedding colors, while pastel pinks reflect the floral life of a spring wedding. Winter weddings lend themselves to silver and deeper hues, while summer weddings embrace brighter colors.
2. 2. Consider your wedding location. Your wedding setting can inspire your choices for a wedding color palette. Consider whether you have a wedding venue outdoors, surrounded by the green of natural beauty, or in a posh hotel with maroon drapery and rose gold fixtures. If your venue has a lot of existing colors, you may want to choose accent colors or pops of color in your wedding décor to complement those hues.
3. 3. Let mood inspire you. Think about whether you want your wedding style to feel exciting, romantic, glamorous, fun, classic, or chic. Navy blue, black, white, silver, gold, and neutral shades exude timeless tradition, while a fun, quirky vibe might combine shades of blue with bright colors.
4. 4. Look to your favorites. If you look around your home and in your closet, you might find you already gravitate toward certain favorite colors in décor and clothing. You already know these colors, especially your clothing colors, feel good and look good on you, which makes them an excellent choice for your wedding color palette.
5. 5. Research wedding ideas. Wedding magazines, blogs, art books, and real weddings can give you fabulous ideas for your wedding color inspiration. Find color combinations that appeal to you and make tweaks to reflect your style.
6. 6. Start with flowers. You may already know which flowers you’d like to use for your ceremony, bridal bouquet, and table arrangements, which can be an excellent jumping-off point for an overall color scheme. “I go for colored flowers, just because it just adds an energy,” wedding planner Mindy Weiss says. Seasonal fruit can also make for beautiful decorations and inspire your wedding theme: Citrus or pomegranates for winter; stone fruit in late summer; apples and pears in fall.
7. 7. Turn to a color wheel. Colors that lie across from each other on the color wheel tend to pair well. A color wheel can help you consider some basic principles of color theory, such as complementary and analogous color combinations. You might choose a primary color and then pair it with a soft shade of a complementary color for your wedding color combo. “Pantone colors is my little go-to because they display colors that belong together,” Mindy says.

Though you may choose any color combinations that appeal to you, the most popular wedding color schemes may help with your decision:

1. 1. Bohemian wedding colors: Boho wedding colors might include indigo, yellow, pale blues, white, and blush pink hues.
2. 2. Classic wedding colors: Black, gold, and ivory reflect classic and timeless wedding colors.
3. 3. Fall wedding colors: Autumn foliage might inspire your fall wedding color choices. Choose burgundy, reds, oranges, and yellows paired with jewel-tone accent colors and muted neutrals.
4. 4. Spring wedding colors: Spring wedding colors might include pastels such as lilac, pale pink, or green paired with neutral creams and ivory colors.
5. 5. Summer wedding colors: Navy blue paired with pale yellow and white gives a beachy, summery feel.
6. 6. Trending colors: These color combinations reflect current popular color choices. In 2022, wedding planners chose bright colors as the most popular, with navy blue as a close second. Check fashion blogs online for the most current color trends.
7. 7. Winter wedding colors: Navy blue or maroon paired with metallic silver tones create a formal winter vibe.
8. 8. Year-round wedding colors: Pairing neutral tones such as ivory with accent colors like black, blush, gray, and metallic tones work any time of year.

Before finalizing your wedding color palette choices, consider these additional tips:

1. 1. Choose a balanced number of colors. Avoid choosing too many or too few colors for your color scheme. Too many colors feel overwhelming, while too few may feel spartan. Choose the primary color, a complementary color, and an accent color to start.
2. 2. Consider lighting. Your lighting choices, from candles to bulbs, will impact how your colors look. “If you want to have an all-white wedding, the light can change during the event,” Mindy says. “And that’s a way you can bring in color.”
3. 3. Consult a professional wedding planner. A wedding planner’s years of experience can help you choose the right colors for your wedding ceremony and wedding reception that reflect the appropriate combinations for the season, venue, and your personal taste.
4. 4. Include your partner. Ask your significant other about their color preferences when making your choices. Fill your wedding day décor with colors you both like as a couple.
5. 5. Let go of worry. Choosing your color scheme should feel fun, not oppressive. Let go of worrying if everything matches perfectly, and focus on enjoying your special day with your partner and loved ones.
6. 6. Pick a color family. If you have trouble choosing a combination of colors, choose different shades of your favorite color and match them with neutral tones.

Have a wedding to plan? Learn how to take on the process strategically. Discover Mindy Weiss’s approach to setting a budget, choosing a theme, and sending invitations when you sign up for the MasterClass Annual Membership.