15 Tried and True Wedding Color Schemes, According to Wedding Planners (2024)

Choosing a color scheme for your wedding is no small task—not only does this planning element help to set the tone for the entire day, but it will also inform many other decoration decisions that you make during the planning process. Alicia Mae of ILE Events notes that so much of the atmosphere of a wedding is impacted by the color scheme. "Colors can change the mood and emotion of an environment; with that in mind, inspiration can come from how you want your guests to feel. For example, warm colors—like shades of nude with cream and burgundy—can have your guest feel the romance when they step into the venue."

Mae goes on to explain that aside from the atmosphere, myriad aspects of the décor will come together when you have a color scheme in place: "When thinking of the items to consider thecolorstory to incorporate do not forget the stationery, flowers, linens, chairs, the venue’s interiors, and the wardrobe of yourself and the wedding party; all of these items should be considered in how [all the wedding elements] complement each other."

According to Heather Lowenthal of Posh Parties, what it really comes down to is choosing a color combination that makes you happy. "Choose a scheme that you will always look back on and be happy you chose," she says. If lots of colors are your vibe, explains Lowenthal, don't be afraid to lean into that! On the other hand, for those unsure of what direction to go in, she recommends focusing on neutrals. "If you can’t commit to a color or want to keep it classic, then neutrals are a perfect way to go."

Meet the Expert

Ready for some colorful inspiration? Here, we highlight 12 of the most tried-and-true color schemes that planners turn to year after year.

How to Establish a Cohesive Color Palette for Your Wedding

01of 12

White With Greenery

15 Tried and True Wedding Color Schemes, According to Wedding Planners (1)

A white or off-white color scheme is the perfect backdrop for lush greenery, as seen here in this white, draped tented space accented by hanging greenery installations and a stunning green-and-white floral table runner.

02of 12

All-White

An all-white wedding is so timeless—there's something both fresh and classic about this monochrome color scheme. Couples can choose to use one or two hues of white, or get creative with varying shades of white and off-white. We love the way these white floral centerpieces create texture alongside the white porcelain and white candles in this reception setup.

03of 12

Subtle Neutrals

15 Tried and True Wedding Color Schemes, According to Wedding Planners (3)

Neutrals are beautiful, subtle, and very easy to combine into so many elements of your wedding décor. Just look at how stunning these wooden ceremony seats look with mixed hues of off-white, grey, and heather.

04of 12

Pale Pinks

15 Tried and True Wedding Color Schemes, According to Wedding Planners (4)

When it comes to the best delicate, subtle color schemes that never go out of style, pale pink paired with neutral tones takes the cake. We love the way these lush flowers in varying hues of pale pink look paired with pale grey linens and darker grey accent candles.

05of 12

Jewel Tones

15 Tried and True Wedding Color Schemes, According to Wedding Planners (5)

Whether you opt for subtle, muted jewel tones or bold hues as seen in this stunning invitation suite, there are so many options to incorporate these gemstone-inspired colors.

06of 12

Black and White

15 Tried and True Wedding Color Schemes, According to Wedding Planners (6)

Especially if you're having a formal or black-tie wedding, a simple yet elegant black and white wedding is so chic, and will never go out of style. You can choose to emphasize either color—like the way that this couple chose to use delicate black accents against a white table setting.

07of 12

Earth Tones

15 Tried and True Wedding Color Schemes, According to Wedding Planners (7)

Whether you're having a desert wedding or hoping to bring earth tones indoors for your celebration, this color scheme mixes neutrals and stunning hues found in nature into a cohesive look that will never go out of style (just like Mother Earth).

08of 12

Rich Autumnal Hues

15 Tried and True Wedding Color Schemes, According to Wedding Planners (8)

If you're planning a fall wedding, looking for rich, autumnal colors—often inspired by ambers, oranges, yellows, and reds reflected in the changing foliage—will always be a winning color scheme that can thread throughout all elements from the bridal party outfits to the flowers and the table settings.

09of 12

Pink and White

15 Tried and True Wedding Color Schemes, According to Wedding Planners (9)

Is there anything more timeless and romantic than pink and white? Fresh pink flowers and accents throughout the wedding paired with the bride's gown and touches of white is so elegant. It always will be!

10of 12

Navy Blue

15 Tried and True Wedding Color Schemes, According to Wedding Planners (10)

Simple and stunning is the name of the game with a navy blue wedding scheme—and it's especially fitting for summertime, waterfront, or nautical weddings. We love the way this bride outfitted her wedding party in a bold navy hue that looks so elegant when photographed next to her white dress and bouquet!

11of 12

Sage Green

15 Tried and True Wedding Color Schemes, According to Wedding Planners (11)

Whether it's accented against other colors or featured as the main hue throughout the wedding, sage green is a beautiful color to use for both indoor and outdoor weddings. We love the way this couple used eucalyptus and sage green place settings as the focal point of the reception table setup.

12of 12

Pale Pink and Green

15 Tried and True Wedding Color Schemes, According to Wedding Planners (12)

Pale pink with green accents (which can come in the form of greenery, succulents, or cacti!) is a timeless color combo that provides a warm atmosphere with a dose of freshness.

15 Tried and True Wedding Color Schemes, According to Wedding Planners (2024)

FAQs

What is the best color scheme for a wedding? ›

18 of the Best Wedding Colors
  • Dusty Blue and White. Design: Jen Montgomery. ...
  • Mauve and Blush Pink. Design: Becky Nimoy Stationery. ...
  • All White. Design: Cindy Reynolds Design. ...
  • Navy Blue, Marigold Yellow, and Soft Gray. Design: Claudia Owen. ...
  • Emerald Green, White, and Gold. ...
  • Black and White. ...
  • Mint Green and Peach. ...
  • Lilac and Lavender.
Apr 5, 2024

Which color is best for marriage? ›

Colours like grey, black, yellow, rusty shade, emerald green, orange being in trend, purple, off white, golden for marriage occasion.

How many wedding colors should you have? ›

A color palette for your wedding should have a range of at least three to five colors. Too many colors reduce focus. Your guests will have a hard time concentrating as their attention is all over the place. However, if you incorporate more than five colors, go for neutrals and pastel shades to give a calming effect.

What is the most elegant color for a wedding? ›

Stick to a monochromatic ivory and white color palette if you want to create a chic, sophisticated atmosphere on your wedding day.

What color is not appropriate for a wedding? ›

Any shade of white

There's a 99.9% chance that the bride will be sporting a white gown and you definitely don't want to steal the spotlight from her. Keep in mind that this includes all shades in the colour family, from ivory to alabaster, so skip those, too.

What are the most timeless wedding colors? ›

Classic colors such as white, ivory, blush, navy, burgundy, gold, silver, emerald green, dusty blue, and black have proven to be timeless choices that never go out of style. These colors can be incorporated into various aspects of your wedding decor, from flowers and linens to bridesmaid dresses and stationery.

How do I find the perfect color palette? ›

60-30-10 rule for color use

The 60-30-10 rule gives you an easy way to choose a color palette and stick to it. When done well, it can also help establish a brand's identity. With this rule, you use a primary color 60% of the time; a secondary color 30% of the time; and an accent color 10% of the time.

Is there an app to figure out color palette? ›

Dressika is a personal AI shopping assistant and colour style consultant. The app has a unique feature - automatic personal colour analysis.

What is the second most popular wedding dress color? ›

Pink is the second most popular colour choice of wedding gown, just behind white and is continuing to close this gap. From powder blue to royal blue, blue wedding dresses are very popular right now. Toss in some white or gold accents on the dress and it even much more stunning.

What color means marriage? ›

Blue. The adage goes, “Married in blue, your love is true.” This spells a long, happy marriage, secure in the fact that you know you've found your one true love– if you believe in that kind of stuff. It's safe to say that blue is a go-to color for the superstitious brides out there.

What color is good luck for wedding? ›

However, red and white are considered the best for weddings. Along with decorations, wedding Kimonos in Japan are often made of these two colors. The combination of white and red is supposed to bring good luck to the new couple.

What is the best wedding colour combination? ›

Fall
  • Tawny Brown and Pine Green. ...
  • Gold and Plum Wine. ...
  • Off-White and Hunter Green. ...
  • Gold and Evergreen. ...
  • Magenta and Sage. ...
  • Maroon and Deep Purple. ...
  • Cherry Red and Heather Purple. ...
  • Green, Pink and Black.
Jul 18, 2023

What is the most common color to wear to a wedding? ›

If you're looking for something classic and timeless, dark colors like navy blue or black are always appropriate. For a more glamorous look, pastels such as lavender, light pink, or pale blue will add a touch of elegance to your outfit.

Do my wedding colors have to match the season? ›

Summer wedding palettes tend to be bold and bright to reflect the sunniest time of year. But you don't have to write off your chosen colors if you're shifting from summer to a different time of year. In fact, Longobucco says that bright palettes are trending year-round.

What is the most appropriate color to wear to a wedding? ›

If you're looking for something classic and timeless, dark colors like navy blue or black are always appropriate. For a more glamorous look, pastels such as lavender, light pink, or pale blue will add a touch of elegance to your outfit.

How do you color coordinate a wedding? ›

Here's a solid rule of thumb: Choose one or two colors as main hues, then select one or two secondary colors (one of these should be neutral, which will help blend those focal point colors seamlessly) for support.

What color is best for traditional wedding? ›

Popular wedding colours and their meaning
  • White. A white wedding is about as traditional as it gets. ...
  • Gold. Gold is a very popular wedding colour as it symbolises wealth, elegance, luxury and warmth. ...
  • Red. Despite many connotations, red is a very popular wedding colour indeed. ...
  • Yellow. ...
  • Green. ...
  • Blue. ...
  • Grey. ...
  • Champagne/ivory.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Horacio Brakus JD

Last Updated:

Views: 5948

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Horacio Brakus JD

Birthday: 1999-08-21

Address: Apt. 524 43384 Minnie Prairie, South Edda, MA 62804

Phone: +5931039998219

Job: Sales Strategist

Hobby: Sculling, Kitesurfing, Orienteering, Painting, Computer programming, Creative writing, Scuba diving

Introduction: My name is Horacio Brakus JD, I am a lively, splendid, jolly, vivacious, vast, cheerful, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.