by Kristen M. Anderson

Created on: February 05, 2009   Last Updated: October 17, 2009

Color evokes emotion and a certain ambiance that sets the stage for a special event. Choosing a wedding color scheme is a personal decision made by the bride and groom that reflects their preferences and several other factors.

The first step in selecting your color scheme is to pick a primary color. This color is typically carried throughout the wedding, from bridal party attire to party favors.

There are several things to consider in selecting a primary color:

1. Incorporate the season. Many couples choose a primary color based on the season: pastels for spring and summer weddings, and rich reds and purples in the autumn and winter. Recent trends include incorporating earth tones in the summer (chocolate brown with sage green, for example). While there are no hard and fast rules about primary color choice, keep in mind that the color you choose will need to complement seasonal flowers for the month in which you'll be married.

2. Build color around bridesmaid attire. Since the color scheme is perhaps most noticeable in the bridesmaid dresses, it's important to select a color that works with different hair color and skin tones. Periwinkle blue looks good on many women, while red and yellow tones can wash out various complexions. You want your wedding attendants to look good, which means carefully selecting colors that accentuate their features.

3. Choose a color that's meaningful to you. If your favorite "couple color" is orange, you should select orange.

Once you've picked a primary color, select one or two accent colors to tie the look together. Keep in mind that more than three colors may look "busy", with the exception of floral bridesmaid dresses. A few tips:

1. Sometimes couples select accent colors first, depending on their choice of flowers. If you want sunflowers for the bouquets, choose a complementary primary color for the bridesmaid dresses. If your flowers are white, ask the florist to wrap the stems with an accent color that complements the bridesmaid dresses.

2. If you've selected a non-traditional seasonal color (for example, pink in December), use accent colors to express the season in a unique way. Incorporate fern topiaries and evergreen boughs to acknowledge the holidays, or hang silver bells on church pews and at the reception.

3. For inspiration, compare paint samples, flip through design magazines, or look to nature. Spend an afternoon in a nursery and take cues from flowers. For example, the Swan River daisy blends lavender and yellow in a way that bridal consultants couldn't dream up.

4. Choose colors that don't compete with each other. You may have attended a wedding that seemed "busy"; so much was happening color-wise that the ambience fell flat. Chances are the couple tried to incorporate too much color or chose colors that didn't complement each other.

5. Consider how your color scheme will look in all venues: in the ceremony location, at the reception, and in outdoor photos.

While color choice is clearly not as important as other parts of the ceremony, it is an important ingredient that ties the look together. Choose wisely, and you will capture your special day in a way that's meaningful to you.

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