by Karen Shaw Suriner

Created on: February 22, 2009   Last Updated: April 03, 2010

Choosing your wedding's color theme is an important step. Begin by thinking about what kind of mood you want to evoke at your wedding. Imagine your ideal wedding. What descriptive words come to mind? Clean and contemporary, or classic and traditional? Formal and ornate, or simple and unfussy?

Traditionally two colors are chosen. Along with white or ivory and silver or gold, these will be used on everything from bridal party wear to decorations, invitations and favors. Keep in mind that the people you love are going to have to wear your choices, so try to pick at least one fashionable shade that will flatter them. Try an unexpected high contrast combination, like black and white or chocolate brown paired with dainty Tiffany blue or powder pink. For a contemporary look, go monochromatic with different shades of a similar color, like ivory and beige, daffodil with pale yellow, or eggplant with lilac. Play around with fabric samples or paint chips to find combinations that you like and that compliment/harmonize with your theme.

Consider the colors of the flowers and greenery you plan to use. Some popular wedding flowers that come in distinctive shades include roses, calla liles, daisies, tulips, cherry blossoms, hydrangeas and daffodils. Ornamental berries or picturesque fruits like Meyer lemons, lady apples, or pomegranates lend a feeling of natural bounty. Greenery can include ivy, boxwood, or ferns. For a traditional holiday wedding, poinsettias and evergreens are a natural. For something edgier you might consider using feathers, available at craft stores in a multitude of colors, complemented by decorations made from inexpensive feather boas. Season is important to consider; keep in mind that flowers and greenery that are in season and can be obtained locally are more affordable than exotic choices, which may have to be used more sparingly. For example, tulips and daffodils are plnetiful, fresh and bright for a spring wedding. In autumn, russet leaves and berries compliment a warm color theme that might include gold, copper, sage, and/or rich earthtones.

The setting is an important factor. Urban or rural? Outdoors or in? Some settings suggest their own theme and colors. For example, if you're getting married at the beach, airy colors and tropical/nautical touches feel just right: seashells, palm trees, ornamental grasses, and a menu that includes seafood and tropical flavors like mango, pineapple and/or coconut. (Pineapples are not just tropical and delicious,

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