Wedding color combinations: Color schemes basics

Wedding color combinations – Basics of color combinations and how to find the best mix for your wedding

Colors are the first element you need to decide on when planning your wedding. Colors contribute greatly to the whole theme and atmosphere of any event. Thus choosing the right wedding color scheme is very important. If you work with a wedding consultant, she/he usually advises you on how to combine colors to create a look that matches the vision of your dream wedding. Many brides tend to hesitate to combine colors themselves and stay in the safe side: going for all whites and pales or combining their favorite colors with whites. However combining colors for your wedding should not be seen as a challenge, you should be able to have fun with it and be confident with your choice.

You don’t have to learn all of the color schemes basics like a designer but a little knowledge does go a long way in this game. I usually use a color wheel when deciding for colors to go for. The color wheel below will help you with your wedding color ideas. It is pretty simplified easy to start with and gives you a feel of how to combine colors:

The basics of color combinations

There are usually 3 types of wedding colors combinations to choose from:

The monotone – You stick with one main color only. This is a clean and elegant look, you can play with different hues of the color. Below is an example of how to combine different shades of pink. The pink theme is everywhere: bouquet, bridesmaid dresses, cakes, linens and centerpieces and the color could run from very light to darker shade of pink.

The analogous colors – the combination of 2 colors next to each other in a color wheel. For example: red and orange, blue and green, violet and red, etc. These usually make really good color combinations. They are pleasing to the eyes and make your guests feel comfortable. You can combine shades of 2 or 3 colors next to each other on the color wheel. Below is an example color board for a red and orange wedding, which is usually a popular fall wedding color combination.

The complementary colors – their names are “complementary” but actually they are not complementing each other at all. These are colors that are opposite to each other on the color wheel. These colors when used together stand out and create contrasts. Some sample combinations are orange and blue, yellow and violet, red and green, etc. I will create a color board for a, eggplant purple and yellow wedding as an example:

The closer the colors are to each other on the wheel, the more “pleasing to the eyes” the combination would look and vice versa, the further the colors are away from each other, the more contrasts and strong impression the combination will create.

Color combinations and wedding themes

It is common knowledge that colors are one of the biggest factors to create a wedding theme, each color has the power to influence people’s feeling and you can use it to create the atmosphere of your wedding. I came across this Crystal Vaults website and they had a color wheel also explains what emotion each color represents.

From this color wheel you could also find the color combinations for each season: winter colors are violet, indigo and blue. Spring colors are turquoise , green and olive. Summer colors are yellow, gold and orange. Autumn colors are scarlet (a mix between red and orange), red and amethyst (between violet and red). This color wheel can be very helpful when you are looking for seasonal wedding color combinations.

You have just learned the basics of wedding color combinations. This should be enough for you to find a suitable combination for your wedding. Play with the colors and find a combination that suits both of your style and personality!

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