Quite
often the first thing that couples think about when considering the setting
design of their wedding day is the colors they will use. Soft, blush shades
will help to bring to life a dreamy, romantic look whilst strong jewel shades
might be more appropriate for a bolder day full of vibrancy. However, it’s important
to think about your theme color in the context of a number of other elements
and so PersunDresses shares our top tips for finding the perfect tones for your
day:
Follow Your Original Wedding Design Concept
It’s
tempting to jump straight in and think about colors but the most natural
palette will fall out of a solid design concept. As you search for inspiration,
look for colors that you are consistently drawn to. Play around with different
combinations and consider how they make you feel and whether they fit with your
wedding day style.
As
you narrow your inspirations down to create a mood board, look to see which
colors are naturally coming through. These should form the basis of your color
palette.
Read The Psychology of Color
Colors have an amazing ability to evoke
strong psychological responses and can affect both moods and emotions so you
may want to think about what you are communicating through your color palette.
A strong cherry red for example is typically associated with vibrancy, excitement
and passion so could be the perfect accent color for a fun, energetic day or
perhaps a more sultry and high-end glamour look. Think back to the type of day
you’re trying to create and consider whether the colors you are looking at fit
naturally into your vision.
Take Your Wedding
Venue Into Consideration
Think about the colors that exist within
your venue; are the walls, carpets and décor in natural shades or bright,
vibrant colors? It’s important to make sure that you select a palette that
complements your venue. This will avoid too many colors fighting for attention
and often means you can invest less in décor by making the most of what is
already there.
Stay In Calm
Have the confidence to put
together colors that work for you and evoke a strong emotional reaction. Unexpected
color combinations like mint and buttercup yellow can look stunning so don’t be
afraid to experiment. Similarly, the seasons are quite often used as a guide
for determining your color palette but just because you’re getting married in
Spring doesn’t mean you can’t opt for stronger shades if that is what best
brings to life your vision.
Create Your Personal
Color
By considering all of the above you should
now have a few key colors that you’d like to work with. Now we need to
transform those few colors into a full palette, giving you a range of
complementary shades and tones. Remember, working with just one color which you
religiously match everything to will create a look which is very contrived –
not to mention probably drive you mad in the process! We’re aiming for a more
natural, seemingly effortless but oh-so-stylish look.
First off, identify one or
two leading colors. Remember they may be your hero colors but that doesn’t mean
you have to use them everywhere. For bright, vibrant shades in particular you
can have too much of a good thing so use them sparingly as an accent color
where they will have maximum impact.
Remember to think about your
supporting acts in the color palette; neutral tones like creams, taupes, fawns
and greys can all add a depth and effortless look to your final design. If
you’re unsure about selecting these colors then refer back to your mood board;
what are the background shades that are working with the main players?
You are aiming for a final
palette of complementary colors – they don’t have to all be the same shade but
they should work comfortably as a set. If you’re unsure about your color
combination then Pinterest is a fabulous resource for searching for different
color palettes.
Colors can look very different on screen and
are hugely open to interpretation (if I say purple for instance, do I mean a
soft lilac or a deep, rich aubergine?) so once you’ve got a good idea of the
color palette you want, it can be useful to either get a reference from a
Pantone chart book or pop to your local fabric or DIY shop to pick up fabric
swatches or paint color charts which you can use as a physical reference point
to share with suppliers.
And don’t forget, the
above tips are designed merely to give you a clue about where to get started. Don’t
let them lead your whole way. Ultimately, your color palette should flow
naturally from the work you have already done around defining your wedding day
style and your design concept so focus on finding a palette that evokes the
emotional response that you’re looking for on your big day. Just show your
personality and create the precious memories peculiar to you and your other
half.