How to Decide Wedding Colors and Themes

Wedding Colors

Let’s talk about wedding colors! You may have grown up imagining your wedding with your favorite color. Maybe you always dreamed of having a refined red-themed wedding. Or you might not have thought much about wedding colors at all. How do you actually decide on your wedding colors? We’re here to help! We are Jacob and Amanda Rousary, married Chicago wedding photographer team. Being wedding photographers, we have seen so many unique wedding themes and colors and we want to help you pick yours!

Wedding Colors and Themes

It’s important to choose a wedding theme and colors that both of you love. You can easily brainstorm color palette ideas on Pinterest to find what is currently popular. What are your favorite colors? Is there a color that one of you doesn’t like? Talk about what colors are important to both of you and if there are any meaningful colors. Wedding colors might matter more to one party, so discuss who should have the final say. Once you have your wedding colors decided, it’s easier to plan for your wedding day and start buying decorations and ordering other items that will use your wedding colors (further down we will discuss where you can incorporate your wedding colors). Your wedding colors will have a big influence on the theme of your wedding as well. Certain colors can come across as more elegant, others are more playful. Determining the style of your wedding and your wedding colors will go hand in hand!

Wedding Colors for Different Seasons

Wedding colors also differ by season. Since fall is a popular time for weddings, many weddings use fall colors in their color palette. Certain colors will really pop at a fall wedding! Popular colors for fall weddings are red, orange, neutral colors, and dark green. If you are planning a winter wedding, deeper colors tend to be more popular. Navy, dark red, and metallic accents are very popular winter wedding colors. Spring weddings can be more colorful and pastel. Some choose to use bright blues, pinks, purples, and other light and bright colors for their spring wedding. For a summer wedding, there are endless options, but color palettes tend to be more colorful for the summer than for the fall or winter! Think blue, green, coral, etc!

Incorporating Your Wedding Colors

What are some ways to incorporate your wedding colors into your wedding day? Traditionally, the bridal party wears your wedding colors. The bridesmaids could wear a dress that is one of your wedding colors and the groomsmen could wear a tie that matches or is one of your other wedding colors to tie things together. You can also incorporate accessories, shoes, or other items for the bridal party to wear that highlights your wedding colors. You can also incorporate your wedding colors into your Save the Dates and wedding invitations, as well as your wedding website! Some websites even allow you to create matching invitations and websites. Your colors could be used on wedding favors, either the gift itself or just the wrapping! Depending on how much decorating you will be doing, you can use your wedding colors in the decorations (think the wedding arch, any hanging decorations, etc.) Another popular place to use your wedding colors is in your florals—bouquets, table arrangements, and any other floral arrangements. Lastly, you could incorporate your wedding colors into your wedding cake in the frosting, cake topper, or decorations.

Wedding Color Checklist

Use this checklist when selecting your wedding colors:

𝤿 The color is approved by both the bride and the groom
𝤿 It incorporates either a favorite color, a color with special meaning, or fits well with the season
𝤿 Your colors fit well with the theme and style of your wedding
𝤿 You’re excited to decorate using your wedding colors
𝤿 Your wedding colors look great together

Chicago Wedding Planning

We hope that this blog post and checklist have made your wedding color decision a little bit easier! On the blog, you can find even more helpful wedding planning tips for your Chicago wedding (or wherever your wedding will be)! If you are looking for a wedding photographer, learn more about Rousary Photography here or contact us today.