Are you trying to determine the best wedding colour scheme for your big day? If so, it may help you to understand the meaning of the colours you’re considering.
From deep jewellery tones that reflect wealth and aristocracy, to soft colours that evoke whimsy and romance, the following tones are the most common wedding colour scheme choices, matched with their hidden meanings.
The Secret Meanings Behind Your Wedding Colour Scheme
Red
Passion, Love, Drama, Energy, Dominance
Meaning:Red has different meanings in various countries. In America, it can symbolize love, anger, and courage, while in China, it represents luck and prosperity.
Research shows that red canignite desire, increase your heart rate and make you more excited. Therefore, you could choose to dial up the romance by picking a bold and vibrant red colour scheme, or tone it down with a beautiful burgundy or crimson.
Popular Wedding Colour Combinations: Cherry Red + Black, Cardinal Red + Grey, Burgundy + Gold, Crimson + Light Brown.
How to Style: Red is a bold colour that typically looks best as an accent. For the main colours, select a sophisticated dark grey or play up the drama with black and gold.
Pink
Soft, Sweet, Feminine, Romance
Meaning: Pink is often associated with femininity. However, this attitude is a rather modern concept. In fact, pink was once associated with masculinity because it was related to red, a colour that signifies dominance and passion. It wasn’t until the 20th century that people decided to make pink a more suitable colour for girls. Regardless of gender roles, pink now signifies young love, sensitivity, and vulnerability.
Its various shades (fuchsia, rose, coral, magenta) are some of the most common colours used in weddings today.
Popular Wedding Colour Combinations: Coral + Mint, Dusty Pink + Ivory, Carnation + Magenta, Light Pink + Navy Blue, Light Pink + Grey.
How to Style: Blush and blue weddings are super trendy right now and will make your entire bridal party look spectacular. Outfit the grooms in navy suits with pink accents, and opt for bridesmaid dresses in romantic dusty rose to make your wedding photos pop.
Blue
Tranquil, Balance, Serenity, Sadness
Meaning: Blue is known for being a calming colour. In fact, research proves that the colour blue puts us in a meditative state because it reminds us of water, which contributes to our sense of well-being.
Blue is also the colour of trust, which is why many businesses use blue in their corporate logos. The ‘something blue’ part of the wedding tradition stems from the belief that blue represented love, fidelity, and trust.
Popular Wedding Colour Combinations: Navy + Cranberry, Pale Blue + Ivory, Light Blue + Yellow, Cerulean + Sage.
How to Style: From a stunning pair of blue heels to a simple cobalt blue sash, there are plenty of ways to carry on the ‘something blue’ tradition. If you want blue to be part of your wedding colour scheme, there are endless options.
Make guests feel like they’re in a true winter wonderland by pairing light blue with silver and having fun with your wedding treat table. From snowflake-themed wedding pops to an elegant pale blue cake dripping in gold, this colour combo provides endless opportunities for cold-weather brides.
Purple
Royalty, Luxury, Power, Mystery
Meaning: Purple is associated with wealth and opulence. Once worn exclusively by nobility, purple was often used to convey one’s status in society, so you could make your ladies look like royalty in purple bridesmaid dresses. Although darker shades of purple still signify luxury and power, lighter shades of purple can provoke a sense of elegance, whimsy and magic. Its many associations make it one of the more popular wedding colour choices for modern brides.
Popular Wedding Colour Combinations: Lilac + Sage, Plum + Gold, Deep Purple + Light Grey, Lavender + Yellow, Mulberry + Orchid + Yellow.
How to Style: With the right wedding colour scheme, you can use purple any time of the year. Pair darker hues with gold for a glamorous autumn or winter wedding, or combine a lighter shade of purple with ivory or sage for a whimsical, romantic feel. Purple flowers are absolutely stunning and pop against white backgrounds. Take advantage of these beautiful blooms by using them not only as bouquets, but also as centrepieces for your tables.
Orange
Excitement, Youth, Warmth
Meaning: Orange is a colour that signifies youth, vitality, and generosity.
Popular Wedding Colour Combinations: Tangerine + Yellow, Orange + Cranberry + Yellow, Apricot + Sage, Orange + Teal + Gold.
How to Style: Orange is a difficult colour to pull off in winter. However, it’s the perfect hue for spring, summer and especially autumn weddings.
If you’re going for a Boho vibe, opt for a colour palette of burnt orange, dusty pink and brown. These lovely hues come together elegantly for both the bride and the groom. Mixing and matching orange bridesmaid dresses in various hues can also create some really fun combinations.
Yellow
Happiness, Positivity, Curiosity, Imagination
Meaning: Similar to orange, yellow evokes energy and happiness. It also signifies curiosity and imagination, making it perfect for creative couples who enjoy learning and exploring.
Popular Wedding Colour Combinations: Canary Yellow + Light Blue, Amber + Marigold + Navy, Yellow + Coral, Emerald + Cream + Gold, Yellow + Lilac, Yellow + Mint + Ivory.
How to Style: Although yellow is primarily associated with summer weddings, various shades can be adopted for autumn and winter. Golden hues bring warmth to autumn and winter affairs, while lighter shades such as canary can brighten up summer and spring weddings.
Green
Health, Growth, Bounty
Meaning: Green is most commonly associated with wealth and money. However, it’s also the colour of nature, representing life and growth. Although there are some negative connotations associated with the colour green, like envy and jealousy, it’s often used by brides to signify their love of nature and the outdoors. Brides who want green to signify wealth should choose darker, rich shades of green, while brides who want to evoke a natural sense of wonder should opt for bright-green hues.
Popular Wedding Colour Combinations: Emerald + Gold, Lime Green + Navy + Cobalt, Sage Green + Light Pink, Mint + Light Blue + Ivory, Olive + Ivory, Sage + Dusty Pink + Navy.
How to Style: If you’re going for the nature vibe, take advantage of natural foliage in your wedding décor. Drape wedding garland down long tables and use hanging plants above the lights for a venue decked out in gorgeous greenery.
Of course, not every couple is going to select a wedding colour theme based on its hidden meaning alone. There are so many other factors to consider, including the season, time of day and your location.
Still, it’s helpful to know what each colour represents. By knowing the secret meaning behind each one, you can choose a wedding colour scheme that perfectly reflects you both.
