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Choosing the colors that will take center stage on your wedding day is not always an easy task. After all, there are so many hues to choose from! And, it will affect everything from your flowers and invites to your bridesmaid dresses and overall décor.
Before you make your final choices, you’ll want to take a look at some of these common mistakes. Avoiding them can help you make sure you’re big day looks perfect in person and in photos:
Choosing Colors Online
Before making a decision, you must see the colors in person, says Shelley Grieshop of Totally Promotional. "Because cell phone and computer screens are often calibrated differently, the color a person sees can be quite different than the item’s actual color," she says.
Not Taking Your Venue Into Consideration
It’s important not to forget that the venue should have an impact on color scheme selection, says Lindsey Bennett of Azazie. She recommends working with your wedding setting and not against it when choosing your color palette to ensure a beautiful look.
Waiting Too Long to Choose
It’s essential to determine a color theme at the onset of planning, as it can carry through the décor--from flowers, table settings, and parting gifts, to bridal party attire and bridal accessories, says Bennett. "If you start adding colors randomly during the planning process, your design direction can look a bit scattered," she says.
Forgetting About Photos
An underutilized resource to bounce color ideas off of is your photographer. Bennett suggests touching base with them to get their insight into your color palette and how it will look in pictures at the chosen venue and time of day.
Thinking Everything Has To Match
"Our clients are given wedding color palettes of at least five colors," says Michelle Edgemont of Michelle Edgemont Design. "Any less than that, and weddings start to look too monochromatic. For example, instead of purchasing all of your decor in blush pink, layer in other tones of pink, white, and even pops of grey to create a layered aesthetic."
Ignoring Your Bridesmaids
Not all hair colors and skin tones work with all dress colors, notes Bennett. "Someone who is pale may look completely washed out in a peach dress, but fabulous in a dusty rose dress," she says. "Someone with red hair may clash with your burgundy dress selection, but look awesome in emerald. It's important to take stock of your bridal party and try to choose a bridal party color palette that can be flattering on a variety of skin tones."
Focusing On The Flowers
There is a multitude of areas that we can bring color into a wedding along with the flowers, says Edgemont. Choose a pretty linen, set the table with a colored charger, style a colorful napkin, hang a colorful installation above the dance floor, or put a beautiful chair cushion on the dining chairs.
Using Too Much Of One Color
Too much of any one color can be, well…too much, says Bennett. "If a bride absolutely loves one color, pick different shades of the same hue and perhaps tone it down with a more neutral color--such as a subtle grey and/or white--or metallic accents to soften the look," she explains.
Picking Poor Contrasts
"It’s not uncommon for soon-to-be brides to choose color combinations with poor contrast," says Grieshop. "Often the colors chosen are long-time favorites of the bride or bride and groom. However, when combined these colors can be a contrasting nightmare!"
Pairing Neons With Pastels
Combining neons with pastels is a common mistake that Amy Conrad of Enclave Las Vegas sees. "These colors tend to overpower the elegance of a wedding, and looking back on photos, the bride and groom will focus on color selection rather than special details of their day," she says.
Mixing Ivory And White
Mixing ivory and white can make the ivory look dirty--and this goes for wedding attire as well as décor, says Jennifer Borgh of Jennifer Borgh Events.
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[Photos: Shutterstock]
