How to choose your wedding colors

The colors you choose for your wedding day set the style and tone for your entire event! What do you want your guests and you to remember?! You can use color in your bridesmaids' dresses, decorations, cake, favors, flowers, accessories, table linens and even the invitations! Choose colors you love, but also keep in mind:

·         Where is the wedding and reception? Choose colors that complement the setting if you can. Consider the carpeting, drapery and decor, etc.

·         What mood do you want to create? Vibrant colors add drama, while soft colors evoke a more romantic atmosphere.

·         What time of year will you marry? The season may influence your color scheme. Spring and summer colors tend to be lighter, while fall and winter colors are generally darker.

There has been a lot of research done on how colors affect our moods and emotions. Colors mean different things in different cultures, so avoid focusing too much on them, and choose the colors that you like. The following two tools can help you choose a coordinated color scheme.

·         Color Wheel - A color wheel helps you choose coordinating colors. There are three color-choosing strategies that will ensure you pick a well coordinated, beautiful color scheme.

o    "Complementary" colors means choosing colors that are opposite each other on the wheel, such as red and green. The contrast is usually has good visual appeal.

o    "Analogous" means the colors lie next to each other on the wheel, such as red, red-orange, and orange. Since they are so similar in tone, they will blend well.

o    "Monochromatic" means variations of the same tone, such as bright red, dark red, etc..

·         Color Palette Generator Tool - This handy (and fun!) tool allows you to upload your favorite photo and generate an instant color palette. You can then print and select your favorite colors from the chart

Tips: Try to limit your main colors to two or three so as not to look too jumbled and stay consistent with your colors throughout the wedding site. Use a few subdued colors for an elegant look.

2012 Wedding Color Trends

The table below includes popular wedding color choices for the upcoming seasons:

	aqua	tangerine	lilac	mustard	antique blue
	deep red	latte	lavender	charcoal	sage