Wedding Color Palette Ideas from Start to Finish

Last Updated on April 7, 2025 by Tanya Janse van Rensburg

Your wedding colors set the tone for your big day, influencing everything from invitations and floral arrangements to bridesmaid dresses and table settings. Discover wedding color palette ideas.

The right color palette can create a cohesive, stylish, and unforgettable atmosphere that reflects your personality, season, and overall wedding theme.

But with so many beautiful shades and combinations, selecting your wedding colors can feel overwhelming.

Instead of simply picking a few favorite colors, it's essential to consider how different elements—like your venue, season, and decor—will come together to create a seamless look.

Whether you dream of a soft and romantic palette, bold and dramatic hues, or timeless neutrals, your color choices will help bring your vision to life.

This guide will walk you through selecting your perfect wedding color palette, from finding inspiration to ensuring all elements of your wedding work harmoniously together.

What Is a Wedding Color Palette?

A wedding color palette (also known as a wedding color scheme) is a curated selection of colors used throughout your wedding decor, attire, and styling.

It helps to create a unified and aesthetically pleasing look for your celebration.

These colors appear in many aspects of your wedding, such as:

Invitations and stationery
Bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen accessories
Floral arrangements
Table linens, centerpieces, and decor
Wedding cake design
Ceremony and reception lighting
Small details like signage, favors, and even signature cocktails

Having a defined color palette ensures that all visual elements work together beautifully, creating an intentional and polished ambiance.

Instead of focusing on just two or three distinct colors, modern weddings often incorporate color families or complementary shades to add depth and dimension.

How to Pick Your Colors: Wedding Color Palette Ideas

1. Get Inspired by Your Setting

Your venue plays a significant role in your wedding color selection. Before finalizing your palette, consider your chosen space's natural elements, architecture, and decor.

Outdoor weddings might work best with earthy tones, pastels, or vibrant floral hues, while a grand ballroom might call for rich jewel tones or classic black and white.

If your venue has strong color features—like patterned carpets, wooden beams, or scenic backdrops—choose a palette that complements rather than clashes with them.

Blank-slate venues, like lofts or marquees, allow more freedom in selecting any color scheme.

2. Consider the Season

The time of year can heavily influence your wedding color choices.

Different seasons naturally lend themselves to specific color palettes:

Spring: Soft pastels, fresh greens, blush pinks, lavender, and sky blues

Summer: Bright and cheerful hues like coral, citrus tones, turquoise, and sunny yellow

Autumn: Rich, warm tones like burgundy, burnt orange, mustard, and deep greens

Winter: Elegant and moody shades like navy, emerald, silver, deep red, and icy blues

3. Define Your Wedding Style

Are you envisioning a romantic, whimsical, boho, modern, or classic wedding? Your style will guide your color choices:

Romantic: Soft pinks, blush, champagne, and lavender

Bohemian: Earthy neutrals, terracotta, rust, and sage green

Modern: Crisp whites, black, metallics, and minimalist hues

Classic: Navy, gold, ivory, and timeless neutrals

Vibrant: Bold fuchsia, tropical greens, sunset oranges, and bright blues

4. Look to Your Wardrobe and Personal Style

A great way to find colors you love is to look at your everyday wardrobe.

\Do you gravitate toward neutral tones, bright pops of color, or a specific color family?

Choosing colors that already feel natural to you can help create a wedding aesthetic that feels authentic and personal.

5. Use the 60-30-10 Rule

A well-balanced color palette follows the 60-30-10 rule:

60% – The dominant color (used in main elements like table linens, bridesmaid dresses, and large floral arrangements)

30% – The secondary color (used for accent pieces like groomsmen ties, candles, signage, and decor)

10% – The highlight or pop of color (used sparingly in smaller details like napkins, florals, or accessories)

This approach creates a visually appealing balance and ensures no single color overwhelms the design.

6. Test Your Colors Together

Before making a final decision, create a digital mood board or a physical swatch board with fabric samples, paint chips, and floral inspiration.

Seeing your colors side by side will help you determine whether they work harmoniously together.

7. Keep Your Wedding Party in Mind

While your wedding colors should reflect your style, also consider how they will look on your wedding party.

Some shades may be universally flattering, while others may not suit all skin tones.

Opting for mix-and-match dresses or varied shades within your color scheme can be a great way to keep everyone looking their best.

8. Don’t Be Afraid to Be Unique

While popular wedding color trends can inspire, don’t feel pressured to follow them exactly.

Your wedding should be a reflection of you and your partner’s personality.

Whether it’s a unique pairing of colors or an unexpected pop of contrast, don’t be afraid to think outside the box!