SHEfinds | Linda Diproperzio
The decision of which colors to feature during your big day isn’t a small one. After all, it will affect everything from your flowers and invites to your bridesmaid dresses and overall décor. Before you commit to any one (or two or three) hues, take a look at these 11 mistakes to avoid.
Going with the latest trend.
There are plenty of fads out every year – and colors are no different. “You don’t want to look back and feel that your wedding was not timeless in design,” says Mani Mela, who owns a luxury destination-wedding management and event design company.
Choosing your colors online.
The screen of a computer, a phone, or an iPad produces color differently than an invitation, a dress, or a flower does. “If you need to know exactly what color something is, get a swatch or use a color book like the Pantone books,” says Matthew Wengerd of A Fine Press.
Feeling confined to the season.
Just because you have a winter wedding doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate bright colors – just be careful, says Liz Ise, Chancey Charm Dallas wedding planner. “You want to make sure the colors still look pleasant in your venue and you use colors strategically. A little goes a long way. Pair a brighter color with neutrals or a metallic to help the look be cohesive and appropriate.”
Deciding on colors before finding your venue.
Your venue may dictate which colors would work best for your wedding, says Mary Huddleston of Please Be Seated. “If you select your colors first before picking out a venue, you can end up with clashing décor. If the ballroom you rent is all deep reds and golds, you may want to shy away from silvers and other colors that clash with red.”
Not brushing up on your “color vocab.”
There are thousands of colors and hundreds of shades – you need to know the differences before making your final decision, says Jackie Catalano, Chancey Charm Nashville wedding planner. For example, you may want to include different tones of plum, blush, and apricot, yet you tell a vendor purple, pink, and orange. “Clients accidentally explain the color in its simplicity, which might create a completely different color scheme. Head to your nearest hardware or paint store and pick out paint swatches to best explain the colors you’re hoping for.”
Playing it safe.
Some brides will play it too safe, without adding a splash of contrast, says Greg Jenkins of Bravo Productions. “Gold and white represents elegance; however, adding a tinge of another color can add a nuance to what might be considered rather traditional – perhaps even boring.”
Being too committed to your colors.
Sometimes brides are too “married” to their wedding colors and it can create difficulties down the line when they need to make decisions, says Rachel Jo Silver of Love Stories TV. “If you choose strict colors like navy and pink and you want everything to be those two colors, you’ll feel frustrated later when something comes up that can’t be one of those two colors.”
Picking yellow.
Yellow is one of the hardest colors to work with in a wedding because it’s so bold and powerful, says Taylor Curley of The Simply Elegant Group. “It’s just not a good idea. Usually when the bride goes with yellow as one of her choices, you have to balance it out with a cool spa blue or pastel blue – and even then you can go down a shower-color phase, too.”
Not bringing in enough variety.
“Often, brides come to us with one or two colors and want to create a design all about just those two hues. We work with them to expand their color palette to have a primary palette – usually up to three colors they want to be dominate in design – and a secondary palette of supporting colors,” says Skylar Caitlin, Chancey Charm Houston wedding planner. “This secondary palette is what will bring depth and life to their wedding.”
Forgetting to choose complementary colors.
Brides will often have more than one favorite color, but they might not all work well together. “Colors that clash won’t look good in photos, or in real life. It’ll make your guests feel like something is off,” says Alayna Parker of Alayna Parker Photography.
Going overboard.
You don’t need every single element of the day to feature your chosen colors, says Parker. “Sometimes less is more, and you can have accents or pops of color. There’s no need to decorate every inch of your space with your colors – especially if your venue is beautiful on its own.”
