Dear Abby
I hope everyone had a great weekend! Today, we are all about color palettes. Choosing the perfect wedding color seems to be the most difficult part of planning a wedding for many brides. Either the colors that the couple have chosen clash with the reception venue or the bridesmaids don’t like the hues that they have to wear…whatever the case, there are always stumbling blocks when it comes to your color palette.
So today, we are doing reader color palette questions. Our first dilemma comes from Gina…
I’m getting married on June 21, 2008 in California at a country club up in the mountains (so lots of greenery). I am all about having a classic, elegant, romantic, yet fun and chic wedding. My favorite color is yellow and my husband’s is blue, so originally I was going to go with a navy blue, yellow combination. However, after getting my dress and seeing the yellow dresses on my friends (they all have very pale skin), I have decided to go with my second choice – grey, blush, and a mauve rose.
Does this color palette fit a summer wedding particularly against a lot of green? I ordered grey dresses by Jim Hjelm in chiffon, but do you think that it is too dull for a summer wedding? I don’t really like hot pink, but do you think I need to add some brightness to my color palette? Also, any ideas on what color linens to use??
A. First of all, I love the idea of having a grey and dusty rose palette. It is so incredibly chic and elegant. Grey dresses, varying shades of pink bouquets, and various shades of pink pashminas or cardigans for the reception (as one of our smart readers suggested!). With you in all white, this combination will be absolutely gorgeous. The natural element of green will be stunning against this palette, as long as you don’t get too modern with your attire and your flowers. Think unstructured, flowy and organic.
Do you guys have any ideas or tips for Gina? Don’t be shy…I’m sure that any input would be greatly appreciated!
Gina,
I feel your pain. Color pallets are so tricky. Originally I had planned on secondary colors of aqua blue & pink. But then when I actually started purchasing things for the wedding everything sort of shifted on me. I am planning a spring wedding and thought I should go for a bright, fresh, young look. But I wasn't drawn to those things. I really like vintage, shabby chic, mixing old and new... So I sat down and just wrote words that I wanted to describe our day and how I wanted to feel. Then I looked at those words individually and thought about what types of things evoked that emotion or created that atmosphere for me. I started saving pics from this site and google searches and, well... you name it. I'd look at the pics I liked and figured out which elements did something for me. Then I started shopping. I found a couple vintage inspired decorative boxes that I immediately loved. One was a faded/worn aquamarine and the other was an antique pink with hints of peachy/plum. They had details of brown and highlights of ivory. That became my new color pallet. It's not high contrast. It is all very subtle. But it's very me and I love it. I even found a dress - not at all what I anticipated - it has that vintage 1950's feel. But it isn't ivory. It's antique pink. And I love that too. So I guess my only advice is to figure out what's important to you about that day. Decide what atmosphere you want and how you want to feel. Then branch out to what that means when it comes to colors and styles and decor. Because in my opinion it shouldn't be about what the perfect color pallet is or how to achieve a wedding off the pages of a magazine. (although that would be nice ;) ) It should reflect the two of you - who you are - and how you choose to express how you feel that day. If that's bright and bold navy and yellow... Go for it. If it's grey, blush, and mauve... That will be wonderful too. I personally prefer your second choice with the soft colors, but that's because it's more my style. So no matter what any of us suggest as long as your wedding is "you" it will be beautiful. Can't wait to see what you come up with!
Gina, I do love grey but I think it might be a little dull for a summer wedding in California (which sounds so romantic by the way). Perhaps you can liven it up with a vibrant rose sash. Also, I love grey and yellow together. You could do a yellow sash. Or you could stick with your original color palette and put the bridesmaids in navy blue with a yellow sash. You have a million choices and they would all be amazing. Since you've already ordered the bridesmaids dresses and yellow is your favorite color, I think I would do grey and yellow. If you are already locked into blush, do a blush sash and liven it up with an amazing pair of blush shoes and great flowers. Like Tim Gunn says, "Make it work!". You can do it.
I think it sounds lovely. Maybe a sash of pink, or what I think would be prettier is pink flowers in the bridesmaids' hair. Don't use hot pink if you don't love it! I would keep the palette muted with that dusty mauve color rose, which I would have be close to the gray in color value, and then brighten up with a brighter lighter pink accent in the bouquets It's hard to pick a linen color without knowing more about the interior, but white or some shade of gray sounds right if there are flowers on the tables that complement the bouquets. I think that this palette sounds lovely, sophisticated and unexpected for summer, and that surrounded in greenery the pinks will pop but it will still be serene. Good luck!!
My bridesmaids are also wearin grey chiffon (Melissa Sweet) But, to brighten it up I am giving my girls each a J.Crew cardigan in varying shades of pink and different styles. Probably not to wear during the ceremony but I think it will look great in pictures and at the reception.
ooo.... love the colorful sash idea... and it's true that yellow and grey go well together - as do grey and pink. You could use all three colors... pink and yellow flowers go well together if you like multi colored bouquets...
I think the colors you have chosen are beautiful - and I really think you should use the colors that you love, regardless of the season - but I would spice up your palette with gold accents. Gold is a fantastic non-neutral neutral, and it would tie in the summer sunshine. You can have your BM's wear beautiful gold heels or sandals, you can tie the bouquets with gold ribbon, everyone can wear gold jewelry, and your can dress up your table and other areas of your reception with gold accents (such as candlesticks, votive holders, chargers, vases, etc. - even gold-rimmed china!). Obviously you don't want to go overboard, but just the right amount would be stunning!
Right now I love grey and yellow together. I think it is totally possible to do flashes of bright yellow to liven up the grey. I like the idea of the yellow sashes as recommended, or what about beautiful silver and citrus jewelry? Even if the bridesmaids didn't wear yellow, you could incorporate yellow in the decorations... in flowers, table runners, lanterns, candles. Good luck finishing up the details!
Kathryn at Snippet & Ink put together a great inspiration board using a bluish-grey as the main color, accented by blush pinks & ivory (see here: http://snippetandink.blogspot.com/2008/03/board-168-springtime-party.html )." rel="nofollow">http://snippetandink.blogspot.com/2008/03/board-168-springtime-party.html). > Although the board is called "Springtime Party," I think the style & colors are light enough to be used as inspiration for a summer wedding. I think you can also see how to incorporate yellow into the mix as an extra punch of color if that's what you feel is lacking.
Yellow being one of your favorite colors would be a great flash of color. Everything doesn't need to be matchy matchy, but a sash for the girls, some yellow daisies in the flowers peeking through, or even a large antique jug with yellow lemonade to be served at the cocktail hour. I think the pinks and yellows with a romantic grey will be beautiful!
Thanks everyone for the advice! I do like the idea of adding a sash to help contrast with the grey to make it stand out a bit more. And I will definitely use the flowers to add color as well...At this point, I'm thinking a variety of pinks (blush, mauve, orchids) and maybe I'll add in a very pale yellow to it as well...I think these colors will reflect us as individuals and as a couple. we're going for romantic, fun, and elegant with a modern twist (if that even makes sense). Thanks again!
What about grey with a bright green? It will go well with that greenery, plus it will pop with the grey. I saw an inspiration board on it recently, but I can't remember where!
Hi Gina, here are a few inspiration boards featuring gray (I love gray and I think it's an excellent choice, but I like the idea of adding some fun hot pink to your palette!)
http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2008/01/28/romantic-white-and-pink/ " rel="nofollow">http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2008/01/28/romantic-white-and-pink/
Wow, beautiful board. Where is that wedding dress from?
I think the gray and yelllow would be a fantastic combo especially for the summer and you can use greenery too. Gray is such a neutral tone that I think you can probably pair anything with it. Bright yellow would be really great and would really pop against the gray.
Someone else suggested a bright green which I think would also be great. My SIL used black for her BM dresses and had the flower girl in a really bright green. It was a summer wedding in SC and they used palms and other greenery for the decorations.
I also saw a really great combo in a magazine that was charcoal gray and bright crimson. So pretty! Unfortunately it wouldn't work for me and the dress blue army uniforms the guys will be in. Maybe a little too wintery for the summer though.
Hi Gina,
The grey and dusty rose palette is quite sophisticated. You will stand out without a doubt in a white dress. I don't think you have to worry about punching up the colors because it is a summer wedding, sounds like your surroundings are going to be able to add the contrast you are looking for.
I agree with Abby, the color palette will look beautiful as long as it is more natural than modern.