Our next questions comes from Jam (short for Jahmeilah) who could really use our help with her wedding colors… Q: I am writing because I am getting married this August and still slightly nervous about our colors. The bridesmaids will be wearing deep red dresses but so far everything else is lime green (inspired by my love for cymbidium orchids), white, and deep/dark wood (b/c of our love for all things nature and the elements of our reception site). Our invitations were lime and white, our aisle runner will be white a will the ceremony chairs.We’re not going to have a lot of flowers, just my bouquet and some bouts for the men, for centerpieces we both would really like to do wheatgrass is dark stained wooden boxes. We do have two large urns we’re going to use to frame us during the ceremony and we’re still undecided about what to fill them with so there’s potential there. And I was thinking of using tissue paper pomanders to line the aisle and add some color so maybe there’s potential there as well. But in terms of the reception all we’ve decided on are the wheatgrass centerpieces.
One of our fears from day one is that things will be too christmasy which isn’t want we want. Now I am nervous that I am not incorporating enough of the deep red into things. So far all I’ve found is the attached picture from The Knot’s spring/summer magazine.
How important is it that we have a lot of both colors? Any help is greatly appreciate! What do you guys think? What can Jam do to bring in color but also avoid that Christmas-looking feel? For me, it’s hard to avoid the Christmas feel when your colors are red and green. I spent the afternoon trying to figure out how to create this look and feel while capturing a light-hearted, Summer affair. Here is what I came up with…
Deep Red dresses on Bluefly, Cake by Tanja Lippert, Grass by Hatch Creative Studio, Apples and Flowers by Tanja Lippert
I have said it a few times on this blog, but it really is amazing just how much of a decor element the bridesmaids can be! Stick to a bright and fresh lime green palette, with white and deep woods while letting your girls be your accent color. I would also make sure to incorporate very notably Summer details…big bowls of fresh limes & apples, pretty white parasols for your guests, boxes of grass that hold place cards and such. Little elements like these will steer the look away from Christmas and much more into a pretty Summer style.
If you do want to bring the red in, make sure to do so subtly and Summery…bowls of cherries and strawberries like one commenter mentioned would be perfect. Thin red ribbon tying up favor boxes or securing napkins, floating red flowers in clear bowls along the bar, things like that.
Comment by gina on 4 June 2008:
If you keep it grounded with neutrals, I don’t think it will look too Christmas-y at all. Check out this wedding on the Knot, which used more black and white with red and lime green accents:
http://weddings.theknot.com/ODB/themes/realweddings/view.aspx?id=28032&RPID=2&type=1
Comment by Heidi @ Zenadia Design on 4 June 2008:
I think lime green with pops of red would look really nice. If you wanted to line the aisle, you could use lime green tissue paper pomanders, and either use red ribbon to hang them, or put pops of red tissue paper pomanders. As long as you don’t use a lot of both colors I don’t think it would look too much like Christmas. Pick one color, like the lime green, and use it as the base color, and then the red can be little accents here and there.
You could also consider incorporating the dark wood color a little more, or even changing it to a rust color. In the picture, it looks like there is some dark orange color in the food, you could glean inspiration from that.
I’m sure whatever you decide will look great!
Comment by Anna on 4 June 2008:
This is the opposite of my usual advice, (which is to scale back), but I wonder if adding another color would address the challenge? I’m imagining Tiffany blue, or aqua, or even a bright medium pink. Any of these colors could be incorporated easily using things like ribbons and linens, and especially in the tissue-paper pomanders.
However, just green and red can work too! Here’s a board from Snippet & Ink that shows how red and green can evoke strawberries rather than Christmas: http://snippetandink.blogspot.com/2008/05/board-216-sweet-sweet-strawberries.html
Comment by Sherri Kardell on 4 June 2008:
I think neutal linens would make a huge difference. I happen to love the combination of choclotae brown and deep red. Green cymbidum orchids would really pop against deep red black magic roses. And chocloate brown will add depth. Another great flower to consider are chocolate brown cosmos, they are actually a deep burgedny and have a great texture.
Comment by Vanessa on 4 June 2008:
The only thing you really have to worry about when pairing reds and greens are the shades you use. Use the wrong shades and it WILL look Christmas-y. But the fact that you’re using lime green should definitely put those fears to bed.
Right now it sounds to me that the main colors are white, lime, and wood tones (beautiful). I would use the red sparingly. Maybe just use red in the boutinerres to coordinate with the BMs, and find elegant patterned white and red tablecloths or napkins at the reception site and tie it all together.
Comment by kari on 4 June 2008:
I have to agree with Anna in the above post about adding another accent color to help avoid the christmas feeling. Since you’ve chosen a lime green, find another fun accent color (hot pink/ pale pink, orange, or even teal) but in very small amounts. It’ll help tone down the red of the dresses and bring out the green/brown colors of the rest of the wedding. Try adding little flags, flowers, pom poms, or other small item to the wheat grass in one of the accent colors but play down the red in the overall decor. Have fun!
Comment by Tori on 4 June 2008:
Also don’t forget how much your bridesmaids will really be part of the decoration… so you already have a lot of red there. I think you should not force the red… let it show up a bit more organically. It seems you are comfortable with the lime green and the wheat grass and the white. Those can be your base colors with the red adding an unexpected surprise. Maybe on your tables you could have some heaping bowls of strawberries or dark red cherries (similar to your BM dresses it sounds like) along with the wheatgrass. The strawberries could still have their gorgeous green stems on. (I know someone above mentioned the S&I strawberry post and i totally agree with going that direction!) I think that would look sooo summery and not christmas-y at all. The picture you attached above I think is too much red. Don’t feel like you have to have a certain color everywhere just because it is your color. It can look to forced and matchy-matchy. Hope that helps!
Comment by Michele on 4 June 2008:
To be honest, I didn’t even think “Christmas” until you mentioned it…
Comment by Lucky Me! on 4 June 2008:
I felt the same way about green and red - reminds me of the holidays. Here is an inspiration board I recently put together for spring using those colors.
http://eluckydesigns.blogspot.com/2008/05/apple-of-my-eye.html
Comment by BEL on 4 June 2008:
I think it would be a good idea to revamp your centrepiece idea a bit. Using your reds and lime greens in those might make the whole scheme a bit more cohesive.
I think the look will be really modern and different. I think the more you jump into it and use it all the way, the better it’ll look. If you’re totally committed to it and carry it through your whole event, i think it’ll look amazing. Don’t be afraid! hehe
My best friend is using this for her August 29th wedding and I made an inspiration board for her. It’s a little abstract but maybe it’ll help : http://stanleymakes3.blogspot.com/2008/05/colours-for-carla.html
Comment by Fin on 4 June 2008:
I agree with the suggestion to add another vibrant, non-Christmasy color. There’s a great inspiration board on Snippet and Ink today that uses red, green and hot pink.
I would also try to keep the overall feel of the even modern and fresh as opposed to traditional and ornate. Stay away from silver and gold.
Comment by danielle on 4 June 2008:
I really love your wedding palette thus far. I can see where you may feel that it could read as “Christmas-y”… so keeping that in mind, I would really try to balance it all out using lots of texture and pattern. When I see blocks of red and lime I automatically think of Yule Tide Carols- but when they are used in interesting ways… and with a healthy dosage of white and wood… then it can come off fresh and unexpected. Remember to keep it light and airy for summer and not too heavy (which will most certainly read holidays)
I am really loving these two boards over at Snippet & Ink. I think that they really illustrate how to use the colors to your advantage in the summer months:
snippetandink.blogspot.com/2008/05/board-216-sweet-sweet-strawberries.html
snippetandink.blogspot.com/2008/01/board-110-fun-and-fancy-free.html
Comment by Erin on 4 June 2008:
What about bringing in pink? It would continue the red, but break up the red/green Christmas look. For example, plop in potted, pink hydrangea into the urns, and use red and pink tissue for the poms.
Or, you could do the same with a dark cherry color, to continue the dark wood. The urns could contain wheat grass in the middle, edged with dark red foliage draping down the side.
Comment by jen on 4 June 2008:
I think that the BMs as the only red element totally works. Crisp white and bright green will make everything pop in a summer way. good luck!
Comment by jill on 4 June 2008:
My daughter is getting married in September at the Wentworth Mansion is Charleston. It is a formal, elegant venue. The wedding is “wine” inspired and she has chosen “Bordeaux” colored bridesmaid dresses from Lynn Lugo. Her additional colors are copper and aqua (since copper turns aqua/verdigre when weathered.)She will be using copper vessels, copper wire in the guy’s buts,etc. The aqua is her pop, using it in menu cards, ribbon/flower streamers in trees, candles, etc. Her table vases/votive holders are cork–much like you would use your brown/wood tones. This might work for you and help get away from a Christmas tone.
Comment by jam on 4 June 2008:
thanks for all of the wonderful advice! i’ve decided that having the BMs in red is probably enough, in addition to adding the red to my bouquet…so now we’re thinking more subtle hints of red and keeping everything else very natural and light with lots of green and white and incorporating wood textures. i’m getting excited and realize that its ok to mix it up and have other colors show up, i don’t tend to like the matchy matchy anyway so i don’t know why i was thinking differently for my wedding.
thanks for all of your wonderful ideas and links to inspiration boards! and thanks for posting this abby
-jam
Comment by Tiffany on 4 June 2008:
I love your color choice. Lime green, bright white, wood tones and a hint of red here and there. Check out this link talked about today on the Oh Happy Day Blog (http://jordanferney.blogspot.com/)of an event designer. Here is the link:
http://artfool.com/portfolio/portfolio-event/bedfordhills1/bedford1-1.html
Comment by Tiffany on 4 June 2008:
and these links too:
http://artfool.com/portfolio/portfolio-event/bedfordhills2/bedford2-1.html
and this one used natural wood by using birch disks and birch paper wrapped around vases.
http://artfool.com/portfolio/portfolio-event/tribeca-2006-08/06-08-12-01.html
and here is a wedding with just lime green and white
http://artfool.com/portfolio/portfolio-event/kitchen2005/kitchen2005-1.html
I love the idea of adding chocolate brown, but a lot of that can be in the natural wood you choose.
Have fun with the planning!
Comment by Alannah Rose on 5 June 2008:
I had red and green for my own wedding!
Deep red cymbidium orchids were the base. Invites had green, stone and white and the burgundy flower.
The overall colour palette for the day was deep red/burgundy, green, stone, pink and white. The bouquets were mixed with green hydgrangeas and berries and the bridesmaids gowns were a dusty pink. Table runners were lime green with a darker shade green ceramic centrepiece that featured tall stems of cymbidiums in red. I think if you keep the red to a minimum you’ll avoid the christmas feel and use some other colours to help blend and tone the overall theme. Some images from my wedding here
http://alannahrose.com.au/blog/?cat=16
best wishes with your plans.
Comment by Wedding Inspirations on 5 June 2008:
Your color scheme sounds lovely, Jam! I did an inspiration board in deep red and lime green recently that’s heavy on the cymbidium orchids:
http://weddinginspirationblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/cranberry-and-pistachio.html
Comment by Hollie on 5 June 2008:
My wedding colours are chartreuse green and burgundy. I was worried at first it would be a problem with the xmassy look but I think I figured it out and it’s gonna look great!
Pretty much I incorporated a lot of white and black along with the reds and greens. But above all dont put the red and green right beside each other with nothing else. So the tables will have a white and black runner, a black lantern, red flowers, green, white and black napkins. The decorations are all going to be green paper lantherns. Bouquets are going to be all green too and bridesmaids dresses are black. groomsmen are going to have red ties
Comment by Louann on 6 June 2008:
Did you also know that the hottest new thing is Rainbow foam by Oasis? It comes in rings, cubes and powder and is meant to be seen - not covered up with greenery. There are also lime green pearl headed pins, decorative wire and more. http://www.wedding-flowers-and-reception-ideas.com/beach-theme-wedding.html
I’ve done weddings with these hot colors in the summertime - believe me - they don’t look like the earthy pines of Christmas greens. You can add other hot sizzling colors like Hot Pink, etc. to offset too much of a Christmas feel.
Comment by Louann on 6 June 2008:
Did you also know that the hottest new thing is Rainbow foam by Oasis? It comes in rings, cubes and powder and is meant to be seen - not covered up with greenery. There are also lime green pearl headed pins, decorative wire and more. http://www.wedding-flowers-and-reception-ideas.com/beach-theme-wedding.html
I’ve done weddings with these hot colors in the summertime - believe me - they don’t look like the earthy pines of Christmas greens. You can add other hot sizzling colors like Hot Pink, etc. to offset too much of a Christmas feel.
Comment by Louann on 6 June 2008:
Did you also know that the hottest new thing is Rainbow foam by Oasis? It comes in rings, cubes and powder and is meant to be seen - not covered up with greenery. There are also lime green pearl headed pins, decorative wire and more. http://www.wedding-flowers-and-reception-ideas.com/beach-theme-wedding.html
I’ve done weddings with these hot colors in the summertime - believe me - they don’t look like the earthy pines of Christmas greens. You can add other hot sizzling colors like Hot Pink, etc. to offset too much of a Christmas feel.
Comment by Hannah Middleton on 8 June 2008:
I had this same problem! I decided to incorporate a dark plum to give the palette a richer look. It came out beautifully and didn’t look Christmassy at all. also, just be careful to keep the green a very light color, the darker the green the more xmas-y it looks! good luck!
Comment by heather hennigan on 8 June 2008:
how do you email a question to Abby?
Comment by Miriam on 13 November 2008:
HI Abby,
My daugther will be celebrating her sweet 15 in the upcoming year. She wuld like to have an Alice in wonderland theme, I have no clue were to start on decorations and cake designs. Please help and guideme to the correct path. She my fisrt daughter and I would love for her to have to most special Day.
Thank you,
Miriam Marroquin
Los Angeles, Ca