Persnickety's Four-One-One

*Apply these rules to interior decorating and choosing the right paint color for your home. 

Choosing the theme and colors of your W-day is probably the first major decision any bride, couple will make to get the ball rolling on planning. From experience (professional & personal), wedding colors are usually chosen for sentimental reasons: to commemorate a loved one; to set the mood & compliment the decor; or simply to celebrate the couple’s union, “it’s our favorite color”.

Whatever the reason, understanding color is very IMPORTANT. Colors dictate moods, evoke feelings, communicate culture and thus can have physiological effects. It seems trivial, BUT fantastic weddings are not just determined by the food & the music. There’s a very strong connection between colors and, “I had a wonderful time; everyone was dancing all night!”

Color is a VERY strong communication tool, & breaking down the psychology of it can help you (& your wedding planner) achieve the experience you want on your special day. Color will encourage your guests to dance & party all night, OR enjoy an intimate & romance filled ceremony.

White- Pure, clean, innocent.

Best paired with black, neutral & “soft” colors such as grey, peach, powder blue or mint green.  Because white can feel cold, off white and oyster are usually preferred. If you have a small venue, use white (draping) to give the illusion of more space.

 Black- Sophistication, glamour, power.

The symbol for elegance (think black-tie event), black communicates the feeling of authority and security. Because it has cultural connotations that symbolize death, balance it with white, reds, silver and use lighting as an accessory to promote this color’s more positive attributes.

Brown/ Tan- Warm, organic, relaxing, informal.

Laid-back weddings usually incorporate elements of brown, but its lack of formality usually dictates that it is paired with a strong primary color like blue, green, pink or orange.  Browns are best used for the no-fuss outdoor, beach or backyard wedding.

Pink- Warm, nurturing, feminine, love.

Soft & soothing, pink epitomizes the feminine principle, portraying romance and love- the stuff fairytales are made of. Although it’s a color with great personality, it can be emasculating and too much of it can be emotionally draining. For formality, it is best paired with gold and champagne & so its not so emasculating add some grays or browns. Pink is a great option for creating special effects with lighting.

Purple/ Violet- Spiritual, Royal, luxurious, encourages thoughtfulness.

Balance is key when it comes to purple since it’s attributes are also its downfalls. Purple encourages self-reflection and spirituality, but too much of that discourages socializing & downplays the fun factor. The wrong hue & fabric can also communicate lack of taste, the antithesis of royalty and luxury. Best paired with deep blues, off-white, silver and varying shades of pink. It too is a great color for event lighting.

Green- Harmonious, refreshing, natural, relaxing.

The ultimate accent color, green is the one that ties it all together. Too much of it can be a bit boring as it promotes rest & relaxation (hence the “green room”). This color is best paired with off white and earthy, warm tones like browns, pinks and oranges. For a luxurious feel, dark purple can also work but make sure you have a good eye for color balance.

Blue- Serenity, trust, loyalty, clarity.

Universally the most loved color, blue can be incorporated into any wedding theme: tropical paradise, winter wonderland, simple beach front, or breakfast at Tiffany’s. Different hues and tones of blue communicate differently, dark blues are loyalty and trust, light blues are serene and modern. Too much blue however can feel cold, so make sure that you have another color to equally share the spotlight. Whether its your focal point or an accent color, you cannot go wrong with blue.

Orange-Exciting, playful, energetic, passionate.

Break out the margaritas & join the conga line! Orange adds vibrancy to any affair; partying and orange are synonymous- it even makes me want to use my exclamation mark! Orange is usually paired with other warm colors, like pinks, yellows and blues. Use tan and grey to play down the intense energy this color brings, adding a sense of maturity to a color that is so playful. Word of advice, never pair this color with black. Your guests will always think Halloween unless, of course, that is the point.

Yellow- Friendly, warm, bold, optimistic.

This is a color you cannot miss; it’s warm and inviting. Wedding pictures with yellow as the accent color always paint a picture of ultra happiness and optimism. The trick with yellow is you must choose the right hues and not use too much of it. Due to its bold nature, it can become tiring to continually look at.

 What’s your wedding’s color palette?