A Forest Theme Wedding

Imagine how beautiful it would be to have a forest theme wedding. The soothing natural colors, the charming woodland creatures, and the abundance of rich textures would all combine to make a truly delightful experience. These are some ideas and inspiration on how to design a forest theme wedding.

As with most weddings, the place to begin is by selecting your wedding colors. For a forest theme wedding, choose rich colors like chocolate brown, moss green, and touches of gold (either metallic or not). These colors will be equally at home in an actual forest clearing or in a more conventional indoor reception site. Chocolate, moss, and gold can also be used for any season; change the tone by fabric selection. For instance, in the autumn or winter, you could use sumptuous materials like velvet and shantung, whereas in the spring or summer, things can be lightened up a bit with organza or chiffon.

For the wedding attire, something a bit non-traditional would best suit a forest theme. Think romantic and soft, maybe a bit ethereal. The satin ballgown is definitely out. You could use a couple of different inspirations for a forest-y wedding gown. One would be the dreamy woodland fairy and another would be the more down-to-earth but romantic Robin Hood style. The bridesmaids’ dresses would be gorgeous in a moss green with chocolate colored accents. Topaz colored crystal bridesmaid jewelry would be a stunning accent or choose Swarovski crystal leaf pendants and earrings as the bridesmaid jewelry.

Decorating the ceremony and reception sites for a forest theme wedding will be really fun! Gather natural materials such as pinecones, moss, and branches as your primary materials. You can go with a very rustic feeling or take the theme in a more elegant direction by adding touches of metallic gold. Of course the ideal place for a forest theme wedding would be a clearing in an actual forest, but you can also transform an indoor setting by bringing in all of the natural elements. Gobo lights projecting tree shadows onto the walls of a tent or ballroom would be a wonderful detail.

Wedding Color Palettes Inspired by Nature

Sunrise / Sunset: For bold sun-drenched wedding colors, use the sun itself as your inspiration. Shades of golden yellow, orange, and pinkish-red are just gorgeous together. If you like, you can balance out the warm colors with a little bit of sky blue. Sunset colors would be ideal for a summer wedding, especially one by the ocean. Choose one of the main colors for bridesmaid dresses, and then use the rest in combination for everything from flowers to linens to stationery. Your signature cocktail? Tequila sunrise, of course!

Woodsy: Nature loving couples will adore the shades found in forests and woodlands for their wedding colors. Think shades of green like moss and fern, mushroom brown, cream, and bark. The green shades would be lovely for bridesmaids, and the cream tones ideal for the wedding gown and flowers. The bride may wish to wear unique handcrafted bridal jewelry in warm tones to complement the color palette. If you like the idea of a little contrast, bring in accents in deep violet, as if you stumbled across a patch of violets in a shady forest.

Peacock: Of course, there is nothing to say that nature inspired hues need to be understated. If you really want to make a splash with your wedding design, take your cue from nature’s flashiest creature: the peacock. Peacock colors would be absolutely stunning for a New Year’s Eve wedding! Not only can you choose dresses, flowers, and linens in the fabulous color palette, you can incorporate real peacock feathers into the wedding. The colorful feathers would be amazing tucked into bouquets and centerpieces. The bride can even wear a special headband made from crystals and peacock feathers which lay flat against the head. Such a unique headpiece will call for equally special handcrafted bridal jewelry.

Icy Blue: For a winter wedding, try a color palette that looks like snow: brilliant white, icy blue, and touches of silver. It is the perfect color scheme for a wedding in the frosty winter months. By the way, if you love the colors but find the “Winter Wonderland” theme to be a bit too literal, instead of snowflakes, use the icy blue color group to create an Art Deco inspired celebration. The cool sophisticated colors would be just right, and the sleek lines and high design of Art Deco would make for an ultra-chic wedding.

Formal Fall Wedding Colors

Did you know that September and October are among the most popular months for weddings? Fall weddings have a very different flavor than the bright summer weddings which precede them or the “Winter Wonderland” weddings of the holiday season. Many of the ideas for autumn weddings are rustic, but one can certainly have a more elegant wedding in the fall months. These are some ideas for formal fall wedding colors.

When trying to avoid the standard rustic fall colors, the key is to use something a bit more sophisticated with one of the rich seasonal hues. For instance, the rich red of burgundy is a fairly classic fall color, but when paired with a deep aubergine, the result is truly regal. It would be a fantastic color palette for an October evening wedding. Decorate with an abundance of roses in burgundy and aubergine, along with touches of amber crystal to lighten things up a touch. The bride can choose to wear a gown with golden tones instead of pure white, perhaps accented with custom bridal jewelry in amber crystals. It would be a perfect bridal ensemble for a ceremony in a Gothic stone church.

Brown is a popular color for autumn weddings. To make the look more elegant than rustic, steer clear of the standard brown with orange combination. Brown paired with a luxurious lilac color would be feminine and yet seasonal for a fall afternoon ceremony. Think about how pretty your bridesmaids would look in brown taffeta or shantung dresses with lilac sashes. For the bouquets, choose elegant flowers in shades of lilac and light purple, such as lisanthus, calla lilies, orchids, roses, and statice. To bring the fall season into the bouquets, create a ruffle of embossed velvet leaves in brown and deep purple around the blossoms.

Gold is an excellent color for a formal fall wedding, as is its cousin, bronze. The rich warm metallics are ideal for an upscale autumn wedding and pair beautifully with any number of other colors. Dark colors such as forest green, cobalt (just a bit fresher than navy), russet, and deep orange are all gorgeous when combined with gold or bronze accents. Set the mood with invitations engraved in an exquisite gold font and line the envelopes with your other color. For the wedding decorations, use gold or bronze charger plates under the dinner china, layered over dupioni tablecloths in forest, cobalt, russet or deep orange. The gorgeous colors will bring your autumn wedding to life beautifully.

Brown Wedding Color Palettes

Brown is one of the most versatile colors for weddings. While not necessarily considered to be one of the most festive colors, brown adds a richness and sophistication to a wedding color palette that can really enhance the overall design of the event. Take a look at some of the elegant ways to include brown in your wedding color palette.

In the spring, a soft cocoa color pairs wonderfully with lilac. The unexpected color combination is chic and stylish, and the brown helps tone down the Easter egg effect of the spring pastels. Try bridesmaid dresses in lilac organza or shantung with cocoa brown sashes and mocha bridesmaid jewelry sets. Bouquets in a range of lilacs and light purples tied with cocoa satin ribbons will be the perfect coordinate.

For a late summer wedding, try mixing brown with a bright coral color. The depth of the brown will tone down the intensity of the coral and make it more sophisticated. It is great for an evening wedding, but would also be quite chic for the afternoon. A deep chocolate or even an espresso shade is an excellent match for the coral. If you wish to add another color to your palette, try mixing in touches of mango for a little more warmth. All these colors work beautifully for the centerpieces and bouquets, and will also look great for all the reception details. A tiered wedding cake covered with smooth chocolate ganache decorated with coral and mango mini calla lilies would be the height of elegance and style for any reception.

If you like a dramatic look, think about mixing a rich chocolate with a dark plum hue (sounds almost good enough to eat!). This would be a regal and striking palette for a winter wedding. These colors look excellent in the luxe fabrics of the winter season such as sumptuous silks, velvets, and even faux furs. When using a palette this rich, go overboard with opulent details, such as towering centerpieces set on quilted silk tablecloths with beading. Take it over the top with a chic lounge at the reception featuring low slung plum velvet sofas with cream and chocolate faux fur pillows scattered about. Too fabulous!

Pink and Gray Wedding Colors

Pink is always a popular color for weddings. For the last several years, pink and brown have been an especially hot color palette, but this year, a new neutral has replaced brown as the top companion to pink. Take a look at these great ideas for using pink and gray wedding colors.

Bridesmaid dresses are a great place to begin planning your wedding colors.  For an elegant evening wedding, try floor length charcoal gray dresses in a soft silk chiffon. It is one of the most chic bridesmaid dress styles of the season, and your ladies are sure to look graceful and sophisticated. If your wedding is in the daytime hours, think about opting for a pink bridesmaid dress. Something with clean lines would work best with the chic gray accent color, rather than a dress which is very frilly. To bring in the gray accents, try sets of pearl bridal jewelry in a dove gray shade.

Naturally pink flowers will be the ideal choice for a pink and gray wedding. Elegant pink roses, exotic orchids, lush peonies, and unique ranunculus are among the flowers which would be especially beautiful. Bring in your signature shade of gray with special bouquet wraps, such as a charcoal satin ribbon binding the stems. A fabulous accent idea would be to pin a pewter and crystal brooch to the handle of the bride’s bouquet, or ask your florist about incorporating some gray pearls in amongst the blossoms in the bouquets.

When the wedding flowers favor the pink, more gray can be used in the table linens at the reception. Choose carefully, as too much gray can bring down the energy of the room. Tablecloths with a hint of shimmer will ensure that the gray is elegant, rather than dreary. Charcoal gray silk dupioni or an embroidered pewter organza would be beautiful reception linens that would provide the perfect backdrop for pink floral centerpieces. The upscale and elegant pink and gray color palette is an excellent option for any bride.

Guide to Choosing Wedding Colors

Think about how many elements of your wedding will feature your chosen color or colors: the flowers, the bridesmaid dresses and bridesmaid jewelry, the invitations, the wedding cake, maybe even the invitations. That is why the color that you select is so important. Almost any color can be beautiful for a wedding, but not all will be ideal for the style that you wish to create. First and foremost, the wedding color that you select should be one which you really love, but beyond that, it should suit the season, the location, and the formality of your event.

Pastel colors like pink, yellow, lilac, and celadon are all wonderful for springtime weddings. They have a light and airy effect that is as lovely as the first breeze of spring on a sunny day. Colors this light will tend to look the best for daytime weddings, especially those which are held outdoors. The softness of these shades makes them very easy to use in combination with each other, as well. Just be careful that your wedding does not end up looking like an Easter egg!

Bright colors such as hot pink, lime green, turquoise, and true orange are very festive. They work beautifully for a summertime wedding, especially a casual one. These bright choices are cheerful and fun, which makes them great when your main goal is to design a wedding at which everyone will really get into a party spirit. They are not so great for formal weddings, however, as they really do feel more like a beach afternoon. The turquoise and lime green make a fantastic pair, and the hot pink and orange are equally terrific together.

Rich colors such as red and purple are more elegant and formal (depending on the shade of red and how it is used it can also work for a casual wedding). Think of deep red roses or dramatic purple orchids for an opulent evening wedding. To enhance the feeling of richness, choose silver or gold accents. On the other hand, these same colors can be used with a more lighthearted approach by combining them with a bright or light shade. Lime green with cherry red is modern and fresh, and lilac mixed with purple will brighten it up for a daytime wedding.

A Modern Orange and Blue Wedding

The right color palette can do a lot for your wedding. It can give it style and energy, set a tone and establish a strong theme. The trick is to select wedding colors that feel fresh and original. One hot new style is a modern orange and blue wedding.

When choosing the particular shades to put together, think about the impression that they give. The orange and blue should also be of a similar intensity. For instance, on a hot summer day, tangerine and aqua blue feel tropical and festive. Peach and robin’s egg blue are soft and feminine for a spring garden wedding. A pure orange and a navy blue are bold and modern, perfect for a confident bride with a contemporary style.

Orange is a very versatile color for wedding flowers. From bouquets, to centerpieces, to accent pieces, you will find all sorts of gorgeous orange blossoms to include. Tie up a bouquet of bright orange gerbera daisies with a navy blue and white striped wrap. Or display soft ruffly apricot sweetpeas in vintage robin’s egg blue pitchers and footed vases. For a unique take on the tangerine and aqua palette, fill the bottoms of clear vases with bright aqua blue crystals or marbles, then top with festive flowers in shades of tangerine.

The bridesmaids’ attire is another place that you will surely want to use your wedding colors. Peach is flattering on a range of skin tones, but the bolder oranges shades can be difficult to pull off. They will tend to work best on brides with deeper skin tones. In many cases, pulling the blue into the bridesmaids’ dresses is the best way to go, especially considering that they will be carrying orange bouquets. This will allow the dresses and bouquets to pop against one another. For the bridesmaid jewelry sets, you can either have pieces custom made in crystals in your wedding colors, or choose neutral sets of bridesmaid jewelry.

Once you have designed your wedding flowers and bridal party attire, you can think about the rest of the wedding. Your blue and orange color palette will look great carried into the table linens, favors, and even into chandeliers. Have fun designing a wedding in blue and orange that is modern, chic, and a true original.

Pink and Black Wedding Style

Pink and black make a striking pair. Pink is soft and ultra-feminine, where black is dark and sophisticated. When the two are put together, you get a high contrast and high style palette that will add instant flair to your wedding.

There are some great ways in which pink and black can be used for a wedding. One idea is to go with a retro 1950s theme. The color combination of pink and black was very popular in mid century fashion, and it can provide a really cool look for a wedding. Picture the bridesmaids in knee length pink satin strapless cocktail dresses with black tulle peeking out from the hem. Add a black sash at the waist with an oversized fabric flower for a lovely detail. Finish off their look with custom bridal jewelry made from pink Swarovski pearls and jet black crystals.

Pink and black can also have a wonderful modern Victoriana flavor. This would be wonderful for a formal or evening wedding. Use motifs like intricate swirls, scrollwork, and brocade designs. A pink background with thin black scrolls would be an elegant and chic design around which to base your wedding. You could start by using it for the wedding invitations, and branch out from there.

There are some marvelous things you could do for wedding flowers with these colors. Any flower you could ever desire is available in pink. For the bridal bouquets, trim the flower stems with braided pink and black satin ribbons. Or add drama to an evening wedding by combining glamorous black feathers with pink flowers for centerpieces and bouquets.

Your wedding cake is a perfect place to showcase your wedding colors and design scheme. A pink fondant cake can be decorated with black in a variety of gorgeous ways. One of the most elegant would be a modern damask pattern. For something more dainty, try tiny black Swiss dots on a pink cake. Trim each layer with a gum paste ribbon and “bow”. Have fun planning a marvelous wedding all done in shades of pink and black.

Choosing Your Wedding Colors

Certain colors are very traditional for weddings, especially white and pastel pink. But this does not mean that you should automatically assume that these are the “best” or “right” colors for a wedding. In fact, the entire color spectrum is at your fingertips, and you can make things even more interesting by combining two or three colors. The trick is to design the wedding color palette that will best help to express the theme or overall style of your wedding.

Formal weddings tend to use more limited colors. A pure white wedding, from the bridal gown to the flowers to the tablecloths and other décor can be breathtaking and romantic for a traditional bride. It can also be bland and incredibly boring, if not handled well. To pull off the perfect white wedding, plan to spice things up with the addition of an accent color like silver or pale blue, or by mixing and layering textures and forms for visual interest.

Red is a bold color, but is also very popular for weddings, as it symbolizes love and passion. Perhaps this explains why deep red roses are such a favorite for Valentine’s Day. Dark red roses are an excellent choice for a formal evening wedding, especially if the bridesmaid dresses are in a similar shade. Just be aware that in black and white photography, dark red can be a harsh contrast against a white wedding gown.

Blue is another favorite of brides, as it symbolizes fidelity. Baby blue and white is a fresh and versatile color palette, one that can easily be used throughout a wedding. It looks wonderful for invitations, china, seat covers, and favors. You can even design custom bridesmaid jewelry gifts that combine white pearls with blue crystals. A nice thing about blue is that the groom will probably like it too. When you select the ideal color palette for your special day, you will find that the rest of the decorating will fall easily into place.

Orange Wedding Decor for Any Season

If you are looking for a color that can add flair to your wedding, take a look at orange. Either on its own, or in conjunction with an other color, orange can be a really terrific wedding color. This is a look at some ways to use orange wedding decorations for every season.

When you think of spring, your mind probably goes to pastels. But there is nothing to say that a spring wedding cannot be designed with brighter colors. A pop of bright orange would look fantastic when paired with a pale blue. The look is fresh, current, and distinctive. A great way to combine the two colors is with a signature pattern that is used throughout the wedding. An orange, pale blue, and white stripe would look wonderful for table linens. Or you could go more formal with a large brocade motif designed in your wedding colors. This would be stunning for the invitations and the wedding cake.

Orange is a great color for summer, as it is cheery and fun. Orange can be a fun and fresh color for summer bridesmaid dresses as well. Crisp cotton strapless dresses in a cream and orange print will look as summery as a creamsicle. Finish off the look with bridesmaid jewelry gifts created from orange Swarovski crystals and cream pearls. The biggest trend in bridesmaid jewelry right now is clustered gems, which make fabulous gifts that your friends will surely adore.

There are so many ways to design an autumn wedding using orange that it might be hard to choose. Think of the crisp fall leaves, the fall pumpkins, pots of orange mums and more. Orange in combination with shades of autumnal gold and russet will create a homey and inviting atmosphere for your guests. It can be used in a rustic style, or a burnt orange can be paired with deep espresso and metallic bronze accents for a rich and sophisticated effect.

Even winter brides can use orange decorations for their weddings. Orange and terra cotta roses with hypericum berries is a beautiful way to use this color family. Other ideas for orange winter weddings include mini mango calla lilies, orange orchids, and orange tulips. These flowers will brighten a drab winter’s day and add style and sophistication to your wedding. It makes a nice departure from the typical red winter wedding floral palette, especially if you are trying to avoid a Christmasy look for your décor.