A Black, White, and Silver New Year’s Eve Wedding

New Year’s Eve is definitely the most glamorous night of the whole year to have a wedding. Black, white, and silver is a chic color palette that will bring out the stylish flair of the holiday. Learn how to plan an unforgettable New Year’s Eve wedding using a black, white, and silver color scheme.

It almost goes without saying that a New Year’s Eve wedding should be black tie. Classic black tie always looks the most elegant; while rental shops may suggest colorful vests for the groom and groomsmen, a black cummberbund is more dashing and timeless. Silver dresses will be the clear choice for the bridesmaids. If they are comfortable in slender silhouettes, slinky silk sheaths would be ideal. Choose ones with a gathered bustline and wide straps, like something from the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1930s. Big sparkly crystal jewelry will complete their look perfectly.  An incredible look for the bride is a fluid sheath gown covered from head to toe in tiny crystals or sequins. Because the silhouette of a sheath is so simple, you can get away with really bold crystal bridal jewelry.

Then there are the flowers! Accent white flowers with silvery elements to incorporate the color scheme into the bouquet. Silvery dusty miller or lamb’s ear leaves are wonderful natural accents to ruffly white parrot tulips or lovely white camellias. Another idea is to use silver metal leaves or tiny metallic silver balls to mix into the white blossoms. Being New Year’s Eve, you could even get away with glittery silver curly branches mixed into the bouquets or centerpieces. Tie the bouquets with black velvet ribbons to complete the effect. The centerpieces will be very striking arranged in black vases. Either use fluted footed black vases for a vintage flair, or tall sleek rectangular black vessels for a sleek modern look.

To bring your black, white, and silver color scheme to life at your New Year’s Eve wedding, special table linens are a must. I personally do not care for black table linens (they never feel clean to me), but silver would look amazing. Shimmery silver organza toppers can be used over standard white tablecloths, or if budget permits, rent silver silk dupioni linens with a chic quilted stitching (like a Chanel handbag). Since the centerpieces will be primarily black and white, the whole elegant color theme will come together beautifully.

Elegant Fall Wedding Colors: Grape and Magenta

Rich colors are always beautiful for an autumn wedding. But that does not mean that the only option are traditional fall colors like orange and red. For something unexpected, consider the elegant fall wedding colors grape and magenta.

One of the great things about grape and magenta is that it will be very easy to find flowers in your signature hues. You can use roses, orchids, gladiolus, calla lilies, orchids, stocks, lisianthus, carnations, tinted seeded eucalyptus, alstromeria, and dahlias. With so many varieties, you will definitely be able to work with your florist to create the perfect bouquets, centerpieces, and ceremony arrangements. An equal mix of the two colors will look magnificent. If you wish to make your centerpieces more formal, display them in silver footed bowls or tall tapered vases.

Grape and magenta are gorgeous colors for the bridesmaid dresses. Cocktail style party dresses are a very hot trend for bridesmaids right now, and there are some fantastic ones available in deep purple. Some of the most chic are those which have a bit of a mid-century inspiration, such as a portrait neckline or cap sleeves, done in satin or dupioni. Classic pearl bridesmaid jewelry will suit these elegant silhouetted. If you like dresses with more of a modern twist, opt for a chic one shoulder dress in grape or magenta. Just steer clear of summery fabrics like chiffon and organza. Dramatic crystal bridesmaid jewelry made with amethyst colored crystals would be fantastic with modern dresses.

A unique idea for your wedding reception is to hire a lighting specialist to use your signature colors to dress the venue. A magenta colorwash would be gorgeous cast on one wall of the reception site. It is a high energy color, so consider using it during the dancing part of the evening. Another possibility is to drape the reception ceiling with white fabric (so pretty for a tented wedding) and cast the light onto the ceiling for a subtle glow. What a wonderful way to infuse your wedding with your special hues.

Tips on Wedding Color Selection

These tips on wedding color selection will get you off to a great start…

The first thing to keep in mind is that people get tired of seeing the same old, same old. A great way to avoid this potential pitfall is to choose wedding colors which are unexpected. So perhaps instead of decorating a fall wedding entirely in the standard autumn leaf colors like orange, yellow, and red, you could decide to have an aubergine and sage green color palette. It would be just as appropriate for the season, but your wedding won’t look like every other fall wedding. The same idea can be used as a springboard to break away from the most predictable wedding color schemes.

Another excellent tip when selecting your wedding colors is to avoid palettes which are visually jarring. Very high contrast combinations like black and white can be hard to live with, and may not look the best in the wedding pictures. It is perfectly fine to choose a high contrast duo as your main design focus, just add in a third accent shade which falls somewhere in the middle. For instance, a black and white palette could be softened with the occasional hint of blush pink for a vintage romantic feeling, or accents in apple green for a fresh modern style.

Overly vibrant color palettes should also be approached with caution. While it is great to have festive and upbeat hues for the wedding flowers and decorations, too much of a good thing can be overwhelming. Always build in some visual places for the eye to rest. If your color scheme is hot pink, mango, and lime, temper it with plenty of crisp white. A yellow color scheme can be toned down with touches of gray or soft creamy shades.

Something else to keep in mind when choosing the colors for your wedding is that they should reflect who you are more than what the latest trends happen to be. Every couple of years, a color becomes so popular for weddings that it gets done to death, and it ends up feeling very unoriginal. The Tiffany blue wedding trend is a case in point. You are far better off designing a wedding color palette which is meaningful to you personally than slavishly following what you see in the bridal magazines. If you love the romantic vintage look of lace and pretty pearl bridal jewelry, choose a soft combination of apricot, cream, and dove gray.

A Silver and Gold Theme Wedding

Silver and gold is a wedding theme which can be used at any time of the year. If you wish, add an accent color in a seasonal hue to tailor it to the time of the year in which you will be married. Silver, gold, and pink are delicate and romantic for a formal spring wedding. Or add burgundy for a rich autumn color palette. Black, gold, and silver look spectacular for a New Year’s Eve wedding. Or simply enhance the metallic hues by pairing them with white, cream, or pale champagne. The results will be stunning.

Your bridesmaid dresses are a great place to introduce your wedding colors. Choose a dress in either silver or gold, unless you happen to find an elegant jacquard dress which combines both metallic hues equally. Clear crystal bridesmaid jewelry is always an excellent choice with a metallic dress. Bouquets of beautiful white or ivory blossoms such as roses, orchids, peonies, or calla lilies will be perfect when tied with a silver and gold ribbon. The bride can choose a wedding gown with metallic embroidery, wear silver or gold shoes, and carry a white bouquet tied with metallic ribbon.

Painted accents are a wonderful way to bring the silver and gold wedding colors into the floral arrangements for the ceremony and reception. Tall branches can be painted in metallic colors to add drama and elegance to centerpieces and altar arrangements. Decorate them with white roses, orchids, and hanging crystals for a spectacular design. For a fall or winter wedding, natural elements such as pine cones will look great painted gold or silver. You can dip the edges in glitter for an extra bit of sparkle, if you like. Wire your metallic pine cones into bouquets and centerpieces for an unexpected detail. Non-floral decorations such as metallic Christmas ornaments or metallic vases are another great way to bring your wedding theme into the centerpieces.

For the wedding reception, choose either silver or gold silk dupioni tablecloths. Quilted silk cloths are also extremely elegant. You can layer in napkins in the other signature metallic shade. You may also wish to rent gold or silver chiavari chairs for the seating. Select china with a silver and gold scroll design around the border for a rich effect. You may also wish to rent heavy silverware which is both silver and gold to set your regal table. Even place cards and menu cards can have a metallic edge to add to the look.  Any formal wedding could be enhanced with a regal silver and gold color palette.

What Your Wedding Colors Say About You

The colors which you choose for your wedding do much more than simply add to the decor of the event. They also make a statement, both about the wedding and your own personality. Picking the right color palette will really help to put your personal stamp on your wedding, while choosing carelessly might result in making a statement which you never intended. Learn what your wedding colors say about you.

White and Ivory: If your wedding is predominantly decorated in shades of white or ivory, it says that you love tradition. The classic white wedding tends to be more conservative and it can be very elegant. Be careful, though, because an all white wedding can also end up looking boring and unimaginative. You can give your white wedding personality by using interesting textures like lace or damask, flattering lighting, sparkling crystal in both the stemware and the bridesmaid jewelry, and elegant flourishes like tall centerpieces.

Pink: A pink wedding tends to be very romantic and feminine. To give it more depth, layer shades of pink ranging from pale ballet pink to bright pink to raspberry. This works especially well for the combination of bridesmaid dresses, jewelry, and bouquets. When pink is combined with an accent color, the mood it creates can be changed. Add green to pink for a classic preppy style. Combine orange with hot pink for a spirited summer celebration. Mix black with pink for a more modern take on a classic wedding favorite.

Charcoal and Yellow: Who ever would have guessed that gray could become such a popular wedding color? It has though, due to its modern sophistication. To keep gray from looking dreary, it is often used in unexpected pairings with bright colors, particularly yellow. Choose this color palette if the statement you want to make is that your taste is chic, contemporary, and a bit daring.

Red: Red is the color of passion, so obviously a red theme wedding is going to be one all about love. It is also a strong color and can be controversial depending on how it is used. A red wedding gown, for instance, is going to raise eyebrows in traditional families, and should only be worn by a bride who wants to make the statement that she is non-traditional. A bouquet of red roses carried by a bride in a white wedding gown, on the other hand, is simply romantic. When red is mixed with purple, the message of passion is intensified; pair red with black for the ultimate in drama.

A Red and White Wedding Color Palette

A great place to start planning a red and white wedding is with the attire. Certainly, the bride will wear a white wedding gown. For the bridesmaids, a red dress is the obvious choice. There are actually many shades of red, from cherry to cranberry to wine, so select your red with care. The rich hue looks wonderful in fabrics such as satin and dupioni which really hold an intense saturation. White pearl jewelry would make lovely bridesmaid gifts with the red dresses, or give your girls glamorous bridesmaid jewelry gifts like crystal chandelier earrings. Black, silver, or gold shoes will look more chic with the red bridesmaid dresses than dyed-to-match red shoes.

Red and white look fabulous together for bouquets and centerpieces. Because the red is such an intense hue, it is best to mix it fairly evenly with the white to create a balanced effect. Red and white roses in combination are always stunning for a traditional wedding. If you are getting married in the winter, consider tropical flowers like amaryllis or poinsettias which come in the two signature colors. For a spring wedding, white and red tulips would be lovely. A great style for an informal wedding would be red and white gerbera daisies mixed together in equal parts. There are also some flowers which combine red and white on a single blossom, such as carnations.

Pattern and texture are excellent ways to take your red and white color palette in a specific direction. For example, if you are planning an informal summer wedding, a cheerful white and red gingham check would be wonderful for the tablecloths. Top it with gerbera daisies in tin pails for a great summer picnic effect. Looking to create a more grand setting for your wedding? Top your tables with a cranberry and white cloth in an opulent jacquard pattern. Rich textures like velvet ribbons on the bouquets will add to the style.

Naturally, you will want to incorporate your signature color palette into the wedding cake design. A charming idea for a summer wedding cake would be a buttercream cake frosted with a basketweave pattern. Top it with fresh strawberries or raspberries – delicious! If your style is more grand, a white fondant cake decorated with red swags would be magnificent. Keep in mind that red coloring can make frosting taste “off”, so use red accents sparingly and think about including non-frosting red decorations like ribbons, fruit, and flowers. It will be the perfect finishing detail for your gorgeous red and white wedding.

Winter Wedding Color Palettes

One of the most elegant color palettes for a winter wedding is glacier blue and silver. The silver adds that icy twinkle that something that only a winter celebration can have, while the blue is a nice touch of color as a departure from pure winter white. Make the light color seasonal by bringing in rich fabrics like silk satin and silk dupioni. Ice blue satin bridesmaid dresses would be chic for the attendants. Custom bridal Swarovski necklaces with touches of glacier blue would be equally lovely for the bride and her bridesmaids.

If you are a traditionalist, you will love the classic red, green, and white color combination for your winter wedding. Really play up the spirit of the season by decorating with rich tartans, metallic gold ribbons, and luxurious place settings with gold chargers. Instead of standard centerpieces, decorate the reception tables with Christmas tree shaped topiaries planted in gold painted pots. Add small tartan ribbons and white flowers to the topiaries for the perfect finishing touch.

Deep purple and moss green would be a beautiful color palette for a winter wedding. It is an excellent alternative to either of the two usual approaches – Winter Wonderland white or holiday red. The richness of the purple and moss green are very much in keeping with the winter season, yet are far from what is expected. When using an offbeat color palette, avoid references to the traditional winter motifs like snowflakes and sleighs. Let your color scheme be the only defined theme. Lustrous silk dupioni bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses accented with custom bridal Swarovski necklaces will fit in beautifully with the elegant colors.

Of course, an ultra-traditional all-white wedding is always appealing in the winter months, just as it is all year round. White can be used as part of a Winter Wonderland theme complete with snowflakes, or it can be used in a less seasonal fashion. Whether your taste runs to the classics or something a bit less expected, you will find that there are many gorgeous options for winter wedding color palettes.

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.