If you’re just beginning to look for bridesmaids gowns and dresses, or you find yourself still in the middle of your search, consider the following popular color swatches to choose from. All of them are beautiful!
Here are some important considerations when choosing a color for your glam squad!
This is HUGE! Take a good look around your venue. If your wedding is outside at a barn, a vineyard, or open space facing the water, study the topography. Consider whether or not there will be natural spring flowers or orange-hued autumn leaves around you on your wedding day. Consider the temperature range that typically you might find in the season you choose for the big day.
If your wedding is indoors, say at a hotel or fancy mansion, note the artwork, upholstery, wall paper, and even the carpet. Steer clear of any colors that would clash with these. You want everything to be cohesive. If your color palette clashes terribly with the décor of the venue, your guests could be left very confused because their eyes won’t know where to look. For example, many hotel ballrooms have colorful carpet with crazy patterns. (Hey hotels, I’ve never understood this, BTW!) If your hotel’s carpet is burgundy and navy blue, a lavender and sage green wedding might look totally out of place. Consider the overall picture!
Fall and winter weddings tend to feature darker, richer colors. Meanwhile in spring and summer, pastels and brights give off that happy feeling. Remember that darker colors will tend to absorb more of the sunlight and make your bridesmaids hot in the summer heat. Of course, there are no hard and fast rules about this but a hot pink palette may seem a bit out of place at a January wedding. Similarly, you don’t often see jewel tones at June nuptials (although it could be quite beautiful!). None of this means you can’t choose off-seasons colors, but you might want to give some thought to the time of year.
Think about what kind of flowers you’d like to have. Do those flowers come in the colors you’re considering? Or would you be open to another accent color for florals? For example, while a gray and light blue wedding can be really pretty, there really aren’t a ton of blue flowers. And there certainly aren’t gray flowers. All white or all pink florals would make for a contrasting pop though! In any case, you don’t want your flowers to clash with your color theme. There is debate about which you select first, the color theme or the flowers. I’m not sure there is a wrong answer and perhaps you can choose both at the same time!
Think about your potential colors and how each would look in the form of a dress or other attire. Consider these shades and the skin tones of your bridal party to ensure that everyone looks and feels their best. Someone with a very pale skin tone may not feel their absolute best in a very light shade of pink, for example, whereas black tends to look great on everyone! You know your gals… they’re your best friends, so don’t be afraid to ask them.
How would you describe your wedding? How have you dreamt about it all your life? What did you picture in this dream or fantasy? What is the overall atmosphere and feel you’re trying to create? Now think about how the answers to those questions connect to color. If you’re going for casual and playful, lean toward bright, fun, or whimsical shades. For a timeless, chic affair, opt for a classic neutral, like black or navy, with an accent shade and even a metallic. Trying to create drama? Jewel tones are your friend. Think about what vibe you want your wedding to give off and then determine what colors put you in that mind set. And don’t forget to think about 30 years from now… will you regret or be glad by the color choice (will you scratch your head and say, “What the heck was I thinking”)? This last question would typically imply that selecting a safe, timeless color might be your best option.
Color Palette Swatches to Consider:
