Article written by Pam Black of Celebration House, Cape Town’s unique wedding information centre. First published in Die Burger Leefstyle newspaper January 2009.
Couples often ask me for advice about suitable colour schemes for their weddings. Mothers of the bride and groom are also frequently at a loss as to a suitable colour to wear to the wedding.
When choosing a colour scheme for your special day, it’s advisable to take into account the time of year at which your wedding will be held. If you plan to marry in spring, softer pastel shades such as pinks and lavenders would work very well. If, on the other hand, you are planning a mid-winter wedding, then richer shades like purple and dark green would be more suitable. An autumn wedding lends itself perfectly to the warm autumn shades of golds and russets.
When choosing your invitation, take your colour scheme and theme into consideration, as this should be continued throughout the wedding. If, for instance, you are having pink butterflies or pieces of lace on your invitation, it is a wise move to have them on the Order of Service, menu etc. as well. Touches of colour can be quite subtle – for example, a small amount of ribbon or lace on the invitations or menu. It’s important not to get too carried away – remember, less is always best!
Working with the colours at your chosen venue will save you a lot of time and money. Incidentally, always check with the venue that they are not planning any major redecoration before your wedding. I once received an agonised letter from a bride who had organised her entire wedding around a silver theme, only to discover a few weeks before the day that the venue had been redecorated in gold!
Consider also what colour you would like your flowers to be and whether they will fit in with your colour scheme. Find out what is available at the time of your wedding, so that you are not faced with the expense of imported flowers. (See the Flower Calendar at www.celebrationhouse.co.za.)
I consulted an artist, Carina Basson, who provided me with the following colour chart, which will give you an idea of which colours blend best together.
Main colour scheme |
Suggested colour matches |
Pink |
Mint green, soft blue, lilac, peach |
Purple |
Mustard, burgundy, darker blues |
Lavender |
Softer blues, pinks, softer yellows (lemon) |
Silver |
Blues, purples, reds, pinks, greens |
Gold |
Reds, oranges, yellows (mustards) |
Main Colour of dresses |
Suggested colour matches for (and shades of) |
Reds (burgundy, pinks etc.) |
Greens, red-orange, red-purple |
Blues (navy, baby blue, aqua) |
Oranges, blue-purple, blue-green |
Yellows (sunflower yellow, lime yellow) lemon, mustard |
Purples, yellow-orange, yellow-green |
Oranges (burnt orange, peach) |
Blues, orange-red, orange-green |
Purples (dark lilac, lavender) |
Yellows, purple-red, purple-blue |
Greens (forest green, bottle green, lime green) |
Purples, green-blue, green-yellow |
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Advice for mothers of the bride
If you are uncertain as to what colour to choose, ask the bride for a fabric sample of the bridesmaids’ dresses, which will help you to find a colour for your outfit that will tone in with the rest of the bridal party.
Always discuss what you are planning to wear with the mother of the groom. This will ensure that you don’t clash in any way.
Remember, it is inappropriate for either of you to wear white or cream, or to wear outfits that upstage the bride in any way.
