Wedding Color Palettes: 15 Combinations by Season and Style
Published on · 3 min read
Your colours tie together flowers, stationery, attire and your wedding website. Starting from your venue and season — rather than a single favourite colour — gives you a palette that looks right in photos.
Palettes by season
| Season | Palette | Mood |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Blush, sage, ivory, butter yellow | Fresh and soft |
| Spring | Lilac, dusty blue, white, silver | Romantic |
| Spring | Peach, terracotta, cream, olive | Warm garden |
| Summer | Navy, white, sky blue, gold | Coastal |
| Summer | Coral, marigold, fuchsia, green | Bright and festive |
| Summer | Sage, white, eucalyptus, champagne | Easy and natural |
| Autumn | Burgundy, burnt orange, mustard, cream | Rich and warm |
| Autumn | Terracotta, rust, sand, dark green | Earthy |
| Autumn | Plum, mauve, dusty rose, gold | Moody romantic |
| Winter | Emerald, ivory, gold, black | Black tie |
| Winter | Burgundy, deep green, champagne | Classic festive |
| Winter | Silver, ice blue, white, slate | Winter wonderland |
Palettes by style
| Style | Palette |
|---|---|
| Classic | Ivory, white, gold and greenery |
| Modern minimal | Black, white, warm grey and one accent |
| Boho | Rust, sand, terracotta, dried-grass neutrals |
Build your own in four steps
1) Look at your venue's fixed colours — walls, carpet, chairs, landscape. 2) Pick one main colour that works with them. 3) Add one or two supporting tones and a neutral. 4) Choose a metallic (gold, silver, copper) for details. Test the palette on a phone screen and in print; colours shift between the two.
Roughly 60% neutral, 30% main colour, 10% accent keeps a palette elegant rather than overwhelming.
Using your palette on invitations and your website
Use your neutral as the background, your main colour for headings and your accent for buttons and details. Keep text high-contrast so older guests can read it on phones — pale text on a pale background is the most common mistake.
Palettes for popular venues
| Venue | Palette that works |
|---|---|
| Barn or rustic | Cream, sage, terracotta, natural wood |
| Beach | White, sand, sky blue, coral |
| City loft | Black, white, brass and one bold accent |
| Garden | Blush, ivory, soft greens, lavender |
| Ballroom | Ivory, champagne, gold, deep green |
| Vineyard | Burgundy, dusty rose, olive, cream |
Coordinating attire
Give your wedding party a colour family rather than one exact shade — mixing tones of the same colour photographs beautifully and lets everyone choose what suits them. Tell guests about any colours to avoid (white, ivory, and sometimes your wedding party colour) on your website.
Colours in photos
Very bright neon colours and very dark navy or black can lose detail in photos; mid-tones and soft neutrals photograph most consistently. Ask your photographer how your palette will look in your venue's light.
Flowers by colour family
Ask your florist what is in season for your date in your colours — seasonal flowers cost less and look fresher. Greenery can stretch the budget and soften strong palettes.
Color Palette Extractor
Pull a palette from your venue or inspiration photo.