"A Palette of Love: Colorful Wedding Design Inspiration"

Feb 225 min read

Color is one of the most powerful elements of wedding design. It sets the mood, evokes emotions, and creates a visual story that ties together every detail of the big day. Whether you dream of soft pastels, rich jewel tones, or an unexpected blend of hues, your wedding color palette is the foundation of your overall aesthetic.

But how do you choose the perfect colors? Let’s explore the art and science of wedding color selection, from color theory to lighting and photography, so you can design a wedding that’s as vibrant and meaningful as your love.

The Art of Choosing Wedding Colors

🎨 Understanding Color Theory

Color theory plays a vital role in how colors interact and influence one another. When selecting wedding colors, it’s helpful to consider:

Primary Colors: Red, blue, and yellow—the building blocks of all other hues. These bold colors create striking, dramatic palettes.
Secondary Colors: Orange, green, and purple—formed by mixing primary colors. These add depth and variety while complementing primary tones.
Tertiary Colors: Blends like teal, magenta, and mustard that offer nuanced color choices.

By using the color wheel, couples can explore complementary (opposite), analogous (side-by-side), and monochromatic (shades of the same color) palettes to create the perfect combination.

Color Boards: Bringing Your Palette to Life

A well-curated color board helps couples visualize their chosen hues across different elements of the wedding. Instead of settling on a single shade, a balanced palette usually includes:

✔ Main Color(s) – The dominant shades that set the tone (e.g., dusty blue, emerald green, blush pink).

✔ Supporting Colors – Secondary hues that complement the main color(s) (e.g., mauve and sage for a blush palette).

✔ Accent Colors – Pops of contrast that add personality (e.g., gold, copper, or black for dimension).

We create multiple color boards for our couples, analyzing them in different lighting and settings to ensure the final palette feels cohesive and intentional. (Color Boards by Indigo Moon Events)

Seasonal Influence: Embracing or Defying the Time of Year

Traditionally, certain colors are associated with specific seasons:

🌸 Spring – Soft pastels like blush, lilac, and butter yellow

☀️ Summer – Vibrant corals, ocean blues, and citrus hues

🍁 Fall – Earthy tones like rust, mustard, and deep green

❄️ Winter – Elegant jewel tones like emerald, burgundy, and navy

However, going against seasonal expectations can create a bold and unexpected aesthetic. A winter wedding with bright tropical hues? A summer wedding in moody burgundy and black? The key is using texture and balance to make any color feel seasonally appropriate.

The Psychology of Color: How It Affects Mood & Emotion

Every color has a psychological effect, influencing how guests feel in your space:

❤️ Red – Passion, energy, and romance

💙 Blue – Calm, trust, and serenity

💛 Yellow – Joy, optimism, and warmth

💚 Green – Harmony, freshness, and renewal

💜 Purple – Royalty, mystery, and creativity

🖤 Black – Sophistication, elegance, and drama

By understanding color psychology, couples can create a wedding atmosphere that reflects their personality, whether it’s soft and romantic, bold and dramatic, or playful and fun.

The Role of Lighting in Wedding Colors

Light can completely transform the way colors appear. Some considerations include:

✨ Natural vs. Artificial Light – Outdoor weddings showcase colors differently than indoor receptions with dim lighting or candlelight.

💡 Time of Day – Morning light enhances pastels, while golden hour deepens warm tones.

🕯 Up-Lighting – Colored lighting can dramatically shift the perception of your wedding palette.

Before finalizing colors, we analyze swatches in different lighting conditions to ensure they remain vibrant and true-to-tone throughout the day.

How Your Photographer’s Editing Style Affects Color

One of the most overlooked factors in wedding color selection is how your photographer’s editing style will enhance or dull your chosen hues.

📸 Light & Airy Photographers – Tend to soften and brighten colors, making pastels appear even softer and muting deeper tones. (Color Board - Indigo Moon Events, Photo - Uncorked Photography)

📸 True-to-Life Photographers – Maintain color accuracy but may slightly adjust saturation for a natural feel. (Color Board - Indigo Moon Events, Photo - Ray + Kelly Photography)

📸 Dark & Moody Photographers – Enhance rich, bold hues but may desaturate light neutrals and pastels. (Color Board - Indigo Moon Events, Photo - Lichter Photography)

Before committing to a palette, review your photographer’s portfolio to ensure their editing style aligns with your color vision.

Final Thoughts: Your Perfect Wedding Palette

Selecting the perfect wedding colors goes beyond simply choosing a beautiful palette—it’s about crafting an atmosphere that tells a story, evokes emotion, and reflects the couple’s journey.

For Kayli & Jordan, their wedding colors were deeply personal, inspired by their shared love of both downtown Milwaukee’s urban charm and the serenity of the great outdoors. More specifically, their palette paid homage to Jordan’s passion for fishing and the peaceful beauty of nature.

They embraced a warm, pastel, summery aesthetic that balanced elegance with natural elements. Soft hues of pinks and purples brought a romantic, feminine touch, while earthy olive greens and airy light blues mirrored the organic tones of nature. The bridesmaids donned flowing champagne dresses, serving as a timeless and neutral backdrop to the delicate floral arrangements, allowing the soft blooms to take center stage. Meanwhile, the groomsmen made a bold yet refined statement in deep olive-green suits, Jordan's lined with a custom camouflage print—a subtle and meaningful nod to his love for the outdoors.

Their ceremony was held on the breathtaking balcony of Vista, one of Milwaukee’s most stunning venues, where they exchanged vows with the city skyline as their backdrop. The floral arrangements, carefully curated in warm, sunlit hues, seamlessly blended with the golden glow of the buildings, enhancing the romantic ambiance of the moment.

As the evening unfolded, the reception space was bathed in a dreamy natural light, thanks to Vista’s expansive 180-degree windows and large skylights. This luminous setting created an ethereal glow, illuminating every heartfelt moment of the night. A few carefully placed pops of yellow blooms adorned the tablescapes, subtly mimicking the golden hues of the setting sun—another intentional detail that reinforced the warmth and beauty of their love story.

Every element, from the color choices to the décor, was a reflection of Kayli & Jordan’s unique bond, seamlessly merging their love for city life with their appreciation for nature’s tranquility. Their wedding wasn’t just visually stunning—it was a heartfelt tribute to who they are, where they’ve been, and the adventure that lies ahead.