Summer Wedding Colors

Using a Color Wheel

A color wheel can be very helpful when you are choosing a color scheme for your summer wedding. An excellent tool can be found at Wellstyled.com. Simply click on a color and select if you want monochromatic, contrast, triad, tetrad or analogic. You will then be able to see the colors that will go best with your original selection.

Another handy tool is found at Color Schemer.com. This tool is fantastic because even if you can't decide on a color, you can get great ideas by using a theme. Are you planning a beach themed wedding? Just type the word "beach" or "ocean" into the search box. You will get an assortment of themed color selections. This is a fun way to get ideas for your summer wedding colors.

Color Families

Here are some terms that you will find helpful as you search for color schemes.

• Monochromatic--A monochromatic color scheme is an assortment of shades of the same color. For example, if you choose purple as you color you might also use lavender, grape purple, violet purple, etc. Monochromatic colors will be next to each other on the color wheel.

• Contrast--Colors that contrast are found at opposite sides of the color wheel. If you use purple as you example again, its contrasting color would be yellow. Another way to use contrast is to choose your secondary colors from each side of that color on the wheel. So if yellow is your secondary color, you would choose a shade darer and a shade lighter than the true yellow. These still contrast with purple and will look beautiful together.

• Triad--Triad colors are equidistant on the color wheel, meaning they form a triangle. If you have decided to use purple and yellow, you would add fuscia as your third color. Remember, one color will be your primary color. The others will be used as accent colors

• Tetrad--This scheme will consist of four colors that are equally spaced on the color wheel. An example would be purple, red, yellow and green. In a wedding bouquet your biggest, main flowers would be purple with smaller, accent flowers in red and yellow. Green would be in the foliage added to your bouquet. This would make a stunning arrangement.

• Analogic--These are three colors that are side-by-side on the wheel; pale yellow, sun yellow and goldenrod, for example. Then, as an accent you will add one contrasting color. In the example this will be purple.

These explanations should be helpful when deciding on a color pallet for your wedding flowers, invitations, bridesmaid dresses, bridal shower decorations and other wedding decorations. Not all colors in a color scheme need to be present in each item.

Using the colors in your color pallet will give your wedding a polished look. Keep in mind, if you select as a dominant color one that looks great on you and build from that, you will be assured that your wedding will make you glow. After all, everything around you will complement your own skin tone.

Popular Summer Wedding Colors

A beautifully decorated table.

For 2007, popular colors for a summer wedding include:

• Pale blue
• Lavender
• Lime
• Orange
• Soft pink

Favorite combinations that will look beautiful at any summer wedding include:

• Green combined with
  • Purple
  • Coral or
  • Orange

• Brown with blue
• Bright pink with orange
• Deep orange with cranberry red
• Royal blue with bright yellow
• Turquoise blue with beige
• Navy blue with silver

Other things to consider when selecting your wedding color scheme is the time of day your wedding will be and if you will be inside or outdoors. If you have planned an outside wedding, consider the surroundings and find colors that will complement what is around you. A wedding at a botanical garden will look best with a color pallet in the same colors as the flowers in the garden, for example.

There really is no limit to what you can do. This is your big day. Follow your dream and everything will be absolutely beautiful.