Wedding color palettes for invitations and decor

A wedding color palette is easiest to choose when you start from what you can't change: the venue, the season and the flowers that will actually be in bloom. From there, settle on three to five colours, usually a light base such as ivory, one or two main colours, and one deep accent for text and detail. That small set then runs from the save the date through the invitations, signs and table plan, so the whole day feels considered without looking matched to the point of monotony.

How to choose your wedding colours

1. 1

   Start with the venue

   Photograph the walls, floors, wood and view. A barn with golden oak suits warm palettes; a white gallery suits almost anything; a garden in full leaf already supplies the green.

2. 2

   Check the season

   Flowers, light and clothing change through the year. Ask your florist what is in season that month before falling for a peony palette in October.

3. 3

   Choose a light base

   Ivory, warm white or pale stone carries invitations and signage. Pure white often looks cold in print and photographs.

4. 4

   Add one or two main colours

   These are the colours guests remember: sage, dusty blue, terracotta. Use them in flowers, ribbons, linen and the stationery's main areas.

5. 5

   Finish with a deep accent

   A dark green, navy, burgundy or charcoal gives text something to stand on and adds weight to the photographs.

The proportions matter as much as the colours. A useful guide is the 60 30 10 rule: roughly sixty percent base, thirty percent main colour, ten percent accent. It keeps a burgundy and blush palette elegant rather than overwhelming.

Ten wedding color palettes with hex codes

• Sage and ivory: gardens, spring and summer, relaxed outdoor weddings. Works with almost any greenery.
• Dusty blue and navy: coastal venues, winter, and anyone who wants calm without pastel sweetness.
• Terracotta and sand: late summer, Mediterranean venues, dried flowers and pampas.
• Blush and burgundy: autumn and winter evenings, candlelit rooms, deep red roses and dahlias.
• Black tie: city hotels and galleries. Formal, graphic and timeless in photographs.
• Lavender and plum: spring, lilac and sweet pea season, softer and more romantic.
• Lemon and Aegean: destination weddings by the sea, citrus trees, painted tiles.
• Emerald and antique gold: winter, grand houses, velvet and brass.
• Peach and coral: summer parties, tropical flowers, a lively mood.
• Mushroom and cocoa: rustic barns and woodland, for couples who find sage too expected.

Carrying the palette across your stationery

Wedding stationery comes in several sizes, and each piece can lean on a different part of the palette. That variety keeps the set interesting while the shared colours hold it together. Wedding invitation design covers layout and wording in depth.

Printing wedding colours accurately

Screens glow and paper reflects, so a sage that looks perfect on your phone can print grey and flat. Ask your printer for a proof on the actual paper, especially for pale colours on textured or cotton stock, which absorbs ink and softens it further. Export print files with bleed and crop marks; print ready PDFs explains both.

Gradients on invitations print beautifully when they are soft and have a little grain, and less well when they are long, smooth and dark. Printing gradients covers the pitfalls.

Common wedding palette mistakes

Planners juggling several couples' palettes at once will find wedding planner branding useful for keeping their own identity separate. For seasonal ideas beyond weddings, browse autumn colour palettes.

Gradiently's templates include cards and posters. Start one with a soft Mark in your palette, and it renders correctly at postcard, 5×7 and A3, with the names always readable on top.