# Wedding color palettes for invitations and decor

[Canonical HTML page](https://gradiently.design/guide/wedding-color-palettes)

Ten wedding palettes with real codes, a simple way to choose between them, and how to carry the colours from the save the date to the table plan without everything turning the same shade.

## The short version

- A wedding color palette usually works best as three to five colours: a light base, one or two main colours and a deep accent.
- The venue, the season and the flowers available that month are the most reliable starting points for wedding colours.
- Stationery and decor should share the palette but not use every colour everywhere, so each piece keeps some contrast.
- Printed invitations shift from screen colours, so ask for a paper proof before ordering the full run.
- Metallic foils such as gold and rose gold cannot be shown accurately as a hex code and should be specified with the printer.

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. **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. **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. **Choose a light base** Ivory, warm white or pale stone carries invitations and signage. Pure white often looks cold in print and photographs.
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. **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](https://gradiently.design/guide/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: `linear-gradient(135deg, #f8f4ec 0%, #b9c4a7 55%, #4f5f45 100%)`
- Dusty blue and navy: `linear-gradient(135deg, #f7f5f0 0%, #a9bfd1 55%, #2c3e5c 100%)`
- Terracotta and sand: `linear-gradient(135deg, #f6ede3 0%, #d08a62 55%, #7a3b24 100%)`
- Blush and burgundy: `linear-gradient(135deg, #f9ece8 0%, #e3b3ae 50%, #6b1f2e 100%)`
- Black tie: `linear-gradient(135deg, #f5f3ee 0%, #9a9a96 50%, #121212 100%)`
- Lavender and plum: `linear-gradient(135deg, #f7f4f8 0%, #c9b8db 55%, #5b4a7a 100%)`
- Lemon and Aegean: `linear-gradient(135deg, #fffaf0 0%, #f3c96b 50%, #3d6b8f 100%)`
- Emerald and antique gold: `linear-gradient(135deg, #f4efe4 0%, #c8a96a 50%, #0f4a3c 100%)`
- Peach and coral: `linear-gradient(135deg, #fbf1ea 0%, #f2b8a0 50%, #e46a4f 100%)`
- Mushroom and cocoa: `linear-gradient(135deg, #efe9df 0%, #8c7b6b 55%, #3b2f28 100%)`

Each palette moves from a light base through its main colour to a deep accent, which is roughly how it will be used on the day.

- **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.

- Ivory: #f8f4ec
- Pale sage: #dfe3d2
- Sage: #b9c4a7
- Olive leaf: #4f5f45
- Ink: #2b2b26

Sage and ivory as a full working set. Ink is for the words on every printed piece; olive leaf is for monograms, ribbons and the odd flourish.

## 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](https://gradiently.design/guide/wedding-invitation-design) covers layout and wording in depth.

| Piece | Print size at 300 dpi | Colour lead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Save the date postcard | 1800×1200 px | Main colour, bold and simple |
| Invitation, 5×7 in | 1500×2100 px | Light base, deep accent for text |
| Welcome sign, A3 | 3508×4961 px | Main colour, large and readable |
| Table plan, A3 | 3508×4961 px | Light base, accent for names |
| Order of the day, A5 | 1748×2480 px | Light base, small main colour details |
| Wedding website hero | 1920×1080 px | The palette as a soft gradient |

Real sizes for the common pieces. Design each at its own size rather than stretching one file.

A landscape save the date postcard for Amara and Theo, 12 June 2027 in Kent

A landscape save the date at postcard size, led by the main colour.

A portrait wedding invitation for Amara and Theo with dark lettering on a soft background

The invitation at 5×7 inches on the light base, with the deep accent carrying the words.

## 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](https://gradiently.design/guide/pdf-for-print) explains both.

> **Gold is not a hex code** A yellow brown like `#c8a96a` stands in for gold on screen, but real gold, copper and rose gold on paper are foils or metallic inks. Specify them with your printer separately and keep the screen version for the website and social posts.

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](https://gradiently.design/guide/print-gradients) covers the pitfalls.

## Common wedding palette mistakes

### Avoid

- Choosing flowers that are out of season
- Pale text on a pale base for the sake of softness
- Every colour in equal amounts everywhere
- Pure white stock that makes ivory dresses look yellow

### Do

- Asking the florist what blooms that month
- A deep accent for every line of text
- A clear base, main and accent in proportion
- Warm white or ivory paper for printed pieces

Planners juggling several couples' palettes at once will find [wedding planner branding](https://gradiently.design/guide/wedding-planner-branding) useful for keeping their own identity separate. For seasonal ideas beyond weddings, browse [autumn colour palettes](https://gradiently.design/guide/autumn-color-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.

## FAQ

### How many colours should a wedding palette have?

Three to five is usually right: a light base, one or two main colours and a deep accent. More than that becomes hard to use consistently.

### What are timeless wedding colours?

Ivory, sage, navy, burgundy and black with white all photograph well and rarely feel dated, because they echo flowers and formal clothing.

### Should wedding invitations match the decor exactly?

They should share the palette, not copy it. Invitations usually lean on the light base and deep accent, while decor carries more of the main colours.

### Why do my printed invitations look duller than on screen?

Screens emit light and paper reflects it, and textured stock absorbs ink. Ask for a proof on the real paper and deepen pale colours slightly if needed.