How to Choose a Color Palette

Be it your bridesmaid’s dresses, flowers, table décor, linens, or future husband’s socks, color is the key to setting the mood of your wedding.  Have you ever noticed how some colors seem to compliment each other while others, when put near each other, practically cause you pain?  There is a boatload of science behind why this happens – this article will provide you with the tools and know-how to guarantee palette mixing success.

Each year Pantone declares one lucky hue “Color of the Year.”  Don’t know where to start when choosing your wedding palette?  This would be a great choice!  The chosen color for 2011 is “Honeysuckle” – a warm, deep pink hue.  When choosing your “beginning” color, you will want to think about the season as well as your likes and dislikes.  Fall weddings lend themselves to deep browns and oranges.  Spring – perhaps pale pinks and yellows.  Vibrant blues and greens work wonderfully for summer, while winter speaks to rich jewel tones and cool icy hues. 

Once your initial color is chosen, the next step is to compliment it.  There are some great tools out there to find complementary colors.  Kuler from Adobe (found here) has some pre-made pallets that are stunning.  Feeling creative?  Use their ‘Create’ section (found here) to put together your own palette.  My favorite, Color Scheme Designer, (found here - shown right) allows you to choose one (or multiple) colors from their color wheel and it will automatically suggest additions!

Another great tool for finding color pallets is Pantone, itself!  On their website (found here), you can create color inspiration boards, share them with your vendors and bridesmaids, and even order color swatches (here) to ensure everyone – from your baker to your florist to your mother in law – is on the same hue.  Make sure to save one of those swatches for us…we can incorporate your chosen colors into everything from your thank you cards to your album cover! 

Here are a few of my picks for 2012: