Choosing your wedding colour scheme is one of the first big design decisions you’ll make - and it influences everything that follows, from bridesmaid dresses and flowers to stationery, décor and groomsmen accessories.
With so many options, palettes, suggested schemes and Pinterest ideas, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
This guide will walk you through step by step how to choose your wedding colours, including:
- How to build a cohesive colour palette
- How to match colours across outfits, florals, and décor
- How to choose colours that suit your venue and season
- How to make sure everything works together on the day
Whether you’re planning a soft neutral wedding or a bold seasonal palette, this guide will help you create a coordinated, polished and personal colour scheme.
Tip: For styling your groomsmen and accessories to match your colours, see our Wedding Accessories Hub.
How to Choose Your Wedding Colour Palette
Your wedding colour palette sets the tone for the entire day, guiding all your aesthetic choices throughout the day. Most wedding palettes are built from three to five core colours: a main colour, one or two supporting tones, and one or two neutral base shades.
A good starting point is to focus on the biggest visual elements in your wedding. This is usually your bridesmaid dresses, the venue styling and/or the flower choices - but could be any strong visual element that you choose! These elements will naturally influence your main colour and provide a framework for the rest of your palette.
Once you’ve identified your main or focus colour, think about your core colour family. For example, you might choose greens like sage or olive; blues such as dusty blue or navy; warm tones like terracotta or burgundy; or soft neutrals like champagne or nude/neutral.
After choosing your main colour family, add complementary tones to create depth and balance. Lighter or darker shades within the same palette can prevent your colours from feeling flat and give your styling a layered, cohesive look. Finally (or instead of the complementary tones if you'd like), include neutral base shades such as ivory, beige, taupe, or grey to soften the overall palette and allow your accent colours to shine.
For couples who want inspiration or a starting point, you can explore our popular wedding colour palettes and styling ideas. To test your colours in real life, consider ordering a set of colour swatches - they’re perfect for comparing dress fabrics, flowers, and table styling. And for coordinating groomsmen accessories to match your palette, check out our Wedding Accessories Guide.
Real Wedding Inspiration: Lilac, Sage, and Ivory Palette
This modern-romantic wedding at a country house beautifully showcased how a thoughtful colour palette can tie every element of the day together. This colour scheme was chosen from the flowers that the couple chose for their wedding. It was so important for them to include the lilac rose flowers and relaxed, sage foliage which both were made so much more vibrant by the ivory tones in the 'backing flowers'.
The main colour, lilac, was carried through the bridesmaids’ dresses in a soft “wisteria” shade, creating an elegant and cohesive foundation for the styling. The groomsmen’s ties were carefully matched to the bridesmaids’ dresses, while one groom stood out with a patterned tie incorporating the same lilac ivory tones, subtly highlighting this difference while keeping the overall look harmonious.
Secondary colours of olive and sage greens appeared throughout the wedding in the suit colours, florals and foliage, providing depth and an organic, natural feel. Neutral base shades of white, ivory, and pale grey balanced the palette and added a soft, romantic backdrop that allowed the lilac and green accents to shine.
Every detail, from the stationery to the table styling, was carefully curated to echo these colours, demonstrating how a well-chosen palette can bring cohesion and style to a real wedding day.
How Many Colours Should a Wedding Have?
A common mistake is trying to include too many colours, which can make the styling feel busy or inconsistent in photos. For a clean, cohesive look, most weddings work best with one dominant colour, one or two supporting tones, and one or two neutral base shades. Keeping your palette simple ensures that every element - from bridesmaid dresses and florals to décor and groomsmen accessories - works together seamlessly without overwhelming the eye.
If you're planning a multi-colour wedding then it's usually best to stick to pastel colours and keep the supporting and base tones as neutral as possible!
For inspiration, check out our range of Wedding Colour Guides to see how different palettes are styled in real weddings, and consider ordering swatches to test colours before committing.
Choosing Colours That Suit Your Venue
Your venue plays a big role in how your colours will look and feel on the day. Different types of spaces naturally complement different palettes.
Light, neutral venues - such as barns, country houses, or marquees - work beautifully with soft, romantic tones such as sage, blush, dusty blue and champagne. These gentle shades enhance the airy, elegant feel of bright and neutral spaces.
Dark or formal venues - including manor houses, ballrooms, and historic buildings - suit richer, deeper colours such as navy, burgundy, emerald or classic black-tie palettes. These tones provide contrast and sophistication, complementing the grandeur of formal settings.
Outdoor weddings - whether in gardens, woodland areas, or on the beach - are perfect for natural, earthy palettes such as sage, terracotta and beige or nude. These colours blend harmoniously with greenery and natural surroundings, creating a cohesive, organic look.
To ensure your colours harmonise with your chosen venue, consider ordering Colour Swatch Packs and take them with you to your venue appointments. Testing your palette against your venue lighting and surroundings helps guarantee everything looks polished and balanced on the day.
Choosing Colours for Each Season
One of the easiest ways to build a beautiful, cohesive wedding colour scheme is to start with what’s naturally in season. Seasonal flowers, foliage and natural surroundings already work in harmony with the time of year - so using them as your starting point helps your palette feel effortless and authentic.
If you have an inside/outside wedding planned, ask your venue what flowers will be in bloom around your wedding! They may have the most stunning rose garden or tulip patch that would make for amazing photos!
🌸 Spring weddings
Spring is all about freshness, softness, and new growth. Seasonal flowers such as tulips, ranunculus, sweet peas and lilac naturally bring in shades of sage green, blush pink, lilac and soft pastels. These tones feel light and romantic and work beautifully in garden venues or bright indoor spaces.
☀️ Summer weddings
Summer flowers tend to be more vibrant and abundant, including roses, peonies, dahlias and wildflowers. This allows you to introduce slightly warmer or brighter palettes such as dusty blue, peach, sage with ivory and colourful florals balanced with soft neutrals. The key is to keep a sense of lightness so the colours don’t feel overpowering in bright daylight.
🍂 Autumn weddings
Autumn brings a naturally rich and earthy colour palette, thanks to foliage, berries and late-season blooms. Think dahlias, chrysanthemums and dried textures, which introduce tones like terracotta, rust, burnt orange and burgundy. These colours work especially well in rustic venues, barns and country houses, creating warmth and depth.
❄️ Winter weddings
Winter flowers and styling often lean into deeper, more dramatic tones and elegant textures. With evergreen foliage, berries and deep burgundy blooms, you can build palettes around navy, emerald, black and white, and gold or champagne accents. These shades feel timeless and refined, especially in formal venues or candlelit spaces.
By letting seasonal flowers guide your colour palette, you create a scheme that feels natural, cohesive, and visually balanced - and one that will photograph beautifully throughout the day.
If you want to refine your colours further, you can test different tones together at home using your fabric swatches before finalising your palette.
Matching Your Flowers to Your Colour Scheme
Florals are one of the most effective ways to bring your wedding colour palette to life, adding depth, texture and seasonal character to your styling. Build the two palettes together instead of choosing one then the other. If peonies are in season, incorporate this into your scheme rather than not being able to find flowers that work with your colour scheme.
Rather than choosing flowers purely by colour, start with what is naturally in season - this ensures your arrangements feel cohesive, fresh and visually authentic. Seasonal blooms will naturally echo tones found in your chosen palette, helping everything feel intentionally styled rather than forced. They'll also likely be much better quality and be a more sustainable as they can be grown as naturally as possible.
Use your colour scheme as a guide for:
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Bouquet design - blending focal flowers with softer accent tones
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Table arrangements - tying centrepieces into your overall styling
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Ceremony backdrops - creating a consistent visual flow from aisle to altar
For example, soft spring palettes pair beautifully with delicate blooms like ranunculus, sweet peas and garden roses, while richer autumn schemes come to life through dahlias, chrysanthemums and textured foliage.
Tip: Incorporate natural greenery such as eucalyptus, olive branches, or mixed foliage to unify your palette. Greenery acts as a visual bridge between colours, softening contrasts and giving your florals a more organic, effortless finish.
Matching Bridesmaid Dresses to Your Colour Scheme
Bridesmaid dresses often act as the visual foundation of your wedding colour scheme, setting the tone for florals, styling details and the overall atmosphere of the day. Because they appear throughout the ceremony, photographs and reception, they naturally become one of the most consistent colour elements in your wedding design.
When choosing bridesmaid dresses, you can either:
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Select one exact colour for a cohesive, uniform look
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Work within a palette of tones to create softness, depth, and visual interest
Popular approaches include:
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All dresses in one shade - clean, timeless, and beautifully coordinated. Many suppliers now offer different styles of dress made out of the same fabric for a perfect colour, but styles to suit body types.
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Mix-and-match tones within the same palette - modern, relaxed, and visually layered.
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Neutral dresses with coloured accessories - if a block colour doesn't work then understated dresses paired with coloured sashes, shoes, bouquets, or hair pieces that bring in your chosen colour accents can work nicely!
Whichever approach you choose, aim for harmony with your seasonal florals and overall styling so everything feels intentional and well-balanced across your day.
Coordinating Groom & Groomsmen Colours
Once your bridesmaid colours are set, it’s time to bring the groom and groomsmen into the palette. While you might not want a 100% match (Cerise bridesmaid dresses and suits could be a little overwhelming!), you want everyone to look as though they're meant to be a part of the wedding party.
Accessories are a simple and stylish way to introduce your chosen colours across the wedding party. Consider using ties, bow ties, pocket squares, boutonnières, socks or braces to echo the palette without overwhelming the overall look.
By carefully coordinating these details, the groom and groomsmen will feel connected to the colour scheme while still allowing the groom to stand out. For inspiration and detailed styling advice, see our Wedding Accessories Guide for Groom & Groomsmen.
Extending Your Colour Scheme Across Décor & Stationery
To create a cohesive wedding look, it’s important to carry your colour palette across all the small but impactful details. Think beyond attire and florals - consistency in elements like table linens, napkins, signage, invitations, place cards and even the cake design can make a big difference.
When these details reflect your chosen colours, the overall styling feels intentional, polished and visually harmonious. Even subtle touches, like coordinating napkins with flowers or incorporating accent colours into table signage, help tie the day together seamlessly, creating a sense of unity across your ceremony and reception.
How to Match Fabrics and Textures
Colour is only one part of your overall look - fabric and texture play a key role in how your wedding styling feels and photographs. Combining different materials adds depth and visual interest, helping your palette feel layered rather than flat.
For example, you might pair soft chiffon dresses with sleek satin ties, balance vibrant flowers against textured accessories, or mix neutral decor with bolder patterns. These subtle contrasts create a more considered, high-end finish while still keeping your colours cohesive.
The goal is not to match everything exactly, but to blend complementary textures so each element enhances the others without competing for attention. Really, fabrics and textures are all about what you personally like best. If you love a matte, textured feel then go for it!
Seeing Your Colours in Real Life (Why Swatches are Essential!)
Digital images, Pinterest boards and supplier photos are a great starting point - but screens can distort colour, tone and texture. The same shade can appear warmer, cooler, lighter or darker depending on lighting and fabric.
That’s why physical swatches are an essential part of planning your wedding colour scheme.
A useful approach is to begin with a broader swatch pack in your chosen colour family so you can compare tones side by side. This helps you identify the shades that feel right for your palette. Once your colour scheme is defined, you can then order individual swatches to fine-tune exact matches for bridesmaid dresses, ties and styling details.
Always check your swatches in natural daylight, and place them alongside key elements like dresses, florals or stationery. This ensures everything works together harmoniously and avoids unexpected colour clashes on the day.
Swatches help you:
- compare shades accurately in real lighting
- match colours across outfits, flowers and décor
- coordinate different fabrics and textures
- avoid last-minute colour mismatches
Order wedding colour swatches to match your exact shades
When to Finalise Your Wedding Colour Scheme
Your colour palette underpins almost every visual element of your wedding, so locking it in at the right time makes planning everything else significantly easier.
A structured timeline helps ensure your colours flow consistently across outfits, florals, stationery and décor.
At least 6–9 months before - as early as possible!
Begin by choosing your core colour palette - your main shade, supporting tones and neutrals. This gives you a clear direction when booking suppliers and choosing dresses or styling.
Ordering swatch packs at this point gives you useful visual tools in your colour range to take to fittings and venues. You can then get your bridesmaid dresses ordered
4–6 months before
Order your swatches to refine your exact shades. This is the stage where you confirm the precise tones for bridesmaid dresses, ties, florals and key styling details.
Once you have the precise tones you can give these to the florist, venue decorator and cake maker if needed!
2–3 months before
Order your groomsmen accessories and final décor items once all colours are finalised. This avoids last-minute compromises or mismatched tones.
1 month before
Carry out final styling checks and fittings - lay items together, review florals, accessories and stationery as a full palette, and ensure everything feels cohesive in real life.
Following this timeline helps your colour scheme evolve intentionally, rather than being pieced together last minute. For a little more detail, we've broken down the timeline a little further here>
Common Wedding Colour Mistakes to Avoid
Even a beautiful colour palette can feel disjointed if it isn’t used consistently. These are the most common pitfalls couples run into - and how to avoid them.
Choosing too many colours
Using too many shades can make your styling feel busy and inconsistent across photos. Keep your palette focused with a clear dominant colour, a couple of supporting tones, and neutrals to balance everything.
Trying to match everything exactly
Especially across different fabrics and materials, a perfect colour match can be tough. Decide what matters most and stick to that: if they have to be the perfect colour match then perhaps the fabric finishes might be different, or if they fabric type is the most important then the colour might have to be a little off.
If you're struggling to find anything you like together, then have a look at some patterns as often these give the theme and colour scheme without looking too clashing.
Ignoring venue lighting
Lighting dramatically affects how colours appear. Soft natural light, candlelight or darker interiors can all shift tones, so always consider your venue when finalising your palette.
And remember where you plan to have your photos taken! If you've got bright sunny photos planned, then go with the matches and colour schemes that work best in that setting, they may not look as close in a moody, candlelit hall but that doesn't matter!
Skipping swatches
Relying on screens alone often leads to mismatches. Physical swatches allow you to compare tones accurately and ensure everything works together before ordering.
Mixing warm and cool tones unintentionally
Blending undertones can create subtle clashes (for example, pairing a cool blue with a warm beige). Be mindful to keep undertones consistent unless you are intentionally creating contrast.
Avoiding these mistakes will help your wedding styling feel cohesive, considered and polished from start to finish. If you're ready to start planning your accessories, have a look at our Wedding Accessories Guide!
Wedding Colour Scheme FAQs
How do I choose a wedding colour scheme?
Start with your venue and season, then choose a core colour and build supporting tones and neutrals around it to create a balanced palette.
If you need some inspiration then have a look at our colour guides!
How many colours should a wedding have?
Most cohesive schemes use 3–5 colours: one dominant colour, one or two supporting shades, and one or two neutrals.
Do bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen ties have to match exactly?
This is up to you - they don't have to but it's a nice touch if they do! You can opt for exact matches or tonally similar colour. Or alternatively try a pattern that combines the matching colour with other colours.
Should my flowers match my dresses exactly?
If you can then great! But like the ties, you don't have to. Florals should complement your palette, not match it perfectly. Mixing tones and textures creates depth and interest. Most flowers have a range of colours within them so finding one 'match' can be tricky.
What colour scheme works with a navy suit?
Navy suits are very versatile and pair beautifully with sage, blush, champagne, burgundy, dusty blue, peach and terracotta.
Can I mix different shades of the same colour?
Yes! Layering tones within the same colour family (for example sage, olive and eucalyptus greens) creates a cohesive but visually rich palette.
Do all bridesmaids need to wear the same colour?
Not necessarily. A mix-and-match approach within one palette can look modern and relaxed while still feeling coordinated.
How do I match colours across different fabrics?
Always use physical swatches to compare tones across fabrics like chiffon, satin and linen, as materials reflect colour differently.
Should my wedding colour scheme match my venue?
It should work with your venue’s existing tones and lighting rather than compete with them. Neutral venues allow more flexibility, while darker venues suit richer palettes.
How early should I choose my wedding colours?
Ideally 6–9 months before the wedding, so you can plan dresses, florals, accessories and stationery consistently. For an idea of the best timeframe to stick to, have a look at the key events timeline.
What if my partner and I like different colours?
Either choose one dominant colour and incorporate the other as a supporting accent tone so both preferences are reflected, or you could have 2 key colours (to reflect both of your choices) but keep all other colour choices to neutral bases to avoid overwhelming the colour scheme.
Are neutral wedding colour schemes still popular?
Yes - absolutely! Colour schemes built around champagne, beige, taupe, ivory and soft greys remain timeless and photograph beautifully. Find some neutral inspirations here!
Absolutely. Use seasonal tones like terracotta, burgundy or dusty blue, then balance them with classic neutrals for a timeless finish. For the classic look, stick with satin ties and traditional flowers.
How do I make sure my colours look good in photos?
Keep contrast balanced, avoid too many competing tones, and ensure your colours are consistent across outfits, florals and décor.
Do I need to order swatches before choosing accessories?
It's definitely worth doing — ordering swatches first ensures your accessories, ties and styling pieces match your final palette accurately. Have a look at our wedding accessories guide here for some more tips.
Continue Planning Your Wedding Styling
Once you’ve chosen your colour scheme, the next step is bringing everything together across your wedding party and styling details.
To help you coordinate everything seamlessly:
These next steps will help you translate your colour palette into a cohesive, polished look across your entire wedding day.
