Bridal Gathering

by Ronda Addy

The colors you choose for your wedding set the tone for both it and the reception. They should make you happy. However, there are some things to take into consideration when choosing your color scheme. 

No matter what color scheme you choose, if it clashes with the walls and floors of the ceremony or reception area, you may want to go with another choice. While it may not be noticeable on your wedding day, it will be very noticeable in your wedding photos.

Skin tone and hair color are other considerations. Someone with a pale skin tone will look washed out in white and what about a redhead in pink? When looking for your dress and those of your bridesmaids, consider your budget. If the shop has dresses that are similar to those you want but are on sale because the color is a little out of favor, you may want to consider changing your color scheme.

Consider the time of year you are getting married. Trying to find things like flowers and decorations out of season may prove difficult and more expensive. If you are getting married near a holiday, such as Christmas, you may want to avoid the standard colors normally associated with the season, like red and green.

As funny as it sounds, colors have meaning. Before making your color scheme choice, consider the meanings associated with colors. . 
Blue represents the sky and the sea. It is associated with loyalty, trust, wisdom and confidence. . Green represents nature. It is associated with freshness, fertility, growth and harmony. . Orange represents fall and harvest time. It is associated with creativity, success, stimulation, attraction and determination. . Purple represents royalty. It is associated with power, nobility, ambition, wisdom and mystery. . Red represents blood and fire. It is associated with danger, power, passion, desire, energy and strength. . Yellow represents sunshine. It is associated with happiness, joy, energy and intellect.

There are at least six different color schemes that you can derive from any of these colors and combine them to get a different effect. . An analogous color scheme is made up of colors that are adjacent to one another on the color wheel. In it there is one dominant color and the others are used to enrich the scheme. . A complementary color scheme is made up of two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. The color scheme works best with a warm color and a cool color, with one being dominant and the other serving as a background.

A monochromatic color scheme is made of a single color with various shades of it in light and dark. It is an easy color scheme to produce and is easy on the eyes. . A split complementary color scheme is made up of one color with the two colors adjacent to its complementary. . A tetradic or double complementary color scheme is made up of two sets of complementary colors. When using this color scheme, it is best to have one color be the dominant color; otherwise, equal amounts will look unbalanced.

A triadic color scheme is made up of three colors spaced evenly around the color wheel.  If you are a traditionalist, you may select colors that go with the season in which you are getting married. Here are some of the colors associated with each season. . Fall colors include yellow-green, burnt orange, fiery red, dark brown, deep red, terra cotta, mauve, buttery gold, navy or cobalt blue, and copper. . Spring colors include blue-gray, lavender, pink, daisy-like yellow, pale pink, pastel greens and peach. . Summer colors include purple, yellow, bright blue, navy blue, bright pink, yellow, gold, orange and teal. . Winter colors include white, silver, burgundy, emerald green, deep purple, black cherry and navy blue. Deciding what colors you are going to use in your wedding shouldn't be a difficult, stressful task. Take all factors into consideration, but remember that ultimately it is your wedding and whatever you decide will be fine.

Source: MultiAd Builder