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How to choose your wedding colour palette

How to choose your wedding colour palette

Blog, Venue Styling

How do you pick your perfect Wedding colour scheme?

When it comes to picking the colour palette for your wedding, where do you start? Do you base things on your favourite shade? Could your future spouse insist that the colour of their football team is included in the wedding? Or do you pick a colour to complement the season your wedding is set in, to allow flower selections to fit nicely into the scheme too?

The honest answer is YES… to all of the above.

It’s your wedding, so you get to pick whatever you want.

Plum, Ivory & Lilac Colour Scheme at Shottle Hall

 

In saying that, there are some things to consider to ensure that you have a colour scheme that works well and in this blog post I am going to share with you some things to consider when choosing the colour palette that will run through your day.

1. Look at the decoration & colours within your chosen Venue.

Your venue will likely have a certain aesthetic, whether that be modern and contemporary, traditional, quirky, or plain and simple. It is important to consider the canvas in which you are placing your colours. 

Will the wallpaper and soft furnishings that are already in place clash with the colours you are considering?

Will the carpet clash with the tones of colour you have been thinking about?  

If the venue has a certain style already in place, I would often suggest looking at neutral colours for your chair dressings and centerpieces to ensure that the design elements you have chosen are not lost in the noise of the room. 

Work with the space you have by dressing stationary items, like tables and chairs, in muted colours, while the more mobile parts of a wedding… also known as Bridesmaids… can wear the colour you love.

When I first start working with a couple we get straight down to where they are having their wedding so that I can suggest colour palettes that will work well with both the venue and the uniqueness of the couple. There are clever ways you can bring colour or elements in your day without it taking over the entire theme.

Blush Pink & sparkle at The Nottinghamshire

2. Colours can be arranged into ‘warm’ & ‘cool’ tones.

This is something I like to go into detail about during a consultation meeting.

Putting colours into the same tonal group helps to make sure that all colours really do complement each other. If you’re really stuck with what to use as an accent colour for your day, have a look at a ‘colour wheel’ (just google it and you will see one!)

This is a great tool for checking that the colours you’re drawn to sit well together. I bet you didn’t think it was so involved, choosing that perfect colour palette – it is one of my favourite things to do! 

So, how does a colour wheel work?

Colours that sit side by side are ‘complementary’ to each other, meaning that shades of those colours blend well, giving a pleasing effect to the overall look of the colour together – they just work well together. 

Colours that are opposite each other are known as ‘contrasting’ colours. They still work well together, but neither is a dominant shade.

Think about the way you decorate your home. Choosing colours for the walls and the furnishing so they just “work” well together, they flow, they complement each other. This is what we are doing with your wedding scheme.

Navy & Blush Pink at Shottle Hall

 

3. If you have a specific theme in mind for your wedding, your colour palette will probably be led by any colours that are linked to that style.

For example, Rustic weddings tend to have a neutral undertone, using burlap, twine & natural shades. This tends to be the colour palette that naturally unfolds when you have a wedding of this style.  You can also incorporate colour into this theme through by using coloured hessian which gives an instant pop of colour. Rustic doesn’t have to be all twigs and berries if you don’t want it to – you can blend the style with other complementary styles.  I’ve loved adding some glamour to our woodland inspired wedding designs by introducing subtle bling to the centrepieces and details.

It may be that you want to theme your wedding around your favourite film or TV series and you can have lots of fun doing that. Again, it is important to look at the space you are dressing to make sure that the styles match together and you can either go all in and theme in a big way or you can include little nods to references of a film, TV series or football team for example by adding in some subtle elements without it taking over the entire colour palette and style. 

We can look at ways to include your favourite things in interesting ways to represent you as a couple, while giving your guests something interesting to read or wonder about – a great conversation starter!

Harry Potter themed colours at The Nottinghamshire

Marcel DC Inspired Reveal Cake

Tips from a Venue Stylist

I’d always recommend adding a splash of your chosen colour to your tables for the Wedding Breakfast, this really helps to tie the day together. This could be the same as your bridesmaid dresses or a complementary colour (remember the science of the colour wheel!)

It also helps deal with a vast expanse of white table linen which can overwhelm some centerpieces, or makes the table look lacklustre. You want a polished finish for every part of your wedding day.

Unless your colour scheme is white, adding runners to you tables, which match your chair dressings, breaks up the plainness of a table, drawing the eye towards the centre and all of the prettiness on display there.

Using accent colours on your table stationery and favours adds detail, but in a subtle way.

All White elegance at Shottle Hall

Personally, I’m drawn to certain colours, which you may see in my branding. 

There tends to be a trend in the colour palette on my social media feeds too, but that’s all down to what our couples decide to choose.

I’ll admit that I do do a little happy dance every time a Bride mentions the immortal words ‘Blush Pink.

Throw in ‘with a Navy accent’ and I’m in colour heaven.

The term ‘pale and interesting’ really resonates with me.

I immediately imagine elegant drapes, muted tones and lots of florals  and twinkly candlelight.

I recently invested in some gorgeous books about the anatomy of colour and how they blend and work together. It’s amazing to learn about the origins of colours, how they were developed and  the history behind them.

I’m enjoying learning new ideas on how to mix palettes, with more meaning.

This knowledge helps me to help you in finding the right ways to include your favourite shades into your dream wedding day, making everything a true reflection of the two of you.

If you would like to chat about how to put your colours together, along with other little bits of advice, please let do get in touch and we can arrange a consultation www.icedandspliced.com/contact 

Happy colour planning!

Jo

x

Finding your Wedding Style…The Series…. RUSTIC

Finding your Wedding Style…The Series…. RUSTIC

Blog, Cakes, Chair Covers, Venue Styling

Finding your Wedding Style…The Series…. RUSTIC

The Rustic wedding style has been one that has been around for a while and instantly brings up images of wood, string, lace & Gypsophila in little  jam jars. But there is so much more you can do with the style so I thought I would give you some ideas of how you can do Rustic in a different way. 

 

Wedding Chair Styling

How you dress your chairs for a Rustic themed Wedding effectively comes down to the style of chairs used by your venue. The style of chair should always be considered before choosing your chair coverings.

Chivari, Cross-back & Cheltenham chairs are lovely left untouched, but can benefit from a little styling, which brings another dimension to your ceremony and Wedding Breakfast and there are many different ways they can be dressed (take a look at our Instagram account or our portfolio for some ideas)  

A hint of lace, pure Hessian or the new coloured Hessian are a lovely way to add a dash of colour to your setting, while keeping true to your Rustic aesthetic.

If your venue’s chairs are in need of covers, the inclusion of a Rustic style sash brings your theme right back to the forefront, just like the pictures below

 

The Rustic Wedding Cake 

This is obviously my favourite part.. I could waffle on for pages about the options available on how to bring your Rustic vibe through to your cake.

The full Naked Cake is the first born in the Rustic cake world. Oozing with fruit of flowers…or both…this is the opittamy of the Rustic ethos. (Read the blog post here)

However, the favourite child of most Rustic lead couples appears to be the Semi Naked style, which features the simple lines of the Naked cake, but is more forgiving when it comes to being on display. The same floral or fruit based decorations can be used on a Semi Naked cake, so you have the best of both worlds.

If the idea of a Naked or Semi Naked cake makes you squirm, but the thought of an iced cake fills you with the same dread, then the Buttercream coated style could be the one for you. Not as traditional as an iced cake, but with a more ‘finished’ look, the Buttercream dressed cake is ideal, as it can still be dressed with flowers, to bring the natural nature of the Rustic theme to your cake and can be another link between your flowers, your cake and your venue. Our Moon Arch cake backdrop is the perfect accompaniment to any cake style, but it sits especially well with a Rustic themed wedding when dressed with fresh or faux foliage & flowers to match those in your wedding scheme.

Obviously any good marriage is built on a foundation of compromise, so if you want the all natural, but your partner is all about the icing…. Have both!

An iced layer, with Semi Naked upper tiers is a marriage made in heaven & keeps all parties happy

 

Table Decorations for your Wedding Venue

The simplest way to achieve a Rustic look for your tables is to collect, or buy, pretty glass jars, readily available from popular high street shops or online. Filling them with posies of flowers, sprays of Gypsophila or candles and putting them in groups gives a balance to the centre piece, allowing some element of DIY to the planning of your day.

Set on log slices, decorated with lace, string, or a simple paint effect, this is the ultimate in the Rustic look. Using brown kraft paper luggage labels as place cards & table stationery just adds to the detailing.

If you’re looking for something with a little more polish and a lot less wood, changing the jars to glass cylinders with floating candles, single architectural blooms and a mirror in place of the log slice, gives an elegant twist to the simplistic style.

Sparkle can also play a role in any Wedding, even one with a Rustic heart. We lovingly call this style of Rustic, with a hint of bling, “Glamourous Woodland”, as it has a theme based in nature, but with an element of all things shiny. 

Crystal mixed with wooden accents, luscious florals and textural foliage brings the woodland inside, channeling your inner Will & Kate.

 

Table Runners & Top Table Dressings

Having table runners on guest tables and some form of dressing on the Top table, helps to break up vast expanses of white cloth on the tables, but also adds another layer of texture to the room.

Rustic runners can be purely Hessian, or finished with lace for softness, while using the same coloured Hessian as on the chairs brings a pop of colour to the tables and helps to lift the table centres too. The effect of this look can be stunning when the combination is right.

Your Top table shouldn’t be overlooked when styling your Wedding Breakfast, as it gives a cohesive look to the room and it is also a focus for your photographer – there will be many photos of you sitting at the top table so you want it to look good.

Options would be bunting, which drapes across the front of the table, centred where the Happy Couple sit. Generic bunting is available and relatively cheap, although a bespoke piece can be purchased from companies offering a printing service, which adds a special personalisation to the dressing. This is something that you can use again and again, getting out as decoration for your anniversary and special family occasions!

The same style of runners used on the guest tables can be used to decorate the front edge of the Top table, as a background for any floral pieces. 

However, this style doesn’t disguise the table linen that well so it is worth considering what overall look you are after.

If lace features in your wedding aesthetic,  a full lace swag to dress the Top table adds a softness to the dressing. Hessian swagging doesn’t look great if I’m honest, definitely one to avoid. 

 

Additional Decor ideas for your wedding 

I’m often asked by lots of couples if I think they’ve ‘missed’ anything in making their venue look its best.

One of the things I always mention to my couples to take any wedding to the next level, includes SIGNAGE. Wedding Signage is a  lovely way to welcome guests to your day, giving them an idea of the timings so they know when they can expect to eat (no one likes a ‘hangry’ guest), where you’d like them to sit and also a way to include people who, for whatever reason, are unable to join you on your special day. Again, your signage is an item that you can keep and treasure forever as a memory of your wedding day. 

For a Rustic wedding, wooden signs with foliage, crates for table plans (so many options here too) and extra candle holders or pots of flowers in areas that are used for the wedding, but aren’t necessarily key areas, are all small, but effective detailing that your guests will love. These small details all add up to bring your wedding together and also make beautiful spots for your photographer to snap. These little corners of your day are memories that can easily be forgotten but as soon as you see the picture, it brings it all back.

 

Top tips & hints

Some words of advice to help you avoid the pitfalls of the Rustic style wedding would be:

1.Try to keep the ‘we’re collecting jars’ to a small circle of family & friends, or you could end up with more jars than Sainsbury’s. This also relates to the new trend of using your favourite tipple as centerpieces. You may like Gin or Jack, but unless you want the recycling centre to think you’ve got a major problem, keep the shout out for saving unusual bottles low key.

 

 

2. The use of Gypsophila in weddings is HUGE! From table centres to Bridesmaids bouquets & buttonholes, it seems a relatively cheap way to bring flowers into your wedding.  But… achieving the fullness of a Gypsophila bouquet or posy for filling jars is quite a skill, so my advice would be to ask a professional florist to tackle these for you. They have access to the freshest, best quality blooms too & have the knowledge to make this simple style look a million dollars.

My final word of advice would be to not get overwhelmed by all of this! Reach out to your suppliers to how they can bring to life what you have in your head and if you need someone to help you get it out of your head and into real life, why not book a consultation with us and we can help you bring together the ideas into something that will work for your wedding and your budget.

Iced and Spliced by Cakey Wakey Wedding Suppliers Nottingham, Derby. Leicester

 

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3 things to consider when choosing your Wedding colours

3 things to consider when choosing your Wedding colours

Venue Styling

3 things to consider when choosing your Wedding colours

Pantones of 2017

At the start of every year, the Colour Gods get their heads together to decide which tints, tones & shades should be on the list of colours to be considered to make your wedding day right on trend.

I’m going to select 3 of the top colours & make some suggestions about how you can implement them flawlessly into your dream wedding.

1. Greenery

This is a vibrant, almost luminous shade of Green, as the name suggests!

Although not the top of my list, it seems to have struck a chord with many of the big names in the wedding industry.

You hear all about ‘The year of Kale’ in Bridal magazines, & if Green is your colour of choice, don’t let yourself be limited to a particular shade of it.

Anything goes. From the palest hint of Mint to the darkest Forest Green, go with what you love.

Teamed with neutral flowers, Rose Gold or Copper accents & tonnes of foliage for variety of the Green shades, along with adding texture too, Greenery might just knock your socks off!

2. Fuchsia Rose

As the name suggests, this is an intense shade of Pink!

Bright & bold, & possibly best suited for a Summer wedding, it’s sure to add a dash of sunshine to your venue.

This colour looks fantastic when teamed with Navy, so if your Groom is wearing the very trendy Navy suit, adding colour via a Ruche Tie, Waistcoats, Bridesmaids dresses, flowers, or on the chairs would look fabulous.

But, if you’re a little worried about it being just a little too Pink, how about keeping your maids in the Pink, a pop of the same in your flowers & centre pieces & then have the chairs dressed with a Navy sash, if they need that extra touch?

 

3. Sand Dollar

I adore this neutral palette! It’s elegant, timeless & compliments most skin tones.

Feminine & romantic, & considered not too Pink by most Grooms, shades of this Nude tone adds a small enough amount of colour to your wedding without it becoming a hugely distracting element.

Teamed with Lace, it hits the ‘Vintage’ look to perfection. Or add in some bling for a Hollywood Glamour style, using diamante & crystal decorations for an opulent theme.

Opinion of a Venue Stylist

Whatever your choice of colours, one thing to think about is the decoration & colours used at your chosen venue. Play to its strengths, disguise its weaknesses. Any good Venue Stylist will help you select the right things to draw the eyes of your guests away from things that might not gel with your style.

If your venue is contemporary in style, it’s possible to use any colour, as the neutral tones of the venue will push your colour forwards.

However, if the venue is more traditional, opt for colours to brighten the space & then add your shade in strategically!

The old adage ‘less is more’ is often spot on.

There’s a little known tool you can use when picking your colour palette.

The Colour Wheel can be used to find what will work the best with your primary colour. You don’t want them to clash!

Colours adjacent to each other on the wheel are classed as complimentary colours, so will suit the main colour you’ve selected.

However, if you want your colours to pop, look at the colour directly opposite your shade on the wheel, as these are contrasting colours, which also work perfectly as a team.

Fabulous flowers by The Greenery. Click on the image for more information.

At Iced & Spliced by Cakey Wakey, we’ve helped lots of couples with their colour options, either by toning it down or going for it all guns blazing. Follow us on Instagram to see our latest designs!

One final piece of advice

My last piece of advice would be to leave your colour choices until AFTER you’ve bought your Bridesmaids dresses. From experience, it only takes one of them to refuse point blank (which is code for throwing a massive strop) to  wearing what’s in your head & you’re right back to the drawing board with ALL of your plans.

It’s all part of the fun of planning the biggest day of your life, so have fun, go with what you like, & if that one Bridesmaid does throw a spanner in the works,  sack her! How important was she anyway?

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Just pop a message in the box below & we can have a chat about how to implement your colours, whatever they may be,  into your day.

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