Winter Wedding Colors + Schemes: 11 Ideas To Inspire
Photo by Naturally Chic
Despite the fact that nature can look dreary and dead (at least in most of North America), winter weddings can be stunning.
Areas that get snow provide their own beauty of sorts, but well-chosen and complementary winter wedding colors can make all the difference in making your wedding even more beautiful and unique.
The following is a list of popular winter wedding colors that work very well with most environments and themes. You can mix and match many of these, or choose a base and add other colors not listed here.
A note: a wedding theme is different than wedding colors, but they are closely related. Make sure that as you pick your theme and colors, they also complement each other like your colors should!
Light & Dark Blues --
Some of the top picks for winter weddings, blues are a versatile option for your main color base.
Light blues mimic some of the shades you see in nature in the sky and snow, and provide a "winter wonderland" mood full of snowflakes and hot chocolate.
Dark blues contrast sharply against all the "blah"-ness and drab colors of winter settings, while also bringing in a royal elegance.
Most mid-range blues are avoided during the winter so as not to come across as too spring-like (the exception here is teal, which is discussed a bit later).
Photo from Maryland Wedding List
Greys --
Quite possibly the most depressing color of winter weather, grey can actually be a good anchor color for your wedding because of how easy it is to enliven with other colors.
Like with blues, greys can be chosen in a lighter or darker variation. Light greys work well with neutral-toned weddings to imitate your natural surroundings, and dark greys are best for pairing with colors that provide a nice contrast, like reds or whites.
Photo from Groom Sold Separately
Ivories --
If you don't like the stark white idea and want to go with a more vintage feel for your wedding, aim for ivories.
This color is commonly found in spring and summer weddings, but works just as well with winter weddings so long as you don't try to mix whites and ivories.
Ivories match blues and greys incredibly well in a neutral palette (as well as metallics), and add softness to winter wedding colors like purple or bright pinks.
Photo from The Perfect Palette
Reds --
A natural choice for weddings around Christmas time, red can be that one color that really makes your winter wedding pop.
Think darker maroons or cranberries for a classy feel, or candy cane red for a more casual, fun setting.
Photo from Tying the Knott
Darker Greens --
Since green is typically the color associated with spring and summer (new flora and all that), you have to be very selective of the shade you choose for your winter wedding.
The darker greens like hunter, forest, or midnight recall images of fir trees and Christmas wreaths, and definitely give a more festive feel than lighter greens will.
The lightest you will want to go is something like a kelly green, which can still be paired with silvers or golds in order to avoid it looking too much like you're dying for spring to arrive already.
Photo from The Perfect Palette
Pinks --
Seriously - pink?
Yep, many brides in the last few years have chosen pinks for their winter wedding. And it works!
The most typical shades are lighter to match neutral-toned and shabby chic-themed weddings, or brighter/darker as a contrast piece.
Photo by Naturally Chic
Darker Purples --
Hopefully you're starting to see a trend by now.
Most colors in darker shades can be integrated into a winter wedding setting and theme, and purple is no exception.
Pair it with silvers, ivories, or whites, and you have a very royal mood with a dash of whimsy on the side.
Photo from Dream Weddings on a Budget
Black --
Black has been one of the most controversial wedding colors to date. Many consider it too grave and "heavy" for a wedding.
However, that hasn't stopped it from appearing in these big days, including winter settings.
Black can be done very obviously for contrast (black bridesmaid dresses would pop on a snowy background) or minimally for highlighting (such as black shawls or hair pieces).
Photo from Wedding to Be
Teal/Aqua --
The only mid-range blue considered "safe" for a winter wedding color, teal (sometimes called aqua) has been paired with red and white for a very popular and fun wedding setting.
For more options, teal can also be matched with lighter blues, ivories, browns, and black.
Photo from The Plunge Project
Browns --
Bare trees can actually be an inspiration this time of year.
Pull out various browns you like and pair them with other neutral colors or some brighter options (like red or teal).
Like mixing whites and ivories, try to avoid having an entire wedding color set of just browns. Always throw in another color so you don't have that ever-hated drab feeling.
Photo from Dream Weddings on a Budget
Metallics --
Not so much a color as a style, metallics are always a popular option to add to your winter wedding colors.
These add a distinct flair, both modern and classic at the same time, to almost any wedding.
The key here is to not overdo them. Add flat colors along with the shine so your wedding doesn't look like it's doused in Christmas ornaments.
Photo from Maryland Wedding List
Though other colors can pop up on your winter wedding color radar, these colors tend to be the most common and easy to work with at this time of year.
Your Turn...
What winter wedding colors are you going to choose, and what mood will they create for your special day?
Did we miss any winter wedding colors you think people too often overlook (like orange)?