Yes, we know that it’s December. You likely have holiday music playing in the background and are picking out an outfit for the winter wonderland wedding that you’ll be attending. But for engaged couples planning their 2022 and 2023 weddings, now is a critical window of time in the wedding planning process!
What Summer Weddings Looked Like in 2021
Most decisions for a summer wedding will begin to be made in the fall or winter of the year before. Since our summer brides and grooms are making big decisions to bring the vision of their dream wedding to life, we wanted to help with some tips on how to select colors for your summer wedding.
Before we look forward to wedding plans for next year, let’s first take a look back. As you know, 2021 was a unique year for weddings because so many couples had changes in their dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, many couples who planned a fall wedding last year actually had to shift their date to this summer. Because of this, it was more common to see colors and themes that weren’t incredibly specific to the season. This served as a reminder that it’s ok to challenge what a summer wedding ‘should’ look like, and to make decisions based on what works best for you and your future spouse.
According to the Knot, the most popular wedding colors in 2021 included: light blue, green, brights, papaya orange, lilac and lavender, and neutrals. (Yes, neutrals count as a color!) As we look ahead to planning weddings for next year, we anticipate we will see similar palettes and that couples will continue to challenge the color combinations for each season.
5 Things to Consider When Selecting Your Wedding Color Palette
Not sure where to get started with your wedding theme? Starting with the colors can be a helpful starting point to set the vibe for your wedding design. If you’re considering how to select colors for your summer wedding, here’s are the 5 things that you need to know to get started.
1. First, look at the places that inspire you. Take a step back and don’t overcomplicate this decision. Start to be more aware of the colors in your immediate surroundings.
Maybe the both of you have a shared favorite color or frequent vacation location. Maybe there’s a specific color scheme in your home décor or closet. Perhaps there are unique combinations that stand out in places like a local coffee shop or outside in nature---have you seen a Texan sunset recently?!
Other weddings could inspire you, too. There could also be a wedding that you attend (or have attended) that has colors excite you. Maybe there’s a reality TV wedding or a celebrity wedding across the pages of a magazine. Or check out some of the weddings which we’ve captured here.
We live in a colorful world and one that offers many unique colors so start paying attention to see what you begin to gravitate towards.
2. Use the best flowers of the season as a starting point.
It’s going to be incredibly important to choose a flower type based on what’s in season. If you’ve fallen in love with a specific flower that doesn’t bloom well (or is completely unavailable) in the season of your wedding, then getting your hands on these could lead to higher in price, lower quality, or required last minute changes. Do some research online or by asking a local flower shop to find out about those thrive in the summer season. While doing this research, you might find inspiration for both your favorite flower and the colors.
According to Zola.com, the best summer flowers include:
Magnolia
Dahlia
Lily
Zannia
Spray Rose
Phlox
Bee Balm
Swamp Milkweed
Iris
Sunflower
Keep in mind, you don’t need to only use one flower, so look for a few options that complement each other. Many flowers also come in different shades which could help set the tone for your color palette.
Check out more tips on seasonal flowers from this article in Brides.
3. Leverage your wedding details for information. Think about the details that you already have planned and consider what makes your wedding unique. This could be the colors selected for your save-the-dates, a unique theme, or an incredible location for your wedding venue.
For example, if you’re planning a beach wedding, then your dream peacock theme and jewel tone color palette might not make sense. Or your ‘robbins egg blue’ may look strange if a castle is the backdrop for your big day. Once you put some of the details in place, you will quickly see how it can be tied together through color.
4. Research contrasting colors on Pinterest. One place that you might get stuck is only having one distinctive color in mind---without having a range of two to three colors. For example, if sage green is your main color of choice, then you will want to have a darker green, as well as an alternate color on the other end of the color spectrum (like blush.)
A few complementary and contrasting colors will help add visual interest to your wedding day and give you more flexibility for your ceremony décor and reception design. One of the best pieces of advice we can give you on how to select colors for your summer wedding is to search on Pinterest! Try some of the following searches and see what feels right:
Best colors for a summer wedding
Wedding color palette using ‘(fill in the blank with color)’
(Fill in the blank with color) wedding color contrast
(Add your wedding theme) summer wedding colors
(Add a wedding descriptor like ‘glam’ or ‘country’) summer wedding colors
Summer wedding color palette
Summer wedding color combinations
Unique summer wedding colors
Summer wedding bouquet ideas
Summer wedding inspiration
5. Ask your wedding coordinator, or other pros on your wedding planning team. Don’t underestimate the experience from your team of wedding vendors. Regardless of specific roles, most professionals in the wedding industry have seen many varieties of weddings throughout their careers. From wedding venues to cake designers to pros on the floor at bridal expos, there is a lot of expertise that surrounds you. Don’t hesitate to ask for their favorite color combinations or tips for resources that may be helpful for you.
How You Know If You’ve Chosen the Right Summer Wedding Colors
Once you’ve landed on a few of your favorite options, save them on your phone or pin them to a Pinterest board. Take a few days to take a step back and then revisit your selections. Once you’ve landed on your top two options, start to research some of your specific wedding details.
You might find that there is more availability for things like favors or bridesmaid dresses that leans closer to one of your color palettes than the other. That should help you narrow it down so that you can make the final decision with your significant other.
Do keep in mind that this is your wedding day and it’s important that the final colors selected help to represent who you are as a couple.
If you have a gothic style and love dark colors, don’t feel like you have to select brighter tones just because it’s a summer wedding. Perhaps the colors you gravitate towards feel more like a spring, or a winter wedding, but if that’s what you envision then it’s ok to move forward with your selection. Lastly, remember that this is a wedding for the both of you. If you love all-things pink but your significant other doesn’t, then use it as an accent color (instead of the primary) or opt for another color that feels more natural to you both.
If your tastes fall on opposite ends of the color wheel, find a happy medium or opt for a unique color combination. And when in doubt, you can always tie things together with neutrals or metallics. Once you’ve landed on your final decision, you will know in your gut. Once you close your eyes and select your colors, can now start to begin to paint the imagery of the wedding day that is beginning to take form on your empty canvas. From here, everything will fall into place.
To our couples getting married next June, July, or August of 2022 or 2023 in Texas, we hope these tips on how to select colors for your summer wedding were helpful. And if you’re still looking for a photographer or videographer, we have a team across the United States who is willing to help. Learn about our package prices and add-ons, then check out our portfolios for photo and video. Happy planning!
[Photoshoot in the spotlight: Nisha and Arron in Dallas, Texas by Moe.]
Choose Joy,
The Joy Team