Choosing Your Hues

Taken from Bridal Guide Sept/Oct 2010


     Ever since you announced your engagement, you've probably been repeatedly asked this question: "What is your color scheme?" It is important, and it's also one of the first questions I ask when I meet a bride. Color is actually an extension of you, as a bride, and the hues you choose will affect everything - from the ink and paper choices of your invitations to your bridesmaids' dresses to your bouquets and floral centerpieces to your tablecloths, your specialty cocktails and even your favors. and oh, yes, the cake!
     OMG! This is a huge decision. So let's step back a minute and think about color in everyday life. Color can create a mood and affect the energy of a space. When you paint a room in your home the choice of color will evoke a feeling. Yellow is happy and exciting, and it makes me think of the morning sun, so I love it for a kitchen. Red is associated with passion and adventure, while blue is calming and peaceful. In my home everything is splashed with color - from a red kitchen to a purple bedroom, and everything in between. for some people that may be too much, but for me different colors create different experiences - and isn't that what life is all about?
     So color is a very personal choice, but when I ask brides about their color schemes, most tell me that they want all white or shades of pink. Now these are safe, but less daring than I'd like. My advice is, add personality - your personality - by choosing a splash of color. Together, consider your favorite colors as well as your season and style. What do certain colors mean to each of you? (The pink of the peonies in your mom's spring garden? The blue of the summer sky at the beach?) Now purchase inexpensive paints, brushes and paper and start splattering, Be a little crazy, a little Jackson Pollack! Or pick up paint chips at your local home improvement store, and play with different combinations. You might be surprised by what you both like.

Shades of the Seasons
     I try to avoid color schemes that are too predictable. For example, a fall wedding that's orange and brown makes me think of Halloween and pumpkins. "Harvest" colors are too cliched; you don't want your wedding to be too "themey." Instead, consider taupe or burgundy with cooper and a hint of lavender. Fall is perfect for being fashion forward with unique colors.
     Spring: Spring colors are usually all about pastels, but change it up a bit by adding deep splashes of plum or coral.
     Summer: Go for bold yellows, purples, reds and blues. Or select different shades of a color: Coral, salmon and a deep burnt orange would be stunning.
     Winter: All-white is gorgeous, but add a splash of lavender for warmth. Or go for a metallic, like pewter, silver, copper, bronze or gold, for depth and richness.

     Your wedding is a blank canvas just waiting for you to paint it in your special colors. Have fun creating a masterpiece!

     David Tutera's Rule of Thumb: Color is fabulous, but don't overdo it. For an elegant, stylish look, choose no more than three or four hues. After all, it's your wedding - not a circus!