Beautiful Weddings

A wedding is an incredibly special day. The amount of planning and preparation that goes into a wedding pays off in memories that last a lifetime. Of the many decisions that have to be made when planning a wedding, choosing what color to design a theme around is high on the list. In many instances, the color theme chosen is also represented in the wedding invitations.

There are of course many colors to choose from. While the number of color choices may make it easier to personalize the particulars of your wedding, it can also seem overwhelming when you are sorting out all of the details in the initial planning stage. Finding the right color for your wedding invitations should be something that you enjoy. Still the question remains, how can this task become a smoother process?

Choose a color theme for the wedding



Before you choose a color or colors for your invitations, choose the overall color theme for the wedding. There is no rule that states that you must use your wedding colors on your invitations, but if you do decide to, you will already know what color to use.

There are many different ways to settle on a color theme for your wedding. Some brides have known since they were little girls what colors they wanted to use in their wedding. Some grooms have a strong opinion about one color or another. Still, other couples choose seasonal color and some choose colors which will coordinate with their wedding flowers. There is no rule for how to choose a color theme, or how many colors to choose.



Extend the color theme to your invitations



Some people want every part of their wedding to be color coordinated. Others are less sure. For some people, the traditional ivory paper is what they always imagined as part of their wedding day, while others want their invitations to be as unique as their relationship with their future spouse.

For many people who are planning a contemporary wedding, implementing the wedding colors into the invitations is more straightforward. A popular invitation style for contemporary weddings is with a solid, vibrant color for the invitation, with the ink in a lighter color. Pink, green and yellow cards come in a variety of shades, and make gorgeous contemporary invitations.

If you are planning a casual wedding, you can still add color to your invitations. Pastel paper, accent ribbons and colored ink are all popular ways to add color to wedding invitations. If you stray far from the traditional ivories and whites, you may want to use the colors from your wedding, to maintain a coordinated look.

Other color choices



If you do not want to use your wedding colors on your invitation, you will probably want to stick with the more traditional ivory or white paper, with black or, for a more formal wedding, metallic ink. You can use these colors on your invitation and be perfectly proper, whether your wedding colors are bold or pastel, traditional or contemporary.

If you want the look of a traditional wedding invitation, but would like to implement your wedding colors, consider using one of your colors as the lining color for the envelopes. This is a subtle and attractive way to customize the appearance of your invitations. Other places to add accent colors are on envelope seals, monograms and motifs. Careful use of color can add drama or whimsy to your invitations without adding much to the price.

Combining ideas



Some couples choose a neutral color for the invitation itself, and compliment it with ink in one of their wedding colors. You can also add a bow to many invitations. If your invitations have a bow, you can choose a color that coordinates with your ink color or matches it. No couple is beholden to extending their wedding color theme into their invitations, many do, but there are many other alternatives.

Making the right choice



There is also no “right” choice when designing your wedding invitation. There is no one color that will look acceptable. Many people choose colors from their wedding theme to help coordinate the look of their wedding, but that is not necessary. It is more important that you choose a look that you love. The wedding invitation is a lifelong keepsake of your special day.

If you choose to use colors other than those which are your wedding colors in your invitations, consider how you will choose reception place cards. These are often chosen to coordinate with your invitation. If the reception hall will be decorated in different colors than the invitation, consider how the place cards will look on the tables before committing to a particular color. Paying attention to these small details can help ensure that your wedding and reception commences without any missteps.

When planning your wedding, deciding what invitations to send is one of the first big decisions you will have to make. The proper wedding invitation will set the tone for the entire wedding. Are you planning a formal or informal wedding? A lavish affair, or a casual get together? Often there is no need to explicitly state such a thing on your invitations; you can relay the message simply by choosing wedding invitations which reflect the style, theme, and tone of your wedding. There are a variety of ways to add personality to your wedding invitations. Adding ribbon, trinkets and photographs to your invitations are all ways to express your personality and the type of ceremony you are planning.

Another way to add sparkle to your wedding invitation is by the use of color. Adding color to wedding invitations allows an element of personality to shine through, as well as add some unexpected spark and levity to what is normally a formal and traditional announcement. Color can add an air of festivity to traditional invitations, introduce your wedding colors to your guests or add a touch of personalization to a stock wedding invitation.

How can color be added to invitations?

When deciding on where to place color in your wedding invitations, there are a variety of choices. You can opt for the traditional cream or white card stock and add a personalized color for the writing on the card. If this does not fit your style, the invitation itself can be your main color, and the script can be white. Many couples opt to include their color choice in the lining of the envelope. Thus, the invitation can remain the traditional black and white, but a touch of color can be found inside the envelope as the invitees open it up. Another way to introduce color to your invitations is through a ribbon adornment.

Do you have to use light colored card stock?

The selection of colors in card stock has never been wider. Cards are available in many shades of greens, blues, pinks and browns. Depending on the look that you are going for, you may choose a subtle pastel or a vibrant bold color for your card stock. Generally, couples who are looking for a more traditional wedding invitation will choose a lighter color, as will those planning a casual ceremony. For those planning a contemporary ceremony or a more formal affair, bolder colors are a more common choice.

Traditional Wedding: Can you still add color to your invitations?

There are no rules for what is right and what is wrong when deciding how your wedding invitations should look. While a traditional wedding invitation is typically understated, adding a hint of color through ink, envelope linings or ribbon adornments are all acceptable and attractive options. If you are certain that you would like a traditional wedding, you may want to choose an understated color for these accents.

Can you choose any color you want?

The color choices for your wedding invitations are vast. While it would be an overstatement to say that you can choose any color you want for your wedding invitations, it would be accurate to say that the selection of colors available for wedding invitations has never been greater. Between the different color selections of card stock, ink, ribbons and envelope linings, it is possible to make your wedding invitations 100% unique even if you are choosing only stock options.



What rules should I follow when adding color to my wedding invitations?

There are no “written in stone” rules when planning your wedding. It is your wedding and your invitations, and you want to choose an invitation that expresses both you and your fiancé’s personality and the atmosphere you plan for the wedding. Whether you choose bold or subtle color, vibrant ribbon adornments or delicate lace edged ribbon, the invitation is uniquely yours. While there are suggestions on how to choose color for your wedding invitations, do not allow yourself to get stuck into a rigid template for how your wedding invitations should look.

Do I have to add color to my wedding invitations?

Just because technology has made it easier than ever to add color to your wedding invitations there is no reason to force yourself to add color if you do not want to. White or cream colored card stock with black or dark gray ink is still a popular as well as a correct option.

No matter how you choose to personalize your wedding invitations, the addition of color makes it easier to do. The addition of color to ink, ribbons or envelopes create a special and personalized invitation that will serve as a keepsake of your special day for years to come.

There will always be many options for colors to use for your wedding invitations. It is important to think carefully about your color choices before you decide on colors, so that you can then choose a design that complements the colors and helps to create a beautiful and appropriate wedding invitation.

Theme and Wedding Colors

The first thing that you want to consider is whether or not you have already locked yourself into colors. Have you chosen the bridesmaid dresses and picked out the flower arrangements? If so, you probably already have wedding colors picked out. Most of the time, a bride and groom will choose two colors for their wedding, although sometimes they might choose three. These should be colors that complement each other, and go together well, like pink and brown, or blue and ivory. If you have already chosen colors for your wedding, then you probably already have a good idea of what colors you would like to use for your invitation.

However, you should keep in mind that you do not always have to go with the same colors on your invitation. You might decide that you would like to mix it up a little bit and use slightly different colors. However, you need to think about how important it is for you to have everything that matches. If you are the type of person who would not like your sheets clashing with your bedspread, you probably will not like to have wedding invitations that do not match the bridesmaid dresses. So, think about this first. It might be that you have already chosen colors for your wedding invitations, but you just don’t know it yet (if you have some favorite colors you absolutely love, they might be perfect for your wedding colors).

Season

Another way to choose colors for your wedding invitations is to look at the season and think about which colors are going to complement a wedding held at that time of year. This means that for a fall wedding, you will want to use warm colors like reds, browns, and oranges. For a winter wedding, whites and icy blues, purples, and greens can be beautiful. Many people choose pastels in the spring and bright vibrant colors in the summer. Again, you might also be thinking of main and accent colors for other elements of your wedding, so keep the seasons in mind. Although using reds and oranges in the spring might seem a little odd, in the end it is still going to be up to you, so if you are completely opposed to having your colors match the season, you can just go ahead and choose any colors you like.

Type of Wedding

It is also, in some circumstances, prudent to look at the type of wedding you are planning in order to decide which colors you should be using on the invitation. In fact, this is something that is very important because it is often the invitations that set the mood for the whole wedding. A fancy, formal, nighttime wedding should have colors that are also fancy and formal, like deep blues, purples, and blacks. A fun and breezy beach wedding, on the other hand, should have colors that complement the sand and sun – light browns and yellows, or pinks and blues. A simple afternoon wedding should have simple colors, while an elegant and formal wedding should have regal colors and royal hues.

Complimentary Colors

Also, when choosing wedding invitations, keep in mind which colors will complement each other. You might enjoy a bright red and a bright pink, but your guests will get a headache upon opening your invitation, and might not take your wedding seriously. Keep to colors that work well together, and colors that look nice side by side. This will help you make sure that you have chosen a color pallet that is soothing to the eyes, and not something that is difficult to read.

Likes and Dislikes

No matter the colors you have already used, the season, or the mood, it is important to also choose colors that you like. If you have a nighttime wedding, but cannot stand dark colors, try to do a more subtle tone with something bright thrown in. If you are getting married on the beach, but have always wanted to have dark purple bridesmaid dresses, you can pair that color with a light brown and use another brown shade to offset the dark purple as well. If you have colors that you simply adore, work with them a little bit to see if you can make them work with your mood, your theme, and your season. Chances are that just about any color can work for invitations to any wedding, as long as you plan accordingly.