After choosing our venue, I knew deciding on wedding colors would help me get a head start on making other decisions like bridesmaid dresses and invitations. I entertained the idea of several different color palettes, but I secretly knew which one I would select.
I love colors. All colors. But I really love purple. That being said, there was no question about it being a main color. I’m a passionate person, so I tend to look to things that I love for inspiration and I did just that when choosing the second color.
Anyone that knows me knows I’m a devout Kansas State Wildcats fan (no offense, Razorbacks). My dad is from Kansas and I have always loved going back to his hometown of Herington (about 45 miles from KSU). While most people swap stories when they’re reunited with loved ones, my dad’s friends and family taught me to love the Wildcats. And since I consider the Wildcats to be one of my first loves, I turned to them to complete my color palette. I do have to give a shout out to my groom for going along with it (I think he’s secretly becoming a K-State fan), because I absolutely adore our purple and silver wedding scheme!
While I realize choosing a color palette for a wedding may not come as easy to everyone else, I’ve got a few tips for those of you who are stuck:
- Keep your ceremony and reception locations in mind when trying to make a decision. You may find inspiration in colors that are in and around your venues.
- Think about the season. Purple and silver aren’t “typical” autumn colors, but I chose a deeper shade of both that fits well with the season.
- Don’t hesitate to use your favorite colors. Go to a paint store and compare different swatches to see what colors will work well together.
- If the colors you like are either really dark or really light, balance them out by choosing one dark shade and one light shade.
- Stick to lighter colors for morning/afternoon weddings, and darker for evening.
- Choose colors that reflect your personalities and lives. I’ve been a KSU fan for as long as I can remember, so our colors definitely have a personal meaning to me.
- Look at magazines and websites like Pinterest for ideas. The above picture is a screen shot of my “Purple” Pinterest board, so y’all can get an idea of where I’m drawing in inspiration for my décor!
- Don’t forget to ask your groom if he has any ideas, and what colors he would like to see in the wedding!
– Jordan
Bride-to-be and Benton native Jordan Westbrook graduated from UALR in 2011 with a liberal arts degree with an emphasis in mass media. The former Arkansas Bride intern will be blogging about her adventures in wedding planning right here each week.
