The Best Winter Wedding Colors for Saying “I Do” in the Snow
Winter weddings are hardly relegated to just snowy, icy whites, or even holiday crimsons and emeralds. The best winter wedding colors run the gamut, from pale hues of pinks and neutrals to deep, bold, dramatic colors like eggplant and navy as well as sparkling metals like silver and gold.
Pulling off a winter wedding color palette really does come down to how you combine certain shades with your overall wedding theme and complementary decorative elements, in order to create a cohesive aesthetic that feels like winter at its core.
Ready to get planning? Here’s some winter wedding color inspiration to get you started.
What You Will Learn
How to Pick Colors for a Winter Wedding
When picking colors for a winter wedding, it can be helpful to narrow in on certain elements of the season that you love best, and then identifying the corresponding color palette. It’s all about creating a mood and experience, rather than just picking a few complementary colors.
For example, when winter comes to mind, what do you think of? Walking through a fresh blanket of snow through the pine-filled forest? Gathering with loved ones for cups of hot cocoa and gingerbread men? The sparkle of golden holiday lights backlit against a deep blue night sky?
When you begin thinking of winter wedding colors in terms of experiences and memories — rather than just traditional icy whites and Christmas reds and greens — you’ll see that your options really begin to open up. Here are a few examples.
Winter Wedding Color Options
If you’re still unsure of how your favorite winter moments could translate to winter wedding colors, here are a few examples:
- A wintertime sleigh ride through the forest can translate to the deep emerald greens of pine trees, stark-white snow, and the silver of sleigh bells.
- A favorite New Year’s Eve party might look like shimmery champagne or gold tones, plus a splash of tastefully placed black elements (yes, black works very well in a lot of wedding color palettes!).
- Snowy, icy landscapes transcend mere shades of white to include frosty blues and pinks, like sunlight scattering across the ice.
- A nod to the holidays gets a classy upgrade by focusing on either red and gold, or green and silver (rather than red and green together).
- A bountiful late fall harvest is still appropriate this time of year and can inspire tones reminiscent of plums, pears, and winter squash and citrus.
- Cozy nights by the fireside can evoke warm woodsy tones along with sparks of bronze and copper.
How to Incorporate Winter Wedding Colors in Your Décor
Once you’ve picked a few winter wedding colors, you can incorporate them into your décor through careful furnishing choices, florals, and accessories. Consider the following ideas:
- A snowy color palette with whites, grays, and frosty pinks and blues can translate into white roses and puffs of faux snow throughout the décor.
- A sleigh ride-inspired occasion might feature tables adorned with boughs of evergreen, a cake covered in frosted cranberries, and touches of plaid.
- An upgraded holiday theme can make use of gold lights that cast a glow over your green or red-dotted table settings with poinsettia centerpieces.
As you incorporate your winter wedding colors, consider unexpected places to add a pop of color, too. For example, your invitation envelope linings could show off a burst of champagne sparkle or a shimmery red foil to surprise guests as they open invitations. Beneath a white wedding dress, consider adding a colorful lining for a peek of bold hues when you’re on the dance floor.
Winter-Forward Floral Arrangements
One of the easiest places to incorporate winter wedding colors into your décor is via your floral arrangements. These flowers are all great picks for a winter wedding:
- Anemones: A black center meets white, purple, or red petals, suitable for a handful of seasonal wedding color palettes
- All-white orchids: Orchids are a favorite at weddings anyway, so opting for an all-white option like Phalaenopsis orchids can easily fit a winter wedding motif
- Poinsettias: Just because this is the Christmas flower, don’t overlook it as “too much holiday” for your big day; the dramatic red flowers make for a great addition when not overdone
- Calla lilies: Like orchids, calla lilies are a favorite year-round, and you can consider color options such as pink, purple, red, or black calla (just remember that these flowers are toxic, so you may want to avoid them if you’re having a pet-friendly wedding)
- Roses: Red roses are ideal for any wedding bouquet, especially in the winter
Whatever florals you end up picking, consider incorporating other winter-appropriate elements into your bouquets and arrangements, such as evergreen boughs, eucalyptus, berries, or pinecones.
Winter Wedding Colors FAQs
What Are the Best Colors for Winter Weddings?
Some great colors for winter weddings can include deep purples, navy blues, metal tones like silver and gold, and even upgraded holiday combinations like red with silver accents. The only colors that may not be suitable for a winter wedding are bright, summer-y shades, such as turquoise, bright pink, and lime green.
What Flowers Are in Season for Winter Weddings?
You can have fresh, in-season flowers at your winter wedding with poinsettias, anemones, tulips, sweet peas, or hellebore. Depending on where you live, though, your access to locally-grown in-season flowers may be restricted. So you may be reliant upon shipping in fresh flowers from elsewhere, which could impact your overall floral cost.
What Should You Wear to a Winter Wedding?
Follow basic wedding attire guidelines like avoiding white, cream, or ivory. But remember to dress with the weather in mind, too, so pick warm attire (particularly if part of the wedding will happen outside or if you’ll be moving between venue spaces), and wear shoes that can provide stability when walking over ice or snow.
What Are Good Winter Colors for the Wedding Party?
You should always pick colors for the wedding party by remembering that you want everyone to look their best on your big day. As such, pick universally flattering colors, such as black, or rich tones like eggplant, dusty rose, or red. As you pick wedding party attire, remember to keep the weather in mind and choose attire that will keep the entire party warm and comfortable.
When Do You Need to Pick Wedding Colors?
Pick wedding colors as early in the planning process as possible. This will allow you to choose crucial elements of your wedding such as venue, flowers, attire, décor, rentals, and more based on your wedding palette. As you pick out options, discuss them with your partner so that you can choose combinations that you both love and feel good about.
Winter Weddings Also Need Comprehensive Insurance
As you plan your winter wedding, keep in mind the one big thing that could derail your winter nuptials: bad weather.
While winter can be a picturesque, peaceful time of year, it can also bring treacherous driving conditions and blackout-inducing squalls that can bring your big day to a grinding halt. If you need to postpone or cancel your wedding, insurance can help you recoup the costs.
Learn more about wedding insurance and get a quick, free quote from BriteCo now.
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