Sometimes your favorite color doesn’t make a great backdrop or theme for your wedding and other times it seems like none of the colors make sense. If you’re having a hard time choosing a color palette for your wedding, let us help. There are plenty of ways a professional florist can open up the possibilities of color, theme, and emotion through the use of flowers.

Here are some quick tips to help you get started.

Choose a base color.

I know it may be easier said than done; however, look for a color that flatters you, suits you, and complements your complexion or brings out your eyes. Find the thing you want to highlight and choose a color that really brings this out. Fine tuning this color could involve looking at different floral arrangements and choosing colors that pop out at you, or choosing blooms that you love that are full of life and full of color. That will help you choose your base color.

You’re going to be looking at this color in one way or another for the rest of your life, so make sure it’s easy on the eyes and feels good to see.

After selecting a base color, choose two to four accent colors. Don’t be afraid to throw in contrasting colors and ask for opinions. A high end wedding florist, like Fleuressence in Richmond, Virginia should be able to show you photos of flowers and greenery that go along with your color palette to help you choose which ones would work best. Play around with ferns, leaves, herbs, and flowers until you get the perfect combination..

Consider Your Venue

Where are you getting married? What colors already exist at the venue? Will it be outdoors or indoors? Your venue provides the foundation and backdrop of your wedding and its theme. Select colors that enhance and complement the already established aesthetics. Neutral tones work almost everywhere but selecting a color or two from the venue’s color palette can be a beautiful addition to your own color selections.

If you’ve already chosen your wedding venue, sending photos to your florist can provide valuable insight into the space and guide the floral design. Whether you’re working with a top wedding florist in Richmond, Virginia or Charlottesville, Virginia, they can help bring your vision to life. If you’re unsure of what colors you want to include or what kind of flowers would highlight and elevate the venue, speaking to your florist could be very beneficial. They can offer expert advice on incorporating garden-inspired florals that elevate your wedding theme and create a cohesive look throughout your venue.

Consider The Season

When are you getting married? Will it be fall, winter, spring or summer? What will the weather be like? We tend to favor heavier colors —burgundies, deep greens, oranges— in the fall and winter and light, brighter colors —pinks, greens, light blues— in the spring and summer.

Another way to consider the seasons is to check what will be in bloom during that season. What time of the year is your favorite flower or combination of flowers, naturally available? A premium florist in Charlottesville, Virginia can help you fine tune your color palette by considering what will be in season at the time of your wedding.

Consider Your Theme

Are you having a rustic wedding? Will it be modern? Bohemian? All glam? Choosing a color palette that reflects the theme of your wedding allows you to narrow down your options to ensure a cohesive event. If you’re planning a glamorous wedding, orchids, roses, and lilies will be very complementary to your theme. If you are planning an outdoor, rustic wedding, vines, dahlias, and sturdy flowers and foliage like magnolia leaves and strawflowers will be excellent choices.

Staying within your theme will help you choose the color range and depth of your palette. Whether you're looking for glossy flowers, long stems, or vines to incorporate into your floral decor, your Charlottesville event florist is capable of sharing floral options that will tie beautifully into your theme to create the aesthetic and feel you are planning for.

Consider Your Bridal Party

Who all will carry bouquets or wear boutonnières? What color will your bridesmaids and groomsmen be wearing? What about the mothers and grandmothers? The flower girl(s) and ring bearers? Thinking about the big picture of the day, how does everyone and everything come together? Considering skin tones, what color would be flattering for everyone? Selecting one base color that works for all your loved ones can help anchor your Charlottesville wedding flowers and provide a cohesive and elegant look.

Choosing your wedding palette can be tricky. Pick colors that you like. Consider colors in varying shades. Compare contrasting colors. Play with ombré scales. Have fun. This is such an exciting and fun time, so don’t stress yourself out. It will all come together.

We’ve included some of our favorite color palettes below. Feel free to use them as a guide when working with a top wedding florist in Richmond, Virginia like us at Fleuressence.