Whether you’re seeking the finishing touches for this year, or pondering inspiration for next year, no matter when your wedding is it’s never a bad time to talk about colour!
If you’re planning an afternoon bridesmaid’s tea party, a wild bachelorette, or a family-friendly-yet-sassy shower event, coordinating everything can seem daunting and expensive, we are here to help.
Of course, the main secret is you don’t have to do all of these things, and they absolutely don’t all need to be coordinated. However, colour coordination is FUN and figuring out things that can carry over from pre-wedding events to the ceremony and into the reception can save time, money, and energy. It also cuts down on waste, which is a big plus for pulling off a sustainable wedding.
This season I am totally in love with our new Matilda Tea Party dress, so I’ve decided to base the colour palettes for this post around those. Perhaps you’ll fall for one of these combos and you’ll be all set to go, or you can simply take some of the inspiration and swap out the colours to suit your own.
The Matilda dress is made of a floral jacquard and features a flattering empire waistline seam, as well as elongating princess seams and an a-line flare. A wide scoop neck and 1 ½” straps make this dress a flattering shape on most figures, which your bridesmaids will thank you for!
If you live in B.C. or a similar climate you know that unpredictable weather is the spice of life. Our shrugs, wraps, boleros, and little jackets are the perfect addition for a cooler day or an evening reception. Keep everyone cozy and in style!
Pale Gold, Peony Pink, and Forest Green:
Classic and luscious, this palette is a wonderful option for either a formal affair or a casually styled celebration against the backdrop of our spectacular Pacific North West. Forest Green is very on-trend this year. This makes accessory and decor sourcing easier, and your bridesmaids will be ecstatic it’s not coral again. It’s also a very comfortable option for more traditional grooms and groomsmen.
Sustainability Hint: Ethically wild-gathered greenery such as Salal or Evergreen branches can flesh out bouquets, spruce up tables, accent hairstyles, and cover that weird spot on the venue wall. They’re free, local, and grown without pesticides or questionable labour practices. They last well as cut stems, but also compost easily after the event.
Vanilla, Strawberry, and Mint:
Aside from being the best ice cream flavours short of chocolate, this palette scratches the pastel itch without looking like Easter leftovers. You also have a warm, a cool, and a neutral to work with, so no one will be stuck with something that washes them out.
This dreamy feminine palette leaves you with a million options for flowers, and coordinates easily with food and drinks! (Raspberry mojitos, anyone?)
Champagne, Rosé, and Silver Grey:
This high-end palette is ideal for a formally styled event, but can dress down as well. Pale greys and pinks are a gorgeous late spring/early summer combo, with many seasonal blooms cooperating well. Pussywillows, Dusty Miller, and White Sage are all wonderful silver options for your floral arrangements, and silver is a very easy find for colour of accessories. A touch of charcoal here and there can help root the whole look.
Antique Pearl, Sunset Pink, and Seafoam:
If you’re planning a beach wedding or even if you just want to be a mermaid princess on your big day, the world is your oyster with this palette. Seafoam is flattering on every skin tone and is very on-trend, like a summery version of teal!
(not to mention it goes perfectly with our fabulous “I Do” hot shorts)
Not only is this palette completely gorgeous, it has so many options for sustainability.
Here are some of my recommendations:
– Sun bleached driftwood and beach pebble bases for decor and centerpieces.
– Spend a romantic afternoon with the pearl of your life looking for seashells to add! (Oyster shells have a lovely pearlescent interior, whereas some clams and cockles have gorgeous pink sunset tones. Just be sure the critter is done with the shell!)
– Secondhand imitation pearl beads are plentiful at your local vintage or thrift store, and these can be reworked into accessories, strung into hairstyles, or used to add interest to flower vases.
– Natural, free options if you plan on a sand ceremony.
Cream, Blush, and Mocha:
Blushes, peaches, and nudes are gracing the collections of many designers and makeup artists this season. It’s like a feminine take on earth tones and I love it. This palette is ideal for any location with lots of natural wood, so it’s great for countryside weddings. Natural and nude-look makeup also goes well with this, so if you prefer to be a bare-faced babe this is the one for you!
Neapolitan ice cream! Chocolate-dipped strawberries with whipped cream! Have fun with it. Delicious, delicious fun.
Now that you’ve looked at all those mouthwatering shades, what to eat? Why is dessert the most easy thing to colour coordinate? Here are some ideas for healthy and savory foods to serve at your tea party or shower which mesh well with the pink and cream overall theme.
-Summer borscht (recipe here).
-Salmon + cream cheese on baguettes (or salmon on rice for a dairy and gluten free option)
-Fruits and berries. Apples, pears, dragon fruit, strawberries, raspberries, grapefruit, and huckleberreis are all great options. Serve with whipped cream, sweet cream cheese dip, or yogurt.
-Veggies are a little harder to find in pink, but cauliflower, radishes, and mushrooms can form the basis of a dip platter, with others added based on your colour palette. White dips can also be dyed pink with beet juice.
-Patés and assorted lunch meats are a good source of pink and white protein, and are super low effort for how good they look.
Devil May Wear 