Wedding Colours to Suit the Season

Should you pick delicate pastels for spring and reach for bold shades of red in winter? We reveal which shades work best in each of the four seasons.

Spring

With the first flurry of bright yellow daffodils and pink cherry blossom trees, nothing says romance like the arrival of spring.

Wedding photographer Lisa Cowen says that when the clocks go forward there is a magic hour when the light is so soft and gentle that photographs have a fairytale quality, ideal for the most romantic of days.

Flowers are plentiful at this time of year, and bouquets and button holes in nude shades of ivory and palest cocoa — lifted with splashes of bright pink and vibrant purple — work perfectly. Bridal make-up should follow the same theme with soft, smoky eyes, highlighted by bright lips in coral or fuchsia. Bridal hair works best in understated, natural styles with a simple flower or knot.

In spring, bridesmaids dresses can be shorter, flowing in shades of lemon, lilac and bolder violets, and you can bring seasonal beauty inside with your table decorations, choosing indigo-coloured hydrangeas or simple lilies interspersed with petals and crystals for added springtime sparkle.

Summer

Rebekah Roberts from Eternity Bridal says that ivory is a classic colour throughout the year — and in summer you can also reach for beautiful, seasonal shades. Warm blush pinks and champagnes are especially lovely for June and July weddings.

As well as reflecting the warmth of summer in your own choices, there are also summer colours you can turn to when picking out your bridesmaid dresses; the most popular choices are lavender and baby blue.

Summer is the season where floral accessories can add a splash of bright, vibrant colour to your entire wedding party; fuschia and purple draw upon and accentuate the paler shades in your dress and décor. If you’re saying ‘I do’ outdoors, enhance your surroundings with a touch of green — pink roses intertwined with green leaves make a perfect bouquet for natural brides who love to be connected to nature, or weave a bright bloom or two into a softly-constructed hairstyle for an extra touch of summer sizzle.

Autumn

Everyone loves the russets, auburns and burnt oranges of autumn. The temperature may drop at this time of year, but Mother Nature’s most striking colour scheme can inspire every aspect of your wedding. While flattering burgundy and chocolate work with every bridesmaid’s skin tone, you could consider plumping for a wedding dress in a deep, autumnal shade too — bright red on daring, fashion-forward brides will always be a talking point.

You’ll be spoilt for choice for your bouquet (gerbera and calla lilies are both in season), and you can even put your autumnal colour scheme on the menu; choose pumpkin soup to start and cranberry and apple deserts to finish, both of which bring out the colours and flavours of the season.

And make sure your wedding cake is adorned with marzipan leaves, acorns or chocolate roses. Sarah Edwards adds some serious autumnal wow factor to a classic three-tier design with her delicious ‘Autumn Leaves’ cake, featuring cascading leaves in gorgeous colours.

Winter

Snowfall, candlelight and open fires, there’s nothing quite as romantic as walking up the aisle in winter. And you can make the very most of your venue by picking colours that warm up the room and really emphasise the season.

Choose a venue like the fabulous Rookery Manor where guests will be surrounded by views of the beautiful 86-acre garden, which becomes a bewitching winter landscape when the flakes start to fall.

You can even take advantage of a unique ring bearer — have both wedding rings delivered to the altar by a beautiful, trained barn owl for an additional touch of wintry magic.

You can create a cosy look in winter too; warm-up the venue’s interior with touches of red, gold and green down the aisle, and add a hint of heat to your bridesmaid dresses with a richly-coloured sash or bow. Classic Christmas colours also work well as table decorations, whether it’s a sprig of holly and gold table confetti, or a romantic floral arrangement with red and white roses. If Christmas colours don’t appeal, use the snowfall as inspiration; combine silver table crystals with ice blue tones to create an indoor winter wonderland.