Before you choose flowers, fabric or cake, choose your colours. Nearly every other decision flows from them.
Wedding colours appear on the bridesmaids’ dresses, the groomsmen’s ties, the decor, the invitations, the family’s aso ebi or matching cloth and often the cake. A clear palette makes the day look coherent in photos.
Two colours and the venue
Most planners suggest two main colours and perhaps one accent. Too many colours make decor and photos look busy. A classic approach is one strong colour and one neutral, such as emerald and gold, burgundy and champagne or navy and silver. An outdoor garden wedding suits greens, pastels and floral tones. An evening ballroom reception suits jewel tones, gold and deep colours. Beach weddings often use blues, whites and coral. Consider the colour of the venue’s walls, carpets and chairs.
Test colours against the skin tones of the bride, groom and wedding party. Some shades, such as very bright neon or very pale nude, can wash out in photos. Ask your photographer which colours photograph well in the venue’s light.
Family cloth and kente
In Ghana and Nigeria, families often wear matching fabric. Choose colours for the family cloth or aso ebi early, because guests need time to buy fabric and sew outfits. Some couples assign different colours to each family or to friends and family. For a Ghanaian traditional ceremony, kente colours carry meaning. Gold is associated with wealth and royalty, green with growth and harvest, blue with peace and love. Some couples build their palette around a specific kente cloth they plan to wear.
Culture and vendors
In some communities, certain colours have associations with mourning. In Ghana, red and black cloth is traditionally worn at funerals, so couples usually avoid red-and-black combinations for weddings. Check with elders if unsure. Share your palette with the decorator, florist, baker, stationery designer and tailor, with fabric swatches or colour codes. It avoids surprises. Colours can reflect your story: a favourite colour, your university colours, the colours of a hometown festival. Choose something you will be happy to see in photos for decades.
If you are stuck, hold two fabric swatches against each other in daylight. If they make you smile, you have your palette.
