The colours on the invitation decide a lot: the aso ebi fabric, the bridesmaids’ dresses, the décor, the flowers, the cake and the groomsmen’s ties. Pick a combination that works across all of them and the wedding looks planned. Pick one that only works on a mood board and it can look muddled in real life.
Here are twenty wedding colour combinations that suit African weddings, followed by tips on choosing yours.
Rich and regal
These combinations suit evening receptions, indoor venues and couples who want drama.
- Wine and gold: one of the most popular combinations at Ghanaian and Nigerian weddings. Deep and festive, and easy to find in lace.
- Emerald and gold: rich and royal, and flattering on darker skin tones.
- Royal blue and silver: crisp and formal, good for evening events.
- Purple and gold: traditionally associated with royalty.
- Black and gold: glamorous and modern, best kept for evening.
- Burnt orange and brown: warm and earthy, good in the dry season.
Soft and romantic
These suit daytime weddings, garden venues and church ceremonies.
- Blush pink and champagne: soft and elegant, a reliable choice for white weddings.
- Lilac and silver: light and fresh.
- Peach and ivory: warm and gentle, flattering in photographs.
- Dusty blue and white: calm and cool for an outdoor ceremony.
- Sage green and cream: natural and understated.
- Mauve and gold: romantic with a touch of richness.
Bold, bright or neutral
Bold combinations suit couples who want energy, especially at traditional ceremonies.
- Coral and teal: bright and tropical, ideal for beach weddings.
- Fuchsia and orange: loud and festive.
- Yellow and green: cheerful, and echoes many kente patterns.
- Red and gold: classic at engagements across West Africa.
- Turquoise and gold: eye-catching in lace and satin.
Neutral palettes suit modern, minimal weddings and let the bride, the flowers and the venue stand out.
- White and green: clean and fresh, with greenery doing the work.
- Champagne and nude: minimal and elegant.
- Navy and blush: balanced, with one dark and one light colour.
How to choose your combination
Think about the season and time of day. Rich, dark colours suit evening receptions; soft and bright colours suit daytime and outdoor events. In Ghana’s heat, light colours also keep guests cooler.
Check the fabric. If guests will wear aso ebi or family cloth, make sure the colours are available in lace or ankara before you print the invitation. A colour that looks perfect on a screen can be hard to find in the market.
Test it on camera. Some colours, especially very bright neons, can look flat or glare in photographs. Ask your photographer which colours they have seen work well.
Keep it to two or three. Two main colours with a neutral such as white, gold or champagne is usually enough. More than that, and the decorator, the florist and the guests will all interpret the theme differently.
