Our luxury, Florida barn venue is a blank canvas.
The reception space here at Lavender on the Lake is ready and waiting to be transformed by every couple that gets married here. How to choose perfect colors for your wedding day can be both fun and overwhelming. The good news is that with our white walls, black fixtures, and clean industrial feel, anything literally goes. BUT I LOVE color! If you know me, you know this to be true in the way that I dress, decorate my home, and in my paintings-even our bridal suite is a testament to that!
Color tells a story and evokes emotion and meaning, whether we realize it or not. When it comes to wedding planning, choosing a color palette is one of the most important elements. Wedding colors don’t just decorate the space— they set an overall feeling and intentional vibe for your entire event. Color. It will literally be everywhere, from your invitations, flowers, table settings, bridesmaid dresses, to groomsmen’s accessories. There are SO many stunning options and it can be hard to know where to begin. Read here for a step-by-step guide on how to choose perfect colors for your wedding.
1. Think about the Venue
Once you have selected your venue, you will have a better feeling for the overall existing style of the venue itself. Some venues have strong features such as dark wood or brass fixtures; it is helpful to consider this when deciding on your color palette. It is important to complement the colors already there rather than to clash or compete with them.
As mentioned before, Lavender on the Lake is truly a blank canvas. Jason designed our space with great intention after having photographed over 700 weddings. We wanted our place to literally be transformed with each event and so far with our near 60 weddings within our first year, it’s safe to say that no two weddings have looked even some what similar. Our luxury barn wedding venue is the perfect blank slate to create the wedding of your dreams.
Pro tip: Ask your venue for photos of past weddings or visit during the same season you’re planning your wedding to see how light and the natural surroundings affect color. Our wedding venue faces West and therefore depending on the time of year, it is brighter at certain times of the year than others. If you need more ideas on how to plan your wedding for Lavender on the Lake, read here!
2. Consider the seasons and trends
Nature offers the perfect inspiration. Different seasons naturally lend themselves to certain color palettes:
- Spring: Soft pastels like blush, powder blue lavender, or leafy green
- Summer: Bold and bright hues like coral, hot pink, turquoise, and sunny yellow
- Fall: Warm, rich tones such as maroon, burnt umber, forest green and gold
- Winter: Deep and dramatic shades like navy, emerald green, plum, and icy blue.
3. Factor in your wedding style
What type of wedding do you wish to have? Are you wanting an elegant and timeless feel, a trendy wedding vibe, a boho-chic style, country barn style, or a Hollywood vintage feel? Whatever your overall wedding style is can help you to hone in on your color choices:
- Trendy: either minimalistic with neutral, earthy color tones and understated elegance or all out bold, bright and festive colors
- Boho: variety of pastel floral patterns, with muted sage
- Elegant and Timeless: black and white or navy and red with gold or silver accents
- Rustic Barn: Earthy tones with splashes of dusty rose and greenery
4. Start with a base color and add a complimentary/ accent color
Choose one specific color that you love. You want this color to reflect your personal style and to serve as a pillar for your theme. It should be a color that works well with at least two others and can be a favorite color or traditional cultural color. Fortunately, if you are planning your wedding here at Lavender on the Lake, the world is your oyster! This can be both liberating and daunting! (If you are feeling stressed, look here for ideas on how to seek joy while wedding planning.) Ask for help if you are struggling, but with Pinterest and social media/the internet it’s likely that you are overflowing with ideas.
- 1-2 specific colors
- 1 neutral color such as white or ivory
- 1-2 accent colors such as gold, silver, or rose gold
As an artist I am always inclined to look at the color wheel for color combination inspiration. Don’t be afraid to really research the meaning of colors and to think outside of the box when it comes to planning your perfect colors for your wedding day.
5. Consider decor and flowers.
It is always a good idea to think about what flowers are in season; this is not only to help keep costs down but also for availability purposes. Once you know the seasonal flowers, it’s smart to think about how to fit them into your color scheme. Maybe you have a favorite flower that you want to be sure to center your floral centerpieces around. I was just talking to my college friend who lives in Ohio about her peonies that are beginning to bloom. That is a flower that I miss as a Florida girl. There are ways to get the flowers that you want even if they are not native to Florida, but it is definitely something to think about.
6. See how things look all together.
Once you have selected a few colors, be sure to put them all side by side to ensure that your vision is coming to life. I know that vision boards and Pinterest boards are a great place to do this; I personally like a hand made vision board. As you play with various textures, colors, patterns, you may find new ideas along your tactile way. Be creative, feel the joy, and allow the colors to find you.
7. Trust your instincts
This is YOUR wedding. It is essential that your wedding day reflects who you are and the feeling that you want your family and friends to have when they are celebrating you. Whatever color palette you choose, it should bring you joy and excitement knowing that it ultimately will be a reflection of you and your love.
I truly appreciate you taking the time to read by blog. If you are following along you know by now that I am a huge supporter of locally owned businesses. We are a small family business and like other locally owned businesses, the level of dedication and passion for the experiences of our clients is profoundly unique. With each blog, I list other locally owned wedding venues from across the country. You can look here at the map as well!
XO
Shelley