You’ve picked out all your decorations and accessories to coordinate with your wedding colors. Flowers – check, shoes – check, and even your napkins match.  However, there may be some other fun and subtle ways to include a colorful moment or two in your wedding without having all your guests see fuchsia spots.

Play a Song About Your Color

From Little Red Corvette, to Crystal Blue Persuasion, or even the earth-toned theme Brown Eyed Girl, there are songs about nearly every color on the spectrum. While your guests may not realize that they are slow dancing to Purple Rain while standing in a purple room, you and your new spouse can have a cute, private moment to share. A bonus is that from that moment on you’ll associate the song with the joy of your day.

Get Umbrellas in Your Wedding Colors

Rarely you may find someone who hopes it rains on their wedding day. Most people would prefer it didn’t (if for no other reason than humidity and hairdos don’t mix), but we can’t always control the weather.  One thing is for sure though, a sturdy umbrella or two in your wedding colors can make for an excellent photo, rain or shine!  If the weather is sunny, you’ll have a fun prop or portable shade.  On the flip side, if the weather isn’t quite so sunny, at least you’ll be prepared in the most fashionable way!

Have a Bright Signature Cocktail or Drinks for the Kids

You may not want your food to fit in with the color theme in some cases (I’m talking about you, teal), but having a signature drink or specialty kid concoction can offer a look and taste your guests will remember. Sherbet punch mixed with soda is a classic and easy non-alcoholic solution, but if your colors are just too far out to be appetizing, mini umbrellas or striped paper straws can turn any drink into décor.

Surprise Your Guests with Favors for the Ceremony

Depending on whether your ceremony is indoor or outdoor, you may have the opportunity to get creative with guest favors before the reception rather than after.  Imagine giving all your outdoor wedding guests a pair of cheap wayfarer sunglasses in a vibrant shade. It keeps them from squinting, and what a sight it would be when you turn to be presented
as man and wife for the first time!

Use Signature Scents

Believe it or not, colors and scents are very closely related.  Some are obvious, orange for example, and others are more subtle. If your colors can be tied to a scent, consider having a scent theme.  Light purple could be lilac or lavender, burgundy would be represented nicely with cinnamon or crisp apple, and dark green could be eucalyptus or pine.  At Sampson’s Hollow, our wooded mountain location and the hardwood floors of the barn combine nicely with just about any natural scent from florals to spice.

and now for the one to avoid…

…Beware of Incorporating Color into Your Cake!

Some light pastels can be beautiful on your wedding cake, but if you have a cake with deep, rich colors or lots of bright fondant, you and your guest may end up with stained teeth! At one very memorable party, I saw nearly every guest’s mouth turn jet black from the artificial colors used in the cake icing. You can only imagine how great the photos turned out!  Save yourself the trouble and scary mementos by using natural decorations like fruit, food-safe flowers, or by keeping the cake simple and colorless.