Wild About Color!
Beautiful music, fragrant flowers, glamorous gowns, delectable food--all of these things help set your wedding apart. But perhaps even more so, your choice of colors makes a lasting impression on your guests.
Today, you have an opportunity to choose bold colors and unique color combinations that make a statement about your style, your personality, your individuality! Bold colors send a strong message that you and your groom are not afraid to be trend setters -- and you're not afraid to have fun! And as a wedding photographer, I know that bold hues and creative color combinations are effective ingredients for fabulous wedding images. How do you start? Look around you! There are amazing color ideas everywhere -- in everything from clothing catalogs to the linen department of your favorite store, even to the decor at trendy restaurants. And once you start getting ideas together, take a tip from a lot of brides I know: head for the paint store! This
is an easy (and FREE) way to put your ideas to the test and compare color pairings first hand. One bride even suggests going to Pantone.com for color ideas. They actually have a section where they feature the "hot" colors for the next season or two, to help you decide where to start, as you put your unique wedding "palette" together. Here's some of the buzz I'm hearing (and seeing) as a wedding photographer: orange will continue to be "in" next year--and the great news is, if you think outside the box, you can pair it with just about anything, even red. Brown has been THE wedding color lately and it'll continu
e to be, along with deep purple (think "eggplant"), gold, hot pink, steel grey, and yellow (summer or winter, believe it or not). Black and white, along with black-white-red, will also continue to be the rage--so much so, I'll dedicate a future blog to the subject and show you some great ideas for "wowing" your guests with a black and white color scheme. So now let's say you've got some vivid color palettes in mind. What's next? Many brides and coordinators swear by something called an "inspiration board". Rather than walking around with your color schemes in your head or written in the back of your planner, try collecting great examples of color combinations you like and making
a simple display for each (if you began the process early enough, you might have several different inspiration boards you're working with). You've already got your paint chips, right? So any time you see something online or in print that catches your eye, add it to your inspiration board. Consider enticing images of floral arrangements, gorgeous linen or dish patterns, photos of colorful, mouthwatering appetizers and desserts, fabric swatches, even the colors of your alma mater! Pretty soon, you'll know which palette is your favorite--plus you'll have some great ideas for how you can incorporate it into your wedding attire and decor. One last thoug
ht. While your inspiration board helps you dream up tangible ways to use bold colors, I've seen a dramatic, intangible example of how to make a lasting impression: lighting. Consider "painting" the walls of your reception with those gorgeous hues you've chosen. Your DJ, caterer, decorater, rental company or the venue itself should be able to make it happen (if you've ever been to a wedding at the Rosen Plaza in Orlando (shown at right), you've probably seen an outstanding example of how dramatic lighting can transform a banquet room into a "dream-scape"). Choosing the perfect colors is one of the most enjoyable -- and challenging -- aspects of planning your wedding. Bold hues and unusual color combinations are not for the timid--but they'll certainly make a statement that your friends and family won't soon forget. And one thing I can tell you for sure: exciting, vivid colors will help assure your wedding photographs are truly special!
--Doug
NEXT BLOG: The dog might be man's best friend but can he also be the "best man"? I'll share ideas and sample images of how couples have incorporated a "furry friend" into their special day. Check out other great wedding images at my website dougforner.com
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