Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

Say you’re getting ready to tie the knot. You know what this wedding is going for—a chic, coastal affair reminiscent of a charming seaside village. But how are you going to achieve a beach wedding color palette? Worry not! Whether your getaway will be taking place at a secluded, seaside destination or a picturesque old-town square, all you really need is an eye for color to create the beachy ambience your guests have been waiting for. Here are some helpful tips and tricks on how to bring your wedding colors together in one cohesive palette.

Choose the right color scheme

Before you can figure out how you want your color palette to come together, you’ll want to choose the right colors. A beach wedding color palette can be structured around warm, tropical hues, but it can also be based around cool, ocean-inspired blues, grays and greens. You’ll want to keep in mind the time of year your wedding will take place in and the geographical location of the venue to ensure you have the right color scheme to match the feel of your day.

Balance light and dark

When you’re looking to incorporate complementary colors in your palette, you’ll want to find a way to include both lighter and darker shades in your color scheme. This will help to create depth and make your palette feel more natural, while also making it less monotonous. A contrast of lighter and deeper tones can move the eye around a space, adding a sense of dynamic movement.

Mix complementary shades together

One of the best ways to create a cohesive color palette is to use good old color science. Two popular color schemes are complementary and analogous.

Complementary color palettes, use shades that are opposite one another on the color wheel. For example, if your wedding color palette is mainly blue, green, or teal shades, you could also add a bit of orange, peach, or coral to create a more balanced palette. This will help to keep things from feeling too warm or too cool, while also adding a sense of vibrancy.

If you’re looking for a more subtle palette, you can also try mixing neighboring shades that are just slightly different from one another. This is called an analogous color scheme. For example, if your wedding color palette is mostly blue, you can incorporate greens, yellows, or purples to keep things interesting.

Don’t be afraid to include neutral shades

Some weddings, especially those taking place in coastal destinations, are all about showcasing the beauty of the natural environment. To do this, you can’t go wrong using sandy neutrals like white, beige, or brown in your wedding palette. These colors can balance your palette, while also adding a sense of formality to the event space. You can use these neutral shades to add interest to your wedding table settings, place cards, napkins and other decor. 

Use the natural landscape to inspire you

When choosing your wedding color palette, it’s also helpful to consider the decor you’ll be including in your wedding celebration. For example, if you’re planning a seaside wedding, you can match your palette to the natural elements of the beach. This can include sand tones, shells, palm leaves, and other coastal decor. Use these natural accents to inspire a gorgeous, organic color palette made for the beach!