Gone are the days of monochrome matrimonial monotony being the only option. This is your guide on how to colour outside the traditional lines.

There was a time when the only colour in your wedding would be ‘something blue’. Suits were drab, dresses were white; as were the tablecloths, the candles, the cake. We even had a name for it: ‘The Big White Wedding’. A celebration of love, defined by its lack of colour.

But the wedding world changed, didn’t it? Traditions were questioned, quietly resented, and—at last—gratefully dropped. And in an ever-increasing desire to make their wedding theirs, couples began to see The Big White Wedding for what it really was…

A big blank canvas, just begging for some colour.

But like sugar, spice and affection, colour in abundance can overwhelm… you want whispered “oh wow!”, not snarky “oh wow”. And the line between spectacular and sickening is just one rainbow streamer away.

The key? Balance, style and imagination. And honestly, you can get SO creative with it! So, I thought I’d give you just a few ideas to get you started. Here’s seven ways you can bring a little colour to your wedding.

How to choose your hues

Before we dive in, let’s talk tactics. If you want a truly blank canvas, find yourselves a studio venue (Five Four in Manchester; MKII in Hackney). Style them right, and these bright white spaces look fucking epic when you fill them with colour.

Otherwise, look at pictures of your venue, and work with what colours are already going to be there. Think about the season of your wedding; the flowers in bloom, the colours in your natural backdrop. Autumn lends itself more to reds and oranges. Spring, to fresh whites, yellows and blues.

Obviously, choose whatever colours you love. But you’ll find it a lot easier to style if you’ve chosen shades that inherently belong in the space.

OK, now that’s covered, let’s get into the fun stuff…

Just gimme the light

Wedding lighting has come a long way since those giant ‘LOVE’ letters, and neon signs are back with a vengeance. They’re fun, cool and quirky, and they have an uncanny ability to fill us with ‘let’s get fucked up’ energy.

They come in all colours, shapes and themes. If you’re feeling bougie, you can even have them made bespoke (your new surname, your favourite quote).

Not into neon? I got you.

Smart bulbs are insanely versatile. Put them around your venue (ask a grown-up for help). You can control the colour of the light from an app. Et voila! That wall you didn’t like is now perfectly on-palette; the reception space, soft amber for the speeches, a vibey red for the party. You’re welcome.

Play mind games

Colours have a scientifically-proven effect on our mood. Blue tones are soothing. Red fills us with energy. Orange, with inspiration. Yellow makes us happy. It’s a real thing, harnessed in everything from branding, to sports kits, to interior design. So why not use it for your wedding?

Fill your morning with blue accents to keep you calm. Have a red light on your dance floor to get everyone up and raving. Have happy yellow flowers in your bouquet.

It’s a tricky thing to use throughout the whole day in a visually cohesive way, but it’s definitely something you can play around with. Oh, and it’s something to be wary of, too – if your morning is filled with red, angry tones, you’re much more likely to get stressed-out.

Outfits

I assume you know how to dress yourselves, so let’s get weird.

Instead of having one accent colour, why not choose an accent colour each? Then, to tie your looks together, have flashes of each other’s colour in your own outfit (if their dress is blue, wear a blue tie; if his suit is red, have red socks and sunglasses). Extend that out to your wedding parties, and your group shots will look insane. For something more subtle, invest in vibrant accessories: colourful sunnies, jewellery, socks, shoes, watch straps… They’ll give you little splashes of colour in a stylishly understated way.

Of course, clothes aren’t the only colourful thing you can wear. You could dye your hair, or invest in a new piercing. I saw one engagement shoot where the couple got matching tattoos for the wedding. Oooh you could even get them in each other’s colours!

Fly your flag

Now I should say, a rainbow colour scheme doesn’t automatically represent Pride (I’ve seen plenty of rainbow-themed straight weddings), but if you’ve ever wanted to wave the flag loud and proud, now’s the time.

Each of the LGBTIQA+ flags has its own distinctive set of colours and shades. The lesbian flag is a gorgeous array of soft oranges, pinks and purples; the trans flag, a vibey blend of light blue, pink and white. Each colour represents something in itself – an idea, a sexuality, a principle. They’re more than just ‘flags’; they’re love, made art.

It might not be your style, or something you’d want to lean into too heavily, but if you’re looking for colour inspiration, there might be a ready-made palette that means something more.

Invest in florals

Florals are the OGs of wedding styling for a reason. Select a few accent colours and pair vivid, vibrant shades with more muted tones. It’ll highlight the main colours, whilst making sure your flowers aren’t sunglasses on busy.

Oh, and make sure you repurpose your flowers! Ask your florist/co-ordinator to move your ceremony florals into your reception space afterwards. It’ll continue the visual ‘theme’, and fill your reception with colour at no extra cost.

But hey, what do I know? Your florist is a creative artist, and your go-to genius in all things flower. So, speak to them, share your vision and throw some ideas around. Chances are, they’ll come up with a ton of creative ways to bring that vision of yours to life.

Use that guestlist

Your guests are your biggest (and cheapest) opportunity to have a colourful wedding. Let’s say, for example, you were having a rainbow-themed wedding. In every invite, you could give each guest their own personal dress-code colour. You’d look around your wedding and see a sea of colours smiling back. For free. With a smidgeon of extra planning, you could have a perfect rainbow at each table.

The tablescape

Ahh the tablescape!

I’ve seen colourful tumblers, vases, cutlery and plates. I’ve seen long-stemmed candles in a rainbow of colours, and huge glass jars filled with lemons. And have you seen the stationery you can get?! Exquisite beauty comes in every theme, font and colour scheme. You can hire on-palette furniture (colourful chairs, benches and tables), hang streamers from the rafters, banners on the walls, and rugs on the floor.

Also, doon’t be afraid to play with the menu. I’ve seen colour-themed signature cocktails; one for each of the couple. You can have colourful wedding favours – limoncello, Aperol or Bombay; sweets, personalised rock or biscuits. Even your courses can be colour-themed if you put your mind (and your wallet) to it.

Leave no stone unturned. Use your imagination and have fun getting creative together. Your wedding will be your very own work of art. Make it beautiful. Make it wildly colourful. Make it yours.

This article originally appeared in issue 57 of Rock n Roll Bride magazine. You can purchase the latest edition here, or why not subscribe to never miss an issue?