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What Colour Should The Mother Of The Bride Wear? – Ask The Wedding Expert Answer

January 23, 2010 By 3 Comments

Question from Carey:

My son is getting married next month. The colour scheme is purple and turquoise.  What colours would be suitable for me to wear so as not to clash?  Thank you.

Answer from Wedding Expert Angela:

Hi Carey.   If they have chosen an accent colour for the wedding decorations that is used sparingly, this might be a nice colour for you to use as it would tie you into the over-all colour scheme. Basically, you don’t want to be the same colour as the bride or the wedding attendants.  Pretty well any other colour will work, but YOU need to look good in the colour you choose.  No sense choosing a colour that makes you look sickly or washed out—even if it works with the wedding colours.

The complementary colour for purple is yellow, and the complementary colour for turquoise is orange.  So any colour in that range like orange, melon, peach, pale yellow, etc. would work.

Harmonious colours for purple are voilet, lavender, and similar shades, as well as blue—from navy to sky blue.  Harmonious colours for turquoise are blues which we have just covered, as well as greens.

The key thing here is to ensure that the bride shines.  I have a friend who has exquisite but an exotic taste in clothing.  She told me that when her son was getting married, he told her no gold, no sparkles, no animal prints, no big jewellery, and so forth.  Since that was her style, she was in a great dither about what to wear.   We eventually found her a lovely dress that suited her personality, but didn’t take attention away from the bride and the wedding party.

Choose a colour that suits you, and avoid the same colours as the wedding party.  And if you don’t like a lot of colour, neutrals are ALWAYS are appropriate.  For a wedding, stick to grey tones (instead of black); browns can be deep chocolate brown to pale tan colours; and avoid white for this occasion.

Check out this video to learn more about wedding colour choices.

Good luck, and if you have further questions feel free to ask!

Angela Fiebelkorn, Wedding Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Attire, Colours, Mother of the Groom

What Colours Go With Royal Blue? – Ask The Wedding Expert

September 19, 2009 By
reception table

Question from Sherry:

Hi my name is Sherry and I am getting married October 16, 2010.  The colors I would like are silver, white and royal blue, but I am not sure what color I should have my flowers.  Can you help me?

Answer from Wedding Expert Angela:

reception tableHi Sherry, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Silver, white and royal blue are a beautiful combination.  Both white and silver are neutral, so that leaves you open to a lot of colour combinations.  Check out this video on choosing your wedding colours, as it will give you many choices.

A big part of what colours to choose depends upon your particular style, and how formal or informal your wedding is.  If you are going with a predominantly white decor, with splashes of colour, you could go with blue and pink flowers.   Blue goes well with pink and a lime green.  Blue goes with melon, purple, and other shades of blue.

A quiet sophisticated look would include shades of the same colour.  A bolder look could use melon.  Have you discussed your flowers with your florist?  Your florist is your flower specialist, and knows  not only what flowers are in season within your budget, but how to create the look you are trying to achieve.

So many colours go well with blue—yellow, orange/melon, pink, red, green—that it really depends upon the rest of your decor, and what style or theme you are trying to achieve.  A simple bouquet with white and blue flowers can be quite stunning.  It’s not so much the colours, but how they are put together that gives you your look.  Consult with your florist for your options.  Good luck.

Angela Fiebelkorn, certified wedding planner

Filed Under: Colours

What Are The Meaning and Symbolism of Colours? – Ask The Wedding Expert Answer

August 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Wedding Cake Table Decorations

Wedding Cake Table Decorations

Question from Rukky:

Hi, Please can you send me the meaning of colors on wedding cakes, because I want to bake a cake for somebody, and I will be presenting the cake and also need to know the colors meaning.

Answer from The Wedding Expert:

The meaning of specific colours depends upon your cultural background, and the country you are from.  For example, in North America and parts of Europe white is considered the colour of purity and that is why it is such a popular wedding colour.  In China, white is considered the colour of death and mourning, and that is why you see Asian brides wearing red.  When it comes to wedding cakes, there are no colours that have special meanings.

In North America, there are generally accepted colour interpretations or meanings.

White – purity, virginity, innocence, wholeness, completion, cleanliness, newness, peace, simplicity, kindness, Winter

Blue – calm, steadfast, strong, peaceful, heaven, Virgin Mary, inspiration, sincerity, spirituality, friendly, professionalism, loyalty, reliability, honor, melancholia, boredom, coldness, Winter, depth, stability, professionalism,  honor, trust, intelligence, unity, conservatism

Turquoise – calm, water, feminine, lively, sophistication

Green - life, growth, renewal, health, environment, jealousy, envy, inexperience, balance, harmony, stability, durability, reliability, luxurious, optimism, well-being, nature, calm, relaxation, Spring, safety, honesty, optimism, freshness, fertility, self-respect, well being

Yellow – creative, intellectual,  energy, wisdom, joy, happiness, clarity, awareness, attention-grabbing, comfort, liveliness, cowardliness, hunger, optimism, overwhelm, Summer, comfort, liveliness, happiness, energy, cheerfulness, hope

Orange - cheerfulness, enthusiasm, stimulation, creativity, curiosity, power, healing, hunger, vitality, endurance, thoughtfulness, sincerity, luck, transition, Fall

Red – warmth, love, anger, danger, boldness, excitement, speed, strength, determination, desire, courage, prosperity, joy, passionate love, life and vitality

Pink – romantic love, soft, sweet, feminine

Violet -feminine, refinement, grace, elegance, imagination, inspiration

Purple – power, royalty, nobility, spirituality, elegance, sophistication, artificial, luxury, mystery, royalty, elegance, magic, good judgment, peace of mind, fantasy, mystery, imagination

Brown - wholesomeness, earthiness, steadfastness, simplicity, friendliness, dependability, health

Black – self control, resilience, serious, conventional, mysterious, sexy, sophisticated, elegant, formality, power, strength, illegality, depression, morbidity, night

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colours Tagged With: , , , , , ,

How Do I Choose A Wedding Theme? – Ask The Wedding Expert

August 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Jocelyn:

I am getting married in May 15 or 20 in 2010. And I like the colour of navy blue, light blue and white but I don’t know what kind of flowers to go with my wedding or what theme to go with and I don’t know if I should have it outdoor or in a church.  What should I do?

Answer from Wedding Expert Angela:

Hi Jocelyn, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  You colour choice sounds lovely.  As for flowers, there are many colours that go with blue.  Some of them are greens, purples, yellow, and melon.  As you can see from this photo, blue and melon go well together, and are considered complementary colours (they are opposite each other on the colour wheel).  This video I made on choosing wedding colours will give you more ideas on colour choices.

I think you are stressing yourself out over the flowers when you don’t need to.  What you really need to do is make a list of all the flowers that you need—bride’s bouquet, # of bridesmaid’s bouquets, boutonnieres, # of parent’s corsages, table centrepieces, etc.  I made a video that outlines what you need to consider when making your wedding flower list.  Once you have your list, go to your florist (with your budget clear in your mind), and ask them what they suggest.  THEY are the flower experts.  Bring a picture of the bridesmaid’s dress, or a fabric sample so they know your wedding colours.

When it comes to choosing a wedding theme, you have thousands of choices.  You can keep it simple with a colour theme (blue).  You can choose something that represents you and your fiance, like a hobby or something you both love to do.  To get some ideas, visit the popular wedding favour site—they have thousands of wedding favours to choose from.

When it comes to choosing an outdoor wedding, or a church wedding, the choice is really yours.  If you are outdoors, you will have to arrange things like chairs, sound system, at least one table, and then you will want to make it festive and decorative.  Usually that means arches, or lattice as a backdrop where the alter would be.  Those things can all be rented, or purchased, but they will need to be setup and taken down after the wedding.

If you were in a church, you could just decorate the church, have your wedding, and then arrange for someone to remove the decorations.  If it rains, the church would probably be your backup location anyway.  Those are the main things to consider.  This article on wedding ceremony sites might be helpful.

Good luck, and if you have further questions, feel free to ask.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colours, Flowers, Spring, Wedding Ideas, Wedding Themes Tagged With: , , , ,

What Colour Schemes Work For A Spring Wedding? – Ask The Wedding Expert

July 31, 2009 By Leave a Comment
bari-jay-bridesmaid-dress-style-284

Question from Rachel:

Hello, I am having trouble thinking of a colour scheme for our wedding in May next year.  The room where the service and reception is taking place has a lot of dark blue and my dress will be ivory with a crystal beaded waistline.  I have 4 bridesmaids 2 with dark hair and features and 1 with blonde hair and very pale skin.  Can you give me any suggestions?

Answer from Wedding Expert Angela:

Hi Rachel, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  You do not say what style of wedding you are having—formal, contemporary, casual.  So, I will answer according to the season.  May is spring, so any of the spring colours would be appropriate—yellows, peach, coral, orange, greens, pinks, violet.  Take your pick! But really, there is no wrong colour for any season when it comes to weddings.  Brown is a very popular summer colour for bridesmaid dresses, is a neutral, and looks lovely with ivory accents which would match your dress.

This video I made on wedding colour ideas might help you decide what colours to put together.  If you are bold, you could try lime-green, pink and blue—they are a great combination for a fresh, spring look.  If you are more concerned with what looks best on your bridesmaid, I suggest you ask them what their best colours are.  I’m sure they know.  Then, the next step would be to go shopping and try on different colours and see what works and what doesn’t.

Every colour has an undertone colour, and that is what you need to consider when trying to ensure your bridal party looks their best.  The only way to do that is to try bridesmaid dresses on and see what works.  Once you find what you like, make a note of the manufacturer and style number.  You can often find the same product cheaper online, as online stores do not have the overhead a physical store has.

Good luck, and if you have further questions, feel free to ask.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Wedding Planner

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Bridesmaid Dresses, Colours, Spring Tagged With: , , , , , ,

What Wedding Flowers Go With Blue and Brown? – Ask The Wedding Expert Answer

July 28, 2009 By 1 Comment

Question from Meagan:

What color of flowers should I use for my tiffany blue and chocolate brown colored wedding?

Answer from Wedding Expert Angela:

Hi Meagan, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Blue and brown are a great colour combination.  Nice choice.  Since brown is a neutral, you have a number of options when it comes to working with the blue colour.

You can go with various shades of blues and purples.  Blues and greens work well together also.  Blue and melon orange are great together.  The triadic colours of blue, lime-green, and pink also work.  Of course white, being another neutral goes with anything.  And yellow is always a great colour to add some pop to your flower bouquet.  This video I made on choosing your wedding colours will help you see what colours go well together.

I have made a video on how to choose your wedding flowers which you may find helpful.  Your florist is your flower specialist, and can best advise you on what flowers to use.  Take pictures of your wedding dress, bridesmaid dresses, or any other decorative items you have finalized to give the florist an idea of your style and tastes.  As the video suggests, define all your flower needs first, and then go talk to two or three florists.  Find out what they suggest, and get some quotes.

This article might be helpful in understanding what your wedding flower bouquet choices are.

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colours, Flowers Tagged With: , , , ,

What Colours Should I Choose For My Wedding? – Ask The Wedding Expert Answer

July 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Shannon:

I don’t really know what colour i want to use because almost everyone use the same colour in our community.  My favorite colours are baby blue, lime, hunter green, and my bridesmaid are all fair skin. Could you please help me choose a colour soon.  Oh yeah, my brother is using the same colour I was going to use.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Shannon, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Blue, lime green, and pink are a classic colour trio (called triadic) that works really well for weddings.  Hunter green goes really beautifully with ivory/cream and burgundy.  This video on how to choose your wedding colours should be helpful to you.

When choosing your colours, keep the color tones the same.  For example, in the triadic colours explained above, either go with soft blue, soft lime green, and soft pink, or keep all three colours bold.  The colour tones should be the same when you are combining colours.

Remember that using whites, browns, and blacks are all classic, and because they are neutral, you can punch up the drama with a single bold colour.  Think black and white with punches of red.  Or, brown and white with accents of yellow or yellow and melon.

There are so many choices, and you are only limited by your imagination.  Look at bridal magazines (and other magazines) to see the way colours are put together, and you are sure to get many more ideas.

Good luck, and if you have any other questions, feel free to ask.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Wedding Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colours Tagged With: , , , ,

What Wedding Colours Should I Choose? – Ask The Wedding Expert Answer

July 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Tracia:

Hi, I would like to know what kind of color combinations can go nicely with a gold/yellowish ballroom background? I am planning to have a 2 color combination.  The colors of chair & table covers are very limited, I think only white, red, and cream colors are available.  My wedding will be at Christmas time but I do not like the color combination of red and green, I prefer more soft colors.  I am wondering if silver and cream color would blend well into the gold/yellowish background?  Or do you have any other ideas?   Many thanks!

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Tracia, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  Neutral colours will go with any other colour.  Neutrals are whites (stark white to soft, creamy whites), black (stark black to soft pale grey), and browns (deep, rich brown to soft pale beige).  Most of your metallic colours are also neutral (copper is in the brown family, for example) and silver is like white—neutral.

I think you are worrying too much about your background colours of gold/yellowish.  It sounds pretty neutral to me, and once you have the low lighting which is directed lighting, you will not even notice the walls.  I have a few recommendations:  1)  ask you reception site what colours are available, and  2) ask to see what the room looks like with the lights low, and decorated for a function or event.  That will give you the information you need to move forward.

I am certain that the facility has more colours of linen than just white, red, and cream—that is a very limited selection.  Ask if they (or you) can bring in other colour linens.  You don’t have to, but it is nice to know what your options are.

Then, the next step is to choose your colours.  This video on choosing your wedding colours will be helpful.

Since you are having a winter wedding, the classic colours are white, blue and silver.  What about Hunter Green and Burgundy?  How about Purple and Peach?  Since you like the soft colours, how about browns and beiges?  They are very elegant, and neutral, so any colour would go well with it if you wanted a splash of colour.

You suggest silver and cream, and they go very well together, but you need some colour, or it will be too washed out looking.  When you have a large room, you need a focal point, and use of a colour or two will provide that.

I suggest you look in bridal magazines, and bridal books (your local library is a great source) and see what colour combinations you like.  Looking through interior decorating magazines or books will also give you ideas for table centrepieces, and colour combinations.

Good luck, and if you have further questions, feel free to ask.

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Wedding Expert

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colours, Decorations, Wedding Ideas, Winter Tagged With: , , , , , ,

What Colours Go With Blue Orchids? – Ask The Expert Answer

July 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Brittany:

Hi, I am having quite the challange finding colours that go well with Blue Orchids.  Since Blue Orchids are stem-dyed Pink Orchids I was thinking about having some pink and I love the colour green as well.  How can I combined these colours without it looking like too much, and keeping it elegant at the same time.

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Brittany, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.  The real trick with keeping things elegant is simplicity—repeated throughout the decor.  The use of neutrals  (white, black, brown) in their many shades also contribute to keeping things elegant.

As for blue orchids, or the colour blue, the usual combinations are:  1) shades of blue, 2) blue with green and/or purple, 3) blue and melon, 4) blue, pink and lime-green.

Since you are leaning towards the blue-pink-lime green combination, I would suggest that you use these colours in your decor.  To keep it elegant, use these colours as accents to your neutral white and black which are the usual colours for an elegant wedding.  The trick to elegant is not in what colours you choose, but in how you use the colours.  Use them strategically to make a bold statement, or softly in more locations in your decor.

This video on choosing your wedding colours will help you finalize your colour choices.  Many brides choose to hire a wedding planner, or an interior decorator for a day to help them plan their wedding colours and decor.  You may opt for this choice.

Good luck, and if you have further questions, feel free to email again, or comment below.

Filed Under: Ask The Expert, Colours, Flowers Tagged With: , , ,

How Do I Do An Emerald City Theme? – Ask The Wedding Expert Answer

July 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Question from Margaret:

Help…. I have only 31/2 months to get a party together for my parents I want to use a emerald city theme and can not find or think of any ideas…..

Answer from Bridal Expert Angela:

Hi Margaret.  I assume by Emerald City, you are referring to the Wizard of Oz?  Well, it seems simple enough—go green, or more specifically emerald in your decorations.  It need not be “over the top” but subtle–green napkins, green candles, flowers with lots of greenery or even green flower decorations with no other colours—just many shades and textures of green.

Depending upon your plans, you might need an aisle runner.  You can create a “yellow brick road” on an aisle runner if it would suit your overall style.  Get the sound track from The Wiz, and see if there is any music in there that you can use in the celebration you are planning.

When doing speeches, you can incorporate little “Oz” humour, like referring to one of them being a wizard for remaining married so long, and so forth.  Use your imagination and enjoy!

Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask The Wedding Expert

Filed Under: Anniversary, Ask The Expert, Colours, Decorations, Wedding Themes Tagged With: ,
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