creative summer wedding colors to consider

Draw inspiration from Joshua Tree's otherworldly landscape and incorporate colors into your wedding details that are synonymous with the high desert.

Creative ways to incorporate your color scheme: Perfect for a late summer wedding, these colors lend themselves well to an outdoor wedding in an arid climate. Think Palm Springs, Tulum, or Joshua Tree, of course. Have your bridesmaids wear dresses in burnt sienna and ask the groomsmen to don bolo ties. Instead of flowers, decorate the reception tables with plants and succulents in terra cotta pots in different sizes.

Bring your colors together in a bouquet filled with dried grasses, eucalyptus, banksias, and proteas. As an added bonus, these varietals will dry beautifully so you can preserve your wedding bouquet and display it at home. At the end of the night, send guests home with a homemade sage stick—bundle up dried sage leaves and rose petals for guests to burn at home. This will keep the good energy going long after the wedding.

One of our favorite summer color schemes is this zingy citrus-inspired palette. It is equal parts sophisticated and whimsical—a combination that is sure to make your wedding day bright and unforgettable.

Creative ways to incorporate your color scheme: The creative possibilities are endless when it comes to this versatile summer color palette. You could take the theme in a more literal direction, and incorporate the colors as well as orange, lemon, and lime motifs.

Or, for a more low-key take, choose wedding details that stylishly and subtly nod to your palette. Consider a modern wedding invitation that clues guests in on the color scheme, aim to mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses, and opt for a vibrant bridal bouquet featuring a rare variety of peony with bright-yellow centers. On-theme wedding cocktails like the whiskey lemonade featured here, and a “naked” wedding cake garnished with fresh orange slices can round out your theme.

If you're planning a rustic summer wedding, we love the color palette of hunter green combined with copper. The deep green hue is calming and cooling (especially if the temps are scorching!), while copper adds a touch of glam and formality to your rustic wedding details.

Creative ways to incorporate your color scheme: Embrace the possibilities of a rustic wedding and consider cities that are ideal for such celebrations, including Nashville, Albuquerque, and Charlotte. Look for a barn or wooded venue that will accommodate your wedding party and fulfill your wedding vision. Exchange vows in front of an eye-catching ceremony backdrop, like this hexagon-shaped structure adorned with fresh flowers and greenery.

Bridesmaids will look beautiful in rust-colored dresses with bouquets to match. Decorate reception tables with deep-green table linens and florals, as well as amber-colored glassware to add a warm touch. And for dessert, a simple yet stunning wedding cake featuring a bronze-colored bottom tier and fresh flowers and berries will surely impress your guests.

Summer is one of the most popular seasons for a wedding because school's out, the weather is warm and welcoming, and nearly everyone is in vacation mode. Channel those relaxed summertime vibes into your wedding to create a celebration that's full of warmth and romance. Our color palette of choice? Dusty rose and mocha are some of our favorite wedding colors for summer. The combination of soft, dusty pink with moody mocha makes for a romantic and unexpected combination.

Creative ways to incorporate your color scheme: Color themes like dusty rose and mocha are versatile and allow for a lot of creative licenses when it comes to choosing wedding details. Ask bridesmaids to wear sparkly, metallic dresses in varying shades of taupe, mocha, and champagne. This way, every attendant can choose a style they like and would wear again. As guests arrive at the ceremony, have iced beverages on offer so guests can cool off with a drink. We love the idea of serving iced coffees for a quick pick-me-up, especially if some guests have traveled quite a distance to attend.

Like an ice cream truck on a summer day, this wedding color palette is full of sweet and refreshing treats. Use these colors to create romance, pops of color, and the perfect environment to say “I Do.”

Creative ways to incorporate your color scheme: This colorful palette lends itself to an early summer wedding when flowers are coming into bloom and temperatures are a bit cooler. Consider booking an outdoor wedding venue, such as a local garden or outdoor amphitheater. These hues would make for perfect summer garden wedding colors. Ask your bridesmaids to pick their own dress in the color palette. The end result will look perfectly mismatched yet still coordinated (don’t forget to bring sun glasses!).

Once the ceremony concludes, have servers greet guests with a refreshing cocktail to beat the heat. We love glasses of sparkling wine topped with a fresh-fruit popsicle. Decorate the reception tables with cheerful floral arrangements with brightly colored roses and ranunculuses. And for the grand finale, feature a gorgeous white wedding cake simply decorated with a few colorful roses.

Pantone’s Color of the Year 2021 was inspired by the combination of two colors: Ultimate Gray and Illuminating, a soft grey and cheery yellow. Pairing the two hues together makes for a perfect combination, so why not marry the colors together for your upcoming summer nuptials?

Creative ways to incorporate your color scheme: Gray and yellow are perfect wedding colors for summer. Start with soft gray as your base hue, then add pops and accents of yellow to add brightness throughout all of your wedding details. Choose a wedding invitation with yellow blooms and muted greenery to set the tone. Have bridesmaids don elegant dresses in dove gray and ask your florist to accent the flower bouquets with yellow silk ribbons. For the boutonnieres, opt for a hellebore blossom, which has subtle gray undertones, with the stems wrapped in matching yellow ribbon.

Draw inspiration for your late summer wedding by designing a preppy-meets-cool celebration featuring mix-and-match prints and patterns in multiple shades of blue.

Creative ways to incorporate your color scheme: Whether you're having a beach summer wedding and plan to tie the knot by the water, or are hosting your celebration somewhere inland, a beautiful blue-themed wedding is always chic and stylish for a summer wedding. Choose a wedding invitation that complements the blue hues and features a fun, graphic pattern. Next, ask your wedding attendants to pick a blue dress to wear in a fun print. For a slightly more unique look, suggest that they select a small repeating pattern like polka dots or small florals.

If you're crafty, you may opt to enhance your escort cards by cutting squares of your favorite patterned fabrics and affixing them to escort cards with double-sided tape. At the reception, stock the cocktail bar with stemmed glassware in multiple shades of blue. Illuminate cocktail tables with candles placed inside glass holders tinted blue. Another stylish touch is to create a lounge area at the reception where guests can relax and mingle. Add a rug (great look for a Boho themed wedding) and plenty of patterned pillows in complementary shades of blue to amp up the cozy factor.

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