Wedding color dilemma. Need some serious advice!?

Question

The one promise I made about our wedding to my fiance is that he can wear a kilt. Originally, we chose the red version of his family tartan. Now, looking at the colors of the kilt, I'm realizing that its going to be a pain to match the colors and get them to coordinate. The wedding is next summer, and fortunately, I haven't really ordered or paid for anything major that uses that color scheme. (Just invitation samples and bride and groom t-shirts). There is a blue version of his family tartan that is lovely, but I had originally had my heart set on a red and white wedding. I've always loved that color scheme even before I agreed to let him wear a kilt. Looking at it now, however, the colors of that kilt look too dark for a summer wedding and the things I've found that I like in red don't match the kilt at all. I'm considering switching to the blue. Tell me what your opinions are. Can I pull off a blue and brown color scheme with the other kilt? If I can, I think I'll be happy with it.

http://kiltstore.net/tartan/Wallace-Dress-specificname/48332.html?filter_searchterm=wallace

http://kiltstore.net/tartan/Wallace-specificname/48189.html?filter_searchterm=wallace

These are the two tartans I am choosing from. Any other suggestions or ideas (especially pictures) would be greatly appreciated.

Okay. I guess I wasn't clear. 900 characters just isn't enough to work with! I'm pretty sure I'm going to switch. The red is way too hard to match and its a SUMMER wedding. All the red details I have found either scream Christmas or they don't look good with the tartan. When I got a fabric swatch of the bridesmaids dresses I had picked out, it really hit home how hard this was going to be. Plus, my fiance really likes the blue tartan. I really want to know if the blue tartan will look good with a blue and brown scheme and if there are any suggestions for a different blue scheme if that won't work.

Answer 1

I'd say the blue. I used red in my wedding and though it turned out beautiful it was an absolute pain to match! The only thing red was the bridesmaids dresses and the groomsmens vests. I had to accent with pinks, yellows and silver in everything else. And if you already have a dark red that won't fit your summery idea, it will be doubly hard.

Blue and brown would be lovely and throwing in a bit of cream or white too, depending on your dress. Even better, blue looks great with other shades of blue, were as red does not tend to look good with other shades of red, so you don't have to worry as much about a "perfect match."

Red is a gorgous color and looks so stricking but it is extremely difficult to match. If you go with it be patient and be prepared to comb a lot of shops, websites and bridal shows to find all the things you are looking for.

Answer 2

I am definitely not an expert,but I am a firm believer in doing whatever makes you happy when weddings are concerned. I think either kilt would be fine and personally, I would go with blue, but that's just because I prefer blue. You will have an easier time matching the blue kilt. I don't know about brown. I wouldn't put brown in a wedding, but I'm sure it would be ok. I'm wondering what would be brown? I assume you would go with blue bridesmaid dresses with the blue kilt. Also,if your wedding isn't until next summer, you can probably find a fabric store that carries the lighter shade of red in the kilt and have dresses custom made for your attendants. I don't think everything has to match perfectly either. It just has to be the same tone of red,maybe lighter. Hope this helps a little.... Good luck with the wedding & congrats!

Answer 3

First off i would start looking at JCrew magazine. I know that sounds strange but they now feature wedding & bridesmaids dresses and i swear i've seen a layout w/kilts or tartan plaid of some kind. You might be able to pull out a burnt orange or beige from the kilt which i think would be beauitful. Another suggestion would be to have a sash, of sorts, in the tartan plaid you choose and put that around the waists of the bridesmaid dresses. that will help pull the look together. If you have to go w/the brown and blue, i'm sure you could pull it off but i would put more effort into the red first. I hope this helped a little.

Answer 4

While I like the red tartan, the blue is much more summer appropriate. I would say go with the blue. I think you'll have an easier time making the scheme look coohesive.

Good luck!

EDIT:: Looking at the blue tartan again I thought perhaps you embarce it and make your scheme blue and green. It could be very fresh and summery (and blue and brown is so common these days, though it is beautiful). A fresh summer blue (like the lighter one on the tartan) would look beautiful on your girls with perhaps a darker blue accent. And for flowers go green and white hudrangia with lots of grennery and either a white or blue ribbon.

Have you thought about using the tartan else where in your table settings or decor? It could be fun to use it as part of your center piece or around the base of your bridal bouquet.

Hope that helps a little. :)

Answer 5

One thing I learned in years of amateur theater is that most shades in the red/pink spectrum look good together from the audience. Don't bother matching the red precisely, but look for something in the spectrum that tones well with it. Try a couple swatches of different reds near his kilt. You may find that cherry red or a deep rose looks wonderful paired with it. Either of those colors would be very pretty for a summer wedding.

OTOH, if you decide the reds aren't working for you, I'm sure blue and brown will look nice with his blue kilt. Oddly enough, though, it can be harder to find shades of blue that work together in the same color scheme than shades of red that work.

Oh, and if he doesn't already have the kilt, keep in mind that there are variations in shading depending on manufacturers and dye lots. When I got my kilt, I was shown at least four swatches of the same exact sett and colorway to choose from. If you're matching the wedding party to the kilt, get that first and then find the women's gowns.

Answer 6

I would go with the Red Wallace.

Use black as an accent color and gold. We did a black, red and white wedding and it was stunning last summer. Roses are a lot easier to match with Reds than Blues and I think it looks kind of feminine for a Tartan. You could do a tartan drape over your shoulder with a nice kilt pin.

Answer 7

Have you thought about yellow bridesmaid dresses? It would make the whole theme brighter, and would match the small stripe in the kilt.

Otherwise, I do like the above suggestion for red,white, and black...very classy, especially if it is an evening reception.

Answer 8

Have a black, white and red wedding. You in white, the groom in his kilt, the wedding party in black tux ( or are the guys gonna wear kilts, too? with black jackets) and the gals in black dresses, carrying red flowers that blend with the red tartan. The parents can wear black, too. With some white and or red.

Answer 9

you've always had your heart set on a red & white wedding.. do it

seasonal colors are not an issue anymore, it's all personal preference

the rules went out the window years ago when black bridesmaids dresses were introduced ( black used to be a nono in weddings)

Answer 10

I think the red could work nicely for a wedding in the summer. reminds me of sweet strawberries. Dont worry about colors matching the seasons...do the colors you love.