Avoiding the Wedding Blues: A Brown Theme?

Question

I'm in the first stages of my wedding planning, and thus far my only decision is that I somehow want to incorporate a brown color scheme into my wedding.

Though I think they're all very beautiful, I'm sick of seeing brown + pink, blue, or cream and would like to do something a little different. I'm partial to any shade of green or purple (would love to incorporate both but have no idea how), and I like the brown + red combo.

Any ideas? Suggestions?

Answer 1

Are you set on a particular shade of brown? I think caramel is very pretty and could be paired with a lot more colors than a chocolate brown.

I think natural colors are beautiful--like beige, sand, more neutral browns with a sage/moss green. Hunter green would also look nice with a lighter shade of brown. I also like a vivid bright green (kelly or lime) with a really dark espresso brown. That would be very retro.

I like brown and purple as well--but not lavendar. Something more along the lines of grape. This has a vivid color but still deep rich purple
http://www.bergoiata.org/fe/roses/jw%20Purple%20Rose%201024x768.jpg
and would go really nicely with several shades of brown.

Like everyone else said, brown and red is very fall but I'm not particularly fond of it. Do you like more shades, tonal, colors in the same palette or more complimentary colors?

Two colors of brown would be very nice if they were far enough difference in the shades. You could use a glimmer as your accent--a gold or cream--in moderation. I agree with you that I'm sick of the brown and tiffany blue or brown and baby pink pairs. Overdone.

Do you have an idea of what month you want? A lot of people pick the colors based on the month.

Answer 2

Hi! First, congrats on the engagement! My wedding was May 26th, so I know how much goes into planning a wedding. Do you have a wedding date set? One of my friends is also using brown and since her wedding date is in September, she is pairing brown with red, gold, yellow, orange, etc. colors that match a fall decor. If you plan on having your wedding during another season, I believe that pastel green and/or purple would go well with the brown (hey, after all pastel pink and blue go well with brown, so why not do something new?).

Also, I was in a wedding at the beginning of May as well, and the bride used pink, green, and purple and it looked wonderful. She used doves and other victorian themed ideas and the pink (which was the least prominent color) could easily be replaced with the brown and still look great. If you provide me with some more information (date/season, what style you like (classic, contemporary, etc.), and any special/important ideas you would like to incorporate) I would be happy to help in any way I can!

Answer 3

I like these ideas but others may not be so receptive to these ideas as I like lots of colors. You could possibly do a mauve pink and a bright lime green accent like a bow or something on the dress or a sash or something like that or even lime green accessories. Then you could do different styles of dresses for your bridesmaids so everyone looks flattering and even have different shades of pink for their dresses. Say one likes dark and one likes light, just have them all in the same color family.

Then you would do a Brown and a bright red or you could do a rose color and that could look really great. Another suggestion would be do a dark violet color and then have a lime green accent or vice versa but I would do the darker color for a dress and then have the bright color as an accent. I think that I like the dark purple and lime green or dark pink color and lime green colors the best. Good luck. Hope this helps.. Also you could do a monochromatic color scheme and have different shades of purple and or green or whatever color you choose like a dark green and a light green or a dark purple with a light lavendar color. Those look really good as well.

Answer 4

I like the idea of brown - especially if you do a Fall wedding. It would be very different without being too theatrical. But I'm not crazy about brown with red. I don't think it's a very pleasing combination, but maybe in the right shades, who knows. I love brown with light blue, and I've never seen a wedding done with it. But since you said you want to avoid that, how about any shade of aqua? It could be medium to deep if you don't like pale shades.

I discovered I love brown and aqua when I was playing Sims games. I love to build and decorate the houses more than actually play with the people. I found that brown leather living room furniture looked great on an aqua rug. If I ever redo my own living room, I'd like to try that. For now, I've just used it with clothes a few times.

Brown could be tricky. You said you like green and purple, but I can't see either color with brown for a wedding, unless they were done in light shades. One possibility might be if you're having attendants, you could find a print fabric for their dresses that had green, purple and a touch of brown. Then your dress could be brown, with a sash or some kind of trim in either the print fabric, or just one of the colors.

Since you like green and purple, have you considered dropping the brown idea, and just using green and purple together? I think it always looks refreshing - it can remind me of gardens - green stems and purple/lavender or violet blossoms. My bathroom is done with a print that has violets and ivy - lots of shades of green and purple on white. It always looks fresh. Of course, deeper colors bring vineyards to mind ... deep purples and deep greens. You might find more options with green and purple.

I envy you! What fun you'll have planning your wedding and not be restrained by the traditional light colors. And I love that you didn't mention white and black. I've seen people do that, trying to look different and "elegant". It looked kind of yucky to me, and not all that different. Enjoy your planning!!!

Answer 5

Hey! First congraulations. You must be very excited. Here are a couple ideas for decorating in both the receiption and the ceremony: Ceremony 1) A paint aisle runner. I find the aisle runners in craft stores, etc are just junk! They are plastic tacky things. There are nice aisle runners for about $200.00. I'm assuming that's going to be abnoxious for you so, my suggestion is to go to the craft store and buy a strip of simple solid fabric on sale cheap. And paint your name and date on it. Make a "frame" of a design going around it. It will be the perfect centerpiece for your wedding! 2)Spray coffee flavor perfume on the wedding programs The reception: 1) Coffee beans in the flower vase or candle holder. 2) You can have your reception site set up a table and call it a "coffee and candy buffet" This is a cool thing. It takes place of the favor and it give people something to do. You can buy, little bags, decorate them with your name and date, maybe a scroll and allow guests to select from gourmet coffees and candies. Or you can do just coffee candies and chocolate! 3)Make up a little flyer on some interesting facts about coffee and chocolate and put it on every table.

Answer 6

brown, purple, and green would work great. If it works in nature you are good to go as a general rule of color theory. Any purple flower in a pot will tell you that's A-OK.

You didn't mention what season so can't give you a specfic idea.

Please, please don't use yellow and whtie for the accent colors. I know it's gross but I have seen those weddings and it always reminds me of the toilet bowl after you do a stinky. Sorry but it just does.

Answer 7

Sage green and tan or caramel with chocolate brown accents! The purple can come into play with the flowers. That's how I would go. [hmmmmm... need to keep that in mind. ;-) ]

I was at a wedding where the bridesmaids wore lovely black dresses with a camel colored wrap... it was amazing! All this to say, it is possible for it to look nice. Check out floral websites, interior design sites, anything that mixes fabrics and colors and see what works.

Answer 8

Go to Home Depot and look at the wall of paint colors (you know how it comes on the strips) - Find the colors you like and look at them side by side. Brown & Red could be nice in one certain shade or tone and hideous in another.

Usually the complementary color is on the exact opposite side of the color wheel.

Answer 9

Brown, greens and golds. Warm autumn colors. Even rust (from the red family). See what would look good on your bridemaids in either dark emerald green or rust. Use gold bows. Fall leaves, etc.

Email me at [e-mail] and I have a 14 page WORD document with fall ideas. Good luck.

Answer 10

Sage green, Coral or burnt orange would be lovely.

If you ask me, the brown thing matching whatever color is bit overdone. But at the end,... no one cares about colors schemes anyway.

Good luck