Whether you’re drawn to soft pastels, rich jewel tones, or timeless neutrals, here’s everything you need to know about how to choose colors for your Northern California wedding.
1. Consider Your Venue’s Natural Aesthetic
Since your wedding will be set outdoors, you’ll want to choose colors that complement the natural backdrop. Our venue features sprawling green lawns and stunning heritage oak trees, which provide a rich, organic setting with many photo locations! When choosing your wedding colors, consider:
- Harmonizing with Nature: Earthy tones like sage green, terracotta, and soft blues work beautifully against a backdrop of trees and grass.
- Adding Contrast: Deep burgundy, navy blue, or mustard yellow can create a striking contrast without clashing with the scenery.
- Reflecting the Season: Soft blushes and lavenders are lovely for spring weddings, while warm oranges and golds are perfect for autumn celebrations.
At Rough and Ready Vineyards, couples can also take advantage of our Something Borrowed Barn, which offers a collection of free décor items that complement any wedding color scheme. From black, white, and gray accents to metallic touches and lush greenery like eucalyptus, these elements can tie together your color palette effortlessly.
2. Think About the Season
Outdoor weddings naturally tie into seasonal colors. Here’s how different seasons can influence your palette:
- Spring Weddings: Embrace soft, romantic colors like blush pink, lilac, sky blue, and pastel green.
- Summer Weddings: Go bold with vibrant hues such as coral, fuchsia, turquoise, and sunny yellow.
- Fall Weddings: Deep, warm shades like rust, plum, forest green, and burnt orange reflect the cozy feel of autumn.
Take inspiration from past featured weddings at Rough and Ready Vineyards! See what you like and what resonates with you, learning from past couples.
3. Get Inspired by Your Personal Style
Your wedding colors should reflect your personality and style as a couple. Think about the colors you naturally gravitate toward in your wardrobe or home decor. Are you drawn to classic neutrals, dramatic jewel tones, or light and airy pastels? Your color palette should feel authentic to you.
4. Use an Online Color Palette Tool
If you’re unsure about which colors go well together, online color palette tools can be a huge help. Websites like Coolors, Canva, and Pinterest allow you to experiment with different shades and see how they look side by side. Many couples also browse our online catalog of table linens, napkins, and runners to visualize how their chosen colors will appear in the actual wedding setting.
5. Consider How Colors Will Appear in Photos
Certain colors look especially vibrant in natural light, making them ideal for outdoor weddings. Soft pastels create a dreamy, ethereal look, while deep jewel tones add richness and sophistication. Whites and ivories provide a classic base that allows accent colors to truly pop in photos.
6. Coordinate Wedding Colors with Your Wedding Attire
Your color palette should also complement your wedding party’s attire. When choosing clothing colors and accessories, keep in mind:
- Neutral or complementary tones for a cohesive look.
- Accent colors for ties, pocket squares, or florals.
- How your wedding dress or suit will contrast or blend with the chosen colors.
Gone are the days when everything (and everyone!) has to perfectly match. Today’s couple embrace personal style, often using a common color to tie everything together.
7. Accents: Your Decor and Florals
Your wedding colors will extend to your florals, table settings, and decorative elements. Since our venue offers many customizable rental linens, you can easily select tablecloths, napkins, and runners in colors that perfectly match your theme. Some popular wedding color combinations include:
- Dusty blue and greenery: Elegant and timeless for spring and summer.
- Burgundy and blush: A romantic, balanced look that works well in any season.
- Terracotta and mustard: Warm, rustic tones that feel cozy in an outdoor setting.
- Navy and gold: Classic and sophisticated, with a hint of drama.
If you’re looking for additional décor elements to complement your color scheme, our Something Borrowed Barn offers an assortment of items in timeless shades like black, white, gray, and metallics, as well as greenery that blends seamlessly with any theme.
8. Think About Guest Experience
Colors can influence the mood of your wedding, so consider how your choices will affect the overall ambiance:
- Soft pastels create a romantic, dreamy atmosphere.
- Bright, bold colors energize the space and create a fun, lively vibe.
- Earthy, muted tones feel warm, inviting, and natural.
9. Pops of Color with White or Ivory Tablecloths
Many couples opt for white or ivory tablecloths as a neutral base, allowing accent colors to stand out beautifully. This approach provides flexibility when incorporating florals, napkins, runners, and centerpieces in bolder hues. Whether you choose classic navy napkins against crisp white linens or a pop of terracotta with ivory, accent colors can add depth and personality to your wedding decor.
For a cohesive look, consider pairing your chosen accent colors with complementary pieces from our Something Borrowed Barn. Whether you want subtle metallics, neutral vases, or soft greenery, these elements can enhance your tablescape without overwhelming your color scheme.
10. Trust Your Instincts
At the end of the day, your wedding colors should reflect what you love. Don’t feel pressured to follow trends. Choose hues that make you happy and create the aesthetic you envision.
Let Us Help You Choose!
Choosing the right colors for your wedding is an exciting part of the planning process, and at our outdoor venue, you have endless possibilities to create a stunning, cohesive look. By considering your surroundings, the season, and your personal style, you can craft a wedding palette that enhances the natural beauty of our green lawns and heritage oak trees.
We would love to help you look at colors and options – it’s one of our favorite things to do! During your planning sessions or one of our open house events for booked couples, we can look at colors with you and explore items from the Something Borrowed Barn too!
Not yet booked at Rough and Ready Vineyards for your special day? Book your tour today and let us show you why our venue is a Nevada County favorite!
Whether you opt for soft pastels, bold contrasts, or classic neutrals, your chosen colors will set the perfect tone for your special day.
At Rough and Ready Vineyards, we are dedicated to using our platform to support and spread the word about locally owned wedding venues. You may notice that in every blog post, we include links to locally owned wedding venues who support the wedding industry in ways that are not always recognized but are essential. If you are still looking for a wedding venue, please consider one that is locally owned and operated like these:
L AND L Farm
Cedar Fox Weddings
High Beam Dreams
Wild Rye KC Ranch
Valley Mills Farm
As Venue Manager for the Rough & Ready Vineyards, Tiffany has a genuine love and passion for planning and organizing weddings. She shares, "Being able to create memories that will last a lifetime for you and your guests is so rewarding. I enjoy making your dream wedding day come true!" Tiffany specializes in personalizing wedding services for each client and handling stressful event situations with grace.
Hi Tiffany,
Loved reading this blog. Some simple steps to walk through the process of deciding on a color theme for a wedding. I know brides can feel overwhelmed when starting to plan a wedding and this is a great article for them to read.
Thank you for your kind feedback, Diane!