text Sophy Zee
We ask fengshui experts, a colour analyst and a floral designer for tips on how to choose your wedding colour theme.
When asked about our favourite colour, we often say what comes first to our mind and seldom stop to analyse why.
But colours can say a whole lot and people tend to attach meanings to different colours, consciously or otherwise.
Imagine a wedding and we usually think of the bride in a white gown and the groom a in black suit, but does that always have to be the case?
Tradition, we say, but wedding colours differ for different cultures, and red was until recent decades the choice for Chinese brides, while in Malay culture, bright colours are preferred to the pale shades popular today.
How about the colour of your decorations, your bridesmaids’ dresses, your evening gown, and even the tablecloth – they should all complement each other, but the choices out there can be mind-boggling.
So in this day and age of choice, perhaps it’s not so black and white after all, and it helps to think a bit more about what colours mean, and how they complement each other before choosing your colour theme.
Choosing a wedding colour theme: fengshui experts say…
Master Ang of Master Ang Professional Geomancy Services says that the colours suitable for weddings include red, purple, orange and pink.
The fengshui master, who has more than twenty years of experience in geomancy, does not recommend using white or black, although he acknowledges that different cultures have different beliefs. For example, in Indonesia, black is considered an auspicious colour and is often used for weddings.
In geomancy, red symbolises happiness and good luck, and purple health and a loving relationship. Orange symbolises intimacy, while pink means peace and harmony, as well as a long, lasting relationship.
But he says one’s ba zi (birth, or destiny chart which is determined by the date and time of birth) can also considered, though this usually requires further consultation with a geomancer.
In one case, a couple who had clashing ba zi once consulted Master Ang before their wedding. The bride’s element of metal was too strong for the wood element in the groom. This usually means that the marriage would not last.
He recommended that they paint their bedroom blue to neutralise potential conflicts, and asked the groom to wear red or blue on their wedding day. Red, symbolising fire, would complement and strengthen the wood in his character. The groom chose to go with a powder blue suit in the end.
However, according to Jenny Ng, a principal consultant at Fengshui Connection, there is no universally auspicious colour. Black is not necessarily a no-no, and it all depends on what elements a person is lacking from their ba zi.
She said, “The majority of the charts are not balanced and they will lack at least one or two elements. Hence we can translate this information into the suitable colours that they can use.”
Fire is represented by red, pink, purple and orange; metal by white, gold and silver; wood is denoted by green, while water is blue or black, and earth, brown and yellow.
If the husband and wife have different preferences, then they will have to synchronise their ba zi and find a common or a bridging element so to achieve ‘balance’.
Choosing a wedding colour theme: what colour analysis tells us…
Stylists often use colour analysis – the study of how colours match our skin tone, eyes and hair colour, to design a suitable look for their clients. Commonly, colour analysts use the four seasons to classify people and determine the colours that suit them.
Melissa Chor, founding director of image consultancy Image Harmony says that no matter which “season” a person falls under, there can be up to 200 shades they can wear; thus it is not limiting at all.
For example, it is customary for brides today to wear white, but every colour type can wear white – just different shades of white.
For ‘winters’ who are generally fairer, a pure white is best, but warm ‘autumns’ look “washed out” in such a startling shade and should go for tints of beige and brown tones to complement their look. ‘Springs’ look better in a bright and clear cream, while ‘summers’ look good in off-white.
She is of the opinion that whether a colour is auspicious or traditional should have little bearing on the bride’s choice, as long as they “look and feel happy”. Therefore, to her, the wedding decorations and theme should take the lead from the bride’s choice of gown, which would be determined by her personal colour and style.
But she also admits that colours do have different connotations for people based on their culture and past experiences.
For example, orange symbolises energy and vibrancy to some, but for some Buddhists, only monks are allowed to wear that colour. She also cites the example of a client who looked very good in pale green, but the colour reminded her of hospital gowns, which brought to mind sickness and ill health.
When it comes to combining colours, colour theory can be useful. Melissa said that for any colour chosen, there are four different ways to use them.
One can choose a monochromatic colour scheme, which means using different shades of the same colour to give a sense of harmony to the wedding. For a similarly calming and soothing effect, one can also use analogous or similar colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel, such as red, orange and yellow.
For brides who find that too tame, they can choose complementary colours, which are opposite on the colour wheel, such as yellow and purple, or red and green. The most dramatic combination of all would be a triadic mix of colours such as red, blue and yellow.
Choosing a wedding colour theme: advice from a floral designer
Mr Harijanto Setiawan, floral designer and owner of Boenga, has had eight years of experience in floral décor projects all over the world.
For him, the most important factor is the kind of ambience you wish to create for your wedding.
“Having a wedding is everybody’s dream, so let them choose what they like,” he said.
But having said that, you do have to look out for environmental factors, such as whether the venue is outdoor or indoor, what the existing colours at the venue are, and the intensity and angle of the lighting.
But with the wide choices available and barrage of images you can find in magazines and on the Internet today, he said that some couples simply end up being more confused. At the end of the day, he says the choice can boil down to two simple options – whether you prefer an elegant or glamorous look.
An elegant look implies more natural colours, less drama and is suitable for brides who want a pure and harmonious feel. But couples today are also more adventurous, opting to create a bold, glamorous look by playing with darker shades such as dark orange and dark purple.
He said that with the amazing range of flowers available all year round today, it is possible to get any colour you want at any time of the year. And one way to stand out is to have more unusual varieties of flowers as part of the décor.
Finally, after you have decided on the kind of ambience you wish to create, you should go one step beyond to look at details such as the colour of complementary accessories such as the backdrop and tablecloths. Couples should also consider if they prefer a matte or glossy look, as this will have a bearing on the type of accessories the bride should wear – pearls go better with a matte look, while crystals and jewels add shine to complement a glossy look.
Do you pay attention to these superstitions in your wedding planning process? Or, do you actually not bother with these practices but have to oblige the wishes of the elders? Let us know by clicking here now!