Are you ready to learn the hidden meanings behind wedding colors? Did you know this was even a thing? I didn’t, and it’s pretty intriguing!
When we plan our weddings, we spend a lot of time on the colors. And, rightfully so. Colors tie everything together. They create a cohesiveness. Even if your wedding theme is about something non-colorful, like “Rustic” or “Great Gatsy”, you can still imagine the colors that would be involved.
While colors are great and all, there are hidden meanings behind wedding colors. Some of the meanings are more globally understood, and some are specific to a certain location. In some cases, you may be able to create more meaning in your wedding simply because you understand what the colors you’re using represent. Plus, knowing the hidden meanings behind wedding colors can help you decide what’s right for your wedding. At the very least, it can help with creativity.
Hidden Meanings Behind Wedding Colors
This post is going to let you know the hidden meanings behind wedding colors, and suggested themes to use for them. Now, if you don’t like the meaning behind a color you’re using, don’t feel pressured to change things. Remember, you can incorporate different colors in different ways in your wedding. And, all colors are beautiful and special. There is no one color that is “bad”.
Let’s get into it!
HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND THE COLOR “GOLD”
In Thailand, the color gold is meant to bring good luck.
There is a tradition in Thailand where a foi thong cake is served at weddings. This cake is golden, but can come in a variety of flavors. While the flavor is up to personal taste, the color is what is really important.
Some say that gold is also symbolic of wealth and health. The brightness of the color is also representative of being relaxed and happy, with it’s resemblance to yellow.
Gold: Luck, wealth, health, relaxation, happiness
Suggested Themes: Great Gatsby, New Years Eve, Shabby Chic
HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND THE COLOR “GREEN”
Green is such a vibrant color, it is very symbolic in many cultures.
Primarily, the hidden meanings behind the color green include growth, balance, nature, and fertility. Green is also a calming color, so it can represent peace, harmony, and tranquility. I personally love that green represents growth, as it brings forth images of new buds on a tree, freshly cut grass, and being outside.
Green: Growth, balance, nature, fertility, peace, harmony, tranquility
Suggested themes: Springtime, The Woods, Garden
HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND THE COLOR “BLUE”
It’s no surprise that the color blue represents loyalty.
Blue is also representative of serenity, peace, youth, and spirituality. It can be a symbol of faithfulness, as we see in the “something borrowed, something blue” tradition. Blue is a very popular color for weddings, and with all the different shades of it, the options are endless.
Some sources will tell you that there are different associations among the different shades of blue. In fact, this post says that light blue is associated with health, tranquility, understanding, and softness. It says that aqua is representative of healing your emotions, compassion, and inspiration. And, dark blue is for knowledge, power, and integrity. There are so many options!
Blue: Loyalty, serenity, peace, youth, spirituality. Various shades represent health, compassion, and integrity, among other things.
Suggested themes: The Beach, Boating, Sunny Day, Cosmopolitan/Urban Wedding
HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND THE COLOR “PINK”
With regards to weddings, the color pink is associated with love, devotion, and elegance. Lighter shades are meant to be happy, playful, and fun.
Essentially, pink is a perfect color for a wedding. It goes with almost every other color, and can be worked easily into linens and flowers. Plus, it can be as subtle or as bold as you want it to be. Couples who use the color pink in their weddings are usually seen as charming, which is always a fun portrayal. While all of these hidden meanings behind the color pink may seem obvious, it’s alright because of pink’s versatility and popularity!
Pink: Love, devotion, elegance, happy, playful, fun
Suggested themes: Tea party, Valentine’s, Blooming flowers, Blossoms
HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND THE COLOR “WHITE”
Obviously, there is usually at least one white item at each wedding.
As I wrote about in this post, white wedding dresses have been popular ever since Queen Victoria married Prince Albert. Her incredibly decadent wedding dress symbolized her purity and privilege. Additionally, white represents innocence, truth, and wholeness. White also has the hidden meaning of cleanliness, or a clean slate. This is kind of cool, as weddings are a new beginning, starting fresh, and focusing on a future state.
White: Purity, privilege, innocence, truth, wholeness, cleanliness
Suggested themes: All White Wedding, White Wine, Modern Wedding, Glam Wedding
HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND THE COLOR “RED”
The color red has so many hidden meanings.
While it’s not as common to see it at weddings in the US and Canada, red has huge significance in many Asian countries. Traditionally, red represents good luck, as seen with the passing of red envelops at Chinese New Year. In Chinese weddings, red symbolizes happiness and prosperity. In the US and Canada, red is often seen as a color of passion, power, adventure, and confidence. It’s a bold choice for weddings here, but if done well, can be absolutely gorgeous.
Red: Good luck, happiness, prosperity, passion, power, adventure, confidence
Suggested themes: Valentine’s, Christmas, Autumn, Berries
HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND THE COLOR “YELLOW”
If done right, yellow can be a memorable color at weddings. It’s not as popular as some other colors, but can absolutely create a gorgeous ambiance.
At first glance, yellow is cheerful. The hidden meanings behind the color yellow are that it also symbolizes warmth, hope, and springtime. Many people see yellow as symbolic of curiosity, awareness, and drive. To be honest, yellow pairs well with a lot of different colors, and can be a stand out star, or complementary player, depending on your vision. If you like yellow, go for it!
Yellow: Cheer, warmth, hope, Spring, curiosity, awareness, drive
Suggested themes: Sunny day, Summer, Sunflowers, Honey
HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND THE COLOR “PURPLE”
Sorry if I’m biased, but purple is my favorite color. It’s actually a very rare color, too, which is why it’s the preferred color among royalty.
The hidden meanings behind the color purple are that it symbolizes imagination, enchantment, creativity, and luxury. Depending on the shade, it’s also a very luscious color. If you have it in your wedding, it will likely take the stage. It’s no wonder that purple is so popular in weddings. I even had a friend who made her whole wedding a “purple” theme. It was gorgeous!
Purple: Royal, imagination, enchantment, creativity, luxury
Suggested themes: Royal Wedding, Lavender Fields, Purple Mountain Majesty
HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND THE COLOR “BROWN”
Is brown the most popular color for a wedding? Not necessarily. However, when it’s done right, it can be memorable and very beautiful.
Brown symbolizes security, stability, comfort, and home. All of these things are perfect to sum up the reason we get married in the first place, right? Additionally, it represents the earth and masculinity. Brown is also a color that is easy to find and incorporate. Paired with a cream, or a green, it can create a rustic and charming feel to any wedding. Though most people don’t think of “brown” as a stand-out wedding color, it has a lot to offer.
Brown: Security, stability, comfort, home, earth, masculinity
Suggested themes: Dessert, Forest, Animals, Wood
HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND THE COLOR “ORANGE”
Are any of you planning an “orange” wedding? Please, send me photos!
Orange is a happy color. It represents youthfulness, energy, and warmth. Everyone I know who loves the color orange is all of these things, no matter how old they are. Orange stands out, and it’s also the only color that has a real flavor profile. If you are having a wedding with the color orange, you can also use oranges in your menu and drinks. How cool would that be, just to tie it all together?
Orange: Youth, energy, warmth
Suggested themes: Florida Beach, Sunny Day, Autumn, Citrus Fruit
HIDDEN MEANING BEHIND THE COLOR “BLACK”
Okay, let’s end on the color black.
Now, I know that some people don’t even consider black to be a color. However, I like to think that it is. Heck, I wear it all the time! In weddings, black symbolizes secrets, boldness, and sophistication. It’s a daring choice to have black as your primary wedding color, but the results can be incredible. Black pairs well with almost any other color, and can create an atmosphere that your guests will remember for years afterwards.
Black: Secretive, bold, sophisticated
Suggested themes: Halloween, Urban, Glam, Black-Tie
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Friends, I think we did it. Hidden meanings behind wedding colors are fun to learn about, and can create new layers of meaningfulness to your wedding. Sorry that a few colors are missing. Remember, you can add accents of any color you like to your wedding. It all comes down to what appeals to you. Hidden meanings are found in each color. Choose the ones that mean the most to you, and go with it. Happy wedding planning!
More From Hummingbird Wedding Advice:
Do You Really Need A Wedding Theme?
How To Create Your Wedding Vision
Something Borrowed, Something Blue Ideas
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