Create a Winter Worthy Color Palette

There are many reasons to love the winter months, after all for many, the season is merry and bright. Of course we love spending time with our families and friends during the holiday season, but we also love planning and coordinating our couples’ winter weddings. And to be honest, one of our favorite reasons is the unique style that winter offers. We love it all – the decor, the unique touches of the holiday season, and the color options. We’ve compiled some of our favorite winter photos of past Elegant Affairs’ winter weddings and used them as inspiration for winter mood boards. So, grab yourself a warm cup of hot cocoa and let’s explore and enjoy winter wedding color palettes. 

Calling all Nature Lovers

A bride on her wedding day carrying her bouquet in the snow with her color palette.

Planning a winter wedding allows you to really tie in nature’s beauty. We’ve had many couples tie the knot in the mountains and we love the idea of using hues of the landscape around the venue. Tying in different shades of green gives you endless options for decorating. You can use fresh greenery such as ferns, pine garlands, or even fresh Christmas wreaths. Adorn your reception or ceremony space with fresh pine trees (decorated or not decorated). Then, think about adding a pop of color such as a vibrant magenta, or even a rich burgundy. This will give your event some contrast and will pop in photos. With this color palette, let nature really shine through your decor selections. Less can often be more and keep it organic with shades of nature’s beauty.

An Elegant Affair

There’s something about the holiday season that just says elegance. Maybe it’s the warm Christmas lights adorning trees, or the rich color tones, but the holiday season just has a certain flair. If you choose to host your wedding during the winter months, or in the holiday season, add a little bit of elegance with rich tones and elegant patterns. This is one of our all-time favorite tablescapes and we couldn’t be more excited to feature it as a winter color palette. This table is elegance at its finest. We chose a linen that elevated the table and utilized a pattern that was simple but timeless. The centerpiece is tied in winter with fresh winter greens and rich red flowers including roses, ranunculus, poppies, and touches of white dahlia. Hues of gold were added for warmth and to tie in the winter theme. This color scheme is truly elegant, and is just the right amount of “holiday”, but elevated. 

A Christmas inspired holiday tablescape.

Set the Mood

A couple who eloped in the mountain snow in front a beautifully decorated farm table with flowers and candles.

The MOOD y’all – I mean, how beautiful is this color palette. Choosing a winter wedding means you can be moody – for all the right reasons. We love when our couples want to be a little daring with a bit of romance. Rich, romantic colors like hues of burgundy, tied in with natural shades of brown can create the ultimate romantic vibe. Add touches of green in your table greenery and boutique to tie in the winter season. Be sure to add some contrast with shades of cream and white. We love how this decor came together and we can’t wait to meet our next clients who are ready to set the mood with a romantic color scheme!

Merry & BRIGHT

A beautiful sweetheart table in the snow in the mountains.

A lot of the time, when we discuss the potential of booking your wedding in the winter with our clients, the first reaction is – “well I don’t want to use Christmas colors.” That, my folks, is one of the biggest misconceptions with holding a winter affair. When people think of summer weddings, the assumption is that they are fun, bright, and filled with airy vibes. So, why can’t winter weddings be the same? Plain and simple, just because you are having a winter wedding does not mean that your wedding cannot be merry and bright. In fact, having vibrant pops of color throughout your winter event will add stunning details throughout your day! Bright shades of pink and peach can create a sunny atmosphere while still being true to the chilly months. This is one of our all time favorite wedding centerpieces. The colors are cheerful and fun, but it stays true to winter with the accents of green, burgundy, and red. This color palette says holidays, without going National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation on us. So, don’t limit your color palette just because you’re planning a winter wedding – you can still make your colors bright! 

While we just featured some of our favorite winter wedding color palettes, the ideas for wedding color schemes are endless. Winter opens so many options – no colors are off target. You can still have natural tones mixed with vibrant colors and stay true to a true winter decor scheme. Whether you want to focus on what nature has to offer, create a romantic moody affair, or feature merry and bright color shades – winter can handle it ALL. So, get creative, play with some colors and have fun with it – a winter wedding can feature it all. 


Lori Losee is the owner of Elegant Affairs, a Tacoma Wedding Planner with over 18 years of experience. We create awe-inspiring experiences—Events filled with meaning and refined elegance. Behind the scenes, our experienced team collaborates on each stage of the process, executing your vision and a wedding, celebration, or corporate event that is unique to you.