Our Favorite Summer Wedding Color Palettes

With blue skies, lush lawns, and fresh flowers, summer weddings have the best natural color palettes practically built right in. That's good news for any couple who's having trouble choosing the right hues for their big-day décor—inspiration truly is all around you. Whether you choose to pair trendy hues with old classics or want to embrace bold shades that pop in any setting, we're bringing you some of our favorite and most unexpected summer wedding color palettes.

Though we looked to the season's brightest shades for the majority of the color palettes ahead, we integrated a few unique combinations into the mix, too. As you're about to discover, there's a way to make just about any color work for your warm-weather celebration—all you have to do is find the correct shade (or temper a color that isn't intuitive for summer with another that brings it straight into the season). The gist? If you want to use work winter-centric icy blue dinnerware onto your tabletops or use hues that connote autumn in your centerpieces, you should go for it. Several of the following examples will show you how. Of course, there's nothing wrong with choosing a pair or trio of shades that scream summer. This tabletop—which was designed and featured florals by Branco Prata—showcased the colors that have become synonymous with the season: bright pinks, reds, oranges, and yellows.

While classic blush or neutral-toned beiges work for any season, guests will be especially wowed when you up the ante with colorful decorations. So skip a monochromatic white bash and consider one of the following color combos, which range from classic and tasteful to boldly underrated, for your summer wedding. We promise, you'll be so glad you did—especially when you see them brought to life on the big day.

Who says your summer wedding's color palette has to be bold in a bright way? Working in stormier colors—note the charcoal ribbon that tied this cream and pink ranunculus, rose, and tulip bouquet by Bows and Arrows together—only enhances those lighter shades in a fresh, didn't-see-that-coming way.

While pops of orange aren't uncommon at warm-weather events, you don't typically see the hue take center stage (orange usually appears as a splashy accent color). We're here to change that. Intrigued by the idea of using the citrusy hue as your main shade, but want to temper its bright factor? Pair it with muted marsala, a red-brown with the warmth of terra-cotta. It's an unexpected, but statement-making combination, as evidenced by this Five Dot Design invitation flat lay, which featured an arrangement of tangerine-hued carnations from Roots Floral Design against a textured marsala backdrop.

We wouldn't be able to choose a favorite summer wedding color palette, but if we had to narrow it down, we'd stick with high-contrast shade combinations—like cheerful yellow (a seasonal staple) and slate gray. Note how this gray-blue door provides the perfect backdrop for this Baking Chick four-tier cake; the cooler background makes the confection's sunny floral arrangement by Bramble & Wild even more vibrant.

Couples getting hitched by the water, let us introduce you to the new nautical palette: Inky navy and cream (ocean wedding classics!), accented with subtle gray moments that offer a contemporary touch. This tabletop, which was completely designed by Sinclair and Moore, proves why a pop of gray is so integral to this trio, especially if you're planning a fresh waterfront event: Without the modern marble candle holders or crisp dove gray linens, this vignette feels classic—not contemporary.

This bold palette is proof that just about any color can work across seasons, as long as you adjust the tone. While red is most often associated with Christmastime weddings, it's perfectly adaptable—you'll find rust-centric palettes come autumn, for example. As for summer's go-to red? Cherry (the fruit is in season, after all!). Pair the ultra-saturated shade, seen here in the form of a blooming bougainvillea tree, with something light and neutral, like blush (note the bride's one-tone Wild Muse Floral arrangement!), for contrast and balance.

If you're searching for new ways to use pink throughout your summer nuptials, consider pairing the rosy hue with a coppery orange. Your guests won't see this combination coming, but they will admire how prettily the shades play together. Just take this modern ceremony structure, which was created by Kelsey Rae Designs and The Dainty Lion Floral Co., for example. The pros fastened pink and peach roses and orange leaf branches to a copper frame, creating an undulating tonal effect.

We've never met a dusty rose shade we didn't like, but we prefer the romantic hue alongside bold, seasonal colors come summer. Our favorite mauve pairing as of late? Green. Marry these two shades and you'll strike a balance between earthiness and drama. We love how Beauty in the Making interpreted this combination throughout this tabletop; the striking mauve-and-green floral arrangement nodded to the place settings, which featured pale pink raw-edged linens and a leaf-topped place card.

When selecting a unique warm-weather palette, look to the color wheel's foundational shades—red, blue, and yellow (the primary shades!)—for an unexpected dose of inspiration. For a flash of brightness, Prema Style worked the bold trio into this couple's greenery-centric ceremony arch using delphinium and gerber daisies.

Look to colors that naturally appear throughout the season when brainstorming your color palette. This Sweet Stylist Weddings confection referenced three of summer's biggest hues—gold (for sunshine, green (for verdant grasses and trees), and pink (for in-bloom florals).

Pair complementary shades for a summery mix that no one will see coming. Yellow and purple, which appear across from each other on the color wheel, is an unexpected, but splashy mix, as evidenced by this bride's multicolored wedding dress. She accented her bright gown with a monochrome bunch of cream blooms, which balanced out her unique ensemble.

Want to make an ultra-bright color combination, like red and peony pink, feel even more vibrant? Set those bright hues against an equally-bright white backdrop—Catherine George Cakes did just that by juxtaposing this cake's crimson and blush sugar flowers against creamy fondant—to help them stand out.

Find unexpected ways to work a tried-and-true color palette into your big-day florals. To reinforce this wedding's pink and yellow shades, Nicole Chapman Design used only pink blooms with sunny centers.

Aqua is, by default, a major summer color (just look to the oceans many colors—you'll find this bright blue there!). If you want to temper this statement shade with a neutral but don't want to use blush, an always-popular hue, consider a muted peach instead. As evidenced by this Greyhop Paper Co and Onetwobre Creative Design invitation suite, pairing the two shades makes for a balanced aesthetic.

There's a way to use rich, jewel-inspired shades in the summer that doesn't feel autumnal. In other words, you aren't limited to pastel iterations of your favorite shades: Darker, bolder colors are certainly on the table. This pink, amber, green, and cream ground arrangement—which anchored a ceremony arch by Eothen—is proof. The rich, robust shades would look right at home at a late-summer event.

Similarly, you can introduce winter-centric colors, like ice blue and cream, onto a summer tablescape just as easily. The trick to making them warm-weather ready? Make like So Happi Together and integrate small, subtle moments of seasonal color (note the blush pink roses and lush greenery in the Heavenly Bloom centerpieces) into floral arrangements to soften the look.

Planning an event that toes the line between summer and fall? Implement a traditional autumnal rust-and-crimson color scheme, just with a warm-weather twist. Balance out any earthy gold hues with a few bright yellow iterations to keep the palette splashy and upbeat. Shannon Leahy worked with Mooncanyon to bring this summer-meets-fall tabletop to life.

Here's a fundamental wedding design tenet: A black-and-white palette works all year round. If you're looking for a way to make this classic combination more seasonal, consider an accent color. Violet & Bone enhanced the shades with moody dusty rose linens on this reception's tabletops, which added a bit of muted color to this unique summer evening event.

Though we love unexpected summer color palettes, we can't deny the fact that classic pastel shades look incredibly pretty on summer tabletops. Meristem Floral used garden roses, dahlias, hellebores, ranunculus, delphinium, larkspur, snapdragon, clematis, spray roses, cosmos, and more blooms in light pinks, purples, and oranges to create this romantic arrangement.

If we're being honest, summer is likely the only time of year that a lime green-centric color scheme resonates. Amorology and Siloh Floral enhanced these bright abstract seating poufs with crawling peach floral arrangements.

Is there any color as joyful and summery as yellow? This bouquet featured a rich marigold ribbon and pale cream and white flowers mixed with various peachy hues—and an unexpected pop of something blue. Use this cheerful mix as inspiration for everything from your stationery suite and table linens to your flowers and bridesmaids' dresses.

Two colors we'd never have thought to pair up come summer, pistachio and saffron blend seamlessly with the addition of neutral navy to balance them out. The bold fuchsias and deep red hues in these bridesmaids' bouquets added to the seasonal vibe.

This sweet summer wedding at Blackberry Farm incorporated lots of pale lilac and lavender with subtle pops of rich apricot via the flowers. Consider this ethereal combination for your summer wedding, especially if you're tying the knot in your backyard or a nearby garden. The color duo begs for an outdoor party.