24 Yellow Wedding Ideas That Will Make Your Day Bright and Cheery

By Sarah Schreiber
July 27, 2011
Credit: Jose Villa

This bold hue adds a welcome pop of color to your big-day décor.

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Credit: Jose Villa

If happiness were a color, it'd be yellow. And since your wedding day will likely be one of the happiest of your life, adding the sunny hue to your décor is especially apt. Of course, not every couple wants a yellow-centric wedding color palette—but that doesn't mean you can't find a way to incorporate the shade (however small!) if you're drawn to it. All you have to do is choose the moment that feels right, whether that entails adding bright blooms to your bridal bouquet, serving up a limoncello signature cocktail, or dressing your bridesmaids in the shade (how amazing is this epic skirt, especially set against that Flower Wild bouquet?).

That's really one of the advantages of the color: You don't need a lot of it to make a major statement. The following yellow wedding ideas prove just that. While some yellow-loving brides went all out—if you're in this camp, keep an eye out for the yellow wedding dress ahead!—others used the shades in more understated ways. One bride opted for bright yellow pumps, which were (mostly) hidden under her wedding dress. Another couple chose a cheerful balloon seating chart, which featured pale yellow and gold balloons calligraphed with guests' names and table information. This particular accent brings us to our next favorite thing about yellow—it works nicely with its metallic iteration, which adds just a bit of toughness to the sweet shade.

Whether you're pairing the shade with gold, green, blue, or pink, you'll quickly realize that yellow brightens up just about any section of the color wheel. Click through to discover all of the ways to use yellow on your life's brightest day.

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Blooms and Napkins

Credit: Kayla Barker
Statement Table Linens to Inspire Your Own

We love how these sunny table napkins subtly reference the golden spray roses in this Blushington Blooms arrangement.

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Lemon Drop Cocktails

Credit: Luna de Mare

Or serve up a canary-colored signature wedding cocktail. Opt for a limoncello sip (punctuated with fresh blackberries!) for a drink as vibrant as this one.

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Sunflower Aisle

Credit: Du Soleil Photographie
Decorate Your Ceremony Aisle with Potted Plants

Welcome your guests to your ceremony space with sunny potted arrangements. Robin Hill Florists paired sunflowers (a bloom synonymous with yellow!) with lilies, delphinium, and greens to create color contrast.

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Citrus-Themed Welcome Bag

Credit: Ryan Ray

Greet out-of-town guests with a cheerful basket of treats that pay homage to the shade. A neon yellow card, lemon tea-towel, and elderflower lemonade are all solid adds.

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Balloon Escort Cards

Credit: Vitalic Photo
More Creative Escort Cards and Seating Displays

Yellow is an uplifting shade on its own, but a balloon escort card display that features its pastel and metallic shades? You can't go wrong. This sweet set-up was created by Vitalic Photo and Charlotte Tripson.

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Ceremony Seating

Credit: Perry Vaile

Bring cozy lounge vibes to your ceremony décor by seating guests on plush amber, sapphire, and blush settees.

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Tile-Inspired Cake

Credit: Jenny Haas

Brighten up your dessert table with a yellow wedding cake that's subtly inspired by the Mediterranean. Wild Flour Bakery hand-painted this confection's tile motif, which echoed the colorful architecture around the venue.

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Sunny Tablescape

Credit: Sylvie Gil Photography
Our Favorite Wedding Color Palettes

Here's proof that yellow complements pretty much every other saturated hue. A yellow tablecloth served as the base of this tablescape by Alison Events, which featured turquoise glassware and pink, orange, and crimson floral centerpieces by Holly Flora.

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Pops of Yellow

Credit: Megan Welker Photography

You don't need to choose an entirely yellow wedding color palette to make a statement. Instead, use it as an accent shade. Note how the lemons, napkins, and peony centers on this Beijos Events tabletop reference each other, but don't overpower the surrounding blue and green notes.

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Bold Pumps

Credit: Rebecca Yale Photography
Nontraditional Wedding Shoes for the Bold Bride

Wear a pair of yellow stilettos from ceremony to reception—or just change into them when it's time to party.

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Black and Yellow Invites

Credit: Ether & Smith

Make a bold first impression with a yellow-accented invitation suite. This set, which was designed by the bride and printed by UNO.LA, featured a sweet tag and RSVP envelope in the sunny shade.

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Tree Wrap

Credit: Tamara Gruner

Play up your venue's natural beauty with yellow floral details. This tree was wrapped with a garland of golden flowers and greens created by Nature's Grace Design.

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Yellow Wedding Dress

Credit: City Love Photography

So, the all-white bridal look isn't for you. If you're searching for a wedding dress that breaks boundaries, why not consider this uplifting shade? This bride inverted classic wedding attire conventions by wearing a caped yellow gown and dressing her bridesmaids in cream. Her sunny daisy bouquet tied back to the garment, thanks to their splashy centers.

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Chair Décor

Credit: Joey Kennedy Photography
More Chair Décor to Try

A massive yellow peony overpowers the rest of this statement-making chair accent.

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Golden

Credit: Kaytee Lauren Photography

Luckily, opaque yellow plays prettily with its metallic iteration, gold. This tablescape, defined by its canary runner and gold cutlery, feels aptly festive.

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Paper Lemon Wedge

Credit: Sarah Kate Photography
Alcohol Escort Cards We Love

Help guests to their seats with a shot of tequila (it's time to celebrate, after all!) and the cutest monogrammed paper lemon wedges.

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Yellow Boutonnières

Credit: Ryan Ray
More Boutonnières You'll Both Love

Just imagine how striking these Bows + Arrows boutonnières would look against a black tuxedo or bright navy suit.

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Harvest

Credit: Maria Lamb Photography

There's a way to work this summer-forward hue into a fall wedding color palette. Forsythia and witch-hazel arches, like these by Hart, feel sparse enough to read as autumnal.

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Yellow Candles

Credit: Alexis June Weddings

Yellow candles are perfect for a daytime fête. They don't present as ultra-romantic, even when lit. Place them alongside poppy centerpieces (like these from Loasis Floral Design!) and set the whole ensemble against a watercolor backdrop (this one was created by Gina Paola Design).

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Flower Girl Attire

Credit: Connie Lyu
See More of This Real Wedding in Los Angeles, California

Why not dye your flower girl's dress yellow? Chances are she'll like the color infinitely more than straight white. Pair her frock with a flower crown in the same palette.

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Yellow Suite

Credit: Ryan Ray

This Ladyfingers Letterpress invitation suite is proof that there are so many ways to work this shade into your paper goods palette—whether it's through a map illustration (note how the mainland stands out!), envelope, or gold-rimmed RSVP card.

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Accent Bouquet Bloom

Credit: Awake Photography

Our eyes went straight to the neon yellow roses in this Petal Society bouquet.

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Yellow VW

Credit: Sass & Soul

If you really love the shade, choose a major statement prop—like a vintage Volkswagen van—for photos. And then keep the yellow coming by referencing the hue in your bridal bouquet (like this garden rose arrangement by Blu Event Design & Couture Florals!).

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