Visit Martha Stewart Weddings 36 Simple, Beautiful Black-and-White Wedding Ideas From classic to modern, we found ideas to suit any couple's wedding style. By Chloe Gorman Chloe Gorman Chloe Gorman is a former digital editorial assistance for Martha Stewart Weddings and a Connecticut-based writer with 7+ years of editorial and copywriting experience. Chloe's work can be found in Martha Stewart Weddings, Screen Rant, Brides.com, CountryLiving.com, and Macy's.com. Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 7, 2018 Close Credit: The Edges Wedding Photography Choosing a color palette for your wedding can be extremely difficult, especially if you and your future husband or wife don't have a set of favorite colors. If that's the case, it's time to consider a color palette that's been right in front of you all along: black and white. And if you're not sold on the idea of a celebration done entirely in these two shades, don't worry. It's also a great starting point—you can use the combination is a base for your ceremony and reception décor, then add other pops of color you like. Best of all, a black-and-white color scheme works for any type of celebration, so it's amenable to any couple's style. Whether you and your partner favor a classic look or prefer something more modern and streamlined, details and décor in shades of black and white can be used in so many different and compelling ways. For a modern approach, go for clean, black lines with white accents. If you're hoping to plan a day that's packed with all things vintage, soft white invitations with swirly black calligraphy should be your stationery go-to. And, if you two favor different styles, you'll find a black-and-white color palette makes it easy to mix different forms of inspiration. Take this ceremony program by Robert Alvarez, which evoked a vintage feel with its use of a wax seal but still felt minimalist and contemporary. Should you still feel your décor needs a pop of color, remember that black-and-white pairs well with just about any other hue you can think of. Metallics like silver and gold are a great way to elevate your table settings, and they'll certainly stand out against otherwise neutral details. But why stop at metallics? To really make a bold statement, add in other colors you love. No matter what kind of black-and-white color palette you're after, you'll find plenty of unique ideas for your wedding here. Click through the slideshow to see all of our favorite ways to use this classic color combination throughout your big day. 01 of 35 Asymmetrical Arch Credit: Gayle Brooker To make a black-and-white ceremony feel modern, consider a graphic arch, like this one by Technical Event Company, for your backdrop. Gathering Events helped soften the space by arranging white flowers for either side of the structure. 89 Wedding Arches For (Nearly) Endless Ceremony Inspiration 02 of 35 Bold Black Tiers Credit: Alicia Mink Photography There's no rule that says a cake has to be white, so consider a black confection, like this treat from Intricakes, for your big day. White accents added contrast and kept the chosen color palette at the forefront. 03 of 35 Two-Toned Table Credit: Rebecca Yale Photography Showcasing your color palette at your reception is as easy as adding a black table runner to a white tablecloth. To really elevate the set up, insert stand-out accents like candelabras and centerpieces comprised of greenery. 24 Wedding Table Settings to Inspire Your Own 04 of 35 Black Ribbon and Stems Credit: Sarah Carpenter Rather than accessorizing your white wedding dress with a black sash, use a dark ribbon to bundle your bouquet, then let the extra fabric hang down. That's exactly what Stems of Dallas did here to make this floral arrangement pop. 05 of 35 Unique Seating Charts Credit: Addison Jones Photography Here's an out-of-this-world idea for making black-and-white décor work for your wedding. Auburn and Ivory Creative used the two colors on this seating chart inspired by the phases of the moon. 29 Celestial Wedding Ideas That Will Leave You Starry-Eyed 06 of 35 Personal Touch Credit: Elizabeth Messina Photography Your ceremony chairs are an unexpected way to bring your color palette into your reception. To further personalize the space and drive your chosen hues home, consider adding special notes and white blooms, like lily of the valley sprigs Molly Ryan Floral chose here, to each seat. 07 of 35 A Stroke of Black Credit: Tonie Christine A splash of black on an otherwise white wedding cake can turn the traditional tiered design on its head. This off-kilter confection by Cake Life Every Day proves just that. 08 of 35 A Classic Invite Credit: A Fabulous Fete Choosing a black and white invitation, like this one created by A Fabulous Fete, introduces your wedding guests to your color scheme before the big day even arrives. 09 of 35 A Reception That Pops Credit: Amanda K Photography Wow your guests from the beginning of the ceremony straight through to the reception by introducing pops of color during the party. Here, Tie That Binds brought a classic black-and-white color palette to the next level by adding touches of gold and green to the otherwise neutral table. 10 of 35 A Bold Bouquet Credit: Josh and Dana Fernandez If you really want your bouquet to pop against your wedding dress, make sure to choose an arrangement in a contrasting color. Here, Flower Power Productions mixed black-and-white anemones, dahlias, and greenery for a stunning effect. 41 Stunning Ranunculus Bouquets from Real Weddings to Inspire Your Own 11 of 35 Centerpiece with Anemones Credit: Devon Donnahoo To ensure your black-and-white color palette feels subtle, choose centerpieces with classic white flowers, then ask your florist to add a few statement anemones. Compass Floral used the black-centered blooms to help this otherwise neutral arrangement fit with the rest of the wedding's color scheme. 12 of 35 Contrasting Bridesmaids' Dresses Credit: Elisabeth Carol Photography There's no easier way to play up your black-and-white color palette than through the attire you and your bridal party wear. Just take this group, for example. The bride asked her friends to wear any black gown they loved, and the result was undeniably beautiful. 8 Bridesmaid Dress Trends Your Attendants Will Love, From Poppy Pinks to Corset Waists 13 of 35 Built-In Color Palette Credit: Clewell Photography If you really love the look of black-and-white wedding décor, start your planning process by considering only venues that fit the bill. The black-and-white tiled floors of the Lurcat in Minnesota meant that this bride and groom had to do very little else to achieve their desired look. 14 of 35 A Darling Display Credit: Mandee Johnson Photography Sure, you want your wedding cake to taste good, but your big-day dessert should look good, too. If it matches your color palette, even better. Here, Cre8ive Cake and Candy and One Darling Day ensured the couple's black-and-white motif made it through to dessert in the form of black cake pops against a decorative white wall. 39 Amazing Dessert Tables from Real Weddings 15 of 35 Structured and Delicate Credit: Mango Studios Draw the attention to your head table by framing it with a black grid installation against a white background, just like White Oak Flower Co. did here. Candles and fresh greenery kept the entire display soft and romantic. 16 of 35 Gold, Green, and Striped Credit: Sarah Libby The easiest way to add black and white into your reception is with stripes. Leigh and Louise Design opted for a classic black-and-white tablecloth, then elevated the entire set-up by adding assorted greenery and touches of gold. 17 of 35 Graphic Save-the-Dates Credit: Roots of Life Photography If you're thinking about adding an unexpected motif to your wedding stationery, consider this idea from Emily Rose Ink. In order to keep the couple's bug theme subtle, the stationer used the understated color palette to create a clean, modern suite with a graphic illustration. 37 Simple Wedding Centerpieces 18 of 35 Gorgeous Garland Credit: Shannen Natasha of The Wedding Artists Collective If you feel strongly about personalizing every inch of your wedding, consider the black-and-white garlands Studio Mondine used to mark this couple's reception chairs. 40 Pretty Ways to Decorate Your Wedding Chairs 19 of 35 Personalized Suite Credit: The Edges Wedding Photography We love how Robert Alvarez added a personal touch to this couple's invitation suite in the form of sentimental illustrations. Subtle pops of color added visual interest to the otherwise black-and-white stationery. 20 of 35 Contrasting Menu Credit: The Edges Wedding Photography A white wedding menu will always stand out when placed on a black table setting. Robert Alvarez's simple card was easy to read against the couple's matte black plates. 21 of 35 Hints of White Credit: Rebecca Yale Photography For dinner, use a bold black envelope to house your white menu. Then, add stand-out details such as a white wax seal and calligraphy like Karla Lim of Written Word Calligraphy did with this couple's menu. 22 of 35 Green, White, and Black Credit: Rebecca Yale Photography One benefit of black is that it stands out even when used subtly, like this ribbon curated by Seidenband. Although white flowers were paired with lots of beautiful greenery, all arranged by Capri Flor, the black and white notes still shine through. 23 of 35 Black-and-White Gown Credit: Trent Bailey Photography Your black-and-white color palette doesn't have to be reserved for décor alone—consider wearing it down the aisle. This bride's black-and-white Vera Wang wedding dress was eye-catching all on its own, but especially so when paired with black leather gloves. 24 of 35 Marbled Vow Books Credit: Courtesy of Etsy Since marble (or marble patterns) often has a natural black-and-white color palette, consider the medium for your wedding. These marbled vow books were a pretty way for this couple to include their color scheme throughout the day. 25 of 35 Modern Invites Credit: Rebecca Yale Photography Black-and-white may be a classic combination, but it can feel contemporary, too. These Regas invitations were made modern thanks to a large sans serif font. 26 of 35 Simplistic Setting Credit: Grant Daniels Photography Destination weddings typically evoke ideas of bright color palettes, but you'll be pleased to know that black-and-white works for these events, too. Remi and Gold decorated these tables with matte black plates, classic white menus, and deep green tropical leaves for an elevated twist on the classic beach wedding. 27 of 35 Protea and Greenery Credit: Lauren Scotti Photography Black-and-white color palettes have a place in garden weddings, too. Just look to this The Little Branch bouquet for proof. White garden roses and ranunculus were accented by darker protea and anemone for a unique take on the otherwise romantic arrangement. 28 of 35 Eclectic Space Credit: Tajreen Hedayet Photography To showcase your color palette in your ceremony space, opt for black chairs in an all-white room. This dark seating option didn't get lost against the all-white walls at the Ebell Club of Long Beach. 29 of 35 Black-Accented Bouquet Credit: David Jenkins Blue Sky Flowers modernized an otherwise traditional bouquet of roses and stephanotis with the inclusion of black-centered anemone. If you're looking for a way to make your own classic arrangement fit with the rest of your décor, this flower could be the way to do it. 30 of 35 Black-and-White Invites Credit: Love Is a Bird This stationary suite, created by Olivia Juice Stationary, employed a black-and-white color palette in an unexpected way. Black stationery featured soft white calligraphy rather than the other way around. 31 of 35 Black Vase Credit: Heather Roth Fine Art Photography Minimalist couples should definitely embrace a black-and-white color combination. By paring a black vase with all-white flowers, this couple was able to get their color palette across in a simple way. 32 of 35 Tied with a Bow Credit: Dana Cubbage Weddings With a black-and-white color palette, less is often more, as evidenced by this simple but statement-making table. Tying a simple white ribbon around a black tablecloth (or vice versa!) is an easy way to work both colors into your cocktail hour. 33 of 35 The Center of Attention Credit: Katelyn Prisco Photography One of the major benefits to choosing a black-and-white color palette is that it lets the rest of your details shine. At this wedding, the black table runner and white tablecloth ensured that the couple's gorgeous centerpieces by Tailored Twig were the star of the reception. 34 of 35 Statement Tier Credit: Rebecca Antuña of Rose Red Creative Extraordinary Desserts transformed an otherwise classic wedding cake into something unique by adding a statement black tier, black-centered anemones, and black ribbons. 35 of 35 Nontraditional Tent Credit: Robin Jolin Photography Think outside the box when it comes to a tented wedding. Instead of opting for the standard white tent, Hensley Event Resources decided to use a structured covering with exposed black beams at this wedding. White chandeliers, black chairs, and white table linens ensured the color palette was unmistakable. Explore more: Weddings Wedding Ceremony & Reception Wedding Décor & Details Wedding Colors Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit