36 Simple, Beautiful Black-and-White Wedding Ideas

By Chloe Gorman
July 27, 2011
Credit: The Edges Wedding Photography

From classic to modern, we found ideas to suit any couple's wedding style.

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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.

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Asymmetrical Arch

Credit: Gayle Brooker
59 Wedding Arches That Will Instantly Upgrade Your Ceremony

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.

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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.

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Two-Toned Table

Credit: Rebecca Yale Photography
These Statement Linens Will Take Your Wedding Reception to the Next Level

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.

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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.

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Unique Seating Charts

Credit: Addison Jones Photography
24 Celestial Wedding Ideas That'll Have You Starry-Eyed

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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A Bold Bouquet

Credit: Josh and Dana Fernandez
25 Anemone Wedding Bouquets for Every Type of Bride

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.

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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.

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Contrasting Bridesmaids' Dresses

Credit: Elisabeth Carol Photography
Chic Black Bridesmaids' Dresses

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.

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Built-In Color Palette

Credit: Clewell Photography
What Your Venue Says About Your Wedding

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.

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A Darling Display

Credit: Mandee Johnson Photography
39 Amazing Dessert Tables from Real Weddings

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.

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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.

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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.

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Graphic Save-the-Dates

Credit: Roots of Life Photography
Trending Now: Bee-Inspired Wedding Details

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.

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Gorgeous Garland

Credit: Shannen Natasha of The Wedding Artists Collective
40 Pretty Ways to Decorate Your Wedding Chairs

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Marbled Vow Books

Credit: Courtesy of Etsy
39 Elegant Marbled Wedding Ideas

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Eclectic Space