A Wedding With Multiple Summer Color Palettes: From a Coral & Pink Ceremony to a Cream, Gold & Champagne Reception

Mar 10

There were many special things about this summer wedding we designed for our clients Dallar and Elvis at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, but one of the most fun for our team was the use of multiple color palettes!

I love to begin my design process with inspiration from the bride’s dress, and Dallar’s beautiful and truly epic gown provided so much detail to work with. It became the main inspiration for the design and color palette of the indoor reception, so for the outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour I wanted to create something completely different.

For the wedding ceremony we used a spectacular peach, coral and pink color palette that created a vibrant, summery feel and showcased Dallar as the focal point in her white dress. Multi-hued roses provided bold color, and large armfuls of greenery and amaranthus filled out the arrangements in large pedestal containers and running down the aisle.

As you can see from the photos, the ceremony backdrop was a true showstopper! 14 foot tall towering metal frames covered with flowers stood behind the couple as they said their vows. They created a dramatic and colorful center to the ceremony that matched the large scale of the vista, and still allowed guests to enjoy the stunning ocean views.

From the ceremony we moved on to a sunset cocktail hour with a palette of plum, purple and hot pink. It led guests deeper into expectations of a bright and bold environment for the evening, so that when they entered the indoor reception, the impact of the next color palette would be even greater!

Creamy white flowers create a beautiful bridal bouquet

Spectacular peach, coral and roses showcase the outdoor ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel

Clear crystal like chairs with gold and cream accents make up the ceremony seating at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel

When the guests moved from cocktail hour to reception, we shifted from the vibrant outdoor summertime look to a glamorous, sophisticated indoor party with a warm cream, champagne, gold, taupe, and blush color palette. Dallar had been dreaming of her beautiful wedding for years, and she put her full trust in me to create it. I wanted to be sure that every little detail was timeless, luxurious and over the top!

Orchids, roses and peonies, wisteria and gold fringe were abundant at every different level. Florals were hanging, draping, sculpted and flowing, creating layers and movement throughout the room. To add even more contrast, the floral arrangements were mixed with glass accents and candlelight at every table. Three styles of velvet upholstered dining chairs added wonderful texture and beautiful lines, and the place settings with thin black edging created the perfect balance to the creamy colors in the space.

My best advice for designing epic event environments like this one? Design for the atmosphere you want to create, and look at the experience your guest will have from every angle and every one of the senses.