Your wedding day should symbolize who you are, which means sometimes soft neutral tones work perfectly and other times  you ought to stray from the classics. Michelle Cousins, founder of Michelle Leo Events, makes the case for a wedding palette with bright shades, vibrant hues and bold patterns—no matter the season, venue or vibe.  

“Picking your wedding palette isn’t as easy as choosing your two favorite colors and making them the foundation for every wedding detail,” says Cousins. “Lean toward working with color families.” But, she explains, there will almost always be prominent tones. Once you pick those, Cousins suggests creating your palette in one of two ways:

CULL COMPLEMENTARY COLORS

Round out your color wheel. “For example, if a couple is working with a lot of cool tones, I might explore ways to accent those hues with warm tones on the opposite side of the color spectrum,” says Cousins. Offering contrast is a great way to provide balance and depth within your celebration’s overall design. 

SET YOUR SITE

“Let’s say a client from an urban location chooses to celebrate their wedding in Utah because they’ve been drawn to the organic, natural landscape of the mountains,” Cousins begins. “With such a specific theme in mind, you’re better off erring on the side of tones existing in the locale. In an alpine setting like Park City, your best bet is to utilize cooler palettes because of their ability to mirror the tones found in that landscape by reflecting the skyline with colors like navy, slate gray, dusty blue and sage green.” However, if a couple is opting to tie the knot in the desert, I would suggest exploring warmer tones that can be found in our red rock desert and fiery sunsets.”

Find more colorful inspiration here.

Your wedding day is a celebration overflowing with love, and a touch of romance captured with European flair is perfectly apropos—even in Utah’s scenic mountains. Sarah Tucker, owner of Marae Events, offers her tips and tricks for bringing European style to your stateside affair.

TABLE YOUR TONE

Tucker creates an alfresco tablescape where classic European design meets contemporary details. In the center of the table, asymmetrical floral arrangements flow from rustic ceramic vases which fill the space between taupe-toned taper candles. Atop the white ceramic plates rest earthy raw paper menus featuring deckled edges and a minimalistic font, reminiscent of the invitation suite. Rounding out each guest’s display, persimmons sit upon each setting, adding an unexpected, fresh pop of vibrant orange. The star of the show is the base layer upon which each vignette is perched: textured, lacy table linens which provide visual interest and meld the tablescape’s modern elements with its traditional roots. 

CAST YOUR COLORWAY

With soft pinks, peaches and greens, this celebration is rooted in romance. “We opted for predominantly delicate tones,” Tucker explains. “Then, we used unexpected shades like black, orange and yellow for vibrant pops that provided contrast in the styling.” Decorating with both fruits and flowers offers both color and texture to a design. “Use of varying textures can breathe life into an event,” says Tucker. “Utilizing a wide range of textiles such as velvet, linen and silk can create optical and tactile intrigue in a party’s design.”

PAINT A PICTURE

Tucker breathes enchanting European countryside style to River Bottoms Ranch by creating assorted vignettes throughout the property. Using both indoor and outdoor spaces, Tucker makes the expansive venue feel cozy and intimate by creating individually defined scenes. For example, the ceremony is set in front of grand barn doors left open to frame a panoramic view of the mountains. The cocktail hour is held just beyond the ceremony doors, overlooking the pond, and the reception welcomes with a conversation area created from collected furnishings gathered beneath an open air pavilion. “You want your guests to feel comfortable moving throughout the space,” Tucker says. “When you thoughtfully create each scene, your guests will be able to discern where they should be and when, and they will enjoy the time spent at each individual locale.”

FAWN OVER YOUR FLORA

“Decoration Inc. created an Italian-inspired environment with a bouquet and arrangements compiling several varieties of roses, ranunculus, daisies, peonies and vines,” says Tucker. “And, the bride’s loose bouquet was held together with long streamers of hand-dyed silk ribbon that added a delicate, feminine touch to the overflowing collection of botanicals.” 

THE TEAM

Venue: River Bottoms Ranch
Photography: Pepper Nix and Logan Walker
Videography: Jared Wortley Films
Planning & Design: Marae Events
Florist: Decoration Inc.
Tabletop: Wild Event Studio
Linens: Marae Events
Lounge Rentals: Vault Event Rentals
Chair Rentals: Modern Display
Cake & Cheeseboard: The Blended Table
Hair & MakeUp: Janelle Ingram
Gown: The Bridal Studio
Gown Designer: Lian Rokman
Jewelry: O.C. Tanner Jewelers
Groom’s Suit: The Ritz Tuxedos
Paper Goods: Ann Elizabeth Print Studio
Detail Styling: Saucy and Kitsch
Models: Shelby H., Miles F., NIYA Models

Looking for more inspiration? Start here.