Bright Ideas: A Yellow Wedding Color Palette

We know what you’re thinking. Yellow for a wedding? How tacky?

Set those reservations aside, because that’s not quite, when done right.

The brightest hue on the color spectrum stands for happiness—and that’s an emotion no nearly wed should reject.

For our “Color Me Pretty” wedding gown shoot, honing in on five particular color schemes for a wedding at Callaway Winery, we let the florals be the focal point of our yellow pages, going beyond humdrum sunflowers and instead reworking bouquets into arrangements in other ways. Leis and even a spear, anyone? Green Fresh Florals + Plants pulled off both and then some.

But the biggest trick of all to pull off this vibrant vision is balance, pairing yellow petals with dried leaves and also one of the hottest wedding trends of the season… pampas grass.

And Callaway Winery, with its natural backdrop—the vineyard’s dirt “floor”!—tones down any overly bright details. The tablescape, too, is steeped in more muted shades, with linens from BBJ Linen and rentals belonging to Borrowed Blu and Catalog Atelier, as seen in those white chargers, plates, glassware, and ceramics.

Take it all in, and all that’s left to look at is why we’re here from the start: a jaw-dropping dress. And here, we have three that pair best with our color palette: Sarah Seven’s “Cabana” gown, with lace spanning the tip of the train to the top of the high neckline; Willowby’s “Rhapsody” gown, long-sleeved and sheen; and that double slit, a-line, gold lace gown by the talented Crystal Noelle, exclusively at Archive Bridal.

Above: Sarah Seven “Cabana” gown, The Dress Theory; (left hand) yellow diamond “Lady Louise” ring, “Classic Trillion” engagement ring, and white diamond “Headdress” jacket, (right hand) “Seven Stars” nesting ring, pear solitaire engagement ring, and “Divine Triangle” ring, Marrow Fine

Above: Willowby “Rhapsody” gown, Archive Bridal; butterfly earrings, The Dress Theory; “Everyday Triangle” ring, “Everyday Thin” band, “Vintage Lace” band, and “Hand-carved Geo Everyday” band, Marrow Fine

Above: Crystal Noelle double-slit, a-line, gold lace gown; Archive Bridal, (left hand) “Champagne Headdress” engagement ring and “August Rose” band, (right hand) “Emerald Seven Stars” nesting ring, “Crescent Moon Signet” ring, and “Emerald City” bezel ring, Marrow Fine