This year’s Pantone Colour of the Year has seen a bold shift from the Greenery of 2017 to the deep and enigmatic Ultra Violet 18-3838. This deep and vibrant shade of purple is ideal for couples who are creative, a little quirky and like to test their boundaries! With its spiritual qualities, the colour purple often has a calming and destressing effect (great for those last minute wedding nerves), as well as being uplifting (so a wonderful colour to have for a party), and it combines perfectly with the tropical tones of a destination island wedding as our most recent Forever Lovestruck couple, Steph and Brad, discovered when they opted for Ultra Violet as their key wedding colour.

Check out our suggestions on how to incorporate your chosen wedding colour theme into you BIG day:

1. Invitations
Set the tone of your wedding right from the start and give your guests a hint of what to expect. Opt for purple florals, a bold all-purple invitation with gold or silver writing, or why not go for purple ink on a crisp, white background.

Photo source: www.graceandbramble.co.uk

Photo source:  Design House of Maria

2. Signage
Pointing your guests in the right direction, welcoming them, letting them know where they’re going to sit, telling them about your signature cocktail or setting up a Remembrance table for a cherished family member all require signage. From wood to chalkboard to perspex, there are plenty of options to incorporate your chosen colour with paint, chalk, ink and florals.

Photo source:  Red Sparrow Photography 

Photo source: Z Create Design

3. Florals
Whether you’ve decided on monochrome, a splash of white and green, or various complimentary hues, your florals are going to set the tone for how much, or little, of your chosen colour you’re going to inject into your BIG day.  From the bouquets, flower arch, pinholes and table pieces, you’ve got plenty of classic and tropical purple flowers to choose from, like our recent bride who chose dark and light purple roses for her monochrome bouquet.

A Forever Lovestruck Wedding | Photo credit:  Anne Sophie Maestracci

4. Ribbons, Sashes and Fabrics
A simple, yet effective way to continue your chosen colour through each element of your wedding is to add co-ordinating ribbons to parasols, petal cones, bouquets, flower girl baskets and chair sashes.  For a really dramataic effect why not use your chosen colour for your wedding arch fabric to create that WOW factor.

A Forever Lovestruck Wedding | Photo credit:  Anne Sophie Maestracci

5. Here Comes the Bride 
For many brides, their colour pop comes from their bouquet. If you’re selecting a white/ivory/pale pastel gown, you’ve got a surprising number of options to add colour, whether you’re looking for subtle and understated to going the whole hog with a coloured wedding dress.Add a coloured bridal belt, underskirt or footwear for an elegant yet subtle hint of colour; a bejewelled fastener or brooch, coloured ribbons for corseted dresses or a waterfall of fabric flowers can add flair and fun to the rear of your dress; for those wanting more than a splash of colour, crystals, appliques and lace will make a stronger statement: or how about colour popping your veil or opting for a flower crown or fascinator as an alternative.

Photo source:  Melissa McClure Photography  

Photo source:  Paula O’Hara Photography 

6. Bridesmaids Dresses
With a plethora of designs, hues and patterns available, adorning your bridesmaids in dresses that both coordinate with your chosen colour theme and suit their sense of style will bring an additional layer of sophistication, charm and fun to your wedding. While monochrome is the most popular choice for bridesmaids’ dresses, don’t be afraid to go all out with coordinating hues, patterns or even a gown that colour-matches your wedding dress with the addition of an accent of your chosen colour, e.g. ribbon waistband, accessories, footwear and florals.

Photo credit:  Richard B Flores 

7. Ties and Socks
These are definitely two items we rarely see at destination weddings. So where else can you introduce colour for your groom (and groomsmen)?  Your groom may be confident wearing a purple outfit, and for sure there are some who would suit Ultra Violet, but for those wanting a toned-down look, why not try a complimentary colour (like a blue-grey) with the pop of colour provided by a linen shirt, coloured belt or buttonhole if you’re going for the relaxed tropical beach look; or ties, kerchiefs and cufflinks for a more formal look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Signature Cocktail
Get a creative mixologist on board to conjure up a sophisticated signature cocktail that teams your favourite tipple with your chosen colour. Don’t worry if you’re thinking a purple cocktail may be a little overboard; instead opt for purple candy-striped paper straws, flowers and fruit to tie it into your scheme.

 

How adorable is this idea?!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo source:  The Natural Wedding Company 

9. Menus and name cards
Whether you’re going down the professional or DIY route with menus and name cards, there are so many opportunities to incorporate your chosen colour with coloured card and paper, ink, flower stems, ribbon, glitter, watercolours, tags, pegs, straws – the only limit is your imagination!

Photo source:  Etsy | Fox and Heart

Photo source:  Tammy Hughes Photography 

10. Tableware and Centrepieces
While some venues may be able to provide coloured plates and glasses, don’t assume they can, particularly if you’re having a far-flung destination wedding – this may be a challenge too far for your wedding planner.  However, fear not! There are plenty of simpler and more cost effective ways to continue your colour scheme through to your reception. Of course, your centrepieces add colour, style and elegance for the reception, whether you’re selecting florals or even a tropical fruit basket   if you’ve chosen a destination wedding.  Coloured linens are a simple way to add your chosen colour to your tablescape; opt for just the table runners or napkins for a hint, or go all-in with table cloths as well!

Photo source: Tracy Enoch Photography 

11. Wedding Cake Decoration
Whatever the shape, size, design or wedding cake alternative you’ve chosen, purple is an appetizing and tempting colour that can be found in many cakes, desserts and sweets… but it is probably one of the most difficult colours to ‘get right’ in regards to baking so be sure to provide your baker/caterer with a colour swatch. In fact, give it to everyone you think will need it!

Photo source:  Sharon Wee Creations 

And if all these ideas aren’t enough to get your creative juices flowing, we‘re delighted to tell you that one of our recent weddings here on Koh Tao incorporated this bold and vibrant colour. We’ll be posting our pro shots in the coming weeks, so be sure to keep your eyed peeled to get inspiration and ideas for your wedding!