Happy new week, brideys! We’re almost at the end of our ‘something blue’ journey, and I actually have a brand new blue inspiration board to share with you later today, but first I thought I would round up 10 of my favourites from the archives. There’s a whole range of styles and combinations from elegant to beachy here, but what they share is an anchor shade from the cool blue range. Whether you decide to mix your blue with similar shades and keep things cool and beautiful, or pair them with a hot bright shade so that the colour really pops, you pretty much can’t go wrong! Which is your favourite?
Top row (l-r): Ballerina bride {Archetype}; blue & gold table decor {KT Merry/Joy Proctor}; individual cakes {Alicia Pyne Photography/Sugary And Chic Cake Boutique} | Row 2: Cake with coloured candles {Warm Photo/Special Day}; flower girl in lace crown {Whitney Neal Photography}; gold candyfloss | Row 3: Tent breakout area {Jemma Keech/Cathrin D’Entremont Weddings}; gold shoes {Marissa Lambert Photography/Jimmy Choo}; foiled pear placecard {Weddings By Sasha}; blue bridesmaid dresses {Elizabeth Henson Photos}
Gosh but I love this one! The mix of powder blue, sand and glorious gold, has a fairytale feel without the froufrou-ness of pink – perfect for a modern princess bride. There’s a touch of vintage/antique style here, offset by the soft textures and the glamorous metallics – love!
Top row (l-r): Blue & white floral invitation {Minted}; portrait lace back dress {Clinton Lotter}; china plates {Steve Steinhardt/Beth Helmstetter Events} | Row 2: Blue cake {Add a Pinch}; powder blue bridesmaid dresses {The Great Romance/Belsoie}; hydrangea centrepiece {Stacey Brandford} | Row 3: Berry bouquet {Sleepy Fox Photography}; white shoes {Jen Huang Photography/Manolo Blahnik}; blue flowergirl dress
This board (a big reader fave) is another great example of how to combine modern sense with vintage sensibility. A clean white backdrop with pops of cobalt blue and a touch of powder blue creates a feeling of space and light, with a blue china motif and a touch of lace for romance.
Top row (l-r): Barn setting {Andi Mans Photography & Design/Blush by Brandee Gaar}; bridesmaid with red bouquet {Elizabeth Messina/Elizabeth Messina}; blue and white meringues {Jennifer Hejna Photography}; wedding dress {Jose Villa} | Row 2: Raspberries; cutlery {Alea Lovely}; bouquet {Ashley Slater Photography/Spring Sweet}; red shoes {Elizabeth Messina}; blue flowers | Row 3: Bride & groom {Laura Murray Photography/Love This Day Events}; red getaway car {Jon Duenas Photography}; place setting {Millie Holloman Photography/Salt Harbor Designs}; blue invitation {Jose Villa /Linea Carta}
Blue and red are a classic primary combination. but to avoid looking like a Fourth of July themed bash, try mixing baby blue with bright punches of scarlet – a fun twist on a rustic wedding design.
Top row (l-r): Invitation suite {Beaux Arts Photographie}; bride {Sonya Khegay}; bridesmaids {Brett Heidebrecht} | Row 2: Grey suit {Loren Routhier}; bridesmaids {Perez Photography/The French Connection}; place setting {Lizelle Lotter}; cake {Brooke Allison Photography} | Row 3: Bride & groom {The McCartneys Photography}; bouquet {Kali Leenstra/Katy Grifiths/Flora Nova Design}; cocktails {Lizelle Lotter}
Navy and grey just look so great together, especially with a little touch of sandy beige. You get the crispness of the preppy blue, along with the layering of the other neutrals and the end result is three-dimensional prettiness. Perfect for the preppy bride and groom!
Top row (l-r): Bride & groom {Studio 1208/Amy Nichols Special Events}; watercolour invitation {Rad + In Love/Sitting in a Tree/Pitbulls & Posies}; driftwood table plan {Brooke Boling/Maureen Koo}; mussel wedding cake {Alexander James Photography/Pearl & Godiva} | Row 2: Bride {Theresa Furey Photography/Wedding Sparrow}; table setting {Sean Money + Elizabeth Fay}; starfish with rings {Corinna Raznikov} | Row 3: Bridesmaids in grey {Belathee Photography/Matthew Robbins Design}; coral centrepiece {jose villa/joy thigpen}; sand dollar invitations {Concertina Press}; beach tablescape {jose villa/joy thigpen}
This beachy wedding inspiration just sweeps me up like the tide. I love the mix of blues, from indigo to soft grey-blue, combined with beach textures – driftwood, coral, shell. It’s the kind of laid-back elegance that rustic style is really all about.
Top row (l-r): Bouquet {Lisa Vorce/Kate Holt/Jose Villa}; bride {Virgil Bunao/Ooh Events}; monogram handkerchief {Bella Grace Studios/Allure Events}; shoes {Graham Terhune Photography} | Row 2: Wedgwood cookies; bridesmaids {Emily Steffen}; dress with monogram embroidery | Row 3: Invitation suite; wedding table {Carmen & Ingo/Doreen Winking}; flowers.
Instead of a blue on white china pattern how about the other way around? Classic Wedgwood is not only a beautiful colour, but an elegant base for your entire wedding inspiration. So pretty.
Top row (l-r): Place setting {Cheryl McEwan/SouthBound Bride}; bride with veil {Erich Mcvey}; bouquet {Jessica Burke Photography} | Row 2: Bridesmaid with bouquet {Luna Photo/Alchemy Fine Events/Krista Jon}; toile envelope liner {Katie Stoops/Pyramid Atlantic}; blueberry garland {Love Life Studios} | Row 3: Blueberry cocktail {Graze}; cake with blueberries {Karenanna Cakes/Anneli Marinovich/b.loved}; bride with flower {This Modern Romance/Gatherings by Stacie}; bridesmaids {Lane Dittoe Photographer}
Yet another pretty use of pattern as motif (you can tell I love it, right?) – this time, toile du jouy. This French classic never goes out of style, and I think it’s especially lovely for a summer wedding when combined with a softer aqua and strawberry hues.
Top row (l-r): peach wedding dress {Cluney Photo }; duck egg blue bridesmaids {Veil and Bow}; blue ruffle cake {Sweet & Saucy Shop}; peach cocktail {Cookie + Kate} | Row 2: Bread roll place card {Martha Stewart}; marmalade favour {Tink Photography}; thumb print guest tree {Verity Stubbs/Ginger and Mint Photography/Christina Prochazka/Chrisp Pictures}; bell favours {Beaux Arts Photographie} | Row 3: Bride & groom {Melanie Wessels}; silhouette letterpress {Farrell and Chase}; peach shoes {Insight Creative/Carbine Avenue}
This is an older one from our archives that we’ve given a rework because the colour combination is just so pretty! Soft peach and duck egg blue, combined with ruffles and a few whimsical touches, and hey presto! You have a whole lotta wedding pretty.
Top row (l-r): Shoes {Jennifer Laura Design/Val & Sarah}; cake {Fiona Kelly/Always Andri Wedding Design}; copper crockery; bridesmaids {Corbin Gurkin Photography/Loluma} | Row 2: Groomsmen in blue suits {Corbin Gurkin Photography/Loluma}; diamond ring; invitation suite {Kristen Weaver Photography/An Affair To Remember/9th Letter Press} | Row 3: Blue dress; cobalt vases; bridesmaid with corsage {Mr Haack/Jesi Haack}; hydrangea centrepiece {Docuvitae/Kourtney James Perry}
Leaving the softer blues behind for a moment, we’re loving this dramatic cobalt blue combined with fabulous copper, our can-do-no-wrong metallic. Formal, glamorous, a tiny bit vintage, and altogether amazing, this board has a sophisticated European feel that we love.
Top row (l-r): Rings & denim {Levi Strauss}; bride with bridesmaids {Erin Hearts Court}; bowtie escort cards {Martha Stewart} | Row 2: Purple shoes {Lillian & Leonard}; letterpress invitation {S: Cynthia Warren}; cocktails with fresh berries {P: The Nichols Photography; S: The Nouveau Romantics}; chalkboard menu {P: Lauren Wakefield Photography}; groom in demin suit {P: Tec Petaja} | Row 3: Outdoor table with strings of lights {P: Jimena Roquero Weddings; C: KOMODO Producciones}; bride and groom with bougainvillea {P: Tec Petaja}; denim-style napkin {P: Olivia Leigh Photographie}
Finally, there’s a combination of an unexpected wedding fabric, denim (and you know we love an unexpected texture!), together with pretty berry tones. I love how this mix is just a little bit funky – a fun take on a great colour combo, especially for an autumn or winter wedding.
Top image: Anouschka Rokebrand/Styled by Louise/DON FLORITO on SouthBound Bride