Besides choosing the location or destination of a bride and groom's special day, the choice of color theme the wedding is one of the biggest decisions that the couple will make. For some couples this choice is very personal, while others choose a color theme based on the season, or to coordinate with the wedding venue. Regardless of how you come to a decision on what colors your wedding will include, make sure that you like them, because you will see them everywhere by the time you are married.

Considering the amount of details in planning a wedding, it is important to think carefully about what colors you want to use. In the midst of finalizing the guest list, choosing a tuxedo or wedding gown and choosing a location, a color theme for the wedding must be decided upon as well. While bright or bold colors may be your first choice, they may look garish if your wedding is taking place in a small church. Washed out pastels may seem romantic, but if your wedding is outdoors in the middle of a sunny afternoon, the colors may seem to disappear. While you should definitely choose colors that you love, think of how they will look on your wedding day.

Personalize the details

Everyone expects the bridesmaids' dresses and the flowers to reflect the color theme of your wedding, but what about the invitations? Extending the color theme to the invitations can be a subtle way to personalize the occasion. Wedding invitations are customized by font and card design. Some couples choose to add a photograph as well. Integrating the color theme of the wedding is another way to personalize your wedding.

The color theme for your wedding can be extended to the invitations in several ways. You can have the fonts and colors printed with one of your wedding colors. The cardstock can be one of the colors. If your invitations have any ribbon or other trim, such as inside the envelope, it can be the color or colors you have chosen for your theme. Due to the small size of the invitation, as opposed to flower arrangements or table decorations, it is important to consider how the colors will look together. It is easy to make the invitations look too busy or overwhelming if the colors contrast too much or they are too bold.

How much is too much?

There are some things to keep in mind when making the decision to extend your color theme to the invitations. By keeping these tips in mind, your invitations can be a great representation of you and your fiancé as a couple.

• Choose the color carefully. You want the invitation to be a beautiful expression of your love, so keep it simple. One color for fonts is usually sufficient, anything more is difficult to pull off and retain an elegant feel.
• Consider your cardstock. If one of your wedding colors is pale, such as cream, sea foam green or lavender, you may want to choose that color for your cardstock. If there are no pale colors in your wedding colors, you may want to veer away from your colors when choosing the cardstock. Choose a neutral card that will go well with your color theme. While a dark cardstock can have an impact, it is normally difficult to read invitations that were printed on darker colors.
• Ribbons and bows. Yes, they are a popular addition to invitations. Should they be the same color as your font, or another color? If you have chosen colors that coordinate well, you can have a different color ribbon and font. If you are unsure, using the same color is always a safe choice.
Many couples as themselves: Is it necessary to extend your wedding's color theme into your wedding invitation? No, black fonts on ivory cardstock is still appropriate. If you want to extend your color theme to your invitations, however, you will not be the only bride and groom to do so. New technology, as well as the desire many of us have for personalized events, makes extending your color theme through the invitations a fun and very popular choice.

Unlike bridesmaid dresses, flowers, wedding favors and other wedding accruements, invitations are lasting memories, not only for you, but for all of your guests. For this reason alone, personalizing them with your choice of wedding colors is an excellent idea. By considering carefully how you apply each color, using the colors in moderation, and checking that the colors still allow you to easily read the invitation, you can be confident that your wedding invitation will be a keepsake for years to come.