Black & White Wedding Inspiration
A classic, chic colour combination that will continue to re-surface year after year, a black and white wedding theme is as timeless as it is elegant. While this colour scheme is reminiscent of Art Deco weddings from the 1920s, this scheme is bolder and more “traditional” in the modern sense of the word.
When we think of a “traditional” bride in contemporary terms, we imagine a bride with a full white wedding gown and pinned up hair. Cradling a bouquet of red and white roses, she glides up the aisle to her clean-cut, tuxedo adorned groom. Certainly, the current version of “tradition” has changed over the years, but this monochromatic scheme has been accepted as the classic option for any bride wanted to conform to ceremonial wedding fashion.
While this may seem boring to some, this popular scheme can be tweaked and adjusted to provide personality. If you’re looking for a way to shake up what you would otherwise like to be a very traditional wedding, introducing a hint of vintage will both honour the timelessness of the colour scheme and also add a bit of character.
Black and White Bride from Tumblr | Rose Bouquet from Blooms by Martha Andrews | Pearl and Ribbon Necklace from Casamoda | Black and White Vintage Peony Soy Candle Favours from Creature Comforts | Black, White and Gold Menu from Oh So Beautiful Paper | Black and White Striped Shoes from Style Me Pretty | Black and White Wedding Cake from Sweetapolita
Well, this wouldn’t be a classic black and white wedding scheme if there was no white! Pure White can be incorporated into your wedding scheme through the colour of your wedding dress, as a prominent colour of your bridal bouquet (white roses being a great choice for a classic bride) and / or as the colour of your bridesmaids’ shoes. But these may all seems a little obvious and, certainly, Pure White can also be employed across your theme in ways that are slightly more subtle.
Consider decking your reception hall with scented white candles. The scent will not only add to the romantic atmosphere of blossoming love, but it will also tie your guests to the memory of your wedding through a subtle scent. To add to the aroma, you could also present each of your bridesmaids with a heady bouquet of white roses, including some that are in full bloom and others that are still shy little buds.
Metallic Gold will add an extra shimmer of class to your classic wedding. Just make sure that you use it sparingly… As we all know, classy metallics can quickly turn into trashy sweet-wrapper…
Interesting ways to include this trend might involve you donning gold shoes, using gold ribbon throughout your wedding table setting, or pinning your classic updo together with vintage inspired gold hair accessories. You may also want to include a thread of Metallic Gold in your groom’s boutonniere and the handle of your bridal bouquet. Let’s face it, doing so will only make your beautiful gold wedding rings shine that little bit brighter.
Gold Metallic Shoes from Gucci
We all need a dash of colour to keep the creative juices flowing. I, for one, could not bear a wedding that was decorated through and through with black and white. An hour in, my eyes would be roaming the room for a splash of colour. In fact, I would probably end up staring at the dessert for a couple of hours as opposed to eating it. So, a dash of Rose Red is both necessary and also a classic addition to the monochrome wedding scheme.
Incorporate this daring red into your wedding bouquet of classic red and white roses. Add in a bit of green foliage and possibly a peach or pink rose here and there to create a shabby chic look. If you’re going for a clean-cut and traditional black and white wedding theme, you might want to ignore this advice and go for a classic mix of perfect red and white roses. Aside from your bouquet, you can also add a coating of Rose Red to your lips and to the flower arrangements adorning your table.
Set to divide, adding Liquorice Black into any wedding scheme is a bold move. Bear in mind, it wasn’t until the 1920s that the LBD was popularised by Coco Chanel. During this decade, wearing black was slowly accepted as day fashion, having been a traditional colour of mourning popularised by the Victorians. Nonetheless, Liquorice Black is a daring, yet necessary move to completing your black and white wedding ensemble.
I am quick to add that I do feel the monochrome theme can get a little extreme, with a lot of black being used. I, for one, would NEVER dress bridesmaids in LBDs, but that doesn’t mean you can’t! I would be more inclined to include Liquorice Black in subtle ways, such as an elegant black ribbon tie to a pearl necklace and fun black chalkboards for guests to draw on.
Juxtaposing white and black together in a classic monochrome mix is the best way to go about this vintage inspired wedding scheme. So, without further ado, below are some fun, daring and oh-so beautiful ways to blend the two together.
Chalkboard Save The Date Card from Nostalgic Imprints | Monochrome Vintage Style Umbrella from Style Me Pretty | Black and White Thank You Card from Ruffled
