Colour can be used effectively in a number of
ways – frommake-up, to dressing the wedding
party and wedding venue. It evokes emotion,
and will have an impact not only the theme,
but also the feel of your special day.
Colours should enhance your natural features – this
can be achieved by following some simple steps, whatever
your theme.
Work out if you have a ‘warm’ or ‘cool’ complexion. A
typical ‘cool’ is someone with platinum blonde, mousey
brown or black hair with a pink toned skin or dark black
skin and pale blue or very dark eyes. A typical ‘warm’ is
someone with red or rich brown tones to the hair, freckles,
creamy or olive skin and green, brown or hazel eyes.
Cool complexions suit the current futuristic trend,
which includes diamonds, classic white or black fabrics
and feathers. To add depth and drama, these can be
complemented with a strong jewel colour, such as royal
blue, yellow, purple or hot pink.
If you have dark skin, a light reflective primer and silver
shimmer on eyes or nails (or lips if you want to make a
statement!) will enhance your natural features and make
the eyes look bright.
For more mature skin, which tends to be drier, use a
tinted moisturiser and cream blusher with a pink base, as
powders can sit unevenly on the face. A berry coloured lip-
liner and moisturising berry lipstick will give a fuller lip
look that lasts.
Warm complexions suit the rich floral trend with
heavy, sumptuous fabrics. Think WilliamMorris style bold
patterns and Russian florals in autumnal and golden
shades. Medieval-style jewellery and gemstones such as
amber accompany the look.
This look works with a fuller eyebrow and sleek hair.
Apply pale eyeshadow on the inner eye and darker shades
such as a bronze on the outer eye to open up it up. Having
eyebrows and eyelashes tinted before your big day will
give you perfect brows and lashes throughout the
wedding and beyond into the honeymoon.
What if members of your wedding party have
completely different complexions? Choose colours that
are not too harsh or too soft that will suit most people,
such as magenta and navy or autumn and winter 2015
trends like teal and juniper berry. A metallic accent such as
pewter or rose gold suits most skin types.
If you want to use a range of colours that either clash or
come from the same colour palette (I suggest no more than
four colours), accent these only in wedding stationery, table
decorations or other accessories such as jewellery.
Bridesmaids, ushers and flowers do not have to
‘match’ – so don’t worry about endlessly taking your
napkins to every dress shop to tie them in exactly! Select
colours that complement the shades in your colour
palette, as you would if you were accessorising a room in
your home.
Colour statements can bring a wedding theme
together and make a memorable day. However, remember
not to just follow a trend because it is popular. It is your
personal choice that should represent you, so that you feel
comfortable and relaxed on your wedding day.
Jennifer Barnes-Hill teaches professional courses in colour
analysis and beauty therapies,
86 » pink weddings magazine
Wedding design
Jennifer Barnes-Hill talks
about finding the right
hues for you…
colours
True
‘Colour statements
can bring a wedding
theme together and
make a memorable
day. However,
remember not to just
follow a trend
because it is popular.’
