Today we are delighted to introduce a really interesting blog post, written by the highly talented Vaishali, UKAWP Wedding Supplier Member and owner of Ananya Cards, explaining the meaning behind today’s top wedding stationery colours…..

1. Rose Quartz

One of Pantone’s blend of colours for 2016, Rose Quartz is already showing signs of being a big hit in 2016. A soft shade of pink, Rose Quartz, also sometimes called the Heart Stone, with its gentle pink essence is said to represent unconditional love. It carries a soft feminine energy of compassion and peace, tenderness and healing, nourishment and comfort. It is the perfect colour for a spring wedding; think of trees bursting with cherry blossoms. This exuberance can be beautifully conveyed through wedding stationery, giving it a romantic, fairy tale feeling throughout the whole suite of stationery, from invitations to thank you notes.

2. Serenity

The other colour in Pantone’s blend of colours for 2016 is Serenity – a soft shade of light blue. Representing tranquillity, peace and harmony, it is also said to represent trust, honesty and a sense of security. It is a wonderful stationery colour for an outdoor spring or summer wedding…imagine table numbers and place names in Serenity with lavender in bouquets or on the table at a wedding…calming, soothing and so summery!

Shades of blue have been increasingly demanded by brides – they are highly adaptable to one’s style preference; royal and navy blue can give a regal, sophisticated look, and lighter shades like teal and sky blue can give a summery look for nature lovers. Combine with white, yellow or green for a fresh, crisp look, or metallic for sophistication and glamour.

3. Indigo

Indigo is seeing a great surge in popularity and will continue to be a big hit in 2016. It is a combination of deep blue and violet. Deep shades like indigo, royal and navy blue can give a regal, sophisticated look to wedding stationery. Great with metallics, such as silver and gold, Indigo looks equally stylish with colours such as yellow, green or white. For a fresh summery look, lighter shades of blue such as teal and turquoise look chic when pared with Indigo.

Indigo is said to represent dependability, trustworthiness and sincerity, and therefore makes an ideal colour for weddings and wedding stationery. It is a spiritual colour and derives its name from the Indigo dye from the Indigo plant, found in India.

It is said to represent the 3^rd eye (for intuition and creativity) in the Indian Chakra system that represents energy centres in the body.

4. Botanically Inspired

Flowers big and small, boldly coloured or delicately hued; fancy ferns, lush green vines curling and twining – nature has truly captured our hearts. Brides now prefer nature as more wild and organic, in a range of moods from rustic and earthy to flamboyant and dazzling.

Shades of green represent nature, ecology, harmony, peace, growth and fertility – in most western cultures green denotes luckand money. Green in your wedding colours will create a calming and restful moodwith enough warmth to encourage a feeling of unity and togetherness among the guests. The more rustic and earthy tones represent stability, reliability and being grounded and down to earth.

5. Mesmerising Metallics

The use of all metallic colours will continue to flourish, especially gold, silver and copper. However, the ascent of rose gold with its soft glow has definitely caught the imagination of the fashion world, and this is being adapted into the world of wedding stationery. With its versatility, equally stunning when combined with deep, rich colours such as claret, burgundy or even purple, as well as soft pastels such as peach, blush pink and grey, rose gold is sure to cast its spell in 2016.

Gold conveys confidence and magnetism. It is the colour of success, achievement and triumph. It creates a mood of luxury and quality, elegance, extravagance, optimism and happiness.

Silver has a feminine energy; it is related to the moon and the ebb and flow of the tides – it is fluid, emotional, sensitive and mysterious, soothing, calming and purifying. Silver in your stationery colours will create a mood of elegance and femininity.

6. Monochrome Magic

Gorgeous, elegant and classy; monochrome wedding stationery is hugely on trend. Whether it’s black and white monochrome or black and champagne, which is a warmer and richer tone than white and has a somewhat vintage flavour, monochrome wedding stationery is sure to make a huge impact.

Black is a colour of power and control, prestige, sophistication and dignity. Using it in wedding stationery will create a mood of elegance, protection and mystery.

White is a colour in its purest form, representing innocence, wholeness and perfection. It is the blank canvas waiting to be written upon. Using white in your wedding stationery will create a mood of peace and comfort.

Of course, you are not restricted to black and white. Any variation of shades of the same colour can be monochrome. It helps to add depth to the overall look of the stationery.

7. Pops of Colour

For those who like the monochrome colour scheme but want to add a little extra something, accents of bright, bold colours to highlight certain details on the stationery fit the bill perfectly. Vibrant colours such as purple or emerald green or even orange on an otherwise black and white invitation create the desired impact without making the invite overwhelming. Details such as the date, time and venue all benefit from an injection of colour. These pops of colour could be carried through the whole suite of stationery to provide cohesion and harmony.

Orange is an uplifting, optimistic, positive colour, which exudes warmth and happiness. Orange/saffron is an auspicious in Hinduism.  Purple has been associated with royalty, nobility and prestige. It can symbolise mystery, magic, power and luxury. Emerald green is a healing, calming and nurturing colour.

8. Jewel Tones

For the ultimate in sumptuous opulence, the use of jewel tones transforms the stationery into a statement piece. Jewel tones of ruby red for passion and energy, emerald green for nature and nurture, sapphire blue for calm and cool, as well as magenta for inspiration and imagination. And not forgetting the much loved metallics like gold for confidence and magnetism, silver for a feminine mysterious touch, and rose gold for warmth – these metallics never fail to steal the show.

Adding a sprinkling of embellishments – pearls for a soft romantic glow, or diamanté will create an eye catching sparkle. Use colours that match the wedding outfit.

9. Blush Nude

For those that are after a soft, dreamy and romantic effect, the blush nude look is perfect. A warmer colour than white or cream, blush nude is the epitome of femininity without being too girly. Blush nude is versatile and can be paired with other soft and muted tones to give more depth and a wider palette to work with on wedding invites.

Ideal with a lacy, intricate design, it can be further enhanced with a touch of gold, silver or other metallic detail to add texture and depth. For some extra glamour, add embellishments such as crystals or pearls to make the stationery sparkle with elegance.

The blush nude look can also be combined with other muted tones such as pink, light mauve, lavender or blue for a chic and refined look.

All the tones that fall in this category represent a sense of calmness, serenity, femininity, harmony and comfort.

10. Destination Co-ordinated Colours

Destination weddings are on the rise, and have been the ideal solution for those with a limited budget or for those who want to tie the knot at their favourite destination and give a special treat to their invitees. The colour chosen will depend on the destination environment. A beach destination can have blue to represent the blue sky or an earthy, sandy tone to represent the sand. A lush tropical destination can incorporate greens, golds and bursts of intense colour to represent the rich flora and fauna. Textures can also add impact and depth to the stationery.