Despite its gain in popularity over the last couple of years, grey still doesn’t get a lot of love when it comes to wedding day color palettes. But we want to change that! Charcoal grey is classic and sophisticated and when it is used as an accent color, it has the ability to elevate just about any color palette from weak to chic! Not convinced? These 5 pretty color schemes might just change your mind.

Pink and grey, is there any prettier color combo? Too much pink can get a little saccharin at times, but throw in a little charcoal grey for contrast and it balances everything out beautifully.

Pulling off a really colorful palette without it feeling like a child’s birthday party can be difficult. Adding some charcoal grey as an accent color, however, will give it that sophisticated edge you’re looking for while still keeping things fun and festive.

Words cannot describe how obsessed we are with this color palette. Contemporary, clean, and slightly masculine, it’s a perfect alternative for anyone averse to more traditional and feminine wedding colors.

Charcoal grey is a moody hue and pairs well with the equally moody jewel tones and rich plummy purples happening in this color scheme.

This is probably the most unconventional color palette of the bunch, but we can’t help but love the dark muted colors and the romance of it. The key to successfully puling it off is to throw in lots of off-white to keep the color scheme from looking too dark and dreary for such a celebratory occasion.

Photo one: greenweddingshoes.com; Photo two: etsy.com; Photo three: michellebablo.com; Photo four: thenouveauromantics.com; Photo five: greenweddingshoes.com

For a nautical inspired wedding, navy and white stripes in your decor are all you need to achieve the look. Stripes look great for the main color palette, or as a base for accent colors such as fuchsia or coral. This theme is of course ideal for a beach wedding but can also give a summery atmosphere to other venues.

Think beyond the plain bridesmaid dresses and opt for a bold strapless dress. Your bridesmaids will thank you for choosing a dress that they can wear after the wedding too.

A stunning navy and white cake adds a graphic element and some flair to a tiered cake.

A glimpse of these nautical shoes can also double up as your something blue if you’re looking to modernize a wedding tradition.

A striped runner with a scattering of seaside decorations is definitely in keeping with the theme and is also a great way to DIY your centerpieces.

If you’re into subtle decor then you can still incorporate stripes by having striped ribbon at the top of your vases.

Gold is such a lovely color to pair with navy and white and transforms it into an elegant affair.

A simple ribbon can make all the difference to a white cake!

To really emphasize the summer mood, individual floral arrangements in bright tones will leave your guests feeling positively joyful. A striped invitation is a statement piece but as navy and white is such a classic pairing, it still looks understated.

We are envisioning a DIY project with these vases! Two pieces of navy ribbon on a white vase is all you need to recreate some simple stripes. If you’re stuck with plain chairs from your venue, these cute bows will add some oomph. The navy in the tablecloth will stand out even more when paired with other blues such as a cobalt bottle and indigo table number.

Photo one: lindsayflanagan.com; Photo two: sweetart.com.au; Photo three: pinterest.com; Photo four: bridalmusings.com; Photo five: jodimillerphotography.com; Photo six: nataliefranke.com; Photo seven: belleandchic.com; Photo eight: annerobertphotography.com; Photo nine: etsy.com; Photo ten: evaderrick.com; Photo eleven: emthegem.com; Photo twelve: blog.hwtm.com

After 11 years together, Tiffany and Christian didn’t feel like having a large elaborate wedding was important to them. The couple considered eloping, but ultimately settled on an intimate wedding held in Shakespeare Garden in Central Park with just their immediate families and best friends. A simple and heartfelt ceremony, they couldn’t have chosen a more perfect way to celebrate their love and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

Thanks to Tahni of Joyeuse Photography for sharing their love story with us!

Tiffany & Christian

New York City, NY

Wedding Date: June 19th, 2014

Number of Guests: 15

Wedding Cost: $7,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: Shakespeare Garden, Central Park

Wedding Reception Location: Palma Restaurant

Why did you have an intimate wedding? 

We began planning our wedding about a year ago. After 11 years together, we decided we no longer wanted or needed a large scale affair. Our priorities have shifted with time and the thing that was most important to us was having our immediate families and our best friends with us. We opted for a heartfelt, intimate ceremony and it couldn’t have been more perfect.

What are some of the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

None really! That was the whole point of having a small wedding.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

We’d considered the idea of eloping together, but we realized that having our immediate family together just felt right. Once we made that decision, I think people respected that.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

No, everyone was very supportive and understanding.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

We found an officiant that really took the time to get to know us as a couple and conveyed that in the ceremony. We wanted the ceremony to focus on our love, and we believe that really came through.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding? 

We did everything on our terms, and were not trying to impress anyone. Everything worked out just the way we envisioned.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

Have the wedding you want and don’t ever feel selfish about that. This is a celebration of your love so savor every single minute as it all goes by so fast!

Vendors:

Flowers: University Florist (arranged by mother of the bride)

Photography: Joyeuse Photography

Wedding Cake and Cupcakes: Baked Brooklyn

Officiant: Rev. Jeddah Vailakis

For foodies, one of the perks of having an intimate wedding is the ability the splurge on great food – something not always possible with larger guest lists. Today’s couple, Jamie and Barry, chose to do just that, opting to go all out on food and drinks for their small wedding at Catalyst Restaurant in Cambridge, MA. Hosting both their ceremony and their reception at the restaurant, the newlyweds celebrated their beautiful union with cocktail pairings, a gourmet dinner, and 60 of their closest family and friends.

Special thanks to Studio Nouveau for sharing their gorgeous wedding photos with us today!

Jamie, 33 & Barry, 42

Cambridge, MA

Wedding Date: April 5, 2014

Number of Guests:  60

Wedding Cost: about $25,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: Catalyst Restaurant, Cambridge, MA

Wedding Reception Location: Catalyst Restaurant, Cambridge, MA

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We wanted time to be able to visit with everyone. We live in Seattle, and most guests were from Boston and New York, so we don’t get to see them all the time. Having a small wedding meant we could actually talk to all of our guests! We had a little reception on the night before the wedding at the Kendall Hotel that was a lot of fun, and we wouldn’t have been able to do that with a huge guest list. We also wanted to be able to go all out on food and cocktails, and having a smaller guest list meant that we could do that within the budget we had set. The food was to die for!

What are some of the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

Well, the only real challenge was that I wanted to have the wedding in a restaurant, but I didn’t want to do a buy-out. I wanted the ambient noise and great energy from a busy restaurant. We had too few people to really make a buy-out make sense anyway, and too many people for many group dining rooms. Catalyst is right next to MIT and does hundreds of events a year – they were able to make it work for us in any configuration.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

Actually, no! I will admit that I took up more than my fair share of guests, however.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

Nope! Everyone pretty much left us alone to do what we wanted.  I did ask my parents early on for a guest list of non-family members that they wanted to invite, but the list they gave me contained people I had already planned to invite. We were all on the same page.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

The moment when we first met at the “altar” was pretty great. I wasn’t prepared for how emotional I would be.

What were the highlights of the reception?

Everything went so smoothly and was so special that it’s hard to say. The Catalyst bar staff made up these demi-cocktails that each paired well with one of our passed appetizers – if pressed, I’d say that was the crowning part of the reception. My dad’s toast was also wonderful.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

I didn’t feel crazy in the days leading up to the wedding. Everything was well in hand and I had time the week before the wedding to visit with everyone. This was one part intimate wedding and one part having talented, organized people help with all the planning!

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

Hire a wedding planner! I initially thought that was a little crazy for us to do given that we didn’t have a huge guest list. However, I was able to enjoy our engagement because Rachael Gross, our wedding planner, kept me on track the whole time!

Vendors: 

Photography: Studio Nouveau

WeddingPlanner+EventDesign: Rachael Gross, lolagraceEVENTS

Officiant: Priscilla Geaney

Florist: Little Flower Cottage

Live Music: Rhett Price

Rentals: New England Country Rentals

Hair + Make-Up: Bre Welch

WeddingDress: BHLDN

Invitations: Minted.com

Calligrapher: Susan Smith

Accommodations, Bride/Groom/WeddingParty: Kendall Hotel

Accommodations, Bride/Groom/WeddingParty: Cambridge Boston Marriott

A destination wedding often calls for different attire, and gives you the opportunity to go for bolder fashion choices. Whether you’re flying off for an elopement or taking an intimate group with you; dressing for the climate and your faraway venue is all-important. We’ve rounded up 10 of our fave fashion ideas for a destination wedding, so start packing!

1. Backless Beauty

Backless wedding dresses keep you cool in an elegant way. They’re also wonderful for showing off that summer glow.