Board: A Navy Blue & Copper Brown Wedding

Credits: 1) The Knot, 2) Brides, 3) TBD, 4) Soiree Special Events, 5) Lazaro, at Brides, 6) “Navy Blue?” at Wedding Bee Boards, 7) Domino Magazine, 8) Studio G Occasions, 9) Jay’s Bridal, 10) TBD, 11) Queen of Tartes, 12) EventMakers, 13) Eric Limon / Gedney Farm, 14) Etsy, by Earmark, 15) Etsy, by DecadentDesigns, 16) TBD

Navy’s a color with many virtues. (For one, it doesn’t necessarily show up as a gaping hole in your photos, the way 12 bridesmaids in black occasionally do.)

You see more and more interest. The Big Design World right now likes to pair navy with apple green, or lemon yellow. Of course, brides love pink, so there you go — another upticking combo. (Here’s how to do a navy wedding with pink!) They also adore blue, and navy’s a fresh way to use it. Aqua’s been somewhat mapped out for now, can we agree on that? (OK, so Martha disagrees!) And pastel blue.

But navy can be touchy. The problem is, its ties to life preservers and Izod shirts are hard to shake. And if your reception’s star attraction isn’t a clambake, you might want to.

So for navy sans eau de ocean, I propose that white and brights are out. Instead, fight those associations with a powerful weapon: orientalism.

Warm, fiery metals like bronze and copper — practically opposites on the color wheel — really bring out the beauty of navy. Add pleated, draped and shiny linens, and bridesmaid gowns. (Bronzy pic 5 above is perfect). If going navy, be sure the dress has a flirty hem, a ruched bodice, something come-hither.

Then for pattern, skip the stripes in favor of modernized, well-behaved paisleys. Go East, young bride, for flowers: casablanca lilies, white dendrobium orchids, gloriosas. Or even day lilies. (Isn’t that centerpiece in the top left stunning? The hydrangeas are too preppy here, but the dark blue water is amazing.)

Be careful not to veer into cobalt blue, at least not unintentionally — it’s everywhere this year, and in my mind, too “wow” a color to use without kid gloves. But navy remains all elegance. To get even subtler, let warmed-up grays sneak in here and there (again, pic 5 above). Above all, choose luxury: copper candelabras, pooled satin. Chandelier earrings, not pearls. Restraint is too yacht club: steer clear.

Delicious, yes? Now go forth and give navy a whole new life in weddings.

Tagged as: brown, bue, copper, mood board, navy, wedding