Color scheme: A bit of fall balanced with a sailor classic

First off I'd like to make a disclaimer. I am an engineer - a Chemical Engineer. I'm used to dealing with numbers, facts, procedures, etc. so actually having to incorporate a coherent color scheme non-the-less actually DESIGN said color scheme was initially a bit intimidating. While I don't completely fit the engineering stereotype (thank you I can match my socks and work outfits) I've never been one of those really "girlie" girls that contemplates design,color, etc on a regular basis. Perhaps this is why my selection of a color scheme got off to a slow start....

I've actually been thinking about and color scheme for months now. This has mainly consisted of hunting around photographers blogs online and cropping out various shots in different color schemes. Needless to say, I've put together quite the collage.

I originally liked a lot of the "classic" summer cape cod colors. Think of Vineyard Vines on crack. Navy, white, and light pink



Or perhaps the green, brown, and pink shown below in the collage from Bello Photography....


Then I decided I liked the light pink, Navy but could couldn't live without the light blue. I'm a blue fanatic. I LOVE blue and the fact that my wedding would be by the ocean I wanted to incorporate as much blue as possible.

So I proposed the following: light pink, Navy, baby blue, white



This idea abruptly came to an end when my non-engineering & more design savvy best friend (and also maid of honor) pointed out that this color scheme looked like a nursery complete with baby girl & boy colors. Oh no! Not quite the look I was going for in my wedding. Back to the drawing board.

The more pictures I cropped and bridesmaids dresses I look at, the more I kept coming back to Navy. For one thing many of the bridesmaids dresses looked pretty awful in lighter pastel hues (trust me I tried on many) - a not ever wearable again Easter look. Secondly, Navy is such a part of the sailor, by the water theme.

Stuck in a color rut I went round and round throwing up all sorts of color combinations with Navy. I felt paralyzed and unable to make a decision moving forward. What was up with this??? Some sort of weird wedding disease? I'm generally good at taking decisive action!!

Thankfully a couple of key people moved me forward. The good old maid of honor - suggesting a few key color combo choices with Navy & the amazing mama Panda. I came home for a few weeks in November fired up the laptop with Mama Panda looking on and made a decision within thirty minutes! There's just something about that motherly touch.

So Drum roll please......

NAVY & ORANGE

The Navy goes with the nautical theme. Orange goes with the fall. It's a fun funky accent color (much like my own style). Plus, although fuchsia was also fabulous with Navy I'm just not that much of a "pink" type of girl. Never have been.
Welcome Orange!!!

The visions of Navy & Orange now dancing in my head.......















P.S. Just realized my bathroom is ALREADY Navy & Orange. Ha!Ha! Look not beyond your own doorstep for inspiration. You just might have already picked out a wedding color scheme you love.