The Best May Wedding Colors

Bride and groom kissing on their pink rose-inspired dance floor — Photo by Amber Gress Photography

With warm temperatures, sunny conditions, and trees and flowers in full bloom, May is one of the most beautiful times of the year to tie the knot. Not only does this spring month provide a picturesque backdrop for your ceremony and reception sites—especially in the great outdoors—but it also comes with an abundance of perks. Since May arrives just before the summer wedding craze, you’ll find that hotels, venues, and airfare offer more affordable rates in comparison.

Because May is brimming with vitality and vibrancy, this month gives way to so many gorgeous color schemes that complement the natural hues found in the surrounding landscape. From bright pink palettes with touches of orange to timeless shades of white and green, there is a combination out there for every type of wedding, whether it’s a garden ceremony, a backyard affair, or a beachside bash.

We tapped a handful of wedding planners who shared the color palettes that they love for a May wedding, plus their top tips for incorporating these hues into your special day. Ahead, the best color combinations for a May wedding.

Meet the Expert

Eva Clark is the owner and creative director of Atlanta-based Eva Clark Events. She’s been working in the wedding industry for 22 years.
Amy Abbott is an event design specialist with 15 years of experience and the owner of Amy Abbott Events, which is located in Los Cabos, Mexico.
Erica Estrada is the owner and lead producer and designer of Erica Estrada Design, a full-service event planning and design company in California.

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White and Green

While white and green is a versatile choice for any time of the year, wedding planner Eva Clark says that this color combination is especially fitting for a May wedding. What's more, it works with just about any wedding style. If you tend to gravitate toward more classic style, this color palette is one to consider. Whether you're getting married indoors or planning an outdoor garden wedding, you can bring this combination to life with seasonal blooms and greenery down your aisle and across your reception tables. Have you been dreaming of a more bohemian style celebration? Build off the color palette with rattan lanterns and pampas grass during the ceremony and reception. And if a glamorous event is what you've always imagined, know that metallic flatware and gold-rimmed chargers play nicely with the color combination, too.

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Pops of Pink

Centerpieces with pink baby's breath, orchids, and roses — Photo by Amber Gress Photography

If you want a more playful color palette for your May wedding, consider pairing pops of bright, punchy pink with your favorite neutrals. “A prelude to summer, varied shades of pink are just plain fun,” Clark says. You can be as bold or subtle with the color as you like: We love ideas like sealing your invitations in a pink envelope or with a pink wax seal, exchanging vows in front of a pink floral arch, or dining at tables where clouds of pink baby’s breath, orchids, and roses tower above you. While white, acrylic, and metallic elements help this hue stand out the most, Clark suggests enlisting a Pantone color chart if you’re thinking about including additional tones into your event.

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Pink and Orange

Checkered tablecloth with pink candles in orange candle holders — Photo by A Bitter Orange Photography

If you like pink but you're not ready to commit to the hue alone, considering pairing it with a complementary color like orange. This colorful aesthetic is a befitting backdrop for ceremonies or receptions on a farm, vineyard, or beach. “Mix these beautiful colors with an abundance of candles and votives on the table, an elegant charger and a napkin with a muted tone to match the florals, and a hand-painted menu,” planner wedding planner Amy Abbott recommends. You can also integrate palm and monstera leaves for a tropical theme or incorporate a checkered tablecloth for a picnic-style party.

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Pink, Peach, Coral, and Lavender

A pink, purple, and orange floral arch overlooking the ocean — Photo by PS Photography + Films

Your May wedding's color palette can have as many hues as you like—there's no rule that says you have to choose just one or two! If you like the idea of the pink and orange combination, build on it and add peach and lavender to the mix for something even more dynamic and energizing. “Pops of color add interest and whimsy to a wedding design,” Clark notes. “These tones are divine in the spring as a nod to the natural flora growing during this season.” Since you’ll want these hues to be the focal point of your big day, the planner suggests throwing down at a garden or art museum, which will match this color scheme rather than compete with it. Since these shades are attention-grabbing, select ghost chairs to face a colorful altar, or choose neutral table runners against a patterned tablecloth for balance.

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Neutral Tones

Reception setting with pampas grass centerpieces on white and champagne tablecloths — Photo by Photo by Julieta

You can never go wrong with neutral shades, and May weddings are no exception. “While simple, it lends itself to almost any location and venue,” wedding planner Erica Estrada explains. White and beige are colors that probably come to mind, but you can also embrace brass, gold, wood, and black accents, Estrada says. To decorate your event, consider pampas grass centerpieces arranged on white and champagne linens and place settings that feature gold flatware and crystal glassware.

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