20 Dark Green Wedding Ideas

A tablescape with white linens, wooden chargers, green napkins, green goblets, and greenery centerpieces — Photo by Belathee Photography

One of the most important parts of the wedding design process is choosing your celebration's color palette. From bold, bright shades to neutral, muted tones, the hues that you use to paint your big day will help weave all of the elements of your event together, creating a cohesive design story. If you want to infuse your celebration with eye-catching colorways, dark green is a rich and versatile choice that will coordinate with any aesthetic. Shades, like emerald, hunter, olive, or forest green, can evoke a natural, earthy flair at outdoor settings, such as garden or vineyards, or a glitzy, luxurious edge at upscale venues, whether it’s a ballroom or historic villa. Plus, these deep tones aren’t bound by season: While dark green is a natural choice for fall or winter weddings, you can also implement it into spring and summer nuptials through lush greenery that mirrors that flora and fauna in the natural environment.

There are so many ways to work dark green into your big day, from your attire to the décor. Walk down a greenery-filled aisle in an emerald green dress and line your reception tables with a dark green runner topped with matching taper candles. If you’re more interested in a subtle pop of color, planner Sunna Yassin of Bash Please loves leaning on accents, whether it’s bold drapery, velvet pillows, or cocktail napkins. You can also mix in complementary hues for a varied look: Dark green paired with white looks so fresh and crisp in the summer, but you can mix in jewel tones, like navy and plum to striking effect in the fall. Whether dark green is the primary shade of your color palette or a supporting character, Yassin stresses the importance of balance, achieved by “weaving the color throughout, so it always feels intentional.”

Meet the Expert

Sunna Yassin is the owner of Bash Please, a wedding and event production, styling, and design company serving San Francisco, Los Angeles, and other destinations.

Looking for more inspiration? We’ve compiled a list of the best ideas to make this hue part of your special day. Ahead, 20 gorgeous dark green wedding ideas.

01 of 20

Design Dark Green Invitations

invitation suite with sage and emerald green details and floral envelope liner — Photo by Pharris Photos + Films

When your friends and family open your wedding invitation, they’ll get a sneak peak at your aesthetic and your color palette. If dark green will be an integral part of your celebration, consider using the hue in your stationery design. At their floral-filled wedding in Texas, this bride and groom wrote information about their upcoming festivities on green cards, which they stuffed in a matching envelope. Paired with a floral liner and a gold wax seal, the dark green shade hinted at a glamorous wedding adorned with blooms.

02 of 20

Don a Wedding Dress in the Deep Shade

Bride wearing an emerald green tulle dress with a plunging neckline at her desert elopement — Photo by Elizabeth Wells Photography

Swapping traditional bridal whites for a dark green wedding dress is the perfect attire choice for bold brides looking to make a statement. Sporting shades of emerald or forest green is also an ideal option if your venue is in the great outdoors, whether it’s on top of a mountain or in the middle of a greenery-filled desert, like the elopement shown here. If an all-green look is too risky for your taste, you can also work the color into your accessories, like a dark green pair of heels or a beaded hair accessory.

03 of 20

Accessorize With Emeralds

A close-up shot of a bride's diamond necklace with an emerald pendant — Photo by Carl S. Miller Weddings

The jewelry that you wear on your special day is also another stunning way to incorporate a pop of dark green into your look. When this bride tied the knot at her family-filled affair in Arizona, she slipped on a diamond necklace with a large emerald pendant, which functioned as her “something borrowed” and honored her daughter, whose birthstone is an emerald. Pull your look together with an emerald and diamond tennis bracelet and drop earrings.

04 of 20

Carry a Bouquet of Greenery

A bride carrying a bouquet of silver dollar eucalyptus and ferns — Photo by Style Layers

One of the best ways to permeate your wedding with dark green tones is through greenery. While most bridal bouquets are composed of flowers, a handheld arrangement of greens, like ferns and eucalyptus, will evoke a garden-fresh, organic feel. You can even throw in a few blooms to incorporate more color and texture.

05 of 20

Ask Your Bridesmaids to Match in the Hue

Bridesmaids wearing hunter green satin floor-length dresses and posing with the bride — Photo by Sydney Noelle Photography

You can also bring the deep shade to your bridesmaids’ attire. Dark green looks flattering on every skin tone, and it conveys a rich, sumptuous look, especially when you choose silk or satin fabrics. Case in point? These hunter green bridesmaids' dresses that made an appearance at this rustic ranch wedding in California. While solid colors are always a beautiful choice, Yassin loves floral prints or other unique patterns for added depth.

06 of 20

Rock a Colorful Tuxedo

groom wearing a custom emerald tuxedo and metallic watch, sitting down on a couch — Photo by REEM Photography

Instead of sticking with the conventional all-black tuxedo, switch things up with a dark green one. For glamorous nuptials, look to lavish textures, like velvet or suede, which is what this groom wore to his rustic fête in Brooklyn. Plus, these thicker materials will keep you warm during the colder months, whereas a lighter fabric, like linen, will accommodate warmer temperatures. If a dark green tuxedo feels too over the top for your style, Yassin recommends pairing a more neutral getup with dark green accessories, whether it’s socks, a tie, cufflinks, or a lapel pin.

07 of 20

Use Dark Green as the Base of Important Signage

emerald green wedding welcome sign and unplugged wedding signage — Photo by Pharris Photos + Films

Not only do welcome signs greet your guests and convey essential information about your event, but they also help reinforce your theme. For a dark green wedding, work the color into the design of your signage. This dark green board showcases the itinerary of the day and communicates preferences for an unplugged ceremony in white writing, which creates a striking contrast of colors.

08 of 20

Line Your Aisle With Verdant Greens

organic white florals and greenery create in aisle arrangements alongside rattan wedding ceremony chairs — Photo by Tracy Burch

For outdoor ceremonies with a dark green color palette, plant a hedge of greenery down the perimeter of your aisle to complement your venue and channel the natural hues. “Elaborate, overgrown aisle treatments overflowing with greenery that creeps up into the archways at the altar are magical,” Yassin says. “This will make the couple feel enveloped in nature.” We recommend working a blend of greens, such as ferns, eucalyptus, and ivy, into your arrangements. You can even add a few neutral-colored flowers to the mix.

09 of 20

Showcase a Tropical Assortment

Tropical altar with palm leaves and monstera leaves on the beach with palm trees — Photo by Chris & Ruth Photography

If you’re hosting a tropical fête along the coast, decorate your ceremony with exotic plants that are naturally found in dark green tones. Decorate your altar with a wall of palm leaves, monstera leaves, and banana leaves to frame an ocean backdrop (like this couple did at their fashionable wedding in Tulum) or scatter these prolific greens down your aisle. To match the beachy look, have your guests sit in rattan chairs and add woven lanterns to your setup.

10 of 20

Create a Vintage Vibe

cocktail hour lounge vignette with an emerald green couch and antique furniture — Photo by Shelly Anderson Photography

One of the benefits of choosing dark green as part of your color palette is the versatility. The striking hue can generate any type of vibe, from rustic to glamorous, depending on the elements you include. To channel a vintage look, create a lounge area with a dark green velvet couch, trimmed with wooden accents, and other antique furniture, which is what this couple did at their moody Victorian wedding in New Orleans. Bonus points if you find the pieces at second-hand stores.

11 of 20

Doctor Up Your Drinks

A virgin mojito in a ribbed glass topped with mint, cucumbers, and flowers — Photo by Carolyn Pascual and Travis White of The Social Sipper

The food and drinks that you serve are mainly there for the flavor, but there’s no denying that the presentation is a pivotal component—and color is a large part of that. If dark green is the primary hue in your color scheme, you can even trim your signature cocktails with dark green garnishes. For instance, mint leaves and slices of cucumber will add a refreshing and colorful flair to mojitos at a backyard summer bash.

12 of 20

Install a Dark Green Wall

Black Cocktail Wall with "Sealed with a Spritz" Sign — Photo by Collins Nai

Dark green is often the main moment, but it’s equally skilled at taking a backseat. Since some shades of this color are deep enough that they almost look black, dark green makes a great background, allowing other vibrant hues to shine. The duo tying the knot at this backyard function in upstate New York installed a dark green wall lined with glasses of red wine for their boozy escort card display. Then, they decorated the setup with vases of orange flowers and white candles, and the colors appeared even brighter with the juxtaposition.

13 of 20

Give Your Escort Cards a Color-Forward Look

escort card luggage tag keychains in emerald green with gold font — Photo by Chris & Ruth Photography

Likewise, the escort cards themselves can exhibit the jaw-dropping hue. This bride and groom chose dark green luggage tags to assign their guests’ seats—which was also a nod to their love of travel—at their destination wedding. The gold font color and white background were other complementary colors that accentuated the main hue rather than overpowering it.

14 of 20

Suspend Garlands of Greenery from the Ceiling

Reception tent decorated with hanging greenery, chandeliers, and string lights — Photo by Michelle Beller Photography

For a natural yet powerful use of dark green, hang garlands of greenery above your reception tables. An overhead installation will make rooms with soaring ceilings feel more intimate, while animating the space in an artful way. We love how this couple brought the outdoors in by covering their chandeliers and string lights in vines at their ranch wedding in Montana.

15 of 20

Place Emerald Green Cushions on Each Chair

Two banquet tables with emerald green cushions on each chair in a room with high, arched ceilings — Photo by Daniel Lopez Perez & Thomas Brodtmann

At formal receptions with sit-down dinners, your friends and family will be sitting down for a good portion of the evening, so it’s important to make their seating arrangements as comfortable as possible—but that doesn’t mean you have to skimp on style. Whether you’re renting gold chiavari chairs at ballroom receptions or wooden cross-back chairs at a barn venue, consider placing an emerald green velvet cushion on each one (which is what this couple did at their celebration in Guatemala). Especially if your tablescape leans more minimalist, the dark green shades will generate an eye-catching allure.

16 of 20

Play With Unique Patterns

Wedding reception tablescape on a green marble table with white textured plates, a monogram symbol, gold and glass hurricane candles, white florals, and a black napkins — Photo by Sarah DiCicco

To infuse your reception with dark green in an unexpected and dramatic way, design a cool pattern for your tabletop. For example, this pair chose a marble-like design that combined emerald with black at their tropical nuptials in Florida. They even used the same print on the edges of their place cards. If you’ve settled on a bold look, balance it out with white plates, flowers, and candles.

17 of 20

Plant Trees in the Center of Each Table

Round tables in navy velvet linens with tree centerpieces and ferns — Photo by Olivia Leigh Photographie

Many couples arrange an assortment of flowers for their centerpieces, but an array of greenery is a more suitable fit for dark green weddings. Low installations of greens is a strong candidate, but planting a tree centerpiece in the center will really create that ‘wow’ factor. Or better yet, combine both options, like this bride and groom did at their Vincent van Gogh-inspired soirée in Lake Geneva.

18 of 20

Color Coordinate Your Tablescape

reception place setting with wooden charger, green goblets, and green linen napkins — Photo by Belathee Photography

Just a smidge of dark green will demand attention on your tablescape, so a color-coordinated look with multiple references to the hue will definitely make jaws drop. Think: Green goblets and napkins beside greenery-filled centerpieces. To evoke an organic feel, pair with a white tablecloth and wooden chargers.

19 of 20

Display Your Menus on Dark Green Cards

Dark green menu on top of white napkins, black chargers, and a black table — Photo by Imogen Xiana

Maybe you’re interested in a pared-back tablescape and simple place settings but you still want to add an edge with an ounce of dark green. Enter: Your menu cards. Emerald green menus on top of white napkins, black chargers, and a dark table will round off a modern look and coordinate with the green stems in the centerpieces.

20 of 20

Cut Into a Deep-Hued Confection

Emerald green three-tier wedding cake with gold foil and purple flowers — Photo by Les Loups

With a bold palette, it makes sense to conclude the festivities by presenting a colorful wedding cake. Multiple tiers of dark green will embed a sense of cohesion while giving your friends and family something to marvel at. For glamorous aesthetics, like these grooms’ wedding in New York City, add gold foil and serve the dessert on a gold stand.

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