The Most Inspirational Black and White Wedding Ideas - Yeah Weddings (2024)

In today’s world, couples are allowed to have free reign on color schemes for their wedding. Certainly not everyone is having a typical black and white wedding any more.However, if you want that traditional look, or maybe you are going for a punk or a classy vintage style of wedding, then there are plenty of black and white wedding ideas that incorporate your personal style.

Learn how a traditional black and white themed wedding can fit you and your contemporary style. Find black and white wedding ideas to decorate your chic wedding!

What is a Black and White Wedding?

A black and white wedding is a wedding themed on classic wedding colors

At least in the western world the bride will normally wear white and the groom will traditionally be dressed in a black suit.

Now in contemporary society, people may continue wearing black suits and white dresses to their wedding but it is no longer a social norm or a societal expectation.Today people may wear and use these colors to uphold tradition and because it makes the wedding look like a formal wedding with a modern look.

Your black and white wedding can look however you want: you can use a black and white color scheme, have your wedding party in black and white only, or even ask guests to stick to the theme. Read on for black and white wedding decor ideas!

Black and White Wedding Decorations

As said before, a black and white wedding implies the traditional colors brides and bridegrooms wear, but what about your other wedding accessories, the wedding venue and even the wedding invitations?

You know the wedding is going to be black and white, but how are you going to decorate it?

Even though you will only be working with two colors, there are many types of ways you can decorate black and white. You can decorate them with polka dots, stripe prints, lace, and gilded accents!

Basically, decorate your black and white wedding with decorations that help you create the chic, elegant or maybe even goth wedding aesthetic you are going for.

Black and White Bouquets

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White flowers and bouquets are already a very done thing at a wedding. But What about black and white flowers? While black flowers may not seem like a very romantic flower color to have at one’s wedding, think again.

There are so many types of black and white flowers to choose from to make that elegant and pretty wedding bouquet. There are also so many beautiful and chic flower arrangements you could come up with to make the simple black and white color scheme look really good.

Because the colors black and white are common and simple colors, as opposed to more flashy colors magenta or mint green, it will give the wedding a more sharp and elegant look.

Black and White Wedding Invitations

The Most Inspirational Black and White Wedding Ideas - Yeah Weddings (2)

Black and white. White and black. There are so many ways you can dress up your wedding invitations to make them really pop and be even more pleasant to read.

Maybe you want your wedding invitations to be white paper with black lace and black cursive writing. Perhaps you want the cards to be black with a white flower pinned to the side and black block letters?

However you want your cards to look, there are plenty of ways this can be done to fit your style, as well as stay within your price range.

Black and White Attire

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While men traditionally wear black suits to their wedding, in today’s black and white themed weddings, men do not have to wear a black suit any more.

They can wear a white suit too! Or they can even make every bit of clothing black or white, the choice is theirs! Ditto with women, they are not expected to wear white. Some contemporary brides are opting for black wedding dresses.

Couples can even dress their outfit up by making their clothes both white and black! The bride may be dressed in white with black pumps or a black leather jacket. The groom may wear a black and white suit or tux. One cool look is all black with a white jacket.

You can also have your bridal party wear black!

Black and White Wedding Cakes

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There is something truly elegant and romantic about a black and white wedding cake. The color scheme just screams chicness and elegance!

While the appearance of the cake, of course, is black and white, the flavor of the cake can be anything you want!

Thanks to cake dyes and edible cake paints, you don’t have to worry about your black and white cake having an odd flavor. The wedding cake can taste just as beautiful as it looks.

Table Settings & Decor

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Since you are having a black and white wedding, you want to make sure that everything down to the table decorations gets the memo.

But a black and white wedding does not mean everything has to be black and white. You could do plain white table decorations and cutlery. Or you could go the other way and make everything black at the table. Many black and white weddings feature gold accents.

You can also add pops of other colors into your decor. Maybe baby blue table runners and bows tied to everything? Again, be as creative and daring as you like, it is your wedding after all!

Wedding Aisle Decorations

You can be really creative with your black and white color scheme here. Maybe you want the aisle to be decorated with black and white tapestries and balloons.

There can be white chairs with black cushions and bows. You could have black and white table mats. The aisle floors could even be decorated with black and white carpets.

Perhaps you want the black and white flowers to be placed all around the room and the ceiling! Basically, as creative and luxurious as you want your wedding to be, is how you can make it.

This is just a few ideas for you to use if you happen to get stuck.

Wedding Reception Decor

So, the wedding itself is a black and white wedding. But that doesn’t mean the wedding reception has to be strictly black and white as well.

Maybe you want the reception room to be black and white with gold trimmings. Or maybe you want rose gold carpeting on the reception floor. Light blue candles and candle holders could also be a very cute idea.

You could even do all white flower centerpieces if you want! It all depends on how you want your wedding to make you feel. Go minimal or extravagant, but do have fun with the decorations!!!

Do’s and Don’ts for a Black and White Theme

In this section, we will be breaking down the specific Do’s and Don’t s for a black and white wedding.

These points are to help you so that when you have your dream black and white wedding, it goes as smoothly and magically as you have hoped.

While black and white color coordination’s are simple enough, these points will help you run the whole thing with ease and pleasure!

Do Tell Guests in Advance

If you want your wedding to be an all black and white wedding, you have the right to want so. It is your wedding after all!

When it comes to wedding dress codes, the couple should inform their guests of the type of clothes and colors they would like them to wear at their wedding.

They should be informed well in advance (a few months at least) of the wedding date so that everyone has time to find or buy their black and white wedding attire.

However, while you may hope for a total black and white wedding, it’s ok to be lenient on the dress code if your guests simply can’t or don’t want to get the exact shade you were wishing for.While you can make color requests, it’s a good idea to keep that optional. Or at the very least be lenient when people show up to the wedding in non black and white clothes.

You want your friends and family to have a good time the whole wedding, not worrying if their charcoal black dress is not meeting the super black dress code criteria.You can control the wedding venue and set up a look, but you can’t control the way people want to dress. If they want to wear black and white, great!

Don’t Worry About the Season

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While many themed weddings correlate with a specific time or season in the year, a black and white wedding will always be perfect for any time in the year.

You can dress up your white and black wedding theme with something that goes with the season your wedding is in, if you wish. However, that is not mandatory with a black and white wedding.

The beauty of traditional simplicity is that it will look elegant, classy and beautiful no matter what time of the year your wedding is in.

Do Add Pops of Color

The Most Inspirational Black and White Wedding Ideas - Yeah Weddings (7)

Just because your theme is black and white doesn’t mean you can’t use any other colors! It’s common to see black and white paired with gold or other metallic hues, green, pale pink, or red for a dramatic look.

Incorporate any pop of color or accents that you see fit!

Concluding thoughts!

Basically, have fun with your black and white themed wedding. You can take a common and traditional color scheme and have fun with it for your magical wedding.

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colors

The Most Inspirational Black and White Wedding Ideas - Yeah Weddings (2024)

FAQs

What color goes with a black and white wedding? ›

Nothing says “glamour” like incorporating elements of gold into a black and white wedding. You can even think outside the box with more varied colors like green or blue.

What is a black and white wedding? ›

Introduction. Black and white weddings are classic themes that never go out of style. They're elegant and dramatic, and the color scheme is versatile enough to pair with any type of décor or color scheme you want to use for your big day.

What is the dress code for a black and white wedding? ›

Somewhat on the unconventional side—unlike its 'co*cktail' or 'white tie' counterparts—the black and white dress code is one that is typically assigned to semiformal and formal events. As the name suggests, guests are expected to dress exclusively in monochromatic hues from head to toe.

What does wearing black to a wedding mean? ›

Account for Tradition. In some cultures, black is less common for weddings. "Certain cultures, such as Indian and Chinese cultures, tend to stay away from black because it represents being in mourning. You want to take an extra thought if you are attending a more traditional wedding to be respectful," says Avrumson.

What color flowers go with black and white? ›

A mix of peonies and gerbera daisies with a touch of color adds an understated elegance to the bride's white and black bridesmaids' dresses. In addition to the bouquets, white blooms and greenery were displayed during the ceremony and reception.

Is black and white good for a wedding? ›

If you want a stylish and classic wedding, then black and white wedding colours are the best colour combination to go with. One of the most elegant and classic themes is the 'black and white' wedding.

What is the white rule in wedding? ›

The last thing you want is for someone to mistake you for the bride or be in photographs where guests think you're trying to steal the spotlight. All in all, it's respectful and customary not to wear white as a guest to the wedding unless the bride specifically asks you to wear white or she says it's okay to wear it.

Why do people wear black and white in a wedding? ›

Black and white are classic colors that can look elegant and sophisticated. However, it's important to consider the specific style and formality of the wedding. If it's a very formal or traditional wedding, you might want to ensure that the dress is more on the formal side, with appropriate length and detailing.

Why do bride and groom dress in black and white? ›

Another theory is that white was originally worn because it was the most difficult color to stain, while black was seen as the most luxurious color. Whatever the reason, these traditional colors have become synonymous with weddings around the world.

What color jacket to wear with a black and white dress? ›

Both black and white are versatile, but you can choose any jacket that you like. If it is brighter, you can choose red, blue, but black, dark color is also OK, this is not a problem, I wish you good luck. Go with a solid, bright colored jacket for a bold and fun statement.

What does the black and white theme mean? ›

While black is symbolic of evil, white is directly linked to that which is righteous, good, and peaceful (sticking with the Star Wars theme, Luke Skywalker is an effective example). Furthermore, white projects clarity, cleanliness (doctors in white coats), purity (wedding dresses), and salvation.

What color accessories with a black and white dress? ›

Stay monochromatic: Maybe brightly colored accessories or bold pops of color are just not your thing. If this the case, you can always just stay monochromatic. Keep your accessories white, black or grey for a classic, polished look.

Why not to wear black in marriage? ›

It is inappropriate to wear black to weddings in some cultures. If the bride and groom are following cultural traditions, black and dark colors should be avoided. Black symbolizes mourning in China and is not worn for celebrations. If you are unsure, ask.

Is it inappropriate to wear red to a wedding? ›

Summary. To answer the main question of the article, yes you can wear red to a wedding in most circ*mstances. However, in some situations you may want to check with the marrying couple that red is acceptable to wear as a guest and it won't go against their culture or distract from their big day.

What does it mean to wear red to a wedding? ›

What does red symbolize in a wedding? There's an old wives' tale that wearing red to a wedding means you've slept with the groom or at least wanted to. It's a wedding myth that shouldn't prevent you from wearing whatever you want. However, people perceive the red colour as naughty or alluring.

What color goes with black for a wedding? ›

Black and white is a classic combination that has been used for centuries, and it still remains one of the most popular choices for weddings today. Whether you're looking for an elegant, modern, or sophisticated look, black and white wedding color combinations provide endless possibilities.

What is the best color combination for wedding? ›

18 of the Best Wedding Colors
  • Dusty Blue and White. Design: Jen Montgomery. ...
  • Mauve and Blush Pink. Design: Becky Nimoy Stationery. ...
  • All White. Design: Cindy Reynolds Design. ...
  • Navy Blue, Marigold Yellow, and Soft Gray. Design: Claudia Owen. ...
  • Emerald Green, White, and Gold. ...
  • Black and White. ...
  • Mint Green and Peach. ...
  • Lilac and Lavender.
Apr 5, 2024

What color do you get when you combine white and black? ›

Gray is a mixture of two colors Black and White.

If you feel that the color Gray is darker than you expected and you want to make it a lighter shade of Gray then you will mix a certain amount of White color in the Gray color to have the desired amount of expected light-gray color.

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