Sleek Ideas For Red and Black Weddings

Colors play an important part in your overall wedding scheme. Red & black weddings aren't your typical choice when choosing colors, but this combination can look absolutely stunning... if it's not overdone. The trick here is to use accents of black and red, rather than coloring everything in sight.

You can expand red & black weddings by incorporating a theme along with the colors. Choose a favorite flower and see if it comes in both a red and black version. For example: red and black roses.

Perhaps you could focus the theme decorations on balloons instead of flowers. If you're into "Goth" this color scheme would be a perfect choice. It also lends itself to a great color theme for a Vegas marriage celebration!

One thing to watch out for - no matter what sort of color scheme you choose - is to be sure you use the same shade of a particular color. As we all know, reds come in a large rendering of shades, from warm reds to cool reds and everything in between. Be sure to choose the specific red that you like best, then carry a swatch of that color with you so you can match it up with all your items, otherwise the 'reds' will clash with one another.

So let's look at what items are available to coordinate with a black and red wedding theme.

Wedding Invitations and Stationary

Obviously, you'll require red and black wedding stationary to convey your theme colors to your invited guests. You can choose to make your own from purchased invitation kits, craft them from red or burgundy and black card stock, or purchase custom printed invitations from a company.

Here are some really nice looking invitations to fit this color scheme:

Flower Choices For Your Wedding

The most obvious place to start is with flowers. I was amazed at what flowers come in 'black'!

Now when I say black, unless the flowers have been dyed, they typically aren't truly 'black', but more of a very deep purple, blue or deep, dark maroon. However, they'll certainly look almost black in the low lights at a wedding reception.

Also keep in mind that if you have a particular flower that you love, you can often find a silk version in colors that don't normally appear in nature. If necessary, you can take a white variety of the flower and have it dyed in both red and black.

Not all of the following flower suggestions are necessarily suitable for a bridal bouquet, but they would still look beautiful as either the main flower or accent flowers for table arrangements and decor.

Red Wedding Flower Suggestions:

• Alstroemeria Lily
• Begonias
• Canna Lily (although it's not really a lily)
• Carnations
• Crest Red Cosmos
• Crocosmia - 'Lucifer'
• Dahlias
• Foxglove
• Freesias
• Geraniums
• Gerbera Daisies
• Hibiscus
• Hollyhocks
• Impatiens (Tempo Red)
• Lily (Martagon or Turk's cap lily)
• Nasturtium
• Petunias
• Poinsettia
• Red Anthuriums
• Red Roses
• Sweet William
• Tea Rose
• Trumpet vine
• Tulips

Black Wedding Flower Ideas:

• Bearded Iris - 'Superstition'
• Black Iris
• Black or Chocolate Cosmos
• Clematis - 'Romantika'
• Dahlia -'Arabian Night'
• Day Lily - 'Starling'
• Fritillaria
• Geranium - 'Samobor'
• Nemophila - 'Pennie Black'
• Pincushion Flower Scabiosa - 'Ace of Spades'
• Purple Gooseneck Loosestrife
• Sweet William Dianthus - 'Sooty'
• Whipple's Beardtongue
• Black Pansy
• Black Tulip

Decorating Ideas for Red & Black Weddings

You can also take your cue for a theme with your choice of wedding decor. Here are some interesting ideas to consider:

• Black and red balloon bouquets. You could use red heart-shaped balloons in place of 'regular' ones.
  
  
• Red glass votive candles nestled in black river stones (great centerpiece idea).
  
  
• Large red pillar candle surrounded by black stones. Tie a black ribbon around the candle. You could also reverse this and use a black candle with red ribbon.
  
  
• Cover tables in red tablecloths. Use a black table runner for accenting the table (if desired). Use black plates and black cloth napkins with red napkin rings.
  
  
• Black iron candle holders with red candles would look elegant.
  
  
• Scatter red rose petals over black tablecloths.
  
  
• Alternating red and black paper bag or painted tin luminaries.
  
  

Accessories For Your Wedding

If you're looking for black and red wedding accessories, consider searching for Chinese wedding products. Red is the main color used with black accents and so you may be able to find a suitable wedding guest book, flower baskets, cake servers, etc. in the correct colors.

• Clear crystal wedding flutes with a black ribbon bow tied around the stem. Glue a small red rose bud to the bow.
  
  
• Ring pillows can be either red or black and accented with the opposite colored ribbon.
  
  
• Black colored flower girl basket filled with red rose petals and enhanced with a red ribbon bow on the side of the handle.
  
  
• Black garter belt with a red flower of choice, or perhaps a red heart charm.
  
  

Ideas for Wedding Favors

Many wedding favors, even if they are for a different theme, can be easily used for a theme that's based on colors.

For example, candles, favor boxes, favor bags, colored stones, bookmarks, etc. can be accented with black and red ribbons, cording, beads and more.

Also, take the time to look through favors for a black and white wedding theme where you all you need to do is add a red accent of some sort. Here are some additional suggestions:

• Red rose favors are a good option when accented with black ribbon or placed in black favor box.
  
  
• Small red glass votive holder with a black candle.
  
  
• Black favor box filled with red candy. Tie the box closed with a red bow on top.
  
  
• Red patterned favor bag tied closed with a black chiffon or silk ribbon.
  
  
• Red and black favor pails that can hold either a votive candle or candies.
  
  
• How about a red gel candle with a red flower inside? Tie a black ribbon around the candle for the accent color.
  
  
• Roll up red heart paper lace doilies, fill with candies or potpourri, and tie with a black ribbon.
  
  

Theme Ideas for Red & Black Weddings

For those that want to go behind the color scheme as a theme, I've come up with some additional choices for theme ideas that you may want to consider.

• Red Hearts and Black Bows
  
  
• Red/Black Roses and Red and/or Arabian Night Black Dahlias
  
  
• Black Tulips and Red Carnations
  
  
• Red Gerbera Daisies and Black Roses
  
  
• Red Hearts and Black Beads
  
  
• Black and White Photographs with Accents of Red
  
  
• Black and Red Cherries
  
  
• Red and Black Plaid
  
  
• Ladybug Theme (they're red with black spots)
  
  
• Red/Black Butterfly (Small Postman - Heliconius erato) (Heliconius Doris - Linnaeus)
  
  
• Black and Red Stripes or Polka Dots
  
  

Sleek Red & Black Weddings by Rose Smith © 2007-2010