23 Blue Wedding Color Ideas That Are Timeless and Elevated

These inspired, calming ideas prove that blue looks good with just about any wedding style.

The color blue doesn't necessarily have the best rapport. Between Picasso's Blue Period and the common phrase "having the blues," there's plenty to suggest that the shade is anything but energizing. But we'd like to assert that the hue—in all its many forms—is one you should certainly consider for your ceremony and reception color palette. And the following photos, taken during real couples' celebrations, are here to prove why.

From ocean-colored tablescapes and azure place cards to barely blue wedding dresses and the prettiest cerulean napkins you've ever seen, there's plenty to suggest that blue is about as dimensional (and wedding-worthy!) as a color can be. The best part? The shade can be modified for any type of wedding style. Punchy sapphire works best for modern parties. If you're throwing a more traditional event, you absolutely can't beat navy. The shade's incredible range—from the deepest indigo to the clearest sky blue—makes it a malleable shade that'll fit right into your ceremony or reception, whatever you have planned.

Another major perk? We've yet to find a shade that blue doesn't play nice with. Blush pink, deep burgundy, pretty peach, and pine green can all pair with blue, and there are plenty more combinations just waiting to be discovered. That's why we've rounded up the prettiest blue color palettes we could find. They'll surely inspire your own color scheme search as you craft that perfect wedding Pinterest board. Whether you're looking to throw an all-blue fête or simply work the shade into your bridal bouquet, ceremony backdrop, bridesmaids' dresses, or lounge space, there is inspiration here that will surely wow you.

Related: 50 Tried-and-True Wedding Color Schemes to Inspire Your Own

Blue Linen Invitations

Your wedding invitations set the tone and color palette for the entire day. In this custom invitation suite designed by Emily Rose Ink, blue linen keepsake boxes are lined with hand-illustrated watercolor floral patterns. The cards themselves are blue letterpress with gold, mounted on dusty blue velvet paper.

Related: 40 Beautiful Wedding Invitation Ideas That Will Set the Tone for Your Big Day

Blue Velvet Bridesmaids

Deep, midnight blue velvet dresses from Jenny Yoo make this bridal party stand out.

Marbled Blue Cake

Bold and beautiful, this stunner of a wedding cake by Las Vegas Custom Cakes featured painted stripes of icy blue, slightly see-through sapphire with inky jet, all tying back to the couple's snowy venue.

Related: 11 Beautiful Wedding Cake Trends to Inspire Your Celebration's Dessert

Barely-Blue and Mauve

If you're a major fan of the shade, don a pastel blue wedding dress on the big day. This shade, enhanced here with beadwork and floral embellishments, is blush pink's sister and makes just as subtle a statement—especially when paired with a mauve bouquet.

Related: 67 of Our Favorite Colorful Wedding Dresses From Real Weddings

Blue Belles, Mixed

Committed to wearing white on your wedding day? Pass the pretty shade onto your bridesmaids, instead. Opt for mismatched dresses that hit multiple points on the color's spectrum, like robin's egg, aqua, and cerulean.

Dip-Dyed Blues with Pinks and Purples

Frame a dip-dyed cerulean place card display (we're loving those subtle streaks of gold!) with blooms in virtually every shade of pink and purple.

Yellow and Blue

Tie the Knot in Santorini's garland featuring blue hydrangea, yellow roses, and cream peonies looks lovely on a beach ceremony structure, but the combination could work at just about any type of venue.

Related: 77 Wedding Arches That Will Instantly Upgrade Your Ceremony

Bunches of Blue

Work your "something blue" into your wedding bouquet by carrying a bunch (like this one by E Johnston Designs) with blue hydrangea, white and blush roses, and eucalyptus down the aisle.

Teal and Powder

This acrylic teal and solid powder blue seating chart by Boldhouse Creative doesn't just illustrate a picture-perfect color combo. The juxtaposition of the translucent and the opaque also makes for a dimensional, visually-pleasing display.

Related: 30 Wedding Seating Chart Ideas That Will Impress Your Guests

Dimensional Geode

Guide guests to their reception tables with sapphire-colored geode place cards, calligraphed with each attendee's name. An accompanying bowl of burgundy, blush, and fuchsia blooms makes for a lovely contrast.

Royal and Indigo

Help your co-maids of honor stand out by dressing them in your favorite colorway. Our suggestion? Royal looks even richer alongside an inky navy.

A Pop of Red

This tablescape, styled by Couture Events, is proof that multiple shades of blue can work together (just be sure to vary textures for contras!). Pair a sheer sky-blue runner with see-through cobalt goblets, then add cerulean-brushed throw pillows and ghost chairs to the mix. On the floral front, bowls of violets and bluebells studded with deep red chrysanthemums, like this organic arrangement by Mandy Grace Designs, add an unexpected pop.

Tropical Peach

Peachy peonies, blue hydrangea, leafy greens, and vibrant aloe vera bring tropical, warm-weather vibes to a seaside ceremony arch by De Plan V.

White and Blue

Chinoiserie has long since proven that there's nothing more classic than a blue-and-white color palette. Take a note from Figli Dei Fiori and fill jars with blue and white delphinium to echo the ceramics' tones—add in fresh eucalyptus for contrast.

Blue, Plum, and Orange

Speaking of chinoiserie, the style looks just as fresh when paired with orange and burgundy blooms. A touch of plum—here, in the form of wine goblets—ties the entire look together.

Related: Should You Register for China and Silver? Here's What Wedding Experts Say

Gilded Sapphire

We love how this reception lounge's casual sapphire couch works with its vintage golden coffee table and bar-cart-turned-side table, but we're just as enamored with the details (all thanks to Green Apple Events). A mud-cloth-inspired throw and various pillows help the blue-and-gold combination feel more intentional.

Velvet Turquoise and Slate

The most visually captivating thing about this dynamic tablescape? The velvety turquoise linens from Tono + Co, hands down. A slate ribbon literally "ties" the place setting together and subtly echoes the matte gray dinner plate below.

Related: 45 "Something Blue" Wedding Ideas That Are So Unique

Succulent Hues

The tonal shades in a succulent—purple-blues, jades, and turquoise—can be the perfect starting point for a color palette. The hues are what inspired this dahlia, peony, and garden rose centerpiece, by Passionflower.

Aqua and Terracotta

This tablescape by Justina Blakeney radiates garden vibes, thanks to earthy aqua dinnerware, terracotta placemats, and macramé linens (woven plant hangers, anyone?). A long stretch of sunshine-colored dahlias, orange cockscomb, and blue-green succulents follow suit.

Black and Blue

Throw all of those antiquated rules about not mixing black and blue out the window. These grooms are proof that the two work in tandem, especially when you switch up fabrics and textures.

Related: 27 Winter Wedding Color Palettes That Go Beyond Classic Red and Green

Red, White, and Blue

To keep this classic color combination from skewing too patriotic, make like Bleached Butterfly and incorporate unexpected details like antlers, gilded apples, and vintage brass vessels.

Blue, Gray, and Green

Break up a solid sky-blue escort card station with a dove gray sign (this one was calligraphed by The Left Handed Calligrapher) and lots of sprawling greens. Wooden lanterns add a natural touch.

On Its Own

Let's be honest—blue doesn't need a supporting color to shine. Wrap your wedding cake (like this one, by Buttercream Bakeshop) in a dimensional shade of sapphire to ensure that it's the star of your reception.

Read the original article on Martha Stewart.