Spring wedding colors: three palettes with hex codes

Pick one of three spring palettes below, then copy the hex codes for your florist, stationer and bridesmaids. Each palette comes with computed contrast ratios, so you know which text color stays readable on which background. Start with sage and blush if you want the safest choice.

Palette table: three spring palettes with hex values and contrast

Each palette has five slots: three decor colors, one ivory base for paper, and one dark shade that carries all printed text. Ratios are computed by our own code from the hex values. Dark means the palette’s own deep shade, so Moss, Plum or Navy.

Table: Hex codes and computed contrast ratios for three spring palettes (our estimate, assumptions below)

Assumptions: ratios use the WCAG relative luminance formula, compared without rounding up. The 4.5:1 bar is for normal text and 3:1 for large text, which means 18 point, or 14 point bold. We use the web standard as a proxy for print, because printed ink and paper vary. Hex codes are our picks, not a survey.

Read the last column first. White text scores 2.09:1 at best, so it fails on all nine pastels, even at large sizes. Every dark pairing clears 4.5:1.

Why these three, and what each one does

Sage and blush is the calm default. In Zola’s 2026 survey of more than 11,500 couples, sage green was the most popular anchor color at 30 percent, and blush was a neutral for 19 percent. That is one vendor’s self-reported data, so read it as a signal, not a rule. Butter is the small bright accent.

Lilac and mint is cooler and a little more playful. Peony pink gives it warmth. Use it if you dislike yellow or want something that photographs well against green lawns.

Butter and sky is the brightest of the three. Peach softens it. It suits daytime ceremonies where the light is already strong, because the colors will not fade out in photos.

Where each color works

Match the job to the contrast, not just the mood.

• Invitations and menus. Print text in the dark shade on the ivory base. That pairing scores 10.63:1 or better in all three palettes. Use pastels only as borders, washes or shapes.
• Table decor. Pastels work well here because nobody reads them. Runners, napkins and candles can use sage, blush, lilac or sky freely.
• Signs with writing. Dark text on a pastel card is fine. Sage is the weakest dark pairing at 5.45:1, so use bold or a larger size there.
• Attire. Bridesmaid dresses in the dominant color photograph best when the groomsmen’s ties or pocket squares repeat the accent.
• Flowers. Show your florist the hex swatches on screen and on paper. Ask for stems near those shades, not exact matches.

Worked example: a 30-item decor list

Here is how the roles from the palette guides translate into a real shopping list. We assume sage and blush, and we treat the roles as our own example, not a standard.

The accent share follows one stationery guide, which puts the accent at about 10 percent of visual weight as its own rule of thumb. The 60 and 30 split is our assumption. Change it if your venue already has strong colors, such as green lawns or dark wood.

Spring flowers and timing

Flower availability decides more than most couples expect, so check it before you fall for a shade. One wedding guide lists tulips, ranunculus, sweet peas and lilac as in season in April, with peonies arriving late in the month. For May, it lists peonies at peak supply, plus lily of the valley, lilac and sweet peas.

Peony timing is the common trap. A Chicago garden reports blooms between April and June. New York’s botanical garden says herbaceous peonies usually bloom early to late May, and the dates shift by a week or two between years. If your wedding falls near either edge, ask your florist before you build the palette around one flower. Our May wedding palettes page covers that month in more detail.

Common mistakes, and how to fix them

1. Picking six or seven colors. Common advice is three to five in total. Cut to one dominant, one secondary, one accent, plus a base and a dark text shade.
2. Choosing colors from a screen only. Print a swatch card and hold it next to the fabric and flowers. Our card prints on one page.
3. Using white text on pastel signs. Switch to the dark shade. See the table above for the ratio on each swatch.
4. Forgetting the venue. Wood, stone and carpet colors count. Take a phone photo of the room and compare it to your palette.
5. Starting with the dress. Choose the palette first, then match attire. Dresses are harder to change.

What to do next

Open the picker above and click each palette. Check the pairs, copy the hex codes and download the card. Then send it to your partner or maid of honor, and agree on one before you shop.

If you want a different season, compare summer palettes with this page, or browse every palette by season. If green is your anchor, our green color page goes deeper on shades. For the money side, the wedding budget planner shows where flowers and decor fit in your total, and the planning checklist puts the florist booking date on your calendar.

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Updated November 5, 2026 by bigdaydesk editorial