15 Burgundy Wedding Ideas

Tablescape with burgundy floral centerpieces, a fabric runner, and glassware, plus white plates and gold flatware — Photo by Stetten Wilson

Neutral color schemes will always stand the test of time, but infusing your wedding with a pop of color will definitely bring your décor to the next level. While the options for potential hues to include in your palette are limitless, we’re partial to burgundy. Incorporating this reddish-brown tint into your affair, whether it’s through your accessories or your centerpieces, will evoke a rich, striking look with an air of sophistication.

Although this deep tone is a popular choice for fall and winter nuptials, burgundy will also enhance warm-weather soirées, especially when combined with bright pinks, purples, greens, and yellows. This tint also suits many types of aesthetics—particularly bohemian, rustic, glamorous, and forest fêtes—and multiple venues, from barns to ballrooms.

Meet the Expert

Lauren Schweibold is the event director of Madison Events, an event planning firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut, and New York City. She has 25 years of experience in the industry.

Wondering how to make this dark shade a part of your big day? Whether you’re looking for ways to go all out with a burgundy-themed affair or stick with a more subtle approach, we’ve curated a roundup of inspiration photos for every wedding detail, including paper goods, attire, flowers, table settings, and cake, that will steer you in the right direction.

Ahead, here are 15 burgundy wedding ideas that are guaranteed to elevate your special celebration.

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Select a Burgundy Base for Your Invitations

Layout of Wedding Invitations — Photo by Sophie Epton

There’s no better way to introduce your wedding color palette than through your invitations—they basically function as a preview to your main aesthetic, anyway. To make this hue the highlight of your stationery, choose cards with a burgundy background and white ink, which made an appearance at this castle wedding in Portugal. If you’d rather stick with a subtle incorporation, event director Lauren Schweibold of Madison Events recommends choosing a single detail to concentrate on. “You don’t need much of it as it’s so smooth and elegant,” she explains. “Even a small bit in the logo or some lettering against a soft white is simply gorgeous.”

02 of 15

Embed Foliage Into Your Bouquet

Bouquet of burgundy, mauve, orange, and cream blooms with fall leaves — Photo by Simply by Suzy Photography

Since burgundy is a common hue found in nature, the options for foliage are endless. You can really see this color come to life in a concentrated assortment, like your bouquet (especially when it’s paired with a crisp white dress). For autumnal soirées, like this micro wedding in Nashville, one burgundy wedding idea is adding a touch of fall leaves in the reddish-brown shade to your handheld arrangement. Then, mix in seasonal blooms in burgundy and other complementary hues, like orange, mauve, and white, to pull everything together.

03 of 15

Dress Yourself in the Deep Hue

Burgundy three-piece tuxedo with black lapels and black pants — Photo by Stanlo Photography

White and black are go-to hues for suits, but why not switch it up with something unexpected? If you're the groom, wearing burgundy on your big day is a fun way to show off your sense of style. If you’re feeling adventurous, dress yourself in this rich hue from head to toe. On the other hand, just a burgundy jacket, like the one this groom wore at his Italian-inspired wedding in Florida, will add a snazzy, fashion-forward flair. Then, pair your colorful garment with black slacks, black patent leather shoes, and a black tie. Your accessories, like a pocket square, are also an excellent way to enact burgundy, according to Schweibold.

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Ask Your Wedding Party to Flaunt the Shade

Bridesmaids in burgundy dresses standing next to bride in mermaid dress — Photo by Jenny Quicksall Photography

If you and your future spouse are sticking with traditional wedding attire, ask your wedding party to sport the shade. Burgundy bridesmaid dresses are an elevated choice for black-tie affairs, especially in satin, silk, or velvet fabrics, and they flatter every skin tone. For a color-coordinated crew, have your groomsmen match in burgundy tuxedos.

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Include a Glamorous Touch

Burgundy Ceremony Programs With Gold Wax Seal — Photo by Sophie Epton

Are you planning a wedding with a glamorous aesthetic? Burgundy is a regal hue that evokes elegance and sophistication, making it a strong contender for glitzy affairs. For instance, one burgundy wedding idea for an upscale event is designing reddish-brown ceremony programs and completing each informational pamphlet with a gold wax seal and ornate cursive to reinforce your theme.

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Embrace Striking Patterns

tented ceremony space with floating chuppah, vintage rugs, and seating in the round — Photo by Kate Headley

Burgundy is already dazzling on its own, but when combined with various patterns and prints, the color takes on a whole new level of visual intrigue. Accompanying your walk down the aisle with geometric rugs, where this shade takes center stage, (which this couple chose for their farm wedding in Virginia) will offer a refreshing reprieve from the usual pathway, while radiating a homey, rustic feel. For an additional layer of color, line the walkway with burgundy blossoms, like antique hydrangeas in the fall or lush roses in the spring.

07 of 15

Combine Similar Shades

florals on wedding arch — Photo by Larisa Shorina

Depending on what hues you throw into the mix, burgundy can either function as a grounding color when paired with other dominant shades, or it can serve as the focal hue if your palette mainly consists of neutrals. If you’re hoping to offer a consistent splash of color, rather than having burgundy demand all of the attention, combine the tone with similar shades, like red, pink, and purple, so it seamlessly blends into the medley. Schweibold says these complementary tones will “calm the boldness.” Take cues from this couple’s ceremony arch, which they selected for their glamorous nuptials in Brooklyn.

08 of 15

Incorporate Colorful Ingredients

Three signature cocktails in different colors — Photo by Carina Skrobecki

There are far more ways to make an impression with burgundy than your decorations. With your menu, you can incorporate seasonal ingredients that naturally occur in this rich tone. For example, a cocktail with muddled cherries, huckleberries, blackberries, or plums will give your drinks a delicious flavor and a deep color.

09 of 15

Choose Multicolor Linens

a wedding reception tent decorated with peacock-blue draping, floral-draped chandeliers and plaid tablecloths — Photo by Kate Headley

At wedding receptions, color often dictates the most important or noticeable elements on the table. If you want your linens to shine, choosing a burgundy-colored variety will accomplish this. To avoid an overwhelming or cluttered spread, we recommend composing complementary-hued centerpieces with simple place settings, like white plates and gold flatware.

10 of 15

Add a Pop to a Neutral Background

Tall floral arrangements in gold vases — Photo by Olivia Leigh Photographie

On the other hand, perhaps you’re thinking about arranging a tablescape where white and other neutrals are the presiding colors, but where a vivacious splash is still present. In that case, consider small touches of burgundy. We love how this towering centerpiece, which was seen at this couple’s garden-themed wedding in Chicago, uses color, height, and texture to elevate a white tablecloth and classic glasses.

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Define Your Tables

Burgundy Table Numbers With Gold Number 10 — Photo by Carina Skrobecki

The table numbers are one element that each one of your guests will take a glance at since they’ll need to consult these paper goods to figure out where they’re sitting. If you want these details to make an impression, paint them in burgundy. To counterbalance the deep mix of red and brown, sketch the numerals in white, silver, or gold.

12 of 15

Produce a Coordinated Spread

Place settings with white plates, a beige napkin, a gold charger, gold flatware, burgundy and amber glassware, and a centerpiece with burgundy and pink shades — Photo by Stetten Wilson

While you can definitely use burgundy in strategic areas, you can also embed the hue into almost every detail on your tables for a coordinated, cohesive setup. The tablescape shown here, for instance, has flowers, a fabric runner, and wine glasses that all reference the jewel tone. “I like to use burgundy in florals and then add hints around the room to pull everything together,” Schweibold says.

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Give It a Bohemian Flair

Megan and James' place settings with rattan chargers, burgundy napkins, and black flattware — Photo by Anna Delores Photography

With pampas grass, exposed wood, and rattan, burgundy can also take on a bohemian look. If this is the design concept you’re going for, create a whimsical and effortless spread with napkins, flowers, and glassware in the color, and then, use the aforementioned textures to add some edge.

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Make It the Focal Point

Place settings with copper chargers and burgundy menus — Photo by Carina Skrobecki

Your menu cards are often the focal point of your place settings since they typically occupy the very first layer and take up a good bit of space. By painting them in burgundy and keeping the rest of the accompanying elements in understated colors, like beiges and metals, their presence will be especially noticeable.

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Mix Multiple Jewel Tones

Wedding cake with burgundy and navy tiers on an emerald green tablecloth — Photo by Daniel Lopez Perez & Thomas Brodtmann

Jewel tones are rich, saturated hues that pack quite a punch. For a pronounced effect, combine burgundy with other jewel tones, like emerald green and navy blue. To pull off this concept, consider designing a wedding cake and accompanying cake table that are trimmed in these shades.

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