A Purple Wedding Theme: Plum, Lavender & Jewel-Toned Floral Design
What colors do you envision when you think of a purple wedding theme? Deep plum, rich amethyst, and dramatic eggplant come to mind for a bold, moody look, while soft lavender, iris, and orchid bring a lighter, more romantic feel.
Purple has long been associated with luxury, romance, and drama in event design, which is why it remains one of our favorite palettes to work with. Here at Eddie Zaratsian Lifestyle and Design, every shade of purple can stand alone or layer together to create a stunning effect — click through to see a gallery of purple wedding theme florals and decor we've designed for our clients.
What Makes a Purple Wedding Theme Work?
The key to a purple wedding theme that feels intentional, not overwhelming, is contrast and layering — pairing a deep, saturated purple against something pale or bold, and mixing more than one shade of purple within the same design.
A single flat shade of purple can read as heavy, but layering rich plum tones alongside lighter lavender and bright pink accents gives the palette real dimension. That's why we rarely use just one shade of purple in a design — the interplay between deep and light tones is what creates the drama.
We love pairing deep plum blooms against black accents for a modern, editorial look, or soft lavender against pink and crystal for something more romantic. The same principle of contrast applies whether you're working with a single centerpiece or an entire draped wisteria ceiling installation over a dance floor.
The Best Purple Wedding Flowers
What are the best flowers for a purple wedding theme? Full, ruffled garden roses in deep plum, delicate lisianthus in soft lavender, dramatic purple wisteria, and orchids in violet and amethyst tones are among our favorites for purple themed weddings and events.
Each of these blooms holds color differently depending on the light around it, which is why we always design with a venue's actual lighting in mind rather than choosing flowers in isolation. Wisteria in particular reads as soft and romantic under daylight, but takes on a much moodier, richer tone under candlelight or string lighting in the evening.
We've used purple wisteria to create entire draped ceiling installations at past events, while amethyst and violet orchids add a jewel-like richness to centerpieces at eye level. Iris brings a cooler note into the mix when we want the palette to feel structured rather than soft.
What Colors Go Best with a Purple Wedding Theme?
The colors that pair best with a purple wedding theme are pink and black for a bold, modern look, or soft lavender and plum layered together for something richer and more romantic.
Purple and black create a dramatic, editorial feel when paired together, which is why we love using them in modern centerpieces alongside deep pink blooms for contrast. Purple, plum, and pink work beautifully as a softer trio, letting the richness of plum ground the brighter pink tones.
Lavender and purple wisteria pair naturally together since they sit so close on the same color family, and we often use crystal chandeliers, glass candelabras, and hanging lanterns to add sparkle and light without introducing a competing color into the palette. If you want to push the palette in a more traditional direction, gold or ivory accents can also sit alongside a deep plum or amethyst base — though in the designs below, we leaned into pink, black, lavender, and crystal for a bolder, more contemporary look.
Purple as a Fall or Spring Wedding Color
Purple works beautifully as both a fall and a spring wedding color, though the specific shade and pairing should shift depending on the time of year.
Deeper, more saturated shades like plum and black-accented purple feel rich and dramatic, which is why they suit a fall wedding especially well — plum is one of the signature tones we turn to for fall wedding color palettes in general, alongside deep reds, burnt orange, and amber. Lighter shades like lavender and soft pink feel fresh and romantic instead, which is why they suit a spring wedding so well.
For a fall purple wedding, we love pairing deep plum blooms with black accents and warm candlelight. For a spring purple wedding, soft lavender and pink florals alongside crystal and delicate lighting create a completely different feel from the same base color.
A Purple Palette Beyond Weddings
A purple color palette works just as well outside of weddings — this same jewel-toned approach translates to milestone birthdays, private galas, and corporate events looking for a bold, memorable color story.
A deep plum or amethyst palette can feel even more striking in a corporate gala or private event than in a wedding reception, since there's more freedom to go dramatic without an existing dress or color scheme to design around. If you're planning an event beyond a wedding, our party and private event design and corporate event design teams can bring this same color story to life for your celebration.
Bring a Purple Wedding Theme to Your Own Celebration
This purple wedding theme gallery is one small window into the full range of color and floral design we create for our clients.
If you're drawn to a bold, jewel-toned palette like this one, our wedding design and production team can build an entire event around it. Our wedding floral design team can bring the purple, plum, and lavender blooms themselves to life, from bouquets to full ceiling installations.
