Burgundy Fall Wedding Colors 2026: 15 Palettes, Hex Codes and Pairings
The complete guide to one of fall's most beloved wedding colors. Every shade of burgundy from wine to oxblood, every key pairing from blush to navy, with exact hex codes, floral details, and stationery applications.
Share Your Wedding Photos FreeThe Burgundy Spectrum: 8 Shades and When to Use Each
Not all burgundy is the same. Here are the eight main shades within the burgundy family, with their hex codes and specific use cases for fall weddings.
Merlot
#722F37The classic "burgundy." Balanced wine red that photographs richly in both daylight and candlelight. The most universally flattering and versatile burgundy shade for weddings.
Cabernet
#4A0020Deeper and darker than merlot. More blue-undertoned. Reads almost black in low light, creating extraordinary depth in moody photography. Best for evening ceremonies.
Wine
#8B0034True wine red. More red-dominant than merlot, with less blue undertone. Warmer and more vibrant. Excellent for venues with warm incandescent lighting.
Oxblood
#4A0E0EThe darkest of all burgundy shades. Near-black with deep red undertones. Oxblood reads as sophisticated and editorial. Best for moody, dramatic palettes.
Claret
#7F1734Between merlot and wine. Slightly more blue than wine but warmer than merlot. A beautiful middle ground that works with both gold and silver metals.
Bordeaux
#5E2028A mid-depth burgundy, darker than merlot, lighter than cabernet. Named for the French wine region. Very popular for fall 2026 in both attire and stationery.
Mulberry
#8C4372Burgundy with a distinct purple undertone. Bridges wine and plum. Particularly beautiful paired with dusty rose and gold.
Maroon
#800000More brown-toned than true burgundy. Earthier and more muted. Pairs naturally with rust and terracotta in warm fall palettes without the formal weight of deeper burgundy shades.
Burgundy and Blush Palettes
The most beloved burgundy combination: deep wine red against soft blush pink. The contrast between the dark and the light, the cool and the warm, creates a palette that is simultaneously romantic and dramatic.
Classic Burgundy Blush
The most-requested burgundy combination. Merlot and blush are near-complementary in temperature: deep and cool against soft and warm. Gold bridges the gap. This palette photographs beautifully across all lighting conditions and works in every venue type.
Florals: Deep burgundy roses, blush garden roses, blush ranunculus, dusty miller, gold spray roses
Attire: Blush bridal gown with burgundy bouquet; burgundy bridesmaid gowns with blush and gold details
Stationery: Burgundy invitation suite on blush cardstock with gold foil lettering and ivory envelope liner
Merlot and Dusty Rose
Dusty rose instead of blush creates a more muted, vintage-feeling palette. Less contrast than classic burgundy-blush, giving a softer, more romantic result. Antique gold feels more aged than bright gold, reinforcing the vintage quality.
Florals: Antique garden roses, dried pampas, dusty rose ranunculus, dark burgundy dahlias
Attire: Dusty rose bridesmaid gowns; groomsmen with burgundy velvet bow ties and antique gold cufflinks
Stationery: Vellum overlay on dusty rose backing with merlot letterpress and antique gold calligraphy
Burgundy Blush Sage
Adding sage green to the classic burgundy-blush combination creates a botanical freshness. Sage eucalyptus can now be the backbone of your floral arrangements rather than just a filler. This is the vineyard-garden crossover palette.
Florals: Burgundy anemones, blush peonies (or roses), sage eucalyptus garlands, cream spray roses
Attire: Sage bridesmaid gowns with burgundy bouquets; elegant and nature-inspired
Stationery: Sage green envelope with burgundy wax seal; sage leaf motifs with blush floral illustrations
Burgundy and Navy Palettes
Two deep, rich colors creating maximum formality. Burgundy and navy is the most sophisticated fall combination, best suited to evening receptions and black-tie venues.
Burgundy and Navy
The most formal burgundy combination. Navy and burgundy are both deep, rich colors that create maximum elegance. Gold is essential to prevent the combination from reading too dark. This palette suits black-tie ballroom receptions.
Florals: Deep burgundy roses, navy-dyed hydrangeas, gold cymbidium orchids, ivory spray roses
Attire: Navy bridesmaid gowns with burgundy bouquets; or burgundy gowns with navy sashes
Stationery: Navy invitation suite with gold foil, burgundy inner envelope, champagne envelope liner
Burgundy and Steel Blue
A lighter, more accessible navy alternative. Steel blue is less formal than midnight navy but provides the same cool-warm contrast with burgundy. More approachable for daytime or outdoor ceremonies.
Florals: Burgundy dahlias, dusty blue hydrangeas, gold ranunculus, ivory garden roses
Attire: Steel blue bridesmaid gowns with burgundy ribbon sashes
Stationery: Steel blue and burgundy letterpress with gold envelope lining
Burgundy Navy Silver
Swapping gold for silver creates a cooler, more contemporary version of the burgundy-navy combination. Silver reads as more modern and wintry, making this a particularly strong choice for late November weddings.
Florals: Burgundy roses, white hydrangeas, dusty miller with silver spray, navy ribbon
Attire: Navy gowns with silver accessories; burgundy boutonnieres with silver wire wrap
Stationery: Silver foil on navy cardstock with burgundy calligraphy
Burgundy and Gold Palettes
The richest, most opulent fall combination. Burgundy and gold creates a palatial warmth that suits vineyard estates, historic mansions, and grand ballrooms.
Burgundy and Antique Gold
Burgundy and gold is the richest, most opulent fall combination. Antique gold (muted, warm-toned) rather than bright gold creates a vintage-luxe feeling. This palette suits historic venues, mansions, and estate gardens.
Florals: Burgundy roses, gold cymbidium orchids, amber dahlias, cream garden roses
Attire: Burgundy velvet bridesmaid gowns with gold jewelry; groomsmen in charcoal with burgundy and gold pocket squares
Stationery: Burgundy velvet invitation box with gold ribbon; gold foil inner suite on cream cardstock
Burgundy and Copper
Copper is the rustic alternative to gold. Less formal, warmer, and more textural. Burgundy and copper together feel harvest-season but sophisticated. Hammered copper vessels as centerpiece vases create extraordinary visual texture.
Florals: Burgundy dahlias, copper-tipped spray roses, amber amaranth, sage eucalyptus
Attire: Burgundy chiffon bridesmaid gowns; copper metallic belts and shoes
Stationery: Burgundy letterpress with copper foil accents on warm ivory cardstock
Burgundy Gold Cream
The holiday-adjacent version of burgundy gold. Layering two shades of gold (antique and bright) against cream and burgundy creates a glowing palette that reads as celebratory without feeling like Christmas.
Florals: Burgundy roses, gold ranunculus, cream garden roses, gold-painted branches
Attire: Cream or ivory bridesmaid gowns with burgundy ribbon details; gold accessories
Stationery: Cream and gold letterpress; burgundy wax seals; gold ribbon on invitation booklets
Burgundy and Sage Palettes
The most versatile and botanically inspired burgundy combination. Sage green complements burgundy through near-complementary color theory, creating a balance that feels both natural and sophisticated.
Burgundy and Sage
The most versatile and widely loved burgundy combination. Burgundy and sage are near-complementary and create a naturally botanical feeling. This palette works in every venue from barn to ballroom and suits every formality level.
Florals: Burgundy anemones, sage eucalyptus, gold spray roses, cream ranunculus
Attire: Sage bridesmaid gowns with burgundy bouquets. This is the most photographed combination in fall weddings.
Stationery: Sage green backing with burgundy botanical illustrations and gold calligraphy
Burgundy Deep Green
Deep forest green instead of muted sage creates a more dramatic, lush botanical palette. Like a Victorian conservatory in fall. Rich, layered, and moody without losing the warmth of burgundy.
Florals: Burgundy roses, deep green foliage (camellia, magnolia, palm), gold orchids, deep green moss
Attire: Dark forest green bridesmaid gowns; burgundy boutonnieres with gold wire wrap
Stationery: Dark green and burgundy with gold foil; botanical engravings on letterpress
Burgundy Sage Blush
Adding blush to the burgundy-sage combination softens it considerably. This is the most romantic and feminine of all the burgundy pairings. The three colors create a palette that feels like a garden in the last week of autumn bloom.
Florals: Burgundy roses, blush garden roses, sage eucalyptus, cream spray roses, dusty miller
Attire: Mismatched: sage and blush bridesmaid gowns with matching burgundy bouquets
Stationery: Blush invitation on sage envelope with burgundy letterpress and ivory ribbon
Burgundy Stationery Suite: Element by Element
Stationery is one of the most visible expressions of your wedding color palette. Here is how to apply burgundy across each element of your paper goods suite.
How Burgundy Photographs: Tips for Stunning Results
Shoot during golden hour
Burgundy under warm golden-hour light takes on an extraordinary luminosity. The warm light adds red-gold warmth to the deep red tones that simply cannot be replicated at other times of day.
Use light neutrals as contrast
Cream, ivory, and white backgrounds allow burgundy to read at full saturation. Dark-on-dark (burgundy against dark wood or dark wall) can cause color to compress and lose detail.
Avoid direct harsh midday sun
Harsh directional sun can cause burgundy to appear overly dark or shadowed. Overcast light or open shade provides even, flattering illumination for deep colors.
Brief your photographer on white balance
Most cameras set white balance to neutral, which can shift burgundy slightly cool. Ask your photographer to warm the white balance slightly to maintain the rich red quality of the color.
Layer the palette in frame
The most stunning burgundy wedding photos layer the color: burgundy gown against blush bouquet against cream backdrop with gold accessories. Single-color images lack the dimensionality that makes the palette sing.
Candlelight is your best friend
If any reception lighting moment will define your burgundy palette photographs, it is candlelight. The warm, flickering light of taper candles and pillar candles brings out the deepest, richest quality of burgundy.
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Burgundy looks stunning in candid shots.
All those rich tones you chose deserve to be captured. A shared photo album means every table angle, every floral detail, lands in one place automatically.
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Emma & Jack
June 14, 2026
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Why Burgundy Dominates Fall Wedding Color Palettes
Burgundy has been one of the most searched fall wedding colors for a decade, and it shows no signs of fading. The reason is simple: burgundy is inherently autumnal. It mirrors the color of turning leaves, ripe wine grapes, and the rich tones of twilight. It bridges warm and cool, making it compatible with an extraordinary range of companion colors. And it photographs with a depth that few other colors can match.
In 2026, burgundy is evolving. Couples are moving beyond the classic burgundy-gold combination toward more unexpected pairings: burgundy with sage green for a botanical aesthetic, burgundy with dusty blue for a moody maritime combination, and burgundy with terracotta for a sun-baked harvest feel. The shift is toward palettes that feel more personal and less "traditional wedding."
Burgundy also works across formality levels in a way that few deep colors do. In a barn setting with burlap and mason jars, merlot bridesmaid gowns feel rustic and warm. In a hotel ballroom with crystal chandeliers, the same merlot gowns feel black-tie elegant. This versatility makes burgundy the backbone of fall wedding color planning for many couples.
- •Burgundy is naturally autumnal: it mirrors turning leaves, wine grapes, and dusk
- •It bridges warm and cool undertones, making it compatible with many companion colors
- •It photographs with extraordinary depth and richness in both natural and artificial light
- •It works across every formality level, from rustic barn to formal ballroom
- •For 2026, unexpected pairings like burgundy-sage and burgundy-terracotta are trending
Burgundy Wedding Attire: Gowns, Suits, and Accessories
Burgundy bridesmaid gowns are available from virtually every major bridal brand, reflecting the color's sustained popularity. For floor-length styles, chiffon in merlot and bordeaux shades flatters most body types. Velvet bridesmaid gowns in burgundy are a signature fall trend, adding texture and depth that reads luxuriously in photographs. For a more relaxed look, midi-length burgundy bridesmaid dresses in flowing satin work well for outdoor and semi-formal settings.
For groomsmen, burgundy can be incorporated in multiple ways: a burgundy velvet bow tie with charcoal or navy suit, a burgundy pocket square with a deep charcoal suit, or a full burgundy velvet suit for the groom in a particularly dramatic moody palette. Burgundy velvet loafers have become a popular groom shoe choice for fall weddings.
Bridal accessories in burgundy are a subtle and elegant option: burgundy ribbon on the bridal bouquet, a burgundy velvet headband, or burgundy-toned floral hairpieces. These connect the bride to her color palette without a full burgundy gown.
Burgundy Wedding Florals: A Season-by-Season Availability Guide
Burgundy floral availability is strongest in fall, making it the ideal season for deep-red-toned arrangements. Dahlias peak in September and October with extraordinary varieties in deep burgundy, wine, and near-black shades. Roses in deep burgundy tones (Black Magic, Black Baccara) are available year-round through commercial growing. Anemones with their white-petaled black center are available from late fall through spring.
For texture, amaranth in deep burgundy trails beautifully in cascading bouquets. Chocolate cosmos have a deep burgundy color and a subtle chocolate fragrance. Dried strawflowers come in deep red and burgundy tones and last indefinitely in dried arrangements, making them excellent for DIY couples.
Ask your florist specifically about flower-to-bud timing for your wedding date. Dahlias in particular have a narrow peak season. Confirm availability 4-6 months before your wedding, especially if your wedding is in late November when some dahlia varieties have already finished their season.
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These are all shades within the burgundy color family, differentiated by depth and undertone. Merlot (#722F37) is the classic mid-depth burgundy with balanced red and blue undertones, the most widely flattering for skin tones. Wine (#8B0034) is more red-dominant and warmer. Cabernet (#4A0020) is deeper and more blue-toned, nearly black in low light. Oxblood (#4A0E0E) is the darkest shade, with brownish undertones. Bordeaux (#5E2028) sits between merlot and cabernet in depth.
The four most popular burgundy pairings for fall weddings are: burgundy and blush (romantic, universally flattering), burgundy and gold (opulent and rich), burgundy and sage (botanical and versatile), and burgundy and navy (formal and dramatic). For 2026, burgundy-sage-blush three-color combinations are especially popular as they feel simultaneously romantic, seasonal, and botanical.
Burgundy fall flowers include: Black Magic roses, dark dahlias, burgundy anemones, dark calla lilies, dark chocolate cosmos, burgundy chrysanthemums, and amaranth (in deep red-burgundy tones). Spray roses also come in deep wine shades. For texture, burgundy coleus leaves and dark basil provide foliage interest. Dried berries in deep red tones also complement burgundy floral arrangements.
Merlot (#722F37) is the most universally flattering shade for bridesmaid dresses across all skin tones. It has balanced warm and cool undertones, so it complements both warm and cool complexions. Bordeaux and claret are also excellent. Oxblood and cabernet, while beautiful, can appear very dark in photographs, especially in evening settings. For mismatched looks, ranging from wine to dusty rose within the same hue family creates visual richness.
Burgundy works in both settings. For outdoor fall ceremonies, burgundy pops beautifully against golden foliage and reads as richly saturated in natural light. For indoor evening receptions, burgundy deepens dramatically under candlelight, creating a moody and romantic atmosphere. Outdoor burgundy photography benefits from golden-hour light, which adds warmth to the cool-toned deep red.
Balance burgundy with light neutrals. Cream, ivory, and warm white counterbalance the depth of burgundy without diluting its richness. Add blush as a secondary color for immediate lightness. Use burgundy primarily on bridesmaid attire and floral accents rather than on every surface. Keep tablecloths in ivory or linen rather than deep burgundy. Allow your venue architecture and natural light to provide visual breathing room around burgundy elements.