20 Black and Gold Wedding Ideas for Any Affair (2024)

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Incorporate a Subtle Gold Accent

To kick off your black and gold wedding theme, add the hues to your invitations. If you’re going for more of a moody, modern affair, all you need is a minor touch of gold to ground the darker details. For instance, at their Succession- and Gatsby-inspired nuptials in New York City, this couple opted for black envelopes and calligraphy, but they designed a gold custom crest. Gallagher also suggests using gold foil. “It’s a stunning way to bring the gold to life in a standout kind of way,” she remarks.

Consider a Tropical Take

While you’ll mainly see black and gold tones at upscale ballroom weddings or modern art museum bashes, the sky’s the limit with potential aesthetics. Want a tropical theme? No problem. This color palette will infuse a moody, romantic, and luxe touch into a lush design, creating an eye-catching setup. For your stationery suite, consider a palm leaf-shaped card with a black border and gold calligraphy, as this duo chose for their black-tie tropical fête in Miami.

Rethink Your Accessories

You don’t have to dress yourself in a black or gold wedding dress to execute this theme—it’s all in the accessories. If you’re wearing the classic bridal whites for your big day, pair the more traditional ensemble with black and gold shoes. Take cues from this bride, who wore a pair of loafers, embellished with gold stars and bees, to her old Hollywood soirée in the Idaho mountains. Although the item won’t be visible to your guests, it’s a fun way to tie your theme together.

Use the Hues to Guide Your Bridesmaids’ Attire

One of the easiest ways to reinforce a black and gold wedding is through your wedding party’s outfits. Dress your bridesmaids in black gowns with gold jewelry (which this bride selected for her timeless celebration in Santa Barbara) and your groomsmen in black tuxedos with gold cufflinks. For the finishing touch, Gallagher advises integrating white anemones with black centers into their bouquets and boutonnières.

Add the Colors to Your Signage

To welcome guests to your ceremony, set up a sign painted in black and gold. An all-black installation with an ounce of gold lettering is ideal for modern, minimalist gatherings. For chilly outdoor settings, you can even go the extra mile by making a bin available with black pashminas, complete with gold details.

Look for Naturally Occurring Tones

Flowers are one of the most important details at weddings, but there aren’t many blooms that naturally grow black. Instead, include gold blossoms and leaves into your floral arrangements, and place them on the perimeter of matte black chairs. The end result is a unique contrast that’s perfect for autumn.

Arrange a Modern Lounge Area

If you want to invite an element of interior design into your celebration (while giving guests instant access to comfort), set up a lounge area, decked out in black and gold. “Furniture can have black fabric with gold lacquer feet or handles,” Gallagher recommends. Choose velvet fabric, and station the setup with white flowers for a high-luxury site.

Opt for an Art Deco Bar

Since Art Deco weddings often have black and gold palettes, the aesthetic is a natural fit for this color scheme. Inspired by art and architecture in the Roaring Twenties, Art Deco designs tend to include geometric shapes and extravagant details, like this black bar adorned with an ornate gold pattern. Install gold shelving as the backdrop and flank the bar with black fringe lamps for an extra touch.

Invite a Gothic Touch

Whether your style is dark and edgy or you’re throwing a bash around Halloween, black and gold are also suitable choices for a gothic affair. For one idea, design black co*cktail napkins, engraved with your names, wedding date, and a “‘Til death do us part” reference, all in a gold-colored font (which is what this pair did at their moody fairy-tale wedding in Rhode Island).

Give Your Escort Cards an Upgrade

You can always blend black and gold together on the escort cards themselves, but focusing on the larger display will make the setup more captivating. For example, place black escort cards on a lucite table to spotlight the dark shade, and embellish the spread with a smidge of gold flowers for contrast. If you want the golden hue to shine, pair with other muted blooms, like white and greenery.

Make the Palette Pop Against a White Base

All-white weddings are timeless, but if you’re looking for an out-of-the-box take on this conventional color palette, try welcoming black and gold. Gold candle holders, black napkins, and chairs with a gold frame and black cushions and legs, placed on a neutral base of white linens, plates, and candles (which is seen at this Chicago hotel wedding) will make the setup appear more glamorous—with a slight edge.

Choose a Dark Table for the Focal Point

On the other end of the spectrum, an all-black foundation will give lighter-colored tabletop elements more of a presence. You can either choose a black hardtop table or wrap the piece of furniture in black linens, particularly velvet. “Velvet creates a deep, midnight black color and is absolutely stunning,” Gallagher mentions. “In my opinion, it helps make the rest of the décor stand out since it’s ultimately neutral.” Line the base with white pillar candles and flowers and gold flatware for an upscale feel.

Mix in Burgundy

If you’re looking for another color to throw into the mix besides white, burgundy is ideal for romantic, edgy nuptials in the fall or winter. One idea to enact these hues is lining a black table with burgundy taper candles, paired with gold-rimmed, 3D acrylic table numbers and black napkins topped with gold place cards.

Try a Botanical Spin

Black and gold don’t have to be the primary focus of your décor. If you’re throwing a botanical-themed wedding, these two hues can take on more of a supporting role. Add natural touches with greenery-clad centerpieces, white linens, and wooden chairs before sealing the spread with gold flatware, black chargers, and black place cards. The minimal touch will accentuate the organic display in a fresh and contemporary way.

Juxtapose the Shades With Vibrant Ones

On their own, black and gold elicit drama and glitz. When you throw in brighter shades, like berry, butterscotch, and tangerine, the outcome is more lush and airy. If you’re hosting your wedding in the spring or summer, opt for vivacious centerpieces with darker place settings.

Trim Your Place Settings With the Glitzy Tint

For those who are seeking a color palette that’s predominantly black, like the one at this couple’s glamorous affair in New Jersey, give your tablescape an ounce of opulence with gold trim, like gold-rimmed chargers and gold flatware. Against a black background, the gold will appear more lustrous.

Try a Subtle Splash

Perhaps you’re considering neutrals, such as white and blush, for the main shades of your color scheme, which are perfect for warm-weather nuptials. In this case, you can make black and gold supplemental hues. A subtle incorporation of black will add a hint of drama, while gold ones will create an inviting, cozy display.

Combine With Acrylic Elements

With its transparent nature, acrylic allows color to take center stage. This twosome’s glittery soirée at an Ohio vineyard had lucite menus etched with gold writing, see-through chargers with a rim of gold beads, and black napkins, which all appeared more pronounced against the acrylic materials.

Decorate Black Tiers With Gold Foil

Couples often choose white confections for their main dessert of the evening, but black tiers are preferred for moody, modern weddings. And splattered with edible gold leaf and presented on a gold cake stand, your design will boast more texture and glimmer.

Create a Keepsake That Captures the Color Scheme

If you want your guests to store your big day—and the ensuing color palette—in their memories, give them a favor that combines both hues. At their sophisticated, modern affair in Washington D.C., this couple distributed candles and matchboxes that were wrapped in a gold wax seal and that featured various black touches. Every time their guests strike a match, they’ll recall your celebration and the striking shades.