“Living Coral” is Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2019.

How will it be incorporated into wedding flowers?

Every December the Color Experts at Pantone reveal the hue they believe will be the leading color for the following fashion season. I’m always both eager to see what they forecast and also a little dismissive.  It feels a little bit like a cat playing with a mouse sometimes, but it keeps life interesting! Though why should you even care what Pantone thinks if you’re a flower farmer or a bride in 2019?

The color they select always has a trickle-down effect on the dress colors and decor choices of weddings the following season, sometimes longer. And eventually the influence is felt in the flower breeding world too. An excellent example was in 2015 when we had Marsala as the Color of the Year, a hue that left many flower growers scratching their heads to come up with anything that really matched. I’d dare say no bride had ever really considered “brown” or “muddy red” as a driving wedding color inspiration before 2015.  But here we are nearly four seasons later and the seed breeders have graced us with beauties like Rudbekia ‘Sahara’, Lisianthus ‘Rosanne Deep Brown’, and Helianthus ‘Strawberry Blonde’.  And the driving accent color for the past three wedding seasons has decidedly been Marsala.

Last year we had Ultra Violet.  That vivid purple blast from the 80s seems to have been a decided flop in wedding trends. Proof then that the Pantone Color of the Year can absolutely be hit or miss.

For 2019, they’ve chosen “Living Coral”, a warm, saturated orange with undertones of pink.  Flower farmers are rejoicing!  This color is already rampant in Mother Nature’s crayon box.  Brides (and perhaps more importantly bridesmaids) should also be excited as this color tends to be flattering on everyone, especially when toned down to a softer, washed out version reminiscent of peach.

So don’t be afraid to embrace color in your flowers!  Be bold and step away from the blush!  You’ll be right on trend if you do!