Last month, Pantone announced the 2019 color of the year – living coral.  Prior to starting my career in the wedding industry, I had never heard of such a thing.  I always knew there were trends in colors for home decor, weddings, etc. but had never know that there was a force out there announcing and dictating the “it color” for each year.

In years past, we’ve seen colors like serenity (pale blue) and rose quartz, greenery and marsala.  Pale blue and blush have been extremely popular in wedding work and also in home decor.  I remember the following season after serenity and rose quartz were announced, Target launched a gorgeous new line of goods in these shades and somehow made me covet having a pink house.  Although that’s a combo that really must be tackled carefully, otherwise you’ll think you’re at a gender reveal party.  We all know that greens and greenery have been huge, I’ve had numerous weddings that have forgone bloom in favor of their leafy partners and faux greens and emerald has made an appearance in home decor with oodles of succulents and planters and some more boho, earthy greenhouse vibes being right on trend.

So historically, this announcement of the color of the year does matter.  Does it mean that every wedding we see from here until 2020 is going to be coral?  No.  Does it mean that salmon and apricot hues are going to take over our living rooms? No.  But I still think it’s going to impact what we see happening around us.

On that note, I want to share a few of the ways I’ve used this vibrant hue (or a variation of it) in the past.  Keep in mind that color is subjective and that a single bloom can vary in shade and vibrance dramtically, so these are all flowers that are in the apricot, peachy, salmony, sherbert, watermelon, terra cotta and general coral color story.  Each season has it’s own start blooms, so I’ll divide them up that way.

Winter

The giant ranunculus were the stars of these photos with poppies coming in a really close second for being my favorite salmon/peach/coral winter flower.

The above are a mix of professional and candid photos.  Professional imagery by Gabby H. Photography and Hetler Photography.

Spring

Not pictured, coral charm peonies which are amazing in the spring but I barely get to use them.  The ranunculus stick around until spring and I love adding some greenhouse finds like hanging fuschias and coral bell foliages.

The above are a mix of professional and candid photos.  Professional imagery by Arielle Peters Photography and Kelly Sweet Photography.

Summer

 

Those dahlias are from Summer Dreams Farm in Oxford, Michigan and they’re simply the best!  Romantic Antike roses are availible pretty much all year but I love them even more in the summer when I can source them from sources grown in the United States rather than importing them.

The above are a mix of professional and candid photos.  Professional imagery by Cassie Rosch Photography, Cory Weber Photography and Emily Jane Photography.

Autumn

I just love the way that coral blends with all the yummy autumn foliages, making the leaves themselves almost appear pink.  Distant drum roses (I source mine from Grace Rose Farm) have such a unique color combo and pick up the colors around them making them the perfect delicate bloom to mix in.

Professional imagery above from Kelly Sweet Photography and Samantha James Photography

Is there more coral ahead this year?  I haven’t had many requests yet by name, but none of these weddings really specified they wanted coral specifically in their palette either.  It just happens to be a versitle tone that adds a little does of cheer to any bouquet, no matter what the season.

All floral arrangements were created by Shelby of The Day’s Design (that’s me!).  See more of my work here.

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