New year, new colour! Pantone has declared that there are not one, but two colours for 2021! Ultimate Gray, a soothing grey, and Illuminating, a sunny yellow, are the colours chosen to reflect 2021. Here, we have all the inspiration you need to incorporate these gorgeous colours into your wedding palette.
For over 20 years, the Pantone Colour Institute has selected the "Colour of the Year" – meant to be a symbol of the new year to come. The 2021 Colour of the Year has been announced as the marriage of two hues: Ultimate Gray and Illuminating.
Practical and rock-solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, the union of Ultimate Gray and Illuminating is one of strength and positivity. Illuminating is a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade. Ultimate Gray is the colour of pebbles on the beach, encouraging feelings of composure, steadiness and resilience. Selected to convey a message of strength and hopefulness for the new year, the combination of these two colours highlights how different elements come together to support one another, a practical and solid hue as well as a warming and optimistic tone.
Many 2020 brides had their fair share of disappointments last year, so the message behind the selection of these two colours is especially uplifting for pairs planning their weddings. If you're still undecided on a colour palette, the combination of grey and yellow can also create a beautiful wedding colour scheme for celebrations in any season. So, for brides and grooms who wish to incorporate these shades into their celebration, we've gathered a number of ways to do so below.
Bridesmaid Dresses
Both grey and yellow are gorgeous options for bridesmaid dresses. Many grey bridesmaid dresses have a beautiful silvery hue which is perfect for wintry or sophisticated weddings. On the other hand, the many shades of yellow bridesmaid dresses available are ideal for spring/summer or outdoor weddings.
Wedding Cakes
Yellow decorations, such as flowers or stars, are an ever-popular choice for a wedding cake. You could even go for all-over yellow icing if you are completely embracing this element of your colour palette. Similarly to wedding flowers, grey makes a beautiful contrasting accent, such as ribbons or a cake stand.
Wedding Attire
Grey suits have become an increasingly popular option for the groom, a classic and sophisticated choice. You could then use the yellow as a pop of colour, from ties to pocket squares. You can then always complement this with your bridal look, for example by having yellow flowers in your hair.
If you want to be bold, you could even incorporate these colours into your wedding dress! Silvery-grey tones, such as the Hayley Paige dress above, create an enchanting and ethereal look for a fairytale, unusual wedding day look.
Wedding Stationery
From invitations to menus, a touch of grey can add a sense of sophistication and elegance to your wedding stationery. It could be your font, background or decorative elements, each of which is perfect for reflecting the grey in your colour palette. For example, this menu from Pearl Vine Print beautifully encompasses the sophisticated grey with yellow touches.
You could also add yellow golds into your colour scheme for a more classic and understated inclusion. For example, you could choose to have a golden sign such as this one from Elite Invite, which can be a tasteful addition to welcome your guests or even used as a cake topper.
Wedding Jewellery
These shades of yellow and grey are very close to gold and silver, perfect for wedding jewellery! Choosing contrasting metals for your wedding rings is becoming increasingly popular, the perfect way to embrace this marriage of colours. Or you could simply choose to have some contrasting metals within your bridal jewellery, from earrings to bracelets.
Wedding Flowers
Yellow flowers are a gorgeous addition to any bridal bouquet. From statement sunflowers to delicate roses, yellow flowers are bright and beautiful, perfect for your special day. They are also wonderful as decorations, making a striking and fun centrepiece. You can then use grey as an accent, for example as the ribbon holding your bouquet together.
Wedding Transport
Of course, grey is a traditional colour for many variations of wedding transport, from classic, vintage to sleek, modern cars. So, you might not think this is a deliberate choice in your wedding palette. However, yellow can be a fun and bold choice for wedding transport. For example, this gorgeous yellow VW Campervan from The Cotswold Campervan Company is a unique choice for wedding transport!
Venue Decorations
Venue decorations are where you can embrace these two colours as much as you want! These colours compliment each other beautifully, so they are ideal for creating a theme for your venue. From table cloths to flowers, crockery to bunting, there are so many elements you can choose to reflect these colours. These colours can be used in almost every venue depending on the atmosphere you want to create. Yellow is perfect for a bright and colourful celebration, while grey translates well for an enchanting, sophisticated occasion, such as the barn wedding above.