How to Use Pantone Classic Blue in Your 2020 Wedding
Another year passes, another color from Pantone to rule us all…
Well… maybe not rule us all…but it certainly means we will be seeing a lot of it this year. (Although if anyone notices Viggo Mortenson galloping about on a horse, let me know. I wouldn’t mind seeing that this year!)
This year, Pantone selected Classic Blue, calling it timeless, enduring, reassuring, thought provoking, restful, reflective, and elegant in its simplicity.
“As technology continues to race ahead of the human ability to process it all, it is easy to understand why we gravitate to colors that are honest ... Imbued with a deep resonance, Classic Blue provides an anchoring foundation. A boundless blue evocative the vast and infinite evening sky, [it] encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking; challenging us to think more deeply, increase our perspective, and open the flow of communication. ”
Pantone calls on Classic Blue to:
Instill calm, confidence, and connection
Bring a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit
Offer refuge
Aid in concentration
Bring laser like clarity
Re-center our thoughts
Foster resiliance
I don’t know about y’all, but I could definitely use some of all that in my life.
The Fine Art Wedding Workshop’s Nutcracker styled wedding. Photograph: Samantha Zenewicz Photography.
I certainly didn’t hide the fact that I wasn’t a huge fan of last year’s Living Coral, and while I definitely like this year’s selection better, I think Pantone played it safe after the extreme reactions to last year’s choice.
That said, I think Classic Blues gives way more options for creativity without looking passe. It offers a lovely canvas to build a color palette around, as the feature color or an as accent or neutral. Blue has always been a popular color in weddings, but I have seen an uptick in its use as a main color this past wedding season, so Pantone may be onto something.
Here are some ideas for incorporating Classic Blue into your wedding.
Lounge Areas
A space for guests to relax and talk is a great addition to your wedding celebration for cocktail hour, the reception, or both. You can have one main area or several smaller areas. I think it’s always a good one idea to put one farther away from the dance floor and DJ booth for those who want a more quite place to talk to other guests.
They also make great places for portraits and detail photos.
Chicago Swan Lake styled wedding boudoir session for The Fine Art Wedding Workshop. Venue: Loft on Lake. Sofa and Rentals: Dish & Decor Vintage Rental. Flowers: Bloom Magic Weddings. Photograph: Jenn Marie Wedding Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Delmont Wedding Day Walkthrough Workshop. Venue: Station House 7. Furniture: Old Souls Vintage Rentals. Garter: The Garter Girl. Photograph and Planning: Jackson Signature Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Pittsburgh Land of the Sweets styled wedding for The Fine Art Wedding Workshop. Venue: HIP at the Flashlight Factory. Furniture: Marbella Event Rental. Flowers: Holly Hanna Floral. Photograph: Samantha Zenewicz Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Delmont Wedding Day Walkthrough Workshop. Venue: Station House 7. Furniture: Old Souls Vintage Rentals. Suit: Heinz Healey’s Gentlemen’s Apparel. Flowers: Madison Reid Designs Photograph and Planning: Jackson Signature Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Stationary
Your save the dates and wedding invitation suite are one of the first impressions of your event that people get, and because of this they set the tone for the whole event. If you chose classic blue as a feature color or an accent color, your invitations and other wedding stationary are a great way to make it a key element of your event design.
New Stanton and Unionville summer wedding with Classic Blue stationary accents. Photograph: Anna Laero Photography. Coordination: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Bramblewood Surprise Vow Renewal. Place Card: Salinson Creative. Ribbon: Tono + Co. Vintage Dishes: Pippa’s Pieces Vintage Rentals. Photography: Jessica Husted Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Latrobe and Blairsville Laurel Valley summer wedding with Classic Blue stationary. Flowers: Jean Marie. Photograph: Jenn Marie Wedding Photography. Coordination: Bespoke & Beloved Events
Pittsburgh Land of the Sweets styled wedding for The Fine Art Wedding Workshop. Venue: HIP at the Flashlight Factory. Furniture: Marbella Event Rental. Calligraphy Colorwash Label: judith browne calligraphy. Photograph: FotoFixation. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Accessories and Highlights
Flowers, jewelry, ribbon, shoes - no matter what you chose to highlight, your accessories and detail shots are a great place to include color in your wedding. Cakes and featured floral arragements are also great places to add rich color choices.
Delmont Wedding Day Walkthrough Workshop. Venue: Station House 7. Furniture: Old Souls Vintage Rentals. Stationary: Fresh Cut Prints. Flowers: Madison Reid Designs Photograph and Planning: Jackson Signature Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Pittsburgh Vintage Heirloom Wedding. Venue: Mansions on Fifth. Flowers: Posy. Photograph: Jenn Marie Wedding Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Bramblewood Surprise Vow Renewal. Photography: Jessica Husted Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Latrobe and Blairsville Laurel Valley summer wedding. Flowers: Jean Marie. Photograph: Jenn Marie Wedding Photography. Coordination: Bespoke & Beloved Events
Fruits of Love Styled Wedding at Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens. Photograph: Erynn Wells Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events
Delmont Wedding Day Walkthrough Workshop. Venue: Station House 7. Garter: The Garter Girl. Photograph and Planning: Jackson Signature Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Bramblewood Surprise Vow Renewal. Background: Salinson Creative. Photography: Jessica Husted Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Downton Abbey Inspired Styled Wedding. Venue: Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa. Photograph: Jenn Marie Wedding Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Pittsburgh Vintage Heirloom Wedding. Venue: Mansions on Fifth. Flowers: Posy. Photograph: Jenn Marie Wedding Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Delmont Wedding Day Walkthrough Workshop. Venue: Station House 7. Furniture: Old Souls Vintage Rentals. Cake: Four Oaks Bakery. Photograph and Planning: Jackson Signature Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Bramblewood Surprise Vow Renewal. Place Card: Salinson Creative. Vintage Plate: Pippa’s Pieces Vintage Rentals. Table Linen: Mosaic Inc. Photography: Jessica Husted Photography. Design and Styling, Cake Server: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Delmont Wedding Day Walkthrough Workshop. Venue: Station House 7. Furniture: Old Souls Vintage Rentals. Flowers: Madison Reid Designs Photograph and Planning: Jackson Signature Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Pittsburgh Land of the Sweets styled wedding for The Fine Art Wedding Workshop. Venue: HIP at the Flashlight Factory. Cake: Tasty Bakery. Photograph: Jenn Marie Wedding Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Pittsburgh Land of the Sweets styled wedding sweetheart table for The Fine Art Wedding Workshop. Venue: HIP at the Flashlight Factory. Coffee Urn: All Occasions Party Rental. Flowers: Holly Hanna Floral. Photograph: Samantha Zenewicz Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Sweetheart and Head Tables
If you have to chose where to spend your money on reception decorations, the sweetheart table or the head table is one of the best places to get the biggest impact for your buck. Most of the pictures of tables and the dinner will be focused on where the newlyweds are sitting- so put your best accent pieces there to make the most visual impact.
Classic Blue pillows and votive holders are the perfect color pop for this Pittsburgh Land of the Sweets styled wedding sweetheart table for The Fine Art Wedding Workshop. Venue: HIP at the Flashlight Factory. Furniture: Marbella Event Rental. Dishes: All Occasions Party Rental. Pillows and Table Linen: Mosaic Inc. Flowers: Holly Hanna Floral. Photograph: Samantha Zenewicz Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Bramblewood Surprise Vow Renewal. Place Card: Salinson Creative. Ribbon: Tono + Co. Vintage Dishes: Pippa’s Pieces Vintage Rentals. Table Linen: Mosaic Inc. Photography: Jessica Husted Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Pittsburgh Land of the Sweets styled wedding sweetheart table for The Fine Art Wedding Workshop. Venue: HIP at the Flashlight Factory. Furniture: Marbella Event Rental. Dishes: All Occasions Party Rental. Table Linen: Mosaic Inc. Flowers: Holly Hanna Floral. Photograph: Samantha Zenewicz Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Fruits of Love Styled Wedding at Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens. Place Card: Salinson Creative. Vintage Dishes: Pippa’s Pieces Vintage Rentals. Linens: Pier 1. Photograph: Erynn Wells Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events
Delmont Wedding Day Walkthrough Workshop. Venue: Station House 7. Furniture: Old Souls Vintage Rentals. Flowers: Madison Reid Designs. Dishes: https://www.behrenbergglass.com/. Photograph and Planning: Jackson Signature Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Bramblewood Surprise Vow Renewal. Furniture: Bramblewood. Place Card: Salinson Creative. Ribbon: Tono + Co. Classic Blue Goblet and Vintage Dishes: Pippa’s Pieces Vintage Rentals. Table Linen: Mosaic Inc. Photography: Jessica Husted Photography. Design and Styling, BLack Goblet: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Pittsburgh Land of the Sweets styled wedding for The Fine Art Wedding Workshop. Venue: HIP at the Flashlight Factory. Dishes: All Occasions Party Rental. Furniture: Marbella Event Rental. Calligraphy: judith browne calligraphy. Photograph: FotoFixation. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Wedding Clothes
Another place to be sure your wedding colors will be noticed is the clothes of your wedding party and family.
The groom and bridesmaids rocking Classic blue at this Latrobe and Blairsville Laurel Valley summer wedding. Flowers: Jean Marie. Photograph: Jenn Marie Wedding Photography. Coordination: Bespoke & Beloved Events
Classic Blue Groom’s Suit at Bramblewood Surprise Vow Renewal. Photography: Jessica Husted Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Mother of the Bride and Maid of Honor wear Classic Blue dresses for Latrobe and Blairsville Laurel Valley summer wedding. Flowers: Jean Marie. Photograph: Jenn Marie Wedding Photography. Coordination: Bespoke & Beloved Events
Delmont Wedding Day Walkthrough Workshop. Venue: Station House 7. Furniture: Old Souls Vintage Rentals. Suit: Heinz Healey. Dress: Kimberly James Bridal. Photograph and Planning: Jackson Signature Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Classic Blue Tuxedo from The Black Tux at Pittsburgh Land of the Sweets styled wedding for The Fine Art Wedding Workshop. Lapel Pin, Pocket Square and Bow Tie: Nevestica. Photograph: Jenn Marie Wedding Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events.
Classic Blue Groom’s Suit at Fruits of Love Styled Wedding at Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens. Flowers: A Farmer’s Daughter. Photograph: Samantha Zenewicz Photography. Design and Styling: Bespoke & Beloved Events
You Made it to the End
If you’ve stuck with it this long, thank you! I hope you enjoyed it. One of the things I do really like about this choice of color is its versatility. As you can see, it can be used for all styles and budgets of events and with all kinds of color pairings.
If you are are using or have used Classic Blue in your event, I’d love to see how. Send me some pictures and we can ooh and ahh over how brilliant you and your event design choices are.
And, if you are a big nerd like me— here are some articles about Pantone’s color choice and its social impact.
CNN Style - Pantone chooses a classic for its 2020 Color of the Year
Architectural Digest - The 2020 Pantone Color of the Year Is Classic Blue
Art Net News - Pantone Is Going With an Old Classic for Its 2020 Color of the Year
Time - Pantone's Color of the Year Is a Comforting Start to 2020