multicolored bright flower arrangement with periwinkle bloom in the middle. periwinkle colored text reads "Using Pantone's Veri Peri in Your Wedding"

New year, new Pantone color

And by new, I mean REALLY new. For the first time in its 20+ year history, the Pantone Color Institute has created a new color for a year - Veri Peri. (Although it seems similar to 2016’s Serenity to me - just a bit darker and more saturated.) While last year’s colors focused on optimism and resilience, Veri Peri uses color psychology to combine blue - representing calm, serenity, tradition, and trust - with violet red undertones bringing energy, determination, passion, and daring to the party as well. It sounds like just what we need after the last two years.

square color swatch of Pantone's Veri Peri periwinkle Color of the Year 2022

“...Very Peri brings a novel perspective and vision of the trusted and beloved blue color family, encompassing the qualities of the blues, yet at the same time with its violet red undertone, PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri displays a spritely, joyous attitude that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expressions. ”

— Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute.

How to Use Veri Peri in Your Wedding

According to Pantone, Veri Peri promises “to bring joy as the 'happiest and warmest of all the blue hues,” and who doesn’t want that at their wedding? I actually like this color, as I haven’t seen too much of it here in Pittsburgh, but it can be a hard color to use in a wedding. While some might choose to use this a the main color in their wedding palette, most will chose to use it as an accent. What you pair it with will dramatically alter the way it looks and feels in the overall design. The trick, I think, is finding the right color palette to pair with this very specific, quietly bold tone.

*Most of the photos that follow aren’t exactly Veri Peri, since it’s a new color, but they’re close enough to give you an idea how you could use a periwinkle shade like Veri Peri in your wedding design.

Metalics

One of the most versatile things about Veri Peri is that because of its balance of warm and cool tones, it will pair equally well with golds, silvers, or other metallics, in either shiny or brushed forms.

able number card reading "8 - Sugar Plum Fairy" with a watercolor painting of the Sugar Plum Fairy ballerina from the Nutcracker ballet on a wedding reception table with dark purple goblets and tableware in shades of purple, gold, pink, and cream — Jenn Marie Photography, Mosaic Linens, Marbella and All Occasions Rentals, judith browne calligraphy

square cut halo diamond ring in a periwinkle velvet ring box on a cream cheesecloth background — Taylor Marie Photography

unique wrap gold ring that looks like a vine with leaves made of opal gems in a periwinkle grey velvet ring box in front of bouquet stems tied with pink to purple ombre silk ribbon and on top of tulle veil — Samantha Zenewicz Photography

round dark brushed Silver birdcage filled with periwinkle and white flowers and greenery surrounded by candles in gold holders on a wedding table with cream linens — Jenn Marie Photography

periwinkle and cream Art Deco style wedding invitation on a silver tray surrounded by vintage lace, other invitation suite elements, including a color coded map of Pittsburgh, and a periwinkle colored spray rose — Jenn Marie Photography, Jeanie Rae Studio

Muted Earthy and Jewel Tones

wedding bouquet of spiky eucalyptus, periwinkle roses, light rose colored carnations and a dark rose pink protea on a royal blue velvet vintage settee sofa with a black tulle veil and black ballet point shoes — Jenn Marie Photography, Dish and Decor Vintage Rental, Bloom Magic Weddings

Periwinkle jeweled gold crown sitting on a periwinkle velvet pillow on a royal blue velvet chair — Samantha Zenewicz Photography, Marbella and All Occasions Rentals

Veri Peri looks great with earthy and jewel tones (hello color wheel theory) in their natural state, but what really puts it over the edge and makes it look modern and sophisticated is using a muted version of these hues. I’m normally a full saturation gal, but I’m loving the richness of this periwinkle with the balance of still rich but less vibrant tones.

color palette of Pantone muted jewel tone colors: burnished lilac, lotus pink, muted clay, dried moss golden yellow, veri peri, granite green, hawthorne rose maroon, elderberry mauve

color grid of Pantone earth tone color swatches: greenbriar, foliage, treetop, celery, Chai tea, dewberry purple, veri peri, eggshell blue

Neutrals

If you want your Veri Peri to stand out, neutrals are the way to go with your palette. Metallics, like we saw above, are one way to do this, but you can also go with non-metallic neutrals will also look lovely. Don’t forget, lighter (or darker) hues from the same base colors totally count as nuetrals - in this case, other pinks, blues, and purples.

man from the neck down wearing a dark charcoal suit vest and pants, white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to show forearm tatoos, and a periwinkle plaid bow tie, sitting on a light wood bench in front of a brown rock wall — Michaela Kessler Photography

minimal cursive and typewriter font wedding invitation suite over crossed rose pink and light mauve silk ribbons with square cut halo diamond ring in a periwinkle velvet ring box — Taylor Marie Photography

Christmas sweetheart table in pinks, mauves, navy blue, gold, and creams with fresh evergreens on a gold and mirrored table with a cream colored settee with a light pink throw and Veri Peri and royal blue pillows in front of bright windows — Samantha Zenewicz Photography, Holly Hanna Floral , Mosaic Linens, Marbella and All Occasions Rentals, Hip at the Flashlight Factory

concrete table decorated for a wedding reception table with purple goblets, beaded white juice glasses, plates and chargers in gold, pink, and cream, and gold flatware with a cream and gold Nutcracker place card at each setting — Samantha Zenewicz Photography, Mosaic Linens, Marbella and All Occasions Rentals, Hip at the Flashlight Factory

Periwinkle blue and white wedding invitation and wedding rings sitting on a craft paper envelope with a periwinkle blue wax seal of the letter Q all on a white tulle wedding veil — Jenn Marie Photography,

cascade wedding bouquet with white and light pink roses, accented with periwinkle blooms and vintage jewelry — Jenn Marie Photography,

white and gold 3-D wedding invitation with the print of a house on the outer box tied with a gold ribbon and a tag that reads "open me" in gold script. Inner invitation is box designed as a stage with a dancing couple all sitting on periwinkle tulle — Samantha Zenewicz Photography, Cutture

Bride in lace and beaded ballroom skirt wedding dress with mother and sister of the bride, wearing periwinkle blue dresses, helping zip back of the bride's dress — Jenn Marie Photography,

color palette of Pantone neutral tones: anthracite black, volcaninc glass gray, deep taupe, plaza (light) taupe, white sand, petrified oak brown, cloud dancer cream, veri peri

Brights

The boldest way to use Veri Peri is to use it with other bright, vibrant colors. It’s perfect for a classic spring or summer garden or garden party wedding, but it could also make for a wonderful eclectic, boho style wedding.

wedding invitation with dried flowers in Pantone's Veri Peri periwinkle, bright fuschia, golden tan, and creams — Jacqie Q Photography

Bride in a white satin robe printed with pink and purple flowers between two women wearing Pantone Veri Peri floral printed silk robes — Jacqie Q Photography, West Virginia Botanic Garden

peach and cream boutonnière wrapped in pink and Pantone Veri Peri ombre silk ribbon resting on top of a copper flask — Eryn Wells Photography, The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers

brightly colored flower arrangement with Pantone Veri Peri periwinkle flowers in a gold pedestal vase in a large train station inspired wedding venue — Steven Dray Photography, Community Flower Shop, The Pennsylvanian

Florists hands creating a brightly colored floral hair adornment — Jenn Marie Photography, Posy

brightly colored flower arrangement in a gold compote bowl with a black and gold standing menu card sitting on a table with a cream colored table cloth — Steven Dray Photography, Community Flower Shop

Wedding centerpiece with peach, cream, and Pantone Veri Peri periwinkle flowers, greenery, spiky eucalyptus, and tan beach grass in a gold mercury glass pedestal vase — Jackson Signature Photography, Holly Hanna Floral

Groom in a navy blue suit vest and pants, white dress shirt with sleeves rolled up to show forearm tattoos, and a periwinkle blue plaid bow tie holding a bright colored wedding bouquet in a sassy pose — Eryn Wells Photography, The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden

color palette of Pantone bright tones: tawny orange, veri peri, iced coffee, pink flambe, fuschia pink, paradise pink, cornsilk yellow, tourmaline gray

What do you think — Love the color? Hate it? Apathetic about it? Don’t know why anyone cares what Pantone thinks anyway? Hit the comment button and let me know. And if you aren’t a fan of Veri Peri, stay tuned! I’ll be sharing some other color experts’ picks for colors of the year soon.

Title image photo by Steven Dray Photography, flowers by Community Flower Shop.

Thanks to Build.com for the color swatch images.

Using Veri Peri - the 2022 Pantone Color of the Year - In Your Wedding