These wedding color trends prove that bold palettes are back in a big way.

If you’re recently engaged (or if you’ve had to reschedule your wedding and want to switch up your original plans), these trending wedding colors for 2021 are bound to inspire your color palette selection. Thanks to industry experts, we got a first look at the new wedding colors you can expect to see everywhere throughout the next year, from attire to floral arrangements and beyond. 

“Lilac, pinks, corals, and even orange will be the key colors, but not in a traditional form,” says Nora Sheils of Bridal Bliss in Portland, Oregon. “Instead, we will see them washed out providing a softer, sophisticated feel. Texture will also be important, as we see layers of blooms and greenery replicated in the use of mixed linens, paper goods and even the serving vessels.” 

As a result of the uncertainty and challenges brought on by the pandemic, couples are turning to lighter, mood-boosting hues and going back to the basics for their 2021 wedding colors. Find out exactly what those colors are—and how you can use them for your own wedding—below.

Light Blue

As one of the most classic wedding colors, blue is always a staple in many couples’ palettes and aesthetics. But dark hues, like navy and sapphire, will be less present as lighter blue tones rise in popularity for wedding colors in 2021. Periwinkle, powder blue, cornflower, and French blue are just a few examples. The one exception for dark blues? Accent colors. 

How to Use It

The great news is that light blue is one of the easiest wedding color trends to adapt for any season or style. While it looks elegant and whimsical with other pastel colors (for example, blush and lilac), it’s just as pretty when paired with burgundy, rust orange and other colors that are typically seen at fall or winter weddings. You can incorporate light blue into your 2021 wedding colors by using details like chinoiserie plates, silk bouquet ribbons, colored glassware and of course flowers, such as anemones, hydrangeas, sweet peas, forget-me-nots, delphinium, and scabiosa. 

Green

Expect to see green tones everywhere in 2021, from actual greenery to color palettes that feature green as a primary or accent color. In recent years, green has become extremely popular thanks to the tropical wedding theme trend, but as one of the top wedding colors of 2021, green will take on a much more eclectic—and almost retro—vibe. Mid-range greens, such as olive, pistachio, avocado, and matcha (like the tea!) will bring a cool ’70s look to your wedding aesthetic. 

How to Use It

Use this rich hue as an accent to make your 2021 wedding colors really pop. Green is one of the most universally flattering colors (it looks amazing on fair, olive and dark skin tones), so it’s an easy addition to your wedding attire. Jazz up your ensemble with a green jacket or patterned tie, or outfit your bridesmaids in sleek green slip dresses. Green engagement rings are another way to rock this trendy color. And of course there are your flower arrangements—fan palms, plumosa ferns, and English ivy are a few options to try if you’re looking for greenery other than eucalyptus and philodendron leaves. 

Throwback Brights

Calling all ’80s and ’90s kids: this unique wedding color palette is a game-changer if you’re looking for something that’s entirely unexpected (with a hint of nostalgia). Fuchsia, yellow, teal, bright red, and cobalt are some of the new wedding colors you can expect to see everywhere in 2021. But rather than choosing just one of these as your wedding color, the trend will be to use a combination of them, resulting in a palette that’s bold and non-traditional. According to The Knot 2019 Real Weddings Study, the average age of couples getting married right now is 32, so it’s no surprise that these throwback colors are grabbing millennials’ attention. 

How to Use Them

There’s nothing subtle about these wedding colors, so we say embrace them in all their eye-catching glory. In this case, more is more! From patterned dinner plates to rainbow flower arrangements, neon signs and statement-making backdrops, going all-out with your decor will help bring these 2021 wedding colors to life. Your wedding stationery is a great place to establish an upbeat tone for the day. Decorate your invitation suite with abstract shapes and details, like squiggly lines, triangles and polka-dots to surprise your guests with something they haven’t seen yet (brush up on the Memphis design movement of the ’80s for an idea of what we mean).

Lilac and Lavender

Pale purple hues are making a comeback as some of the most in-demand wedding colors for 2021. But unlike the ethereal wedding color trends of years past (looking at you, blush), these aren’t your average pastels. The goal here will be to use numerous pastel colors together for maximum impact—think Taylor Swift circa Lover, with lilac and lavender being used alongside colors like pale yellow, bubblegum pink and mint green. The end result: a pastel rainbow effect that’s completely whimsical and fun, which is what we all need in a post-COVID society, right?     

How to Use Them

Since lilac and lavender are also types of flowers, the easiest way to incorporate them into your 2021 wedding colors is through your bouquets, centerpieces or other arrangements. But these wedding color trends are also popping up in some of the biggest wedding decor trends of the moment, including spray-painted baby’s breath, colorful cakes and pressed flowers (violets, cosmos and larkspur will keep their purple color, even after drying). Alternate between using these two light purple tones to create a multidimensional color palette that’s uplifting and fresh.  

Papaya Orange

You can think of this wedding color as an updated and punchier version of coral or peach. It’s slightly more saturated than its pastel counterparts, but it isn’t as bold as a rust or tangerine orange, making it much easier to incorporate into a variety of wedding aesthetics.   

How to Use It 

You can go one of two ways with this orange hue. Depending on how you style it, papaya orange can be bohemian and artsy, or tropical and lively. Pair it with other vivid hues, like magenta and turquoise if you’re having a beach wedding, or use it as an accent color for an earthy, neutral palette. Terracotta vases, cymbidium orchids, and lilies are just a few subtle ways to work this statement color into your decor.  

Neutrals

Minimalistic yet bohemian neutrals are here to stay as wedding colors for 2021. Earth tones, like taupe, ivory and dusty rose, are especially in-demand for bridesmaid dresses, says Brooke Avishay of Orange Blossom Special Events in Encino, California. But these soft hues will continue to be extremely popular for wedding decor, stationery and floral arrangements throughout the coming months. Our take? Many couples are looking for wedding colors that evoke a calming, chic vibe, and neutrals perfectly fit the bill.   

How to Use Them

With a lack of bright colors, mixing different textures and materials will be extremely important to add visual interest and depth to a neutral color palette. Flowers and greenery are just two ways to achieve this. If your wedding decor is mostly white and ivory tones, details like pampas grass, bleached greenery, metallic pieces and luxurious linens (velvet, silk, faux fur) will keep the aesthetic from falling flat. You can also incorporate black as an accent color to give your wedding a more formal, sophisticated look.   

Yellow

Yellow is coming in hot as one of the new wedding colors for couples in search of a palette that doesn’t feel overdone or bland. Vibrant, sunny yellow is the particular shade we have our eye on for 2021, and it doesn’t take much of this color to make an impact. Its versatility might surprise you—prepare to see it popping up everywhere, from summer beach weddings to romantic outdoor fall celebrations.

How to Use It

Energetic yellow makes the perfect accent color if you have a mostly white or neutral color palette. Add yellow to your tablescapes with taper candles, linens, gold flatware, or colored glass accents. Yellow flowers, including sunflowers, peonies, and heirloom roses, are all gorgeous options for creating a garden-inspired aesthetic. Feeling more playful? We’re big fans of the citrus-fruit-as-decor trend—use fresh lemons, grapefruits and oranges as a creative addition to your centerpieces, or add illustrated citrus motifs to your wedding stationery and signage.