Marsala in 2015

image from catsmedia.ca

Goodbye orchid, hello marsala!

Pantone's color of the year this year is rich and sultry Marsala. As Pantone describes it, "The impactful, full-bodied qualities of Marsala make for an elegant, grounded statement color when used on its own or as a strong accent to many other colors." In this sense Marsala is good for grounding your palette. It's earthy tones can balance brighter notes like cobalts and chartreuse, but it can also warm creams and pastels. 

Marsala feels rustic and Tuscan but it can also feel exotic and Moroccan. As an earthy tone it acts as a nice middle-ground for mixing in other colors.

So what does 2015's color of the year mean for the wedding and event industry?

Marsala is a nice tone to introduce into linens, fabrics, and papergoods. Subtle hints of it could unify your desired look and add an earthy richness to your overall decor. In the flower world, Marsala-like tones might be found in cymbidium orchids and ranunculus, but do not be afraid to extend your palette into the deeper wine tones found in flowers like peonies and dahlias. 

Here are some recommended Marsala pairings by Pantone with some of our flower suggestions that incorporate these palettes--