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Green on the Scene

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The Pantone Color Institute’s 2013 Color of the Year gives a whole new meaning to the phrase “going green.”

Emerald (Pantone 17-5641) was selected as the new “it” color based on what designers and jewelers around the world are doing, and because of it’s meaning, says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

“Emerald green, as a symbolic color, speaks to people of unity and balance and harmony,” Eiseman says.

The balanced aspect of the color is important for weddings, Eiseman adds. “With emerald you get an almost equal division between the cool and the warm undertones in it,” she says. “As a result, you get a very versatile color that looks good on a lot of different skin tones and is also – from the same point of bridal wear – a little different.”

Emerald lends itself to weddings in many ways.

Kasey Skobel-Conyers, owner and principal designer at Bliss Wedding & Event Design in Columbus, Ohio, says emerald can be formal or playful and casual, depending on what it’s mixed with. The designer recommends using emerald as a base and incorporating other hues into your palette.

“If someone came to me and wanted to use [emerald], I would probably mix that color with almost a turquoise color and maybe a lighter shade of green to give us some depth to work with,” Skobel-Conyers says.

For a light, bright look, Skobel-Conyers suggests infusing pink, yellow or a robin’s egg blue to that palette, which she says would be perfect for a more casual, outdoor wedding. For a formal, sophisticated feel, combine emerald with another rich jewel tone.

Dresses – for bridesmaids, flower girls or mother-of-the-brides – can be an obvious yet elegant way to incorporate emerald into weddings. The Dessy Group, a fashion retailer, has a line of wedding products color-matched to Pantone’s hues. However, if you’re hesitant go for all that green, smaller touches like shoes will still stand out.

Vivian Dessy Diamond, owner and creative director at the The Dessy Group, suggests picking up a headband or other coordinating items in emerald. Guys can go for green, too.

“It’s a great accent color for the groom or the groomsmen to wear, whether it’s a cummerbund or a pocket square, or a bow tie, or even their socks if you want to do something really fun,” Eiseman says.

Aside from attire, emerald can add ambience to your ceremony or reception décor. Dessy Diamond suggests asking your catering service to see if emerald napkins, tablecloths or other linens are an option. Bringing your vendors a color swatch or chip can help ensure you get the correct shade.

Whichever way you embrace emerald in your wedding, make sure not to go too green. Skobel-Conyers warns that the elements of your fashion and décor should go together but not necessarily match.“The same color over and over and over again … that gets really redundant,” she says.

After all, emerald is all about balance.

© Brides 365

Tags: emerald, color of the year