Color of the Year

For 2010, turquoise is the hue of choice for adding a splash of something blue to every wedding detail

By Melissa Tussing
CTW Features

In the midst of stressful times, Pantone, the world-renowned color communication company, has named turquoise as the color of the year for 2010.

It’s an escape color, and one most people respond to positively, says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

“For some, turquoise is believed to be a protective talisman,” Eiseman says. “For others it’s a color of deep compassion and healing, and to many it’s a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky.”

The qualities of turquoise make it fitting for weddings.

“Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of well-being and providing protection and healing in stressful times,” Eiseman says.

The color has already translated to bridesmaid dresses. Vera Wang’s 2010 bridesmaid collection features both a turquoise gown and a turquoise-and-cobalt gown.

Eiseman says the color works well for bridal gowns because it’s a universal color that flatters every skin tone and pairs nicely with other colors like orangey reds, vibrant blues, rich browns or gray.

Before settling on any color for your wedding, you should check out your venue to see what will work, says Robyn Bruns, owner of Red Letter Event Planning in Chicago. A reception in a white tent lends itself to any color palette. A reception hall with dark rugs might call for a brighter color.

If the watery shade doesn’t clash with your venue, turquoise can works in both casual and formal settings and can be used anytime of the year.

Especially for a more casual outdoor wedding, use turquoise for your linens, invitations, bridesmaid gowns and decorations, Bruns says.

For a more black-tie event or a fall wedding, you’ll want to make turquoise more of an accent color than your main hue. “If you’re getting married in the fall, you’ll want focus on the turquoise as pops of color instead of your main color,” Bruns says.

Bruns also suggests pairing turquoise with dark red, its complement on the color wheel. She suggests a turquoise bridesmaid gown with a dark red sash, or turquoise and dark red ribbon on the wedding cake.

Blue Plate Catering in Chicago arranged a turquoise wedding around a peacock feather. The group used turquoise pillows, peacock feathers and flowers that complemented the color scheme. The event also incorporated plenty of white to let the other colors pop and not compete. The wedding even featured a signature turquoise drink called the peacock, with pineapple juice, Curacao Liqueur and Midori.

Deanna Olson, owner of Silver Sun, a jewelry shop in Albuquerque, New Mexico, says she doesn’t feel right without wearing turquoise. Olson has helped brides put together turquoise bracelets for their bridesmaids or key chains, money clips or cuff links for the groomsmen.

She suggests asking for a guarantee on turquoise jewelry to ensure its authenticity.

To bring in more turquoise stone to your wedding, Bruns suggests using a turquoise pin for the groomsmen instead of a boutonniere and using turquoise beads or pins to decorate the bridal bouquets.

Gertrude Zachary, who runs a chain of jewelry stores in Albuquerque specializing in turquoise jewelry, suggests matching turquoise and pearls for the wedding scene or even using a turquoise belt on the bride.

“It works because it has a beautiful color,” Zachary said. “It’s a very strong stone.”

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