Pantone's Color of the Year Is the Perfect "Something Blue" for 2022

Like most people, we are so ready for 2022. This past year has been nothing short of, well, a whirlwind, so we’re excited to leave it all behind and see what's next. But, before you start counting down the days until we ring in the new year, it's time to look ahead, Pantone style.

The paint brand released its latest "Color of the Year," and let us just say it didn't disappoint. In a transformative year that was defined by flux, change, and evolution, we've reimagined daily life in 2021—and the wedding industry as a whole. And next year's shade reflects that truth.

Introducing "Very Peri" the first-ever Color of the Year invented by Pantone. The blue shade contains multitudes, offering a striking violet-red undertone that, according to Pantone, represents "a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression." Think periwinkle-meets-violet for next year's titular shade.

The tone represents creativity, transition, and new beginnings—something we're all yearning for in the coming months. With bright colors trending—for brides, grooms, and guests alike—during bridal fashion week, we can easily see how this shade will influence weddings in 2022. From floral arrangements (Very Peri is the perfect take on "something blue") to bridesmaid's dresses, there's no end of potential tie-ins for next year's weddings.

In honor of the newest color to the family, we’ve decided to take a trip down memory lane. Ahead, read about every color of the year for the last two decades. So if you’re trying to pick your wedding colors, read on to be majorly and colorfully inspired.

2021: Ultimate Grey and Illuminating Yellow

For 2021, the brand announced not one but two colors of the year: "Ultimate Grey” and “Illuminating yellow.” According to Pantone, the colors were selected to represent "fortitude" and some much-needed positivity. The "Ultimate Grey" represents a "stable foundation," while the "Illuminating yellow" is like our light at the end of the tunnel or sunshine on a cloudy day. Together the two colors show the world's resiliency as we head into 2021.

Cue two different colored bridesmaid dresses that still effortlessly complement each other—and we are so here for it. (And it’s already been proven that these colors are quite flattering!)

2020: Classic Blue

Chosen for its peaceful tranquility and resilient nature, Pantone was right on par with this color. While 2020 seems like a very chaotic year, it was the first time in a long time that the world took a pause. A moment for everyone to breathe, to connect with family (even if it was virtual), and remember the important things in life. Going into 2021, we’ve used this color to rise from the ashes and build a “stable foundation,” as Pantone suggested.

2019: Living Coral

This warm and vibrant, tropical color was every preppy groom’s dream come true. According to Pantone, the color was picked to bring “comfort and buoyancy.”

2018: Ultra Violet

This futuristic color was chosen to inspire other-worldly artistic expression. Pantone even said this shade was inspired by music icons Prince, David Bowie, and Jimi Hendrix. A galactic color for a daring bride.

2017: Greenery

A refreshing, dewy color that offered restoration and calm to brides—and probably inspired them to make green choices while planning.

2016: Rose quartz and serenity

For the first time ever, Pantone chose two colors to blend for a dreamy soft hue reminiscent of a sunset.

2015: Marsala

This warm, deep red was chosen to enrich and satisfy hungry eyes, while also bringing a more natural, earthy tone, and was the color of practically every bridal party in 2015.

2014: Radiant Orchid

The gentle pinkish-purple brought warmth and glow, coloring the complexion of everyone around it—creating many a blushing bride this year.

2013: Emerald Green

Chosen to provide harmony, according to Pantone. The precious gemstone was the perfect finishing accessory for daring brides.

2012: Tangerine Tango

This spicy and invigorating color was meant to breathe energy into the year, according to Pantone. Fashion designers embraced the color, which was also seen on every makeup counter. The sultry color added an eye-catching element when used on the lips or nails.

2011: Honeysuckle

This muted pink color provided excitement and purpose and made for a very popular bridal party color.

2010: Turquoise

Another tropical color was chosen to provide an escape—calming for brides in the thick of planning.

2009: Mimosa

The brunch-inspired hue was one of the hottest wedding colors of 2009. And with it came bottomless bridal party color combos.

2008: Blue Iris

According to Pantone, this blue-ish purple had a calming effect with a twinge of excitement—which is the perfect color for every bride-to-be. Violets as wedding flowers, anyone?

2007: Chili Pepper

This fiery deep red was picked to represent expression and surely spiced up every wedding that year.

2006: Sand Dollar

This oceanic color seems simple, but we can’t stop thinking about champagne toasts when we see it.

2005: Blue Turquoise

This exotic color made its way to the spotlight in 2005, allowing every beachy bride to have her perfect tropical wedding.

2004: Tiger Lily

Just like the flower, this color is a warm, glowy orange that probably starred in every Spring and Summer wedding this year.

2003: Aqua Sky

This color just screams the early 2000s and would have made for a very vibrant bridal party color.

2002: True Red

A classic color that would have looked great incorporated into any wedding—whether that was with roses or a bold bride’s lip color.

2001: Fuchsia Rose

The year every bride won the argument to have a pink hue in their wedding colors.

2000: Cerulean

In the first-ever Color of the Year, Pantone brought in the new century with this light sky-like blue, which was also appropriately referred to as “The color of the millennium”