I’m not typically one to follow trends, unless the trend already fits into my style, but while most wedding invitation designers are underwhelmed with Pantone’s 2021 colors of the year “Illuminating” yellow and “Ultimate Gray,” I’ve been partially on their wavelength forever.

Before I go on, I have to confess, yellow is not my style (design or clothing-wise). I know people who love the color, but there is very little about yellow that screams romance. Therefore, I’m ignoring that part of the COTY completely. Gray on the other hand is very me and can be very romantic.

“How is gray romantic?” you ask. Who doesn’t want to spend a dreary, gray day cuddling on the sofa with their honey? Not to mention, gray is a versatile neutral that makes a great alternative to the starkness of white. It’s also a giant part of my own wedding color palette.

An Ultimate Gray Wedding Invitation Suite

Okay, so let’s talk about using Ultimate Gray in your wedding stationery. When Pantone comes out with a “color of the year,” you don’t have to use that exact color. For example, The Sydney wedding invitation suite plays with different shades of gray and still maintains a really moody romantic feel that works whether you’re getting married near the water, in a garden or in a local ballroom!

Gray Wedding Color Palettes

Gray is such a versatile color, and you might already be planning to incorporate it into your wedding color palette. Here are some great Ultimate Gray color palette options.