How to Use Marseille Bleu Throughout Your Wedding

blue escort display with yellow details and scalloped holders — Photo by Lilly Red

You don't have to be a traditional bride or groom to appreciate the wedding adage about things old, borrowed, new, and blue—especially when it comes to the latter. Blue is endlessly variable: There are a myriad of tones and infinitely more ways to work the color into your celebration, whether through a fashion accessory or a design moment. Luckily, there's a new blue in town that any couple—whether you lean more modern or classic—can look to when ticking off this this tradition: Meet Marseille Bleu, the Minted + Brides Wedding Color of the Year for 2024.

Punchy but adaptable, the cobalt works as a primary shade in a wedding color palette or as an energetic accent to softer schemes (think: pale peaches, creams, and yellows). That means you can use it to cover your reception tables or keep it contained to a menu card, a single floral in your bouquet, or a pair of pumps that peek out from under a floor-length wedding dress. The takeaway? Any couple can use Marseille Bleu on their big day—let the following ideas, all culled from real celebrations, be your guide.

01 of 15

Opt for Chinoiserie-Inspired Invites

chinoiserie-inspired wedding invitations — Photo by Twah Dougherty

Chinoiserie is a pattern that regularly employs cobalt blue, so if you're hoping to work this motif onto your invitation suite (or, better yet, plan your entire event around it, which is what this couple did), you'll want to keep Marseille Bleu top of mind for the rest of your big-day details. On the stationery front, we're partial to the way this duo wove in the shade, from the bold wax seal to the delicate vellum overlay.

02 of 15

Use a Wink in Your Ceremony Arch

blue and pink wedding ceremony arch in historic castle in portugal — Photo by Alice Vicente

Does your venue already offer pops of Marseille Bleu? Lucky you! Highlight the vibrant architecture with flowers in the same shade, which is what Decoflorália did when constructing a ceremony arch at this Lisbon celebration. The cobalt hydrangeas (a bloom to look for if you want to work hue into your floral palette!) spoke to the historic Palácio Marquês da Fronteira's walls; fuchsia roses made the blues feel brighter.

03 of 15

Go Blue With Your Tablecloths

bride and groom posing front of blue-covered tables at outdoor wedding — Photo by Sergio Sorrentino

For duos who want to make this color the primary shade in their wedding palette, turn to this celebration in Sicily as a guide: Marseille Bleu linens set the scene for the couple's striking reception and served as an anchoring hue for a mix of colors present on the tablescapes, from rust and blush to purple and vermillion.

04 of 15

Dress One (or All!) of Your 'Maids in Marseille Bleu

stylish bridesmaids in mix and match dresses — Photo by Natalie Bray Photography

We're all for dressing your entire bridal party in brilliant blue, but if the mix-and-match look is more your speed, know that it can work in smaller doses, too. At this California wedding, for example, the bride opted for a combination of neutral slip dresses—in cream, champagne, and cinnamon—and patterned or bold accent gowns, one of which featured our color of the year. Another wedding party fashion idea? Put your maid of honor in Marseille Bleu to help her stand out on the big day.

05 of 15

Put It on Your Desserts

wedding cookies with dutch delft artwork — Photo by Kate Headley

Classic toile patterns, which depict bucolic scenes in tones of blue and white, are a more traditional way to interpret Marseille Bleu for your nuptials. These show-stopping hand-painted cookies, which put the motif (and Marseille Bleu) front and center, are the ultimate addition to your timeless wedding's dessert table—but don't be surprised if guests think they're too pretty to eat.

06 of 15

Go Bold With Pop Art

pop art wedding table number — Photo by JainÃ© Kershner Photography

Aesthetes might associate Marseille Bleu with Henri Matisse's cut-outs, but it also plays a big role in pop artwork. If you plan on showcasing your love of the arts on the big day, you can do so literally using our color of the year: This couple, for instance, took a creative, visual approach to naming their tables by showcasing the works of their favorite artists (including Roy Lichtenstein's The Melody Haunts My Reverie screen print, which features Marseille Bleu in the background).

07 of 15

Paint Your Cake

three-tier white wedding cake with blue painted flowers — Photo by Jenny Fu

Turn your wedding cake into your something blue by commissioning a confection with hand-painted floral motifs in the shade, which is what this couple did at their New York City wedding. Sugar cherry blossoms brought the two-dimensional pattern to life.

08 of 15

Use an Ikat Print

table setting with blue-and-white tablecloth, colorful centerpieces, and wicker chargers — Photo by Kylee Yee

Maximalists, rejoice! This duo—who tied the knot during a colorful celebration in their New England hometown—proved that the more color, pattern, and texture, the better. Marseille Bleu ikat-inspired linens were the foundation of their vibrant dinner party's tablescape, which featured a riot of floral shades and textures (including ceramic and rattan).

09 of 15

Try a Two-Tone Aisle

blue, yellow, and pink ceremony aisle with flowers and circular arch — Photo by Jose Villa

Here's proof that Marseille Bleu works in perfect harmony with a mix of colors: Kiana Underwood of Tulipina used dark blue delphiniums on the left side of this ceremony aisle, while hot pink peonies dominated on the right. Both shades popped against the lush green lawn and rolling hills in the background—demonstrating that our color of the year is the ultimate choice for your outdoor nuptials.

10 of 15

Work It Into Your Escort Card Display

Want to give guests a preview of your splashy reception? Work the cobalt shade onto your escort card display, like this couple did at their Lake Como nuptials. We love how the scalloped edges reinforce the shade's connection to water—and the bright floral and lemon motifs offer just the right amount of contrast (we're all for a Marseille Bleu and citrus yellow wedding color palette!)

11 of 15

Recreate a Work of Art

van gough-inspired wedding seating chart — Photo by Olivia Leigh Photographie

Here's another Marseille Bleu-forward idea for art lovers: Reimagine an iconic painting that stars the shade when ideating your escort card display. For their Lake Geneva nuptials, this couple turned to Vincent Van Gogh's blue-swirled Starry Night for inspiration, which culminated in this epic floral wall (it took 4,500 flowers to bring the famous painting to life!). You don't have to take the floral (or the Van Gogh!) route, however: Hire an artist to illustrate a beloved painting in watercolor—or simply let the work's colorways inform whatever creative idea you're envisioning.

12 of 15

Opt for a Marseille Bleu Shoe

blue-and-white floral gucci shoes — Photo by Marshall Arts Photography

Whether you opt for blue-and-white printed floral pumps, like these Gucci beauties, or a brilliant blue stiletto (Sex and the City Manolo Blahniks, anyone?), know that working Marseille Bleu into your wedding day footwear is always a good idea.

13 of 15

Use It to Elevate Your Cake

modern square and round wedding cake with blue detailing — Photo by Twah Dougherty

We love how this confection blends the classic with the contemporary: The square tiers feel decidedly modern, but the floral paisley Marseille Bleu paint brings a timeless, quaint vibe. Duos looking to balance the old and new should consider taking a similar route when designing their big-day cakes, which is the perfect place to put the shade on display (your cake is, after all, both a highly photographed wedding detail and a delicious dessert!).

14 of 15

Pair It With Unexpected Colors

blue, teal, and pink wedding invitations with illustrations — Photo by Molly McManus

You'd be hard-pressed to find a color that Marseille Bleu doesn't work well with, and this elegant invitation suite, which features unexpected pairing shades, like teal, is proof. The cobalt chinoiserie vellum wrap held every element of the unique set together. Looking for other interesting shades that complement our color of the year and translate beautifully onto an invitation suite? Consider punchy orange for modern nuptials or sage for earthy, organic celebrations.

15 of 15

Collect and Display Blue Transferware on the Big Day

vintage plates on wall about wedding dessert table — Photo by Paige Vaughn Photo

If you're hosting a vintage-inspired wedding, there's a good chance you're working with your wedding planner to curate a collection of antiques for the big day. Allow us to suggest vintage cobalt-and-white transferware—you'll find that these plates, which star Marseille Bleu, are readily available in antique and thrift shops. On the big day, display them over a station you want to highlight, like a card station or dessert setup.

How Wedding Planners and Event Designers Really Feel About Marseille Bleu: “I Love That It Isn’t Quiet”