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

If you asked us what we love most about the Minted + Brides Wedding Color of the Year for 2024, Marseille Bleu, we’d tell you all about its versatility. It works across a myriad of event styles, plays prettily with shades both dark and light, and is as multi-purpose as they come—whether you use a little or a lot of the refreshing, bold cobalt, you’re going to love the result. Admittedly, we might be a little biased, which is why we thought checking in with leading wedding planners and event designers for their seal of approval was a good idea. 

As it turns out, our experts feel the way we do about Marseille Bleu. “It is fresh, which is very inspiring. I would like to see more personality shine through in color palettes, and this is the gateway,” says Lea Stafford, the founder of her eponymous planning firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area. And they’re with us on the brilliant blue shade’s adaptability—work it into your overarching flowerscape, use just a wink of it on your tabletop (a napkin ring, perhaps?), or include it in your big-day bridal look (“something Marseille Bleu” statement shoe, anyone?), they say. Their biggest takeaway, though, is that this colorway is for absolutely everyone, whether you’re a modern duo planning a bright, contemporary celebration or a traditional couple hoping to inject some (subtle) punch into a soft palette.

Read on for these professionals’ takes on the Minted + Brides Wedding Color of the Year for 2024.

It works as a primary or supporting shade in a wedding color palette.

Want to plan a wedding entirely around Marseille Bleu? You’ll step inside an electric, energetic space on your big day. Want to use just a hint of it to make soft florals pop? Your big-day flowers just got more nuanced. Laura Ritchie, principal designer and founder of Grit & Grace, completely agrees—this shade works at any point in your palette. “Obviously a rich, saturated color can steal the show—but this shade of blue feels warm and happy, so it can either be a main character or a supporting tertiary color to create a range of feelings,” she says.

Given that the shade is “bold and strong,” Heather Balliet and Mackenzie Irland of Amorology are big fans of using Marseille Bleu in smaller doses. “A little of it goes a long way, so we'd treat it more as an accent,” they say. “We would suggest using it in your vessels along the table or in blue and white transferware china and glassware for guests to use while dining. For our fashion-forward brides, a fun Marseille Bleu heel can add the perfect pop of color!”

It’s the perfect color for every season.

Whether you’re planning a splashy summer wedding in the Mediterranean or a jewel-toned winter party in your hometown, Marseille Bleu speaks to a myriad of seasons, explain our experts. Balliet and Irland envision the shade at spring and summer events, specifically, “where it can be used as a happy pop of color paired with butter yellows, soft camel, or citrus and stone fruits.”

According to Fallon Carter, a destination wedding planner (who says Marseille is one of her favorite places in the South of France!) based in New York City, these warmer seasons make the most sense, since she's excited to see Marseille Bleu come to life en plein air. "You could use this anytime, but I do think the color works really well outdoor. The natural light will bring it to life a little bit more, since it matches the sky," she shares. "So you've got the natural background of the sky and the clouds and maybe stone—then Marseille Bleu can beautifully against a natural background of greenery. It's literally perfect for the upcoming 2024 season."

Ritchie agrees, reinforcing Marseille Bleu’s year-round appeal. “I think this color works great for all seasons!” she says. Pair it with “a plethora of garden tones for spring, yellows and corals for summer, rusty red, tawny brown, crisp white, and black for a modern take on fall, or jewel tones, like emerald and ruby, for winter.”

It can be worked into every single wedding décor detail.

Carter explains that there are endless details to paint Marseille Bleu. "There's almost no way to not use it," she says. "It can be a linen, it can be infused into florals, it can be brought to life through an escort board. It can be table numbers, stationery, or delicate details on your tabletop, like glassware or vases—or even stripes in your napkins."

It works across event aesthetics, themes, and venues.

According to Stafford, you can use Marseille Bleu whether you’re planning a modern or timeless wedding—and whether you’re tying the knot lakeside, in the country, or at the beach. Express the shade with deep blue hydrangeas at a classic, coastal affair, say Balliet and Irland; Ritchie also notes its nautical appeal, explaining that it could “live happily under a crispy sailcloth tent on the shore.”

All of our experts agree, however, that this shade comes alive at contemporary parties. It contributes very well to the modern wedding design,” affirms Stafford. Ritchie says to think “super modern” and pair Marseille Bleu with black and white at a pop art or Matisse-inspired event at a museum (it’s the exact shade of the artist’s famous cut-outs). Ultimately, though, the only thing you really need to make this color work at your wedding is vision—and “a wedding style that has a true point of view and wants to emote a storyline of fun,” says Ritchie. “This is not a shy color, so modern and colorful styles might work best.

It pushes the boundaries of contemporary design in an approachable, personal way.

“I love that Marseille Bleu isn't quiet,” Ritchie says of her all-time favorite aspect of the shade. “The colorful, personality filled weddings we've been living for over the last year or two have really provided a great backdrop for our clients to showcase who they are and have a more reflective event design.” Ultimately, that’s the goal of your celebration—to showcase who you are and the big life you’re building together. “We always want to encourage our clients to push the envelope and be bold. Everyone has been to a soft blush wedding before, so let’s make people remember your wedding for you. Wow them, instead!”

Carter agrees, explaining that she hopes Marseille Bleu will "give permission to a lot of people to be a bit bolder"—and that includes your guests. "Use this for an attire color palette and tell your guests to wear these shades of blue—it'll create an ocean around your love story," she says.