How Fashion’s Boldest Hue is Defining 2026 & 2027 Wedding Design.

Elle Woods once said: “Whoever said orange was the new pink was seriously disturbed”. Well, a lot has changed in the last 21 years (the math on that just made me gag, by the way.) and let’s just say—Ms. Woods, Esq. and I will have to agree to disagree.

Orange is among our top 3 (more on the other two to come) color predictions for 2026 and 2027 wedding trends. Let’s dive in.

The Origins: Orange creeps into 2024 Fashion Weeks.

You might be thinking, “Haylee, if this is a prediction, why are you talking about 2024?” Because fashion always leads. What walks the runway today filters into interiors, graphics, product packaging, and—eventually—weddings. The runway is the first draft of what the world will soon call “taste.” Designers test palettes, proportions, and materials at a scale that’s experimental enough to forecast where visual culture is headed. Within a year, those ideas appear in retail collections, then in brand campaigns, interior textiles, floral palettes, and stationery design. So when we look back to what Fendi, Bottega Veneta, or Saint Laurent were doing in 2024, we’re really tracing the first brushstrokes of what couples will be drawn to in 2026. Fashion is the upstream current; everything else—weddings included—flows from it.

The first clear signal came from the Spring/Summer 2024 collections, when designers began using orange not as a pop, but as a palette.

• Fendi declared that “orange is the color of 2024,” sending models in head-to-toe citrus looks that mixed saffron and marigold with ochre neutrals (Elle Australia, 2024).
• Bottega Veneta infused its signature leathers with orange-peel tones, giving warmth to an otherwise minimalist lineup (Who What Wear, 2024).
• Saint Laurent closed Paris Fashion Week with evening gowns in marigold orange satin (Reuters, 2024).
• Marie Claire called it “the Aperol Spritz of the runway season” — a perfect shorthand for the mood: joyful, a little bold, unapologetically visible (Marie Claire UK, 2024).

In retrospect, 2024 marked the pivot point: orange shed its novelty and became a new form of luxury — spirited, tactile, and emotionally charged.

The 2025 Echo: Pop Culture’s Orange Era

By 2025, the hue had escaped the runway and started shaping the culture around it.

• Zendaya’s burnt-orange Louis Vuitton gown at the Golden Globes 2025 went instantly viral — a color-as-character moment (Elle, 2025).
• Karol G launched her Tropicoqueta album and declared herself in her “orange era,” saturating visuals and wardrobe in the shade (Hola!, 2025).
• McLaren’s papaya-orange F1 car dominated the season’s podiums (Indigo Auto Group, 2025).
• Apple unveiled the iPhone 17 Pro in Cosmic Orange, introducing warmth and confidence to a tech palette long ruled by silver and graphite (The Verge, 2025).
• WGSN named Energy Orange a defining color for 2026/27, symbolizing vitality, resilience, and optimism.
• GLAMOUR Magazine named Ms. Rachel as one of their “Women of the Year,” trading in their signature pink for an orange backdrop. (Glamour Magazine, 2025)

Orange wasn’t just trending — it was telling a story: of boldness after burnout, of joy after restraint.

Maybe the most notable: In August 2025, Taylor Swift announced her twelfth studio album The Life of a Showgirl and made a bold visual choice: orange became the signature colour of her new era. Her website launched with a glittering orange countdown, the album-cover visuals featured orange glitter lettering against a mint-green backdrop, and both the Empire State Building and Kansas City’s Union Station were illuminated in orange to mark the release. Swift explained that the shade “felt like how my life has felt – exuberant, electric, vibrant” and that the album was born “behind the scenes” of the tour. People.com

This moment confirms orange’s transition from runway statement to cultural emblem—when a global pop-icon adopts a colour as her identity, it signals design momentum that goes far beyond fashion.

The Confirmation: 2025 Fashion Weeks

If 2024 hinted at orange becoming a trend and 2025 lifestyle moments mainstreamed it, the 2025 fashion weeks cemented its authority. Especially the SS26 shows in Milan.

• Prada’s SS26 “Body of Composition” show featured a glossy orange runway — the floor itself became part of the color statement (Vogue, Sept 2025).
• No. 21, Alberta Ferretti, Saint Laurent, and Moschino in Milan leaned into sunset tones — flame, persimmon, and tangerine (The Zoe Report, Oct 2025).
• Loewe’s Paris debut showcased saturated orange outerwear and sculptural accessories (Vogue France, 2025).
• Pantone’s SS26 color palette confirmed the shift: Muskmelon, Flame Orange, and Honey Gold stood out as core hues.

By the close of the season, orange wasn’t a highlight anymore—it was foundational.

“Orange is the industry’s mood boost: optimistic, grounded, and impossible to ignore.”
— The Zoe Report, 2025

The Translation From Runway to Wedding Design

In wedding design, orange is having its own revolution.

Where blush once represented romance, orange and its many interpretations now represents confidence. It’s the visual embodiment of modern love: intentional, warm, and alive.

How it’s Showing Up

The great thing about orange in weddings is that it’s incredibly versatile—and the options are virtually endless. Unlike color trends of the last few years (*cough* blue *cough*), orange appears naturally in many places, in every season. From poppies to dahlias, it shifts effortlessly with its environment. Layering rentals, florals, and paper-goods allows couples (and designers) to calibrate the effect—whether it’s subtle warmth or full-spectrum saturation.

Beyond the obvious mediums—florals, linens, and stationery—orange is showing up in unexpected places. Think Aperol Spritz signature cocktails, wedding party attire like caped bridesmaid dresses or embroidered suiting, dark amber lighting washes over dinner tables, and styling accents such as copper fringed vessels, patterned dance floors, or terracotta-toned candles. The through line? Energy and movement.

Floral Direction

The floral possibilities are nearly limitless: ranunculus, marigold, tulips, lilies, garden roses, orange poppies, bronze amaranthus, pincushion protea, dahlias—the list goes on. Each variety brings something different: saturated color, soft or spiny texture, sculptural form. Expect to see the continuation—and even escalation—of architectural floral design, using other botanicals or perishables to build monochromatic yet layered compositions.

Styling Perspective

As with fashion, weddings invite personal interpretation. The way I would take this trend depends entirely on the client. Here are a few concepts:

BOLD + SCULPTURAL: A study in saturation. Monochromatic orange rendered in architecture, fashion, and florals—sculptural arrangements, lacquered drapery, and unapologetic texture. This is orange as atmosphere: immersive, modern, and magnetic.

OLD-MONEY CHIC: An ode to European leisure: silk scarves, Italian sport boats, golden-hour cocktails. Orange here leans heavily into brown tones and speaks the language of heritage—equal parts glamour and ease. Think Amalfi in autumn or Hermès in high summer. Either with a bottle of Veuvu.

WHIMSICAL + FEMININE: A playful clash of apricot, lilac, and mint. Fluttering textiles, citrus cocktails, and floral detailing that feels airy, effervescent, and full of life. Proof that orange doesn’t have to be bold to be expressive.

MOODY + REFINED: Think candlelit luxury and European restraint. Decadent and sultry. Burnt amber, rust, and spice tones paired with silk, velvet, and natural still-life textures. It’s orange at its most sophisticated—where warmth meets quiet opulence.

RETRO REVIVAL: 1970s nostalgia done right. Patterned wallpaper, corduroy sofas, rotary phones, and sun-soaked interiors—orange as comfort and character. Perfect for couples embracing warmth, humor, and a wink to vintage.

TROPICAL MODERNISM: Vibrant, kinetic, sun-drenched. A celebration of movement and saturation—bold resortwear, tropical botanicals, striped textiles, and cinematic light. Orange here feels alive, expansive, and joyfully untamed.

Across all styles, I see couples diving into pattern play and texture to drive the design home—mixing stripes, jacquards, and vintage-inspired prints, fringe and draping, to create depth and personality within the palette.

Why It Resonates

• Emotionally: Orange feels joyful but grounded — a symbol of warmth, energy, and connection.
• Visually: It complements both neutral, grounded aesthetics and high-contrast maximalism.
• Culturally: After years of muted tones, couples (and designers) are craving something that feels alive.

The same momentum shaping retail collections and interior palettes is now informing wedding aesthetics. From terracotta dinnerware in boutique hotels to apricot typography in brand packaging, orange is quietly setting the visual temperature across creative industries. Weddings, as ever, follow not far behind — translating those ideas into experiences that feel tactile, emotive, and beautifully human. It’s not trend-chasing; it’s design-leading.

Accent to Atmosphere

From the Fendi runway in 2024 to Prada’s orange-lacquered stage in 2025, it’s rise in popularity clearly indicates that orange is no longer supporting cast — it’s the headline. For weddings, that means more than color theory. It’s an invitation to design experiences that radiate optimism and artistry.

Because luxury isn’t quiet anymore — it’s beauty with backbone..

Ready to take your wedding design to the next level?

If this forecast proves anything, it’s that color tells a story—and the best weddings are the ones that feel alive in every shade. Whether you’re drawn to burnt orange’s quiet confidence or tangerine’s unapologetic energy, thoughtful design turns color into feeling.

At Water to Wine Events, that’s what we do best—we look ahead to translate inspiration into immersive, meaningful experiences that look as good as they feel.

If you’re ready to begin designing a wedding that feels intentional, artful, and entirely your own, we’d love to connect.
Inquire here to schedule a design consultation or explore our full-service planning and design offerings.

Because great design doesn’t just repeat whats been done—it looks ahead and creates the trends.

Sources linked above. Credit to the original photographers and designers.