Island Citrus Isn’t Just for the Wedding—Planners Share How They’d Use It in Pre- and Post-Wedding Events

“Color is magic. It can transport you, inspire you, and comfort you,” says event designer Joy Proctor. On your wedding weekend, it will do all that and more. That’s why choice of color—not just on the big day, but as a thread that runs through a full range of events—is paramount when it comes to wedding mood boarding. And Island Citrus, in particular, brings is imbued with all the feelings, emotions, and energies you’d want surrounding you while you celebrate.

“The primal warmth of Island Citrus is like a breeze on the porch on a hot summer day,” Proctor says. “It exudes ease, warmth, and comfort. It invites you to welcome happiness, to bask in warmth, and to allow a slower pace.”

The shade is also vibrant and modern—and, notably, a wedding’s ancillary events are where couples can go bold, get creative, and take risks. “The ceremony and reception often carry the weight of legacy and tradition; we tend to lean more into a timeless design for wedding days,” says planner Bri Williams. “Ancillary events are where I encourage couples to be playful and experimental [with] editorial styling, cheeky details, or immersive design moments that surprise their guests. I like to think of the weekend as a narrative arc where the ceremony or reception is the climax, but the pre- and post-events are where you can build texture, mood shifts, and unexpected moments.”

At a Wedding Shower

“The color feels very daytime, so I would see it used easily in an afternoon event,” says GoBella Design & Planning founder Emily Campbell. Wedding showers are typically held in the morning or afternoon, brunch being a particular favorite party time; here, a few ways to incorporate the color. 

Start with an Entirely Citrus Palette

Decor and aesthetic planning should start with a color palette, and our Wedding Color of the Year fits into a few different ranges, with citrus topping the list. “Lime would be a nice addition to ground the citrus and pull out the chartreuse essence,” Campbell says. “I’m a big fan of showing a spectrum of one color, so I would likely go from dark yellow to a light buttery yellow, with the Island Citrus holding the majority of the color ratio.” The palette makes perfect sense for a shower, in particular. “When designing the surrounding events of the wedding, we love to be more playful and vibrant in our color story,” Campbell adds. “Weddings tend to align more with neutrals [for that] timeless approach. Thus, a color-blocked event of yellows and lime greens feels fresh and fun.” 

Infuse the Paper Suite with Color

After the palette, the invitation suite is the first thing to give your guests a preview of what’s to come—but your branding doesn’t have to end there. For a seated brunch or lunch wedding shower, the menu cards are a particularly interesting place to showcase the hue. “Weaving the color into menus, matchbooks, escort cards, or signage creates continuity,” Williams says. “It’s chic when it’s not everywhere but punctuates the experience like an exclamation point.”

Feature a Lemonade Cart 

Source or rent a vintage-looking cart—we’re thinking white wooden or gold metallic—to build out a lemonade or spritz station, then pile it high with tasty treats in the sunny shade. “Add a dessert display of yellows such as petit fours and lemon meringue, fun vintage china, striped yellow and white umbrellas over cocktail tables and pinstriped napkins,” Campbell suggests.

At a Bachelorette Party

“This color immediately invokes joy and playfulness,” Campbell says. “Thus, it might appeal to couples who don’t take things too seriously—a [bride] with a ‘sunny’ disposition.” There’s no wedding event more playful, silly, and anything-goes than the bachelorette party, of course. 

Poppy Florals

Florals are the oft-forgotten decor element in bachelorette parties, typically outfitted by bridesmaids with Etsy finds and cheeky banners. But, why not fill some vases, too? Whether you’re bringing them into your weekend Airbnb or outfitting a restaurant, florals in the palette can help dictate the weekend’s energy.. Look for marigolds, pansies, poppies, roses, ranunculus, tulips, orchids, daffodils, and freesia to bring in and complement Island Citrus. 

Attire

Bachelorette parties are all about the ’fits. Look for bikinis in the hue, sparkly going-out dresses and even loungewear. With such a bold hue, you can work in reverse: The bride shines in Island Citrus while her crew wears all white. It’s an especially apt uniform for tropical getaway bachelorettes. 

Serve a Signature Drink 

Serve up color through the food and—especially at bachelorette parties—the drink. “It’s about creating edible color moments that feel intentional, not kitschy,” Williams says. “Try subtle options like charred shishito peppers, yuzu desserts, or even a signature cocktail with chartreuse liqueur. I don’t think you need a lime-green cake in order to stay on-theme.” Mix up a batch of signature drinks to kick off a night out, and garnish them with daisies. 

At a Rehearsal Dinner

“While a wedding color palette is a great way to keep your look cohesive, there is no reason why you can’t bring other colors into the weekend,” Proctor says. “Think of your wedding weekend like a rainbow of experience, no two events being just alike. Invite your guests to experience the beauty of the location by making each event unique.” For example, weave Island Citrus into your rehearsal dinner. 

Put it on the Dress Code Mood Board

“For the rehearsal or welcome party, give guests a dress code: ‘The Citrus Edit,’” Williams says. “Guests can interpret the color in whatever way feels authentic to them, whether through accessories, prints, or a bold monochrome moment. By making guests part of the color story, you can go as subtle or loud as you want to go with the rest of the decor.”

Feature it in the Food

The rehearsal dinner’s focus is largely that: dinner. “With food and beverage, think of options like pineapple-infused garnishes, passionfruit cocktails, and edible yellow pansies and sweet pea,” Proctor says. “These are great ways to bring color and flavor into your guest experience.” The flavors are ideal for spring, summer, and destination weddings. 

Top the Tables With It

The tablescape—including linens, florals, place settings, and other ornamentation—is the perfect place to weave in pops of unique color; at the rehearsal dinner, it’s a central element of design. “In decor, go bold with a solid table linen in Island Citrus,” Proctor suggests. “Pair it with warm tones of pinks for a sweeter look, or with greens and other citrus tones for a more modern, organic feel.” Top the table with in-season flowers that complement the shade. “In spring, choose varieties like daffodil and yellow tulips. In summer, choose yellow bougainvillea, small dance lady orchids and gorgeous David Austin wedding garden rose varieties like Effie and Beatrice.” Adds Williams: “I love hellebore in the citrusy-lime spectrum. They add elegance and a little wildness to arrangements.”

Use it Alongside Romantic Candlelight 

“This color instantly brings to mind a feeling of cozy sophistication—it’s warm, grounding, and effortlessly chic,” says  Pearls Event & Co. CEO Chandni Mistry. “It evokes a sense of intimacy and comfort, like a candlelit dinner.” Bring a modern edge to the romantic aesthetic by using the hue alongside otherwise timeless elements. “Think neutral palettes layered with textures, organic greenery, and soft candlelight,” Mistry adds. “It’s romantic yet approachable, refined but not over-the-top.”

At the After-Party

“There is often a thread of consistency in the color palette throughout the weekend, but it can be very subtle,” Campbell says. “However, when using yellow, I can see it standing on its own for a specific party. After-parties deserve their own pop of bold color to set them apart from the romance of the day and pump up the party.”

Add Bold Pops to Decor 

The after-party is your opportunity to be cheeky: Feature throw pillows with sassy phrases in a lounge area, bring in props that nod to an inside joke. By the same note, it’s also the place to go bold. “This is where the color can go wild, with color-drenched drapes and linens, neon lighting, lounge furniture piping, and late-night food packaging like custom pizza boxes or French fry cones,” Williams says. “We love an afterparty that feels cheeky and energetic.”

Wear a Second Dress

Most brides are opting for a second (or even third) dress these days—but there’s no rule saying it has to be white. “Don’t shy away from color on the wedding day,” Proctor says. “A pop of citrus for an afterparty look as an alternative to a white gown is always a great idea! Make a huge splash by using this bold color as a solid; fabrics like taffeta, satin, and dupioni silk will pop with the warmth of this color.”

Give out Colorful Party Favors

The takeaway favor is a guest’s “last look” of the wedding weekend and will always carry fond memories. For destination weddings, bottle yuzu or olive oil with custom tags; for winter weddings, splash the color across monogrammed matchbooks and fill bowls with them for sunny bursts; in the springtime, individually box cupcakes with vibrant citrus frosting. 

At a Haldi

Island Citrus finds a particular place in Indian wedding events: The Haldi is traditionally yellow, but the hue puts a fresh, modern spin on it. 

Lean Into Culture

“[The haldi] is a pre-event celebrating the bride and groom as they prepare themselves for the big day,” Mistry explains. “Soft turmeric paste is applied to the couple by their friends and family.” The event is traditionally yellow based on the inclusion of the golden spice: The couple wears yellow, and marigolds or other sunny florals abound. Island Citrus puts a fresh twist on it while staying true to tradition. “It’s about contrast,” Mistry says. “If the reception is glamorous and grand, the haldi can be sun-soaked, vibrant, and cheeky, giving guests a multi-dimensional experience.”

Invite the Guests To Dress Vibrantly

Just like with other wedding events, it’s acceptable now to give your guests a color palette or attire guide—and for Indian weddings, it’s a fun way to incorporate color at the haldi. “This palette is mainly used for the haldi due to the correlation of it being so close to the turmeric paste,” Mistry says. “Even the guests tend to dress in this color palette!” Put together mood boards and give guests direction via your wedding website on where to find or rent cultural attire.