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2025 Pantone Color of the Year: Event Pros React to Mocha Mousse
What event pros think of Pantone's new Color of the Year plus tips for incorporating this color into events
7 Min Read
The Shepards
Cover photo: Wedding attire incorporates shades of mocha in an event by Your Jubilee Weddings. Photo courtesy The Shepards
Peach Fuzz, Viva Magenta, Very Peri—Pantone’s annual announcement of its Color of the Year always stirs up a buzz in the industry as event pros aim to get ahead of the trends and create inspiration for the latest ‘it’ hue. In recent years, Pantone has placed heavy emphasis on bright and vibrant colors, but this year’s choice of Mocha Mousse marks a shift to warmer, neutral tones that have dominated the interior design scene.
Pantone bills Mocha Mousse as “a rich brown hue infused with earthy refinement” that captures three themes that feel just right for 2025: thoughtful indulgence, harmonious comfort, and feelings of contentment.
Shades of brown make for great wedding attire, like this mocha suit jacket in a wedding by Jaclyn Watson Events. Photo courtesy Liron Erel and Co
Mocha Mousse is a versatile color, complimented by many color palettes. Photo courtesy Tracy Autem Photography
Pantone’s Color of the Year typically invites opinions from both sides: those who are thrilled and those who aren’t so impressed. Mocha Mousse is no exception! Here’s what event professionals are saying about 2025’s chosen tone:
“I love it! Mocha Mousse is a rich, versatile neutral that feels warm and luxurious without being overwhelming. It’s a great bridge between modern minimalism and the natural, grounded tones that are trending in weddings right now.” – Craig Peterman, Craig Peterman Photography & Videography
“We were not surprised the 2025 Pantone Color of Year would be a departure from the vivid colors we were treated to most recently, but Mocha Mousse was not quite the shade we have been yearning for, and we don't believe we are alone in this sentiment.” – Kelley Nudo, Momental Designs
“Mocha Mousse has a warmth to it that gives it a lot of versatility. I'd love to see this used with different textures to complement the overall color scheme.” – Emily Sullivan, Unique Weddings and Events
“With the surging popularity of the espresso martini, it felt like only a matter of time before shades of mocha made their way to the front of the wedding design color palette. We have actually been working with shades of brown and mocha through 2024. It's the perfect modern neutral and base color to let other colors in the wedding palette shine.” – Ashley Allan, Your Jubilee Weddings
“We're obsessed with this color choice! I think wedding industry friends who have been around for a while immediately think that burlap and mason jars are coming back. However, there are so many great ways we can tastefully bring in those warm, rich tones without it being a burlap runner!” – Meagan Cody, Sweet Pea Events
“This color will give a refreshing new look to events, allowing designers to move outside their comfort zones and create in ways not seen before. It will unlock clients' creativity and boldness by getting away from the obsession/trend with all-white weddings.” – Michael Coombs, Michael Coombs Entertainment
“We’re excited to see how our designers, planners, and clients interpret this color in 2025! We love the idea of using this color as a main accent color in a couple’s color palette.” – Sarah-Pete Petersen, The Estate at River Run
“We love it, especially for destination weddings in tropical locations. Neutrals have come so far, and this is a great one to incorporate into a beach wedding. We think the brown hues are a great grounding mechanism to use against white sand, bright blue water, or lush greenery in the tropics.” – Jen Avey, Destination Weddings Travel Group
Cocoas and tans pair nicely with gold in this table setting at The Estate by River Run. Photo courtesy Nicki Metcalf Photography
Browns bring both muted earth tones and bright accent colors to life. Event by LUX Affairs. Photo courtesy Mason Neufeld Photography
Incorporating Mocha Mousse into 2025 Events
So, how will Mocha Mousse fit into design trends in 2025? While brown may not have featured heavily in recent years, it has already stood the test of time as a reliable accent color with the power to add soft warmth to many color palettes.
And EBJ & Company’s Casey Cannon assures this hue can find its place in any wedding, no matter the style. “I think we will see a return to the well-loved white and green palette, but now, it will have a rich contrast with Mocha Mousse,” she predicts. “While many may think this is solely a fall and winter color, we can see this being used in spring and summer to add depth and warmth to neutral wedding colors.”
Joan Wyndrum of Blooms by the Box agrees that Mocha Mousse is a versatile color choice. “Combine it with creamy ivories, chocolate coffees, and sage greens for warm elegance, or pair it with dusty blues, lavenders, and pinks for a beautiful floral effect,” she says. “You can even marry it with deeper raspberry, peachy oranges, or blue-green tourmaline for a lively, luxe look!”
Rich earth tones create a grounding palette with Mocha Mousse. Event by Your Jubilee Weddings. Photo courtesy The Shepards
Looking to achieve a sleeker, more sophisticated design? “Use Mocha Mousse with black and keep it elegant and simple at the same time,” suggests Chandai Raghunauth of Chandai Events. She notes that the color’s adaptability could also mean seeing more boho vibes, especially “paired with a mauve tone to have a feminine twist.”
For Mocha Mousse inspiration, look to the interior design and fashion industries that have embraced earthy tones in recent years. Textures like wood, boucle, linen, and velvet all pair beautifully with the richness of 2025’s Color of the Year.
However, Nudo cautions against focusing too much on this shade of brown, as it may not make much of a splash in weddings and events. “We have found that the Pantone Color of the Year does not always play a big role in wedding colors, ” she explains. “Overall, engaged couples will take their color cues from the season their wedding will be held, or they will draw inspiration from the colors of their venue.”
Whether you love it, hate it, or feel indifferent, Mocha Mousse is here to stay—at least for the year! Take some time to play with the possibilities and prepare for this refined and indulgent take on warm, cozy comfort.
Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.
