Styling and Photography By Laurie Mosco

There’s a bright future ahead. Vibrant hues are taking over 2023 — from fashion, to interior design, to party color themes — even candy buffets and displays.

But not any bright hue will do. Meet the must-have brilliant colors that need to be on your guest list.

Viva Magenta

The Pantone color of the year 2023,  Viva Magenta, really encompasses the feeling of the top colors for 2023 (Pantone Color Institute). A bold, deep pink, red hue, Viva Magenta represents joy, optimism, and the vigor of life. Everything you want in a party guest!

A beloved color on its own, Viva Magenta also ties nicely in the emerging Barbiecore movement.  Like the name sounds, Barbiecore is all about bringing the bright pink colors, whimsy, and high fashion sense of the beloved Barbie doll to events (TheKnot.com). It’s a particular favorite for wedding themes.   

When creating a pretty in Viva Magenta pink candy buffet or candy display at home at any of Barbie’s parties, bulk candy is a great place to start. Start with classics like Clever Candy Sour Watermelon Gummy Bears, and then work in other unique shapes and flavors like light and airy Clever Candy Strawberry Pink Puffy Puffs and twisty Raspberry Jelly Pretzels.

Up the excitement by pairing bulk with packaged chocolate and snacks.

Here it’s all about the colored packaging so look for vibrant pinks like those found on Tony’s Chocolonely Milk Caramel Cookie Chocolate Bar. If it has the added flavor of Viva Magenta colored fruit, the raspberry, like those in Chocolove Raspberries in Dark Chocolate even better. For an extra exotic option, add Japanese Candy favorite, Pocky Strawberry Cookie Sticks with their bright pink packaging and pink strawberry flavored creamy coating.

You can even ‘drink pink’ with pink beverages paired with pink packaging. We love the bright pink color of Jones Soda FuFu Berry Soda. The flavor of the charming pink soda has been long been a debate, but one thing we can agree on – we can’t get enough!

But will really blow guests out of the water is Warheads Sour Watermelon Soda. Warheads Sour Soda tastes like a sour watermelon candy, but with all the refreshing effervescence of a soda pop. And the shining pink cans create and instant pop of pink color.

Sunny Orange

This year’s sunny disposition can be worn on their sleeve through vibrant sun kissed Tangelo (Pantone). The vibrant orange matches the color intensity of Viva Magenta while giving the feeling of catching some tropical rays.    

Adding bright orange is easy when our peanut butter candy favorites like Reese’s and Chick-O-Stick already sport the sunny hue.

Remember orange is a color AND a flavor! So add some orange colored AND flavored bulk candy to your next party’s candy buffet or favor bags for fun-in-the-sun excitement.

Nostalgia is always a favorite, so old time candy claassics like Nassau Candy Orange Fruit Slices, Taffy Town Orange Cream Salt Water Taffy, and Espeez Orange Rock Candy Sticks are always welcome to the party.

For added playfulness, look for beverage with a silly name like Avery’s Gamer Goop Grape & Orange Soda. 

It’s OK to incorporate some peach flavored things too – as long as they have a bright orange hue. Like Clever Candy Gummy Peach Rings  and Clever Candy Sour Peachy Hearts.

Bright Green

Different shades of green are also growing in popularity. The range is from Pantone’s bright Classic Green, to more exotic lime shades, (Veranda).

Candy classics like Gilliam Green Apple Sticks, Nassau Candy Sour Apple Fruit Slices, and Espeez Light Green Watermelon Rock Candy Sticks are always green lighted for a party. 

A sampling of candy favorites all in green hues will have them green with envy. Like Clever Candy Green Apple Bestie Bears and Clever Candy Gummy Apple Rings.

For extra excite-MINT, add  the bold green packaging color and bright chocolate mint flavors of iconic Andes Creme De Menthe Snap Candy Bar.

Don’t forget this year is about being brave AND bold so make sure you incorporate some unexpected too. Like the super sour flavor of Avery’s Sour Puss Kiwi Orange Soda. Or the uber realistic shapes of Clever Candy 3D Gummy Apples.

Bold Red

Red is also red hot. The more brilliant the better (House Beautiful).

A bold color like red often brings the bold, fierce flavors with it.  So spicy red candies like Hot Tamales, Atomic Fireballs, and fiery, fizzy Hot Zots Cinnamon Hard Candy heat things up.

Even with all this fun and newness, it IS ok to incorporate some bold red candy classics like Cherry Licorice Bites and Gummy Strawberry Filled Bricks.  Unique shapes the doggie shape found in Jelly Belly Red Licorice Scottie Dogs make it extra playful.  

When an event calls for some extra elegance, add  Red Sixlets with their shiny crispy candy shell and creamy chocolatey center.

This year we’re feeling bold and adventurous and it’s showing in our color choices. Be the life of the party with brilliant, vivid shades as your next event’s colors.

From trending colors to longtime classics, our shop by color collection IS the pot of gold at the end of a candy rainbow!