Take your weddings to the next level with these 15 trends
By Sara Perez Webber
When it comes to their weddings, couples these days don’t follow the herd. Eschewing cookie-cutter affairs, brides and grooms are letting their personalities shine through in every aspect of their big celebrations, from the cuisine to the décor to the entertainment.
Despite each wedding’s individuality, there are trends that experts are seeing take hold at many events. “These trends all emphasize a more personalized and guest-centered approach to receptions,” says Craig Peterman, owner of Craig Peterman Photography & Videography in Phoenix. “Yes, the wedding is about the couple, but there is more awareness about making it fun for your guests, too. Gone are the days when people disliked going to weddings, as now they are a fun, unique experience unlike anything else.”
CFE has rounded up 15 wedding trends that event professionals are seeing gain traction from coast to coast.
What’s Old Is New Again
At Bold Catering & Design in Atlanta, event designer Melissa Parsons notes that trends from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s are back—including color schemes. “We see a lot of salmons and greens. We used to call it avocado; it’s now called sage. That burgundy that your mom painted her dining room in the ’90s? It’s back,” says Parsons. The trend also includes such vintage elements as candle holders, china and glassware, and moody lighting to help set the tone, like vintage chandeliers outfitted with modern bulbs. “We can honor an old-school traditional look while keeping it modern and letting you put your own spin on it,” says Parsons.
Neat Little Bows
Displaying bows at wedding receptions has become a popular trend, says Sterling Boulet, lead planner and designer at C&D Events, based in New Hill, North Carolina: “These symbols of unity and love are a homage to a classical and vintage time period while portraying a playful and modern aesthetic.”
Spreading Wellness
Couples who emphasize health and wellness in their lives are extending that focus to their wedding celebrations. At the new Amrit Ocean Resort in Singer Island, Florida, for example, marrying couples are “looking to create a more meaningful and restorative experience for themselves and their guests,” says Janae Gier, director of sales and marketing. The resort can arrange such group activities for wedding guests as guided meditations, fitness and cycling classes, and beach nature walks. In addition, notes Gier, many couples are choosing to serve nutrient-dense dishes at their receptions as well as delicious mocktails.
Kick Back and Relax
Making the reception feel more intimate and inviting, lounge-style seating areas—like cozy sofas, stylish armchairs and coffee tables—are “creating mini living rooms within the reception,” says Peterman of Craig Peterman Photography & Videography. “This gives guests a comfortable space to relax, mingle and enjoy the night without feeling tied to their dinner tables.”
Live Painters
More brides and grooms are hiring artists to capture the magic of their big day in real time. At venues including The Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida, artists such as Maxine Orange entertain guests by creating a personalized painting of the couple that serves as a cherished keepsake.
Bounteous Blooms
Floral installations are blooming at receptions, says AGA Hospitality’s Anna Barr: “Hanging arrangements and arches are becoming popular focal points at weddings, adding drama and beauty to the space.” Additional floral trends identified by Barr include dried and preserved flowers, which add an earthy, bohemian vibe to arrangements; mixing various textures, like velvety petals, spiky thorns and delicate foliage, which add depth and interest to floral designs; and using edible blooms in floral designs or as garnishes in food and drinks, adding a whimsical, interactive touch.
Bold Colors
Windows Catering in Washington, D.C., is noticing more couples choosing bold and cohesive color palettes that define the entire look and feel of their weddings, from the décor to the attire.
Similarly, for clients of Bold Catering & Design in Atlanta, “color is a big trend,” says Parsons, adding that muted tones and neutrals are making way for jewel tones and bold hues. “While clean and white is always a classic, color is back, and it’s more adventurous now.”
Suzanne Reinhard, partner at Bold Catering, notes that the combination of light blue and emerald green is particularly striking and unexpected. “They are popular in their own right, but not always together,” says Reinhard. “Light blue is airy and ethereal, while emerald green is rich and opulent, creating elegance and flair.”
Interactive Food Service
Food being prepared in front of guests—often with their customization—continues to be a big wedding trend. “We’ve done a smashed baked Alaska station—chefs dip an ice cream cookie sandwich into liquid nitrogen and smash it with a wooden mallet, all in front of the guest, and plate it on top of chocolate sauce, finishing it with meringue and torching the top,” says Dustin Ward, executive chef at Atlanta’s Bold Catering & Design. “Our ‘blizzard stop’ has our chefs hollowing out a block of dry ice and building a blizzard with the guest’s choice of ice cream and mix-ins. We’ve also done barbecue ‘sundae’ stations—guests grab a pail and build their ‘sundae’ with bases like mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, topping it with their protein of choice and signature sauces, coleslaw, cheese and more.”
Andrea Correale of New York’s Elegant Affairs notes the increased popularity of tableside presentations, such as bread carts—wait staff wheeling the carts to each table, offering guests a variety of choices.
Round and Round
Move over, classic photo booth. Many of today’s couples are opting to add a 360-degree photo booth to their receptions, creating dynamic videos that capture their guests’ personalities. “They bring an extra level of excitement to wedding receptions,” says C&D Events’ Boulet.
Read All About It
Print is alive and well when it comes to clever ways to spread the news with a meaningful keepsake at wedding receptions, according to C&D Events’ Boulet. “Incorporating newspapers into weddings has become a trendy choice for couples seeking to add a unique, vintage-inspired touch to their celebration,” she says. “Custom wedding newspapers allow couples to share their story, feature fun facts about the wedding party, and include personalized puzzles or anecdotes, creating an interactive and memorable experience for guests.”
Haute Cuisine
More couples are choosing to serve their guests an elevated fine-dining meal, like one would find at a high-end restaurant. “Think deep, cozy banquettes, table lamps casting warm light on luxe linens and a multi-course meal served on bespoke china paired perfectly with complementary wines,” says Christie Altendorf, director of marketing and senior event planner at D’Amico Catering in Minneapolis. “This style of service allows couples to work closely with their chef to create a menu that reflects their personalities, with personal touches woven throughout each course.” A recent menu created by D’Amico Catering’s Executive Chef Geoff Lamden-Stout, for example, kicked off with a chicken wing course as a nod to the groom’s love for the perfect dry-rub, crispy wing.
Small Ceremony, Big Party
Miami’s Spuntino Catering has seen more couples opting for an intimate ceremony followed by a larger celebration. The trend has been steadily increasing over the past four years, as couples are opting for smaller guest lists for at least part of their wedding, preferring more meaningful moments with close family before expanding the festivities to a broader group. Spuntino recently catered a 100-guest party for a couple whose ceremony was limited to 10 guests.
Viral-Ready Vows
Whether they’re driven by the desire to create something memorable for their guests, or they’re craving a social media viral sensation, more couples are adding dramatic flair to ceremonies. “We’re seeing production value for ceremony vows and wedding party entrances continue to increase,” says Vijay Goel, COO of Bite Catering Couture in Los Angeles. “At one of our weddings, we even had a magician and special effects tied to a number of the vows as the couple exchanged rings!”
All for the ’Gram
In fact, more couples want to ensure that each aspect of their big event is Instagrammable. “Clients are increasingly seeking to create entire events that are aesthetically pleasing and interactive,” says Bold Catering’s Parsons. “Staged moments like photo booths or props, which prompt attendees to capture specific snapshots, are becoming less prominent. Instead, there’s a growing trend towards immersive experiences that encourage photography throughout the entire event.”
Branded To-Go Items
At the end of the night, couples are sending guests home with mementos featuring their names and initials, according to Elegant Affairs’ Correale. Whether it’s sliders with branded buns, or hand towels featuring a new family crest, newlyweds are making sure that their fond farewell gift reminds family and friends of the new life they’re embarking on.
