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Trend predictions for weddings in 2018

Trend predictions for weddings in 2018

Photography by Squib PhotographyWeddings are a wonderful celebration of love and marriage. They can blend together families, traditions, cultures, creativity and lots of personal touches. Whether a religious, civil or humanist ceremony, a traditional or themed reception, these special days are about what is important to each individual couple.

Despite some couples’ originality, there are always trends that appear and popular themes that epitomise a particular era (think puff ball sleeves from the eighties). Sometimes fashion, films, television programmes, interior design, celebrity weddings and even current affairs influence these trends. Of course, there are some timeless and classic themes that never seem to go out of favour like a ‘romantic’ theme and personalisation is still key at the moment.

So what does 2018 hold for the world of weddings? Here is a curation of some of the top trends to look out for next year.

Choices
Making your special day all about you is the name of the game. With Pinterest at our finger tips, there are lots of ways to personalise your nuptials and break from tradition. In particular, I think that alternatives for the following aspects of wedding days will continue to be more and more original:

  • Alternative stationery – go beyond paper with different material types such as perpex, denim, wood or agate slices
  • Alternative guest books – think about things you’ll use or see every day such as recipe books, furniture and artwork (see more ideas at alternative wedding guest book ideas)
  • Alternative florals – the greenery trend has meant less flowers and more plants and foliage. Along with paper florals and other lasting alternatives to bouquets, consider new ways to wear flowers such as corsages, floral rings, anklets and chockers. My personal floral alternative favourite is succulents and air plants, as well as foraged items such as moss, fruit, vegetables, feathers, cones and other seasonal items from the environment around us. Plus the archway will be superseded by the ceremony wreath. And urns, vases, bell jars and different ways to show flowers will be big next year.
  • Alternative rings – mixed metal trends will start to be seen in wedding rings as well as décor, plus more finger tattoos are emerging as another option to wearing a ring at all.

Photography by Squib Photography

Culling
Uncertain times, call for purse strings to be a bit tighter. So I believe that budgets may be slightly dwindling in 2018. This could result in trends for:

  • More couples to diy and create, source or design elements themselves
  • Using industrial, blank spaces or open spaces as a blank canvas
  • Minimalist styling with one accent or monochrome colour schemes
  • Smaller guest lists
  • Later weddings held at a different time of day so couples don’t have to feed people twice!

Clothing
Bridal wear is continuing to see a shift in trends to provide new, innovative and unusual styles to make sure the bride makes a statement and is different to any other on her big day. Fashion trends that are appearing on the catwalks (that will surely influence weddings next year) include:

  • Covering up the arms with arms warmers, long sleeves or capes
  • Adornments on dresses such as cascading shoulder bows, butt bows, feathers, shirt collars and 3D flowers
  • Skirts will have plenty of drama with high/low hem lines or slits
  • Whilst the backs of dresses will continue to wow with the 18th century style Watteau backs (a section at the back of a dress that is gathered or pleated at the neck and falls unbelted to the floor)
  • Fabrics will be structured and sheer
  • With metallic detail and even black accents
  • Soft colour dresses will continue to grow in popularity
  • Accessorise with big earrings and embellished shoes

Photography by Farrow Photography

Colour and styling
So much influences our daily lives which in turn spills over to the world of weddings, including decorative elements from different arenas such as interior design, architecture, graphic design, lighting, furniture and textiles. One part that overarches these elements is the importance of colour.

  • The Pantone® Colour of the Year always plays a big part in influencing popular colours and I don’t think next year will be any exception. In 2018, the colour of the year is a striking blue-toned purple called Ultra Violet . Pantone are citing it as ‘optimistic and empowering color” for “originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking” [take a look at my report about the colour of the year – https://www.hanamidream.co.uk/pantone-announce-the-color-of-the-year-2018/] and I’m pretty pleased as purple is my favourite colour! I think it will work particularly well teamed with the greenery colour of 2017. Here’s my take on the other colours to look out for in spring/summer 2018 – https://www.hanamidream.co.uk/top-spring-2018-colours-from-pantone/.
  • Textures – crushed velvet will become more prevalent for more luxurious styles
  • Transparent – Perspex chairs, tables, menus and signage will continue to grow in popularity for a modern style and this is evolving further to iridescent details
  • Metallic – the metallic trend isn’t showing any signs of tiring just yet. Next year will be the turn of copper to take to centre stage
  • Gem stones – agate (or hollow geodes) are still going to be at the forefront of designs, as well as marble. Plus pearl details are set to come back into the limelight in 2018.
  • Mix and match – you don’t have to settle on one style for a great fusion of modern/vintage, different cultures and mixed colours. I’m hopeful for vibrant folk art style weddings to be a great evolution of the boho festival trend.
  • Foraged items – my personal tip is for peacock feathers and all the bright associated colours of this beautiful bird

Photography by Squib Photography

Catering
Family style serving is still a great way to share the wedding reception which works so well on long, large banquet tables lining the room. Plus couples want their food to look amazing so that it is Instagram worthy.

Other food and drink highlights to support emerging tends include:

  • Local produce – organic, farm to table that supports local suppliers
  • Cakes – marbling icing, amazing geode crystal detailing and metallic cakes
  • Unusual catering vans, dessert tables and interactive stations at the reception – think gin bars, hot chocolate stations and make your own pudding
  • Dietary requirements – upsurge is requests for vegan desserts so that it caters for all guests
  • Personalised cocktails – have your own cocktails created and served as the ‘house’ aperitif instead of Pimms or Buck’s Fizz when guests arrive. Or how about two different personal cocktails to represent the different tastes of the couple.

Photography by Squib Photography

Culture
The world of films and tv always influences trends and 2018 looks set to be a year of blockbusters to choose from such as:

  • Comic book films like: Incredibles 2, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Avengers: Infinity War, and Fantastic Beasts 2
  • Children’s classics including: Jungle Book, Arctic Justice, and Mary Poppins Returns
  • Sci-Fi movies such as: Solo: a Star Wars Story, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Black Panther, and Aquaman – wouldn’t an Atlantis underwater wedding be amazing!
  • Action movies including: M:I 6 – Mission Impossible, and Ocean’s 8 – a brilliant female reboot set in New York
  • Love stories like: Fifty Shades Freed, and Love, Simon

Plus big tv shows such as Peaky Blinders, Dr Who (complete with a new female doctor after Christmas) and a new adaptation of Vanity Fair (set in the 19th century around the Napoleonic Wars) will help some wedding themes.

Film and video will continue to be more prevalent at weddings with couples choosing 360 videos, virtual reality experiences and drones to capture their big day. Along with social media being a part of the day and a way to capture everyone’s pictures of the day (it’s just the modern version of the disposable cameras on the table!) with personalised snap chat geofilters and your own hashtags for the day.

Photography by Squib Photography

Celebrities
As well as the wonders of Pinterest, couples are inspired by seeing others doing something first. So it’s no surprise that details from celebrity weddings will influence wedding trends. Here are some famous engaged couples that could make it up the aisle in 2018 and their special days will be ones to watch:

  • Prince Harry & Meghan – need I say any more! This will be THE wedding of the year and will surely spur some British street party style themes
  • Candice Brown & Liam Macaulay – she is a former Great British Bake Off winner so I’m sure there’ll be some wedding cakes goals emerging from this day!
  • Kate Mara & Jamie Bell – perhaps some Fantastic 4 or Billy Elliot themes
  • Matthew Lewis & Angela Jones – he played Neville Longbottom so will we see some more Harry Potter themes?
  • Rosie Huntington-Whiteley & Jason Statham – surely an action packed wedding expected there
  • Stephen Webb & Daniel Lustig – these guys are stars of Gogglebox and sure to have some original details to aspire to
  • Robert Pattinson & FKA twigs – Twilight themed weddings are still popular and great outdoor weddings

Photography by Squib Photography

Current affairs
You may be living and breathing your wedding and everything else in the world is taking a back seat. However, things are still going on around you and some national, local and annual events may have an impact on your guests involvement, availability and enjoyment. Here’s some events around the world that could influence your choice of dates and could also influence wedding trends:

  • Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea 9-25 February 2018
  • Commonwealth Games in Australia, 4-15 April 2018
  • World Cup in Russia 14 June – 15 July 2018

These are a few of my predictions for wedding trends in 2018. I’d love to hear what you think are going to be popular wedding trends next year. Email me with your predictions and take a look at more of my curation and inspiration on Pinterest.

May I take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

Photography by Squib Photography

Are you getting married in 2018? Is your wedding going to be following one of these trends? Let me know if you’d like to share the detail shots of your day on my blog to inspire other couples who are wedding planning. If you (and your photographer) are happy, then take a look how to submit your wedding.

Have your (wedding) cake and eat it!

Have your (wedding) cake and eat it!

A topic very close to my heart (and sweet tooth) is cake!

Photography by Farrow Photography
www.farrowphotography.com

When it comes to weddings, cakes are often the focal point of the wedding reception – proudly displayed, incorporating themes and colour schemes of the day, and featured in one of the main staged events of the day – culminating in a great photo opportunity when it formally gets cut.

There are many elements of a wedding that are steeped in tradition, superstition and symbolism. Here I unravel a little behind why wedding cakes are included in the festivities and then The Pretty Cake Company give their advice for the perfect ‘recipe’ to get the wedding cake of your dreams.

Even though some couples are picking alternatives to the humble wedding cake (such as ‘cheese’ cakes, cupcakes, giant porkpies, quiches tiers and pancake stacks to name a few), the evolution of this wedding element is nothing new as it’s seen many guises over the years including bread rolls and pie.

The custom originally dates back to Roman and Medieval times when bread would’ve been thrown at the bride. Thankfully this developed into the breaking of the bread over the head (symbolizing the bride losing her virginity).

Over time this progressed into guests bringing baked goods to the wedding and piling them up as high as possible. The couple would try and kiss over this high cake without it falling over and were deemed to have good fortune if they were successful. Not content with the instability of a baked goods stack, one clever baker came up with the idea of sticking the rolls together and the Croquembouche was born.

Today’s traditional wedding cakes have a rich fruit cake (a sign of fertility), often a gorgeous layer of marzipan (that I can’t get enough of! ) and white fondant icing. The white colour of the bride’s cake was again a sign of purity and also one of wealth as fine white sugar would’ve been expensive back in the day. The whiter the cake the wealthier you were plus the number of tiers showed extravagance too (although often some tiers could be fake ones to save money!) Plus an alternative ‘darker’ groom’s cake alongside (perhaps in chocolate).

Photography by Farrow Photography
www.farrowphotography.com

Traditionally, the cutting of the cake (as well as being a staple photo opportunity) was done by the bride on her own (to symbolize losing her virginity) and she would hand out the cake to ensure fertility. Nowadays it is the first task performed together as a married couple. Some couples feed each other the first slice as a sign of commitment (or smash it in each others’ faces if you’re feeling cheeky!)

With the bottom tier for cutting, the middle tier for sharing, the top tier is often saved for the first anniversary or christening.

Meanwhile, symbolic charms placed in the cake attached to ribbons can be pulled out by the bridesmaids to predict their fortunes. Plus it was thought that single people who slept with a slice of the wedding cake under their pillow would dream of their future spouse.

There is so much tradition and choices to call upon to create your wedding cake and this element continues to evolve with emerging geode cut out cakes, crystalling detail, food walls and even wedding cakes with image projections on them. Take a look at some of my other trend predictions too.


Here are some top tips from the incredibly talented Samantha from The Pretty Cake Company with a cake designer’s insight into picking your cake and a look at current wedding cake trends to consider.

Photography by Farrow PhotographyThe wedding cake will be the most prominent centrepiece of your wedding reception with the potential to be a highly decorative work of art. So deciding on what form your wedding cake should take, is one that should be given very careful consideration.

An average wedding cake now is upwards of £500 and can go into the thousands, so your requirements will dictate your budget. The costing is primarily dependent on three things, size, flavour and decoration.

SIZE
When contacting cake designers it’s important to give as much information as possible. Give your anticipated guest number as this will allow the cake designer to work out what size tiers would be most appropriate. If you would like to reserve the top fruitcake tier for a first anniversary or christening then do mention that as well.

I have had clients in the past who want very tall grand wedding cakes, but not necessarily all the cake that would come with it, so think about the option of using polystyrene dummies to add extra tiers as this would help reduce the cost.

FLAVOUR
Simple sponges such as vanilla and lemon tend to be the cheapest with other most popular flavours such as chocolate, carrot and fruitcake, being more expensive due to the ingredients cost and increased time taken to make them.

Ask your cake designer what other flavours they could suggest as other flavours can often be made by adapting existing basic recipes. Other popular flavours that I have done in the past are coffee and walnut, orange and almond, lime and passion fruit, toffee and salted caramel, champagne and strawberry, but with lots of good quality flavouring extracts on the market, it’s very simple to come up with some more original suggestions.

Sometimes you can make a simple flavour more exciting by simply making the filling a bit more interesting, like lemon cake with a passionfruit curd buttercream or chocolate with a salted caramel buttercream.

DECORATION
Decoration is by far the most influential part of costing the cake as this is what takes the most time and requires the most skill. Things like sugar flowers, texture work and intricate pipework on the cake, can take several hours and sometimes days, so if you are on a budget, then maybe try and avoid these.


Here’s the ‘recipe’ to get the wedding cake of your dreams:

1. CONSULTATION
Check with your cake maker if they offer a face to face consultation, if there is a charge for it and whether cake samples would be available for tasting. It’s important that you have confidence in your cake maker and that the cakes will taste as good as they look. Some companies do charge for consultations, which might be deductible from the cost if you book.

2. EXPERIENCE
Most reputable cake makers will have a strong portfolio of their work which will be further substantiated with websites, social media pages and recommendations from previous clients and local venues. Do your research beforehand and choose a cake maker that has experience of the styles you like (such as elegant, pretty, floral wedding cakes versus novelty wedding cakes). Respect a cake maker who is honest with you and will tell you up front that they feel that there are better people out there who can create what you want.

3. AVAILABILITY
With weddings occurring almost any day of the week now, cake makers can be very much in demand. Ask your cake maker how many wedding cakes they take on in one week and how many people will work on it so that you know that your cake will not be compromised
.

4. BOOK IN ADVANCE
I always advise my couples that once they have a date secured with their venue they should book, pay a deposit and reserve the date with their suppliers as soon as possible. Consultations and finer details can be worked out much nearer the time. Generally it’s best to book 9-12 months in advance. Often the cake is one of the first things you should book but one of the last things you should finalise as it can incorporate so many aspects of the wedding eg colours, flowers, fabric, stationery (which will only be known towards the end of the planning stage).

5. DEPOSIT
Ask when the deposit is required which tends to be between 25-50%. It’s always a good idea to make a note of when the balance is due to be paid. This tends to be between a month to 2 weeks before the wedding although check with your cake maker on their policies.

6. DIETARY REQUIREMENTS
Let your cake maker know if there are any allergies that they need to be aware of. However, also bear in mind that, unless you are using a very large company with allergy safe environments, it could be tricky to completely eliminate the risk of cross contamination.

7. ACCESSORIES
Think about how you want the cake displayed and how you’re going to cut it. A cake stand can dramatically change the way that a wedding cake looks and I always recommend the use of one. It adds precedence, height and is an added decorative feature. Most established cake makers will have a range of stands for hire. Some venues offer use of a cake stand as part of the package but always ask to see it beforehand, as they can be old fashioned silver stands which might not suit the style of your cake. It is generally the responsibility of the couple to return the stands within a couple of days of the wedding, unless this has been agreed prior and a collection charge has been paid.

8. DELIVERY
Make sure you let your cake maker know where and when the cake is to be delivered or if you are going to collect it. Most cake makers will charge for delivery and this will also include the return journey. They will also need to know who is the point of contact at the venue as you may be otherwise busy. Plus think about where the cake is to be set up, being mindful that it shouldn’t be in direct sunlight, or have a cluttered background.


Logistics aside, the fun part is picking what it’ll look like and how it will embody the theme of your special day. Here are some current trends in wedding cakes to give you some inspiration:

  •  Chalkboard: Chalkboards are often used at weddings for place settings, order of events and direction signs, so why not follow the theme through onto the cake, and personalising with a monogram or favourite quotes and lyrics. It’s also the perfect opportunity to show off some pretty calligraphy fonts.

Photography by Neil Hanson
http://www.nordicpics.co.uk

  • Semi naked cake: The naked cake has been around for a number of years now so it’s about time there was a new twist on it! The semi naked cake has a thin scraping of buttercream which allows the sponge to show through slightly. It gives an interesting rustic finish which looks beautiful decorated with fresh flowers and fruits.
Photography by Neil Hanson www.nordicpics.co.uk

Photography by Neil Hanson www.nordicpics.co.uk

  • Textured Buttercream: Lots of people love the thought of sinking their teeth into light fluffy sponge and a nice thick layer of delicious buttercream. So if you prefer buttercream to fondant then this is the perfect cake for you. Finished with fresh flowers, it gives an elegantly simple yet stylishly beautiful wedding cake.

Photography by Pretty Cake Company

  • Marble: Marble cakes are seeing a big revival at the moment and here is a cake which incorporates many on trend features. The marble tiers on the top and bottom are flecked with gold and the metallic drips on the bottom tier are also very fashionable. The chalkboard tier adds the opportunity for a bit of personalisation and the beautiful sugar flowers add a pretty feature which feminises the cake.

Photography by Farrow Photography
www.farrowphotography.com

  • Ruffles/texture: Texture has been popular for a few years now and here is a cake which demonstrates texture in many ways. The vertical ruffles add an understated elegant texture; the gold sequins add sparkle and the pretty gold piping was inspired by a stationery design. Together with the sharp edge finish on this cake and the single garden rose on the top tier, this is a crisp, sleek and sophisticated wedding cake.
Photography by Neil Hanson www.nordicpics.co.uk

Photography by Neil Hanson www.nordicpics.co.uk

  • Metallic and opulence: Metallic decoration can be seen in many ways, be it, metallic leaf, metallic lustre, metallic sequins or simple enhancements with a paintbrush and edible metallic paint. Here is a grand 5 tier cake with a metallic gold leaf tier. Metallic leaf can leave a distressed finish as it is very difficult to apply, but this is part of its charm. The cake was finished off with patches of intricate lace pipework and gorgeous sugar flowers.
Photography by Neil Hanson www.nordicpics.co.uk

Photography by Neil Hanson www.nordicpics.co.uk

  • Floral romance: Cake and flowers often go together, whether the flowers are real or if they are made from sugar. Here is a selection of recent floral wedding cakes showing how diverse each one can be.
Photography by Neil Hanson www.nordicpics.co.uk

Photography by Neil Hanson www.nordicpics.co.uk

 

Photography by Neil Hanson www.nordicpics.co.uk

Photography by Neil Hanson www.nordicpics.co.uk

The Pretty Cake Company offers a friendly, personal and bespoke wedding cake design service to produce breath taking wedding cakes that will be remembered for years to come. They produce wedding cakes that are individual to the bride and groom – always focusing on the attention to detail that makes all the difference. They have over 10 years of experience in designing and creating wedding cakes and work closely with numerous prestigious wedding venues in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and The Cotswolds.  They will work with you and take your ideas and inspirations in order to create a truly memorable wedding cake. They pride ourselves on using the finest quality and freshest ingredients available.

Unlike many other cake companies, they now specialise only in wedding cakes, as this is their true passion.  Now they are able to focus on keeping up to date with current bridal trends and ensuring that their clients receive expert advice in the wedding cake field.
Clients are guaranteed a friendly, efficient service where quality is never compromised. Consultations by appointment only. They are based in Minster Lovell, Witney, West Oxfordshire and can deliver to a wide area.

twitter-1@Prettycakeco

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Trend predictions for weddings in 2017

Trend predictions for weddings in 2017

Weddings are a wonderful celebration of love and marriage. They can blend together families, traditions, cultures, creativity and lots of personal touches. Whether a religious, civil or humanist ceremony, a traditional or themed reception, these special days are about what is important to each individual couple.

Despite some couples’ originality, there are always trends that appear and popular themes that epitomise a particular era (think puff ball sleeves from the eighties). Sometimes fashion, films, television programmes, interior design, celebrity weddings and even current affairs influence these trends. Of course, there are some timeless and classic themes that never seem to go out of favour like a ‘romantic’ theme and personalisation is still key at the moment.

So what does 2017 hold for us?

Clothing

Bridal wear is really seeing a big shift in trends to provide new, innovative and unusual styles to make sure the bride makes a statement and is different to any other on her big day. Fashion trends that are appearing on the catwalks (that will surely influence weddings next year) include:

  • Tailored separates including trousers or culottes, as well as shirts
  • Athletic looking clothing but in evening wear material
  • Alternative necklines to strapless such as halters, plunging and embellished necklines
  • Varying lengths, cuts and material to provide short, sheer or cutouts
  • Covering up the shoulders with long sleeves, boleros, lace or capes
  • Plain veils
  • Unusual accessories like ribbon hair bands, feather handbags and flat shoes
  • Adornments on dresses such as bows, peplums, ruffles and 3D flowers
  • Coloured & floral patterned dresses including various pastel shades and even black

 

Culture

The world of films and tv always influences trends and 2017 looks set to be a year of blockbusters to choose from such as:

  • Comic book inspiration courtesy of Logan, Transformers, Lego Batman, Kong: Skull Island, Spider-Man and Wonder Woman
  • Romantic fairy tales with Beauty & the Beast
  • Futurist and space trends with releases of Blade runner 2049 and Star Wars 8
  • Medieval individuality along with King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
  • Beach and nautical themes thanks to Baywatch (plus Pamela Anderson’s 50th birthday) and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
  • Car racing, petrol head and Route 66 inspiration with Fast 8 and Cars 3
  • 1920s Kazbar glamour with Murder on the Orient Express
  • Fun themes spinning off from the Emoji Movie

And film and video will become more prevalent at weddings with more couples choosing 360 videos, virtual reality experiences and drones to capture their big day.

 

Celebrities

As well as the wonders of Pinterest, couples are inspired by seeing others doing something first. The affect of the royal wedding in 2011 is still apparent now as couples are choosing to have trees inside at their weddings. So it’s no surprise that details from celebrity weddings will influence wedding trends. Here are some famous engaged couples that could make it up the aisle in 2017 and their special days will be ones to watch:

  • Pippa Middleton & James Matthews – I can’t wait to see how she tops her infamous bridesmaid dress and will Kate repay the favour?
  • Tom Daly & Dustin Lance Black – will it be a swimwear only wedding like Tom has joked?
  • Liv Tyler & Dave Gardner for a sports, fashion or rock and roll theme
  • Emma Bunton & Jade Jones – though Baby Spice may need some help to start organising it as they’ve been engaged since 2010!
  • Prince Harry & Meghan Markle – okay they’re not actually engaged yet but I can’t wait to see this that wedding day!
  • Not exactly a celebrity (but to me she is a real star!) and that’s my mad Nan (self titled!) It’s so wonderful to see her so happy again and courting a lovely young man. Whilst we obviously miss Grampy, it would be lovely to see my Nan get hitched again. (Plus my little ones would make such cute attendants too!) There’s definitely a trend to seeing grandmothers as bridesmaids but I’d like to see mine as a bride next year.

 

Colour and styling

So much influences our daily lives which in turn spills over to the world of weddings including decorative elements from different arenas such as interior design, architecture, graphic design, lighting, furniture and textiles.

One part that overarches these elements is the importance of colour.

  • The Pantone® Colour of the Year always plays a big part in influencing popular colours and I don’t think next year will be any exception. In 2017, the colour of the year is a yellowy green called Greenery. Pantone are citing it as ‘nature’s neutral’ [take a look at my report about the colour of the year] and I’m already a little bit in love with this colour! It will work well teamed with vibrant colours or partnered with pure white for a classic look. Here’s my take on the other colours to look out for in spring/summer 2017.
  • Foliage – the colour of the year will also sit nicely alongside trends for more foliage and ‘bringing the garden inside’.
  • Flowers – if you do go for flowers then they will need to make a statement and ‘go big or go home’ with paper florals emerging as an ecological and lasting alternative, new ways to wear flowers such as corsages, floral rings, anklets and chockers, as well as larger and looser bouquets
  • Textures – be prepared for macramé in boho Coachella inspired themes, plus crushed velvet and total-coverage sequins for more luxurious styles
  • Metallic – I’m so pleased that the metallic trend seems to be still going strong and isn’t showing any signs of tiring just yet. Rose, bronze, copper and gold – on their own, mixed together or used alongside white.
  • Gem stones – this is a stunning and really striking trend using rocks lined with crystals (agate or hollow geodes) for a contemporary feel. As well as seeing marble coming back into the limelight.
  • Transparent – strip it back by pairing nude and neutral colours alongside Perspex chairs, tables, menus and signage for a modern style
  • Mix and match – pretty much anything goes and don’t be afraid to mix up all elements of the decor such as the colours, textures, metals and furniture. Not sure which colour to pick – well put them all together.

 

Catering

Family style serving is still a great way to share the wedding reception which works so well on long, large banquet tables lining the room.

Other food and drink highlights to support emerging tends include:

  • Cakes – marbling icing, amazing geode cut out and crystal detailing and even wedding cakes with image projections on them
  • Unusual catering vans, dessert tables and interactive stations st the reception – think oyster shuck trucks, gin bars and make your own pudding
  • Food for favours – give you guests something they can take away and enjoy at home and remember the day like coffee beans, loose leaf tea or alcohol miniatures for favours
  • Food walls – hang donuts (for example) to make edible decor which could even double as escort cards too! Delicious!
  • Personalised cocktails – have your own cocktails created and served as the ‘house’ aperitif instead of Pimms or Buck’s Fizz when guests arrive. Or how about two different personal cocktails to represent the different tastes of the couple.

Current affairs

You may be living and breathing your wedding and everything else in the world is taking a back seat. However, things are still going on around you and some national, local and annual events may have an impact on your guests involvement, availability and enjoyment. Here’s some events that could influence your choice of dates.

In addition, around the world, some momentous celebrations could also influence wedding trends.

  • Europe – We will mark 15 years since the launch of the Euro in January. Could thoughts of Brexit mean we embrace all things European whilst we are still part of Europe? Potential costs of some products could go up if/when we do exit Europe such as flowers that are imported so couples may be looking for cheaper alternatives.
  • Then in April, it will be the 40th anniversary since the fall of Saigon. I love the tea ceremonies from this region as part of their weddings celebrations along with the opulent red and gold colours.
  • In August, it will be 40 years since Elvis died. Will this give us another 1970s revival? – think rhinestone jumpsuits!
  • Later in the year, it is the 100th anniversary of the Russian revolution in November. Perhaps this will herald Russian traditions becoming more popular such as week long weddings, a tour of the city to have photographs taken at historical places and wearing wedding crowns in the ceremony. As well as the Russian tradition of seeing which of the newlyweds can grab the biggest handful of bread at the wedding breakfast to see who will be the head of the household.

These are a few of my predictions for wedding trends in 2017. I’d love to hear what you think are going to be popular wedding trends next year. Email me at info@www.hanamidream.co.uk with your predictions. See more of my curation and inspiration on Pinterest.

May I take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

Are you getting married in 2017? Is your wedding going to be following one of these trends? Let me know if you’d like to share the detail shots of your day on my blog to inspire other couples who are wedding planning. If you (and your photographer) are happy, then take a look how to submit your wedding.

Trend predictions for weddings in 2016

Trend predictions for weddings in 2016

Weddings are a wonderful celebration of love and marriage. They can blend together families, traditions, cultures, creativity and lots of personal touches. Whether a religious, civil or humanist ceremony, a traditional or themed reception, these special days are about what is important to each individual couple.

Despite some couples’ originality, there are always trends that appear and popular themes that epitomise a particular era (think puff ball sleeves from the eighties). Sometimes fashion, films, television programmes, interior design, celebrity weddings and even current affairs influence these trends. Of course, there are some timeless and classic themes that never seem to go out of favour, and with the latest film in the Bridget Jones series set for release next year we’re sure the romantic theme will continue to be strong.

So what does 2016 hold for us? Well for one thing, it is a leap year. So will it bring about lots of proposals from women on the 29th February and encourage some excited wedding planning as a result?

It will be a time of revelry as a nation again as the Queen will be celebrating her 90th birthday on 12th June. This could prompt some street party themes using inspiration from the Union Jack colours. Red, white and blue could also be at the forefront of people’s minds with the culmination of the American elections as well.

union jack

Plus, let’s hope we’re also able to mark the achievements of our British footballers in the UEFA Euro 2016 finals in France and Spain, as well as our athletes in the Olympics next year. Maybe some sporting themes could become prevalent as a result of these events or perhaps weddings will be inspired by the Rio party atmosphere of the Brazilian venue of the Olympics.

2016 also marks 350 years since the Great Fire of London, 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare, 950 years since the Battle of Hastings and 50 years since England win the football World Cup.

Take a look at our curation of predictions for wedding trends to look out for in 2016 (and see more of our inspiration at pinterest.com/HanamiDream/):

Venue / themes

  • Jungle themes could see an increase next year with the CGI live action release of the Jungle Book film. Think subtle animal prints and loads of greenery. Marry this with the excitement of the Rio Olympics and you’ll be transported to the stunning, relaxing and lush green rainforests of Brazil, surrounded by colourful and vibrant décor in greens, blues and gold. A carnival full of samba dancers, exuberant feathers, magnificent masks and energetic music will get everyone joining in!
  • Or perhaps a more civilised tea party could be more up your street, inspired by the release of the film, Alice Through The Looking Glass. This is going to be Tim Burton at his best again so think quirky and extravagant details. Afternoon tea with a twist.
  • Perhaps a wild west theme complete with cowboys appeals to you – wanted posters, panning for gold and arriving on horseback just like the Magnificent Seven in the 2016 film remake.
  • Comic book inspiration comes in the form of new films of Batman v Superman, X-men: Apocalypse, Angry Birds, Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles: Out of the Shadows and Captain America: Civil War. Your inner child can go to town and have colourful, playful fun with this theme or perhaps you want to use more of a hint of the gothic style comic books. Alternative bouquets made of comic pages, mini action figures instead of button holes, secret identity t-shirts under the groomsmen’s shirts, superhero capes for the guests or cartoon invites can bring this theme together.
  • Or perhaps, an outdoors medieval banquet would suit your big day in the same vein as the Knights of the Round Table: King Arthur film directed by Guy Ritchie. With floral crowns, moss, wicker and naked cakes in a beautiful castle setting or in a stunning forest or garden.

brazilian flag

Décor

  • We are so pleased that the metallic trend seems to be still going strong and not showing any signs of tiring just yet. Sequins are a welcome addition to this trend or pair metallics with cool agate for a contemporary feel.
  • By contrast, there’s also a uprising of tribal prints with the influence of Moroccan and Indonesian accents. Dark woods, earthy colours and block prints.
  • Romantic themes are still using ruffles and the use of ombré colouring on anything you can and for a cute factor there’s good old polka dots.
  • Video booths are seeing a surge in popularity as technology continues to move forward and couples are looking for more unique and original ways to capture and remember their big day. However, some are also using their weddings as a chance to have a break from technology and encouraging their guests not to use their phones during the day.
  • This old vs new trend continues as some chose to use classic styled furniture brought up to date such as beautifully designed chalk boards whilst others choose modern styling with Perspex chairs and tables.
  • Backdrops were the big news of 2015, but next year is all about aisle runners – whether these are printed, a covering of petals or use clever lighting.
  • On top of this suspended décor is all the rage – for an industrial chic style with Edison lighting or floral chandeliers in a rustic theme.

sequins

Flowers

  • Flowers are a big focus in 2016 not only in the décor but with hair accessories and headwear. Plus a new trend of ring corsages is emerging and the use of wild flowers like daisies.
  • It doesn’t all have to be about the flowers as foliage will be as important or instead of flowers in displays.
  • Alternatives to traditional flowers are seeing the use of succulents in bouquets, on tables and given away as favours.
  • Plus instead of the usual confetti, there is now a herb toss as another option which gives such lovely aromas to this part of the day.

succulentsClothing

  • Bridal wear is really seeing a big shift in trends to provide new, innovative and unusual styles to make sure the bride makes a statement and is different to any other on her big day. Trends that appearing on the catwalks (that will surely influence trends next year) include: mix & match separates, crop tops, high necklines, off the shoulder, asymmetric hems, backless dresses and plunging v necks on the back.
  • For the more daring and alternative bride perhaps try fringing, jumpsuits, palazzo pants, peakaboo skirt or even a cape.
  • Rather than a plain dress, some brides are opting for a floral one or even camo print (which is starting to be really popular in the US – not necessarily in classic hunting camo but how about a pink or snow camo, or try accessorising the traditional camo with orange accents).
  • Not ready for this kind of statement just yet, then perhaps you can go the extra mile with your footwear. Perhaps using your shoes to highlight the colour of the day or to write your feelings on the soles so everyone can see when you kneel at the alter!
  • For the men, it’s all about smartening up next year – go the whole hog with a tuxedo.

snow camoColours

  • The Pantone® Color of the Year 2016 will certainly play a big part in influencing colours next year. And next year we get two colours for the price of one in the form of Rose Quartz and Serenity. It’s the first time Pantone® have ever announced two colours and a long time since a pastel colour has hit the top spot. They are a nice calm change to the recent bold jewel colours of the last ten years. We can already see these colours featuring singly in couples’ colour schemes and look forward to seeing people using them in tandem too. There certainly won’t be a shortage of choices for your ‘something blue’!
  • So pastels will be big next year and play a big part in the use of non-traditional colours for the wedding dress becoming more popular.
  • We predict that there will be more mix and match styling with the bridesmaids – either with different styles in one colour or bridesmaids’ dresses using different colours that all tone in together.
  • We look forward to seeing more dark blues, silver, mocha and terracotta.

Pantone Color of the Year 2016 | Serenity | Rose Quartz

Cakes & catering

  • There’s nothing we like more than cake but next year will see a few alternatives coming to the fire front. Firstly some couples will be using their cake as the pudding so it might not take a tradition guise instead it might be a cheesecake or pancake stack.
  • Also making an appearance with be the cake fake – all the style and presence but not actually a cake. Welcome the pork pie stack, cheese ‘cakes’, or three tiers of quiche.
  • If it is a real cake then look out for mixed shapes tiers and more ‘free from‘ varieties making an appearance.
  • Above everything food will be theatrical in 2016 and take centre stage – we can’t wait for more champagne towers to join the revival!

Hanami Dream | champagne

These are a few of our predictions for wedding trends in 2016. See more of our curation and inspiration at pinterest.com/HanamiDream/

May we take this opportunity to wish you a very happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year.