I love this time of year. It’s when our metaphorical diary is full of blank pages yet unwritten.
For lots of people, the new year is a popular time to book holidays, make resolutions, kick start a new healthy regime and start thinking about personal special occasions that we have coming up.
Plus the start of the year often spurs people to pop the question and/or kickstart their wedding planning.
Huge congratulations to you if you’ve got engaged over the festive period.
Telling people your big news and flashing your new piece of jewellery is such an exciting time and it won’t be long until you’ll be asked (again and again) when is your big day.
So here’s a little help with picking a date for your special day (and take a look at this useful guide to setting the date too).
Make sure you think about what else is going on in the world such as national, local and annual events including:
Public holidays
Sporting events
Royal occasions
Other people’s occasions (like birthdays, wedding anniversaries and religious festivals)
Here’s a list of some events (in England) in 2017 that could influence your choice of dates:
New Year’s Day 1 January
Epiphany 6 January
Orthodox Christmas Day 7 January
Orthodox New Year 14 January
Burns Night 25 January
Chinese New Year 28 January
Valentine’s Day 14 February
Shrove Tuesday 28 February
St David’s Day 1 March
St Patrick’s Day 17 March
First Day of Spring 20 March
Clocks go forward 26 March
Mother’s Day 26 March
April Fool’s Day 1 April
Boat Race 2 April
Passover 11-18 April
Good Friday 14 April
Easter Day 16 April
Easter Monday 17 April
St George’s Day 23 April
London Marathon 23 April
May Day Bank Holiday 1 May
FA Cup Final 27 May
Spring Bank Holiday 29 May
Royal Ascot 16-20 June
Father’s Day 18 June
First Day of Summer 21 June
Eid 26 June
Henley Regatta 28 June – 8 July
Wimbledon 3 – 16 July
Independence Day 4 July
British Grand Prix 7-9 July
Summer Bank Holiday 28 August
First Day of Autumn 22 September
Diwali 19 October
Clocks go back 29 October
Guy Fawkes 5 November
Remembrance Day 11 November
Thanksgiving 23 November
St Andrew’s Day 30 November
Hanukkah 13-20 December
First Day of Winter 21 December
Christmas Day 25 December
Boxing Day 26 December
Enjoy celebrating in 2017 and I wish you a very Happy New Year.
I’m pretty chuffed to have found out just before Christmas that I’ve been shortlisted for the next round of the West Oxfordshire Business Awards #WOBA2017.
I’m looking forward to meeting the judges shortly and will keep you posted if there’s more exciting news to report!
I hope you’ve had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas. At this between and betwixt time, I often take the time to reflect on the past year. And what a fantastic year it’s been for Hanami Dream weddings and special occasions in 2016!I’ve continued to study with UKAWEP and was proud to be picked as Student of the month in October. The course has (and continues) to open my eyes up to a whole world of weddings beyond just wedding planning.
My focus has changed this year and I’m concentrating on making the blog work commercially as well as providing inspiration to brides and grooms in the Cotswolds. This feels like a fantastic evolution, which really excites me and fits in with my current family life, plus combines my experience within the scope of the wedding industry.
I also worked as a consultant with a local venue to help them with their first wedding open day where I held a wedding planning drop in clinic.
Plus I launched #UKWedLunch in August – a Twitter hour for brides and grooms to be who are planning their weddings in their lunch breaks.
I’m delighted to have enquiries for different aspects of the business including venue styling and consultancy, as well as such lovely testimonials from happy couples and suppliers I’ve worked with in 2016.
The blog featured posts on different elements of wedding planning, local wedding venues, catering vans, a series titled ‘the holy trinity of wedding planning’ and some wonderful guest posts from local wedding professionals (with top tips and an insight in to different elements of wedding planning from their area of the wedding industry). See the top ten posts of 2016.
My blog has had an exciting year and continues to go from strength to strength. The highlight of 2016, was being a finalist in two categories of the UK Blog Awards in April and I was delighted to get a highly commended award.
I was also chuffed to have some of my articles (on seating plans and stationery) published on Bride Magazine online too.
I’m pleased to add to my honoured collection of accolades with #QueenOf Wedding Inspiration by The Royal Connection, the #SmartSocial award from Marketme, #BrightPig’s Business of the Week and I was also picked by Jacqueline Gold CBE to be a WOW Winner.
I’m really proud to have won the UK Academy of Wedding and Event Planning’s Greenery (SS17 and colour of the year) Pantone® mood board competition again this year.
If all this wasn’t enough, I’m over the moon to have found out last week that I’ve been shortlisted for the next round of the West Oxfordshire Business Awards #WOBA2017. So I’m looking forward to meeting the judges in the New Year and to seeing what other exciting things 2017 has to hold for Hanami Dream.
Now is also a great time to look forward to the brand new year ahead. I’ve lots of plans afoot including focusing the blog on supporting and promoting local wedding professionals, services and venues #keepitlocal. And I can’t wait to produce more styled photo shoots and have more opportunities to collaborate with local suppliers.
Many thanks for your support in 2016 and here’s to an exciting and very Happy New Year!
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.
As well as general wedding planning chat, this week there’s a wedding traditions quiz (just for fun!) Tweet your replies (answers at the end of #UKWedLunch)
Here we go… QUESTION 1: What was the original meaning of the word ‘bride’? #UKWedLunch
QUESTION 2: Which is said to be the unluckiest day to get married on? #UKWedLunch
QUESTION 3: Tiered cakes emerged from a game where couples tried to do what over an ever-higher cake without knocking it over? #UKWedLunch
QUESTION 4: If the younger of 2 sisters marries first, what must the older one do at the wedding or risk not finding a partner? #UKWedLunch
QUESTION 5: In Denmark, what would couples dress up as to confuse evil spirits? #UKWedLunch
QUESTION 6: What do Czechs throw at newlyweds instead of rice? #UKWedLunch
Hope you’ve had fun! Here are the answers: A1= cook, A2= Saturday, A3= kiss, A4= dance barefoot, A5= each other, A6= peas #UKWedLunch
Look forward to seeing you again in 2017 from Wednesday 4th Jan 1-2pm for more wedding planning chat #UKWedLunch
All the very best for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! #UKWedLunch
Having a break from wedding planning chat next week, but there will be a round up of top posts from 2016. Feel free to tweet yours to #UKWedLunch on Wed 1-2pm
QUESTION 2: Which films and tv progs do you think will influence 2017 wedding trends? Like Beauty & the Beast #UKWedLunch
QUESTION 3: Which celebrity weddings do you think will influence 2017 wedding trends? Like Pippa Middleton #UKWedLunch
QUESTION 4: What fashion trends do you think will influence 2017 weddings? Like capes, embellished necklines & tailored separates #UKWedLunch
QUESTION 5: What catering trends do you think will influence 2017 weddings? Like donut walls & cakes with image projections #UKWedLunch
QUESTION 6: Which momentous occasion do you think will influence 2017 wedding trends? Like 1970s themes with the 40th anniversary of Elvis’s death #UKWedLunch
We are going green next year as the Pantone® Color of the Year 2017 is Greenery.
What a wonderful, fresh and vibrant colour that I can’t wait to see couples incorporating into their wedding colour schemes next year.
Greenery will look stunning alongside pure white as well as partnering perfectly with other colours. Plus it sits nicely with trends for more foliage and bringing the garden inside.
I love that the colour of the year is not subtle and withdrawn – its out with pastel and in with a vibrant splash of citrus colour! It makes me think of long cool glasses of mojitos brimming with fresh mint with a slice of lime on the top! I can hear the ice chinking as I write!
And it’s that sense of relaxing and getting away from the stresses of the world that Pantone® emphasis this colour will embody in 2017.
Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute describes it as: “the color of hopefulness, and of our connection to nature. It speaks to what we call the ‘re’ words: regenerate, refresh, revitalize, renew. Every spring we enter a new cycle and new shoots come from the ground. It is something life affirming to look forward to.”
Pantone® is the world-renowned authority on colour and the Pantone® Color of the Year is always really influential in any popular colour themes in fashion, interior design and weddings.
I’ve been desperate for a yellow or an orange colour to get top billing for a couple of years and my guess for the Color of the Year 2017 was for Primrose Yellow (see my Spring 2017 report). So I’m so pleased to see a vibrant, bright colour leading the way in 2017.
See more about my winning Greenery mood board from the UK Academy of Wedding and Event Planning’s SS17 Pantone® mood board competition from earlier this year.