12 WEDDING TRENDS WORTH WATCHING

Weddings are getting more and more exciting as we progress through the millennia. The Royal Wedding has inspired many trends this year, yet brides are still letting their personalities shine through in their wedding details adding more and more of their “real life” favourites into their weddings. Here are 12 trends that will ignite your imagination and could play a role in your wedding:

ONE
Lace Is lovely – The Duchess of Cambridge donned lace in her dress as she walked down the aisle to wed Prince William, and we are going to see lace popping up, not only in beautiful wedding gowns but also in wedding linens, accents on wedding invitations, and wrapping for fabulous bouquets. Lace comes in various textures and patterns and brides are falling in love with all its glory.

TWO
Hipster Chic or Relaxed Elegance – Etsy.comand Anthropoligie have inspired brides to look for vintage looks that combine shabby chic with a bohemian flair: vintage mismatched plates, fireplaces outside, fascinator headpieces, chalkboard menus and photobooths with mustaches (yes, fake mustaches). But other ladies on their way to the altar are drawn towards timeless elegance a la Grace Kelly. Nothing overdone, but everything perfectly placed. Candles, delicate flowers and décor glowing with layers of ivory, champagne, and oyster.

THREE
Big, Bold, Attention Getting Cakes – Cakes are back, and they are bigger than ever. Stunning, jaw-dropping cakes inspired by shows like Cake Boss and Ace of Cakes have brides putting them in the center of their weddings. Cakes can be created to mimic the detailing on a bride’s dress or even the layers of petals from her bouquet. Detailed sugar flowers, layers of decadent buttercream, fillings of fresh fruit and lemon curd, even gluten-free cake layers are bringing cake back to the forefront of weddings.

FOUR
Wine Pairings – With chefs showing their true colors at weddings, there is no shortage of yummy food. Brides and grooms are requesting the assistance of sommeliers to help them find just the perfect vintage to match with their perfectly designed cuisine. Some soon-to-be weds are going so far as taking a fun pre-wedding vacation to B.C. Wine Country to search for a wine that is not only tantalizing alongside their wedding menu, but that also holds a beautiful memory for them.

FIVE
AfterParties with DJ’s Spinning – The time between the last dance at the wedding reception and the post-wedding brunch used to be a room-to-room after party crawl until the last groomsman shut down the night. But now the after party is shining on its own as a pre-planned event with a secret location divulged at the end of the reception. DJ’s spinning, refreshing beverages flowing and snacks a plenty rule supreme amongst the mood lighting and cozy lounge seating at the ultimate after party celebration.

SIX
Surprise Performances & Live Music Galore – Glee has got brides and grooms hooked on singing and dancing. Couples are incorporating their favorite songs and dances into their wedding receptions. Some are hiring choreographers and creating a dance all their own to surprise their guests with at the perfect time. Others are seeking the help of professionals to dress up as unassuming waiters and break out in song. However it’s done, live music is back and guests are loving rocking out and even being treated to the occasional bride and groom guest singer.

SEVEN
Garden Style Flowers – Gone are the days of tight clusters of the same bloom, and here are the days of fresh blossoms in a multitude of styles and colors. Greens are being used with big bold peonies, anemones and roses. Lily of the Valley is the darling of the flower world with everyone requesting the flower used by the Duchess of Cambridge. Nothing tight, nothing too structured, everything with an organic, garden fresh look.
EIGHT
Perfecting Your Plans with a Wedding Planner – Brides and grooms are busy and truly understand the need for help in planning their wedding. While wedding planners save time, the trend is not to have someone cut off time in the planning (sure, we can do that), but rather to bring in a creative voice to bounce ideas off of and create with. The planner is the mediator between brides and grooms who have very distinct opinions about what their wedding will look and feel like. Planners are becoming the new mixologists, combining the ideas of the bride and groom to create a harmonious wedding vision that can then be tuned into a reality on the wedding day.
NINE
Creating a Forest of Love with Tree-Lined Aisles – The Duke and Duchess strike again with their aisle -lined with beautiful maple trees. Brides and grooms are not just loving fresh trees lining their aisle but branches galore covered with lots of flowers. Carrie Underwood married her hockey beau, Mike Fisher, under an arbor of birch trees dripping in pink florals.

TEN
Deluxe Draping – Ballrooms are experiencing a facelift with divine draping from ceiling to floor. Just as the bride is dressing herself in finery, she is dressing her room head-to-toe with phenomenal uplighting creating luxurious hues of romance. Drape is transforming wallpapered beige walls in a once blah ballroom into the focal point that is drawing huge ooos and ahhs when guests enter the wedding reception.

ELEVEN
Princess-Style Tiaras – When millions watched the Royal Wedding, all were waiting to see if Kate Middleton would wear a tiara. When she stepped out in her “Something Borrowed,” the Cartier ‘Halo’ tiara, she stepped into her role as future queen. Brides can sparkle with their own tiaras with diamonds or Swarovski crystals. Tiaras are all about the confidence the bride has in wearing it. So, no matter who the maker of the tiara is, it’s all about the girl wearing it.

TWELVE
Luxe Layered Linens – Satin starts the party, and then is joined by organza, topped with embroidery and bedazzled beading. The layers are luscious, and brides are not just opting for your typical tablecloth or overlay. It’s all about layering and creating more and more texture, so when guests sit down at the table they literally say, “ooo this is nice,” and rub their hands all over the table.

The trends for 2012 are making waves in weddings, and brides and grooms have lots of options when it comes to WOWing their guests at their wedding. The most important thing to remember is that trends are to inspire you and be used sparingly. Too many trends thrown together can be off-putting. Not every trend is meant for your wedding. A couple of key trends can truly set your wedding on a new plain of originality when you infuse them with your personality.