It’s a New Year and already wedding season is off with a bang! Wedding Industry Experts are gearing up for an exciting and very busy 2012. I have been speaking too many of these In The Know Experts to find out what they are seeing in trends for weddings this year and have compiled the highlights:
“Music can make a party! Some couples are taking that to the next level by having custom songs written for them by professional songwriters. There are at least two music companies who offer this service. The custom song is used for recessional music, first dance, cake cutting and the recorded custom song is given to guests as gifts.”
-Annette Babich, Annette Babich Events
“Weddings are taking a look back as they step forward in 2012. Create a romantic wedding with a modern twist, use romantic colors such as pale pinks and blush tones complimented with vintage metallic accents to create the ideal atmosphere. Wedding gowns with illusion necklines create a delicate, elegant look. The blush wedding gown will also make its official debut this year; check out gowns by designers like Monique Lhuillier and Angelo Lambrou.
Take cue from one of the most romantic cities in the world, Paris, and create a European style wedding. Following your cocktail hour, invite your guests for a formal sit down dinner full of toasts and merriment, then invite guests to join you in yet another beautiful space within your venue for dancing and dessert. In true Parisian spirit make sure to serve sweet and savory treats like at the very end of the night. Always keep the romantic spirit of your wedding in mind, enjoy yourself, and you will plan the perfect wedding in 2012!”
- Christine Paul, Christine Paul Events
“We are doing many old fashioned spirit presentations towards the end of the night - using beautiful crystal decanters, each different in shape and size, each identified for the guests with a hand- calligraphed label, presented on an elegant cart. We just did such a cart for a client's wedding recently. The bride and groom were scotch lovers and we worked with a sommelier to create a presentation of top scotches.”
- Loulie Walker, Loulie Walker Events
“Watch out simple brides, this year’s hot new trend is anything citrus. From lemon yellow, pastel pink grapefruit or my favorite tangerine!!! Don't be afraid of the bold colors, they can still be arranged with elegance!”
- Michael Russo, Michael Russo Events
“If you want to start your marriage out on a stylish note, Pat Glenn Productions has you covered Yesterday...everything was white OR cream. Try adding a splash of purple or lavender into the palette. Centerpieces today are not just crystal candelabras but a variety of cool contemporary architectural style floral arrangements. Incorporate 3 different styles to your room so that your guests realize that there is interest in the room. They will appreciate the detail in different centerpieces. Traditional white roses are given a new twist by incorporating them with green cymbidium orchids. The wedding aisle is now a place where our bride and groom can show their playful side, as we can do fun designs made of flowers or branches. Be relaxed and think about having your favorite pet be part of the procession. Another way of creating a fun relaxed setting is to create vignettes of lounge furniture that your guests can feel free to relax in. Design a candy table with color coordinated candies in sleek clear apothecary jars.”
- Pat & Glenn Productions
“Love & Romance are back in 2012! We are forecasting a very busy year for brides and wedding industry professionals. Brides are looking to include everyone who is important to them on their special day and guests counts are getting higher and higher. As often as possible Brides and Grooms are including children in their ceremony and making sure they have a room with someone to take care of them during the party so that their parents are able to enjoy the celebration!
- Harriette Rose Katz, Gourmet Advisory Services
After producing over 40 spectacular Plaza celebrations in 2011, here are my own predictions for 2012:
DRESS: Return to Romance- Lace gowns, long gloves and long soft flowing veils are back.
FOOD: Macaroons are the new mini cupcakes. They look lovely as petit fours or can be a pretty passed sweet on the dance floor!
Less is More: Instead of adding more stations, more passed hors d’oeuvres or more specialty cocktails, truly enhancing three stations by adding specialty food items or even having special wine or cocktail pairings at each station can be more impressive than having 6 stations.
DÉCOR: Out with the new and in with the old- Traditional china and gorgeous candelabras replace white square plates and untraditional centerpieces.
MUSIC: Interactive Dance Bands- hire bands that have musicians and singers that will interact with the guests on the dance floor throughout the night!