To Trend or Not To Trend

I admit I am a huge fan of fashion.  Keeping ahead of the latest trends and looking forward to what will be trending in the coming seasons is a source of great pleasure for me.  But when it comes to weddings, do you follow the current trends or do you develop your style?  As a wedding planner, I will tell you that your wedding is all about you and your style. The sky’s the limit. Be bold – your options are limitless.  Don’t be afraid to live out your dreams.  Don’t be afraid to step outside the box.  Let your wedding be a reflection of you as a couple.  Check out the latest trends and see if they appeal to you.  If you see something you like and want to incorporate it into your wedding, go for it! 

If you were to google 2018 wedding trends, you would find that most experts have their own opinions on what is currently trending.  There were four trends mentioned more frequently, so I decided they must be the most important.  

Let’s start with venues.  After all, it is one of the first things a bride will choose. In most cases, venues are based on the region in which you live.  If you live near the beach, you might have a tropical beach wedding.  However, experts are predicting a growing trend towards historical buildings.  Couples are looking for those awe-inspiring venues with vintage architecture and décor.  Historic buildings with their vaulted ceilings and ornate details are the perfect backdrop for wedding pictures.  Their open spaces present the ideal location for cocktail parties and receptions.

Hotels with their classic ballrooms will also have a revival in 2018. They often have an indoor, and outdoor space available and the vast area of their halls is the perfect place to bring your vision to life.  Hotels also offer in-house catering and other services reducing the number of vendors you will need to contact.

As couples continue to consider new and exciting venues, 2018 will see a rise in rooftop venues offering their guest breathtaking views.  As part of the return to more traditional weddings, we will see more couples reciting their vows in houses of worship. Thank you, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. 

Couples will continue moving away from providing favors for their guests, and will instead opt for more elaborate receptions or after parties.  A DJ combined with a magician, sketch artists, theater performance, or whatever interest the couple will be found at receptions and after ceremony soirees.

One trend I am especially fond of is the single stem bouquet.  Single stems are beautiful alone or combined with greenery or baby’s breath.  A few of my personal favorite’s are the king protea, large dahlia, white or blue hydrangeas, magnolias, or the sunflower.

Now for the most crucial part of all trends, the wedding dresses.  We all have different styles and different body shapes. Go into the dressing room with an open mind ready to try on more than one gown, and more than one design.  The good news, you are not short on options.  One prominent style for 2018 is the mid-length hem.  If you are an Audrey Hepburn fan, this gown is for you.  For those who like strapless, but are not fully committed to no straps at all, go with the detached sleeve.  You could also go strapless and add a jacket, even a moto jacket.  Yes, a moto jacket with your wedding gown.  If you aren’t into moto jackets add a cape.  A short cape or a long cape, you can’t go wrong.  Don’t forget to survey all the different shades; white is not your only option.   Shades of blush, anywhere from peach to nude add a nice romantic feel.  For the bride who wants to wear the pants, well go ahead.  Polished pants are on trend for 2018.  For that matter, so are shorts and a mini.  Another look you will see this year is the shoulder bow.  Last but not least, the minimalist gown – a 90’s style wedding dress that is minimally ornate.  This style is for you if you prefer a clean and simple look.

Now that you are aware of some of the emerging trends for 2018, you are ready to make informed decisions regarding your special day.  For those of you who saw my Facebook post yesterday, and are wondering what advice I offered to Victoria regarding trends in her wedding, here it is:  All trends come and go, and styles will change, usually for the better.  If you saw my bridesmaid’s dresses, you would agree with me when I say, usually for the better. My first choice and only choice for bridesmaid’s dresses was red; it’s my favorite color.  Unfortunately, the gasps from my mother, grandmother, and mother in law were heard throughout the tri-state area.  Red was just not considered appropriate, at least not to the “mothers.” It was suggested that I go with a floral design to follow the latest trend in bridesmaid’s dresses.  I consented, and all was well until a few years later when my best friend and I were at a garage sale.  On one of the tables were a set of curtains for five dollars that looked hauntingly familiar. Suddenly it dawned on me; they were the same material as my bridesmaid’s dresses.  You can’t imagine the horror I felt for making my bridesmaid’s wear curtains!  So my final bit of advice, and speaking from experience, at times it is best to follow your heart and your dreams, instead of the latest trends.  Make your wedding day the one you have dreamt of since you were a little girl.  Don’t let the current craze make you doubt your vision. This way years from now, when you are sharing your wedding photographs with your children, you won't be giving them too many reasons to laugh.