With 2016 quickly flooding our Instagram feeds and Twitter pages, it’s no doubt that the first cluster of weddings will soon make their way onto our Pinterest pages. These highly anticipated wedding trends will give you a sneak peak of the creativity that’s to come! These are the most anticipated wedding trends for 2016.
Wedding Cake Stand-ins
People are saying “no” to the traditional wedding cake, and using creative options to stretch their dollar when it comes to dishing out dessert. Tiered cheesecake, or an abundance of flavorful pies, serves as a less costly replacement for the usually lavish centerpiece.
Metallic Mania
The elevated version of sparkle and bling has brought numerous amounts of gold, silver, and metallic color palettes to every aspect of the embellishing process. Brides are using foil printing and stamped lettering to incorporate modern sparkle elements into their invitations and stationery. Rose gold and copper are already expected to be two of the most requested shades for 2016.
Over-the-Top Themes
People are often torn between attending an event, and taking an Instagram worthy picture of the themed décor. “Instagrammable” elements are being used more often in a wedding to put on an exaggerated display for their guests, and their followers. Theatrical food options, backdrops, and entertainment will definitely be on their A-game in the coming year.
Live Music Entertainment
DJ’s are slowly becoming a thing of the past thanks to the incorporation of live bands and entertainment. Everything from singers, pianists, percussionists, and orchestra’s can help amplify the ambiance of your special day.
Station and Cocktail Receptions
With weddings taking a major emphasis in the word “party” it’s no surprise that more and more couple’s are opting for less formal dinner options, like stations, to bring the feeling of cocktail hour throughout the entire night. Carts filled with customizable appetizers, desserts, salad bars, and gourmet cuisine, are all options that can be utilized with this modern movement.
Emphasis on Intimate
With the absence of formal dinners, comes the absence of large wedding parties. Couples are continuously being drawn to specialty venues like rustic barns, intimate chateaus, and industrial lofts to limit the amount of guests during their nuptials. If you, and your spouse, are expected to foot the bill yourself, this is definitely a viable option.
Photo: DHGate.com
Feather Fascination
Making a statement with your bridal gown will be easier than ever thanks to the growing trend of feathers. Designers have started incorporating feathers into traditional gown elements like, covering ball-gown skirts with fun feathers for an added surprise, or using feathers to add unconventional elements to your dress making it easily transitional to wear again.
Naked Cakes
If the thought of letting go of the traditional wedding cake is just too much, then this modern day decorating trend (or lack there of) will continue to make its way to receptions well into the new year. Known for having unfrosted sides, and fresh flower adornments, this modern design transcends any cake design you’ve ever seen before.
Shareable Highlights
Short clips documenting your big day’s most memorable moments, like that first married kiss, are being offered in “instant gratification” packages that allow you to share your big day with those that couldn’t make it. Same day edits provide couples with a short highlight reel of the days festivities creating a unique way to relive the celebrations greatest moments.
Think beyond drinks and snacks — your guests will have a blast getting to know each other doing these cool activities.
Instead of asking yourselves how to keep the kids occupied during the cocktail hour or reception, think about your entire guest list. Adding a few games or ice-breakers is the best way to get people mixing and mingling before they sit down to dinner. Creative ideas below!
Croquet on the Lawn
A Giant Jenga Set
Cocktail Table Tic-Tac-Toe
Customized Cornhole
A Mini Petting Zoo
A Game of I-Spy
Roasting Marshmallows
A Caricature Artist
A Game of Checkers
A Custom Piñata
Courtesy of: Crazy Forus
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We all know that the more often we do something, the better we get. But when it comes to planning a wedding, you only get one shot to get it right. A wedding is a once in a lifetime event, afterall! After the dust has settled from the big day, we want every bride to walk away saying “that was everything I dreamed of” and have no regrets. Here are 8 things we think every bride should know.
1. Who does what?
Your fiancé might not be as involved as you would like him to be. BUT, that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t care as much about the wedding or that he isn’t as excited as you are to be married. It just means that floral choices and backdrops are not his top priority. The important thing is not to stress about it. Find out which parts of the wedding are most important to him. Chances are that if he is a foodie or loves music, he will show much more interest in planning the dinner or creating the perfect wedding playlist. Don’t be afraid to ask him what he is looking forward to the most. His answer might just surprise you!
From: life&stylemag
2. Recruit a coordinator
Even if you DIY your entire wedding up to the day, having a day-of coordinator might be worth it. Having someone to handle the running around and setting up for you is much less stressful. It still allows you to coordinate every detail while being able to enjoy all your hard work on the day of. It is also less costly than hiring a wedding planner!
3. Schedule some alone time
Remember to set some time aside. Even if it is just a few minutes to be alone with your sweetie on your wedding day. The day will come and go by so fast. It is important to cherish a moment (or two) with each other and remember why this is all happening in the first place. Some good times to do this are often between photos and cocktails, or after the speeches are over.
4. Have a plan B.
This one might be a given, but it is often overlooked. We often dream of our wedding day being sunny and beautiful. But we all know that Mother Nature isn’t always kind. If you are planning to have your ceremony outside and there is a torrential downpour, a backup plan will prevent stress, worry and chaos. Make sure that your parents, wedding planner/coordinator and bridal party are all aware of the plan if the weather turns. Also, remember to pick a few indoor photo shoot locations.
5. Acquire proper permits
If you are planning to have alcohol at your wedding, it is important to educate yourself on rules and permits. Often different venues will have their own set of rules in regards to alcohol. Make sure you speak with your venue and are clear on what their guidelines are. Is the bar included in your venue rental? Does this include a bartender? Is the permit a part of the package? When are we required to stop serving drinks? Are we able to purchase and serve our own wine or do we need to use your bottle service? These are all very important questions to ask when booking your venue.
From: the knot
6. Make your guest list first
Picking a venue is one of the very first things you will do when planning your wedding. BUT, there is one more very important step you need to take before signing that contract. Make a rough guest list. This in no way needs to be finalized, but it is so important to have a rough idea of numbers before you book. The last thing you want is to book a venue that only holds 100 and find out that your guest list is actually 150.
7. Consider extra costs beyond the dress
Remember to budget for alterations when picking your wedding dress. Lace applique, beading and other details can often be costly to alter. Before saying “yes” to the dress, talk to your bridal consultant about an alteration estimate.
8. Maximize your photographer’s time (and your budget!)
Photographers and videographers are so important to a wedding, but they can also be very hard on your wedding budget. If your budget does not allow for a full day wedding package, there is still a way to capture all the important moments. Don’t be afraid to play with the traditional reception program. Who said that the bouquet toss and cake cutting have to be at the end of the night? Kick off your reception with the first dance, cut the cake after dinner, and then toss the bouquet. This will allow you to shave a few hours from your photography package while still capturing all those big moments.
Courtesy of: The Wedding Star – Morgan Emmess | Cover Photo From: Wedding Star
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