Metallic dresses
The era of stark whiteness has come to an end, and wedding dresses are leaning towards the glamorous, the detailed and the metallic. Dresses with gold, copper or silver threading are expected to rise in popularity in 2017, according to The Knot, and no wonder. Metallic detail adds a notch of beautiful sophistication that hints towards the luxurious and glamorous without necessarily becoming too overwhelming, like an encrusted dress or heavy jewelry might. Be careful not to take your metallic look overboard, though. Many couples find themselves slipping metallics into the whole wedding, from the dress to the linens to the party favor containers. Keep your use of metallic colors limited to an accent for a few key pieces, like the dress and the invitation. Don’t go overboard, or it’ll cheapen the glitz the metallic detail offers.
Pops of color
Color is returning to the wedding palette after several seasons of whites and neutrals dominating the scene. Weddings that pick one or two major accent colors to maintain throughout their design will reign this year, bringing a bright look to what has become a very classic and borderline-somber palette. According to Pantone, green is the color of the year, which means the vibrant, leafy, natural color will play a major role in wedding palettes and designs this year. The choice of the color green will go hand-in-hand with another growing wedding trend, the choice to go green.
A return to nature
Weddings are incorporating more and more natural elements, particularly greenery and floral elements, into their themes and palettes. Expect a natural bouquet, an ivy-wrapped altar, floral decorations on everything from invitations to table clothes to extravagant centerpieces, and the use of trees, hanging ivy and large bouquets indoors. Expect indoor weddings in general to decrease in frequency as well; brides and grooms are choosing to host their weddings outside, under the stars or in grassy knolls, fields or forests in the return-to-nature wedding trend.
Unconventional meals
Couples are eschewing the traditional pre-selected dinner meal in favor of less conventional meals for their wedding receptions. More and more, weddings, and not just quickies in Las Vegas, are turning to family-style meals, in which guests serve themselves from massive plates of food. Other couples are offering all-night snacking, multiple-course meals that get creative and rich with their content, and alternatives such as food trucks. In addition, creative drink pairings to go with the food and unique customized drink offerings that reflect the bride and groom are on the rise, making mealtime at weddings far more fun than they used to be.
Social consciousness
Another unexpected trend on the rise is a move towards incorporating social consciousness into your wedding plans. This can range from making a charity registry that encourages guests to donate to a nonprofit rather than bring a gift, to using locally sourced foods, crafts and companies that reduce your carbon footprint and promote local businesses. It also includes paying attention to the little details, like printing your invitations on recycled paper, using local in-season flowers for bouquets and decorations, recycling and reusing goods after the wedding, and collecting donations at the wedding for charities you support. This year’s wedding trends focus on a return to prioritizing the earth, examining the impact of our weddings, and prioritizing our guests. Couples are also eschewing old norms in favor of more personality, less consumerism and more entertainment at wedding ceremonies and receptions. Incorporate some or all of these trends for an on-point, stylish and in-season wedding your guests will fondly remember for years to come. Featured photo credit: lindsey child via flickr.com
