Top 5 Wedding Trends for 2016

At the beginning of every year, there are always a slew of wedding magazines and websites that proclaim what the top wedding trends will be for the next season. Sometimes they are spot on and other times the supposed trend never takes flight (ahem... floral print wedding dresses). So, I was excited when my friends at Paperless Post asked me to share what wedding trends I'm actually seeing in 2016! Here is my list of the top 5 wedding trends that real couples are doing this year:

Unconventional Seating 

Instead of the traditional round banquet tables, couples are using tables of assorted shapes and sizes for their reception seating plans. A mix of round, square, and long tables creates added visual interest in the room and a cozier ambiance for guests.

Metallic Accents

Photo by Camille Victoria Weddings LLC

From the floral decor to the stationery, I am seeing metallic accents everywhere! Couples are incorporating silvers, golds, and glitters into their wedding color palette. Whether mercury glass vases for a vintage feel, a sequin linen on the cake table for a touch of old world glamour, or silver borders on the wedding invitations for a modern design, metallics can easily work in an array of different wedding styles.

Dance Floor Giveaways

When it comes to the wedding reception, couples are always eager for the dancing to begin and want to see a packed dance floor. In prior years, they would think about comfort and provide flip flops for their guests weary feet. But now, it's all about fun, and couples are opting for foam light up batons, glow bracelets, and sunglasses to get their guests in a party mood.

Selfie Booths

Photobooths have been an ongoing trend for years. But in 2016, couples are paying tribute to our cell-phone obsessed times with "selfie booths." No need for an actual booth, attendant, or printer. With just a table of props and some selfie sticks, guests can have some fun and share their photos instantly. Don't forget to post a custom wedding hashtag nearby for guests to use so that you can check out all the selfie shenanigans later. #MarriedMayhem

Lighting

Photo by Camille Victoria Weddings LLC

Wedding decor is most often associated with flowers and linens. But this year, couples are focusing on lighting. Whether it's simply specifying the level of dimness for the venue's lights or bringing in outside uplighting, the lighting is one of the quickest ways to change the look of a room and create a certain atmosphere. Amber uplighting can transform a boring ballroom into an enchanting soiree. Or a custom monogram gobo light behind a head table can give a wow-factor personalized touch.

It's always an exciting part of my job to see how real brides and grooms incorporate the latest trends into their big day. So take a trend and make it your own! Happy Planning!

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Top 5 Wedding Trends that Won't Go Away

With wedding season upon us, it's every couple's goal to create a memorable day, scouring the latest trends to incorporate unique details on the big day. I've seen wedding trends come and go, but some trends just won't seem to budge in the hearts of brides and grooms. So, here are the top five wedding trends that just won't seem to go away and how you can put your own new twist on them.

1) Photobooths

When I got married just seven years ago, I desperately wanted a photobooth at my wedding. But, alas, photobooth vendors were few and far between back then. Times have changed. Now photobooths are at almost every wedding I work at. They are provided by DJs, photographers, and independent photobooth companies. While photobooths may not give your wedding that one-of-a-kind feel, they continue to be a crowd-pleaser.

Update the Trend: Instead of a simple photobooth where guests get a strip of snapshots to take home, try a video photobooth! Companies, like PaperCinemas, will turn each guest's short video into a flipbook that they can take home!


2) Trolleys

In an attempt to make even their transportation unique, couples often eschew classic limos for vintage cars and trolleys. In Chicago, you can't drive through downtown on a weekend without seeing a wedding party being carted around by a trolley. Indeed, trolleys are spacious and great for cute photo ops.

Update the Trend: Transportation is an area where the old has become the what's unique again! A limousine is often now the more surprising choice! But if limos just conjure up memories of prom, then consider transporting the wedding party or guests in a British-style double-decker bus.


3) Family Photo Displays

While weddings are all about the newlyweds, I love that couples want to pay homage to their families by incorporating displays of old family photos into the decor. Showcasing black and white photos of the weddings of parents and grandparents makes for a beautiful tribute.

Update the Trend: If looking for other ways to spotlight your loved ones, arrange for the DJ or band to play the first dance songs from your parents' weddings and invite them to the dance floor.


4) Photo Guestbooks

Thank goodness the old guestbooks, where guests just wrote in their names and addresses, have been replaced! Now I most often see photo guestbooks filled with couples' engagement photos, where guests write well-wishes on the pages around the pictures. Photo guestbooks result in a nice memento for the newlyweds.

Update the Trend: Instead of using engagement photos, where guests just see a barrage of images of the couple in various embraces, assemble childhood photos of the couple, with each page showing the bride and groom at different ages. Guests will get a kick out of seeing how the newlyweds have grown up and how their separate paths eventually crossed.


5) Dessert Tables and Late Night Snacks

After your three-course meal, save room for more, because dessert tables and late night snacks have become de rigueur at weddings. Mini-pastries and sliders are popular additions to the wedding menu. But, the truth is, these tasty treats often end up as leftovers!

Update the Trend: Instead of a table of food just appearing in the corner as the night progresses, make your late night goodies stand out so guests gobble them up. Passed cookies with milkshakes in shooter glasses or rolling out an actual ball-park style hot dog stand will get guests' attention.


These five trends have hung around because they are fun and useful details in a wedding. But make a lasting impression on your guests by tweaking these trends and making them your own!

Happy Planning!

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