Looking ahead: how weddings are expected to change in 2014

7:55 PM

Image via Glamour and Grace


HI everyone. Sorry I have been MIA for awhile. To be totally honest, I've just had a pretty severe case of writer's block. For awhile, I've wanted to take the blog in a different direction, but I haven't been quite sure where or how that would work.


 Anyway- I'm back today because I've been reading a lot of interesting trend forecast articles for 2014 events/weddings, and there are a few things that I wanted to share with you!

We're coming into "engagement season" now, and there are going to be a lot of newly engaged girls unlocking the secret button on their Pinterest wedding boards. It's not a surprise that every wedding season has its trends and that, overall, weddings have been changing a lot in recent years. Much more than ever before, there is an emphasis (and I would almost say a pressure) for brides to make their days the best ever: a Pinterest worthy celebration that their friends will talk about for a lifetime.

Let's be honest. Weddings are fun, but unless you have elephants to escort all of your guests and personal chefs at each table and tightrope walk down the aisle then fly away in a hot air balloon set to a firework backdrop, I'm not certain your guests will remember every single one of your time-labored details. I'm not saying this to make you feel bad, but just to encourage you that you CAN make a lasting impression if you focus on making a bang in one or two areas. And these forecasted trends will help with that.


Forecast #1: Bye bye cake 
Sure, everyone loves a good wedding cake. But sometimes wedding cakes aren't good. Or sometimes they're boring. Or sometimes people try to make them unique and cross the line into tacky (no offense if you love this cake, but...really?):
awful wedding cake
Image via Cakespics.com
The forecast says that a lot of brides will either make the cake smaller as part of a dessert table, or skip it altogether and opt for something fun, like a cotton-candy station or a crepe making display. I don't know, the sky's the limit on this one. Personally, I like the idea of little food stations scattered about throughout the evening. Food is always a good thing, and keeping your guests satisfied is nice. 

This dessert bar was actually at a hotel, but I feel like it could easily be replicated for a wedding. Image via Kevin and Amanda

 Forecast #2: No more cookie cutter bridesmaids 

 All I have to say to this is THANK YOU. There is nothing worse than when Brides pick a terrible dress that just doesn't flatter everyone in the party. I have never understood why this was a thing anyway, because most people would want everyone to look/feel their best, since that translates better in pictures. But thankfully, most wedding planners are thinking this will come to an end as Brides hand more control over to their ladies and let them pick their own style in either the same color, or the same color family. We've already pretty much seen this all over Pinterest, so that may be the reason why it's becoming more and more popular, but most people are saying it's increasing in popularity is because a lot of people are expanding their bridal parties to larger numbers. (Personally, I don't see why people choose to have 12 bridesmaids, but apparently that's a thing.)
Same color, different styles. Image via Colin Cowie Weddings. 

Same color family. Image via Glamour and Grace blog. 

Forecast #3: The disappearing guestbook 

Apparently, guestbooks are a thing of the past. However, I disagree with the idea that they should be cut out totally. Obviously, there is a difference between a sign in guest book reminiscent of a college attendance sheet and an interactive experience. If you're going to ask your guests to "leave their marks" in some way, make it cool. This can range from something as simple as asking your guests to write a note for you to read on your first anniversary to renting a photo booth, or you can get really creative and make a "guest bench," which I think is pretty awesome.


Image via Killer B Design









BONUS.

Another interesting thing I came across was a dwindling in regret rate. It used to be an almost surefire deal that anywhere up to 30% of guests would check the "with regrets" box on that cute little RSVP card, but that number is getting smaller and smaller as more and more people are getting comfy again in the economic upswing. BRIDES: I've said it before, and I will say it again, don't invite people unless you are sure you can accommodate them. Don't invite 300 if you can only afford 150.

That is all. Happy planning :)

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