Today, we're sharing some of the big, beautiful and unique wedding trends that are starting to appear in real weddings, from bright yellow dresses to boho dried blooms, and lashings of glitter alongside veils that go on for days. While predicting trends is a fun part of our job, we're very much of the 'you do you' school of wedding planning. Your wedding day doesn't need to be an endless catwalk of the latest style and the most alternative ideas, but it doesn't have to be traditional and timeless either. Make it your own, show your personality, and have a great time pulling it all together!
1. Statement Headpieces
The Met Gala has a lot to answer for when it comes to bridal trend-setting, and 2018's theme, "Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" inspired cool, fashion-forward brides to rock extravagant halos and headpieces. Baroque-style embellished crowns have also become increasingly popular in recent years and thanks to Meghan Markle, tiaras are making a comeback too. We predict brides will be even bolder with their choice of headpieces in 2019 - see real brides Úna and Emma for inspiration.
2. Salt Rituals
We've had hand-fasting, tree planting, and sand pouring emerge as popular rituals for non-religious weddings over the last few years. But celebrants in the know tell us that the salt covenant is set to be the symbol of choice for 2019 - watch this space!
3. Women Making Speeches
Mums, bridesmaids, brides and sisters, we loved seeing more women on the mic last year and hope it's something we'll see even more of in 2019. Why should men get to make all the wedding speeches? Get more ideas for having a feminist wedding here.
4. Dried Flowers in Bouquets and Decor
Following on from foliage-heavy bouquets and pampas grass, there's a growing trend for dried flowers (especially amongst bohemian brides.) Not only is this a sustainable choice that makes a beautiful keepsake, but they look wild, unusual and gorgeous too! While most brides wouldn't dream of ditching fresh blooms completely, florists are beginning to work with dried flowers more and are incorporating them into fresh arrangements. This is one trend we're so excited to see more of!
Look to brides like Stacey or check out Atelier Prairies on Instagram for real life inspiration.
5. Gospel Choirs
We have Meghan and Harry to thank for this one! After the fabulous sounding (and beautifully dressed!) gospel choir at last year's royal wedding, we've had lots of couples ask us about how to replicate the couple's musical choice for their own big day. Church ceremonies are set to get a soulful shake-up in 2019. Get our list of recommended ceremony musicians here.
6. Spatula Painted Wedding Cakes
Leading on from hand-painted and watercolour wedding cakes, spatula cakes have been popping up all over Instagram, so it's only a matter of time before we feature one in a real wedding. Bakers like Sweet Bloom Cakes are spearheading this trend for beautiful, colourful cakes with icing that looks like it's been lifted straight from artist's palette. See our recommended wedding cake bakers to have your own spatula painted wedding cake designed.
7. Floral Moon Gates
Late last year we put together a guide to floral moon gates. It was so popular that lots of you have told us you'll be walking up the aisle towards one of these beauties (and your other half, of course!) in 2019. Read all about them here.
8. Writing Your Own Ceremony
As wedding ceremonies continue to be more and more personalised, lots of couples are opting to do the legal bit separately and have a DIY ceremony officiated by their friend for the main event. This blank canvas ceremony means you can truly make it your own, keep the formalities to a minimum and have fun with your vows. Get our guide to making your own ceremony here.
9. Epic Veils
So wedding veils are always in fashion, but in last year's trend report, we predicted 2018 would be all about the cape. But that was before Priyanka Chopra's incredible 75-foot veil. This meme-inducing wonder was so spectacular, we just know lots of brides will be borrowing the look for 2019.
10. Festival-style Line-ups
The standard wedding reception line-up is a band, followed by a DJ, followed by whoever stays up singing in the resident's bar 'til 5am. But in 2018 we saw lots of couples shake things up, either with two or more bands playing throughout the evening, a mix of musical acts, different DJs in different rooms, or by adding karaoke, a silent disco, or a service like Sing Along Social to end the night. Could these true festival vibes be a trend in the making, we think so!
11. Wedding Artists
Illustrators who'll sketch your guests outfits, caricaturists who'll give you a less-flattering/more-funny wedding portrait, watercolour artists who'll paint a dreamy vision of your day; more and more couples are recruiting artists to document their wedding in a unique fashion. A novel trend, perhaps, but one that's definitely on the rise.
12. Planning via Podcast
We all know couples rely heavily on the internet for wedding planning, Pinterest, Instagram, spreadsheets, supplier websites, and sites like *ahem* ours! But for the bride or groom on the go, nothing is handier than a regular dose of planning advice delivered straight into your ears. Check out our favourite wedding podcasts, and watch this space for news on an exciting new one launching soon!
13. Cornflower Blue and Gen Z Yellow (not together!)
We're always asked about what "the next big wedding colours" will be, but in truth, all colours are in fashion for weddings. Blush, grey, green, it's not about what colours you choose, it's about how you style them. But if you absolutely twisted our arms about what colours we'll be seeing more of in 2019 for bridesmaids, in decor, and in wedding guest style, our guesses are Cornflower Blue and Gen Z Yellow - perhaps not together though, we're not trying to recreate the Swedish flag here people!
14. Glitter Bars
Last year we waxed lyrical about wedding glitter stations to anyone who'd listen, and you lot must have loved the idea because they're on the rise, and now a bona fide trend. Read our guide to glitter bars to find out how you can add some shimmer to your day, and check out Alex and Dominic's glitter clad dancefloor while you're at it!
Get more unique ideas for your big day
Feature image L-R: Adrian Jon Photography via Style Me Pretty, Clara Rice via Intimate Weddings, A Fabulous Féte
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