Daydreaming about your wedding? Trends change every year, and there’s always something new to consider as you bring the day you envision to life. Here are our top 15 ideas to incorporate into your planning.
Destination Wedding
©Grand Velas Los Cabos
Themed Weekends
Multi-day destination weddings become an epic party when everyone’s in on the theme. Whether it’s Modern Black Tie, Alfresco Formal, California Cocktail or Casual Cowboy BBQ, reflect the theme in food, fashion and fun with a supporting cast of signature snacks, coordinated attire and approachable entertainment for all ages.
Enriching Experiences
Malama is Hawaiian for “care for and protect,” a deeply important Hawaiian tradition that honors ancestral land as a source of knowledge, nourishment and inspiration. Participate in a virtuous cycle that will connect you more deeply and leave a piece of yourself in the Hawaiian Islands: Plant a tree, clean a beach or dine in restaurants that support small family farms.
Customized Toile
Collect the images that illustrate your shared history and unite them into a decorative toile pattern for printed napkins, paper menus, a scheduled itinerary or event signage. Put your artistic skills to use or hire a line drawing artist who can creatively tell your personal story using meaningful symbols of your current city, where you met, pets or important trips.
Distinctive Jewelry
According to Michelle Judice Robertson of Embark Fine Jewelry, “The cigar band, in all thicknesses, is a big trend right now with brides. Try mixing metal colors and add a diamond band in a different stone shape from your center stone to add to the texture and uniqueness of your stack.”
Fashion Stylist
Consider adding a stylist to your wedding dream team. From advice on wardrobe selections to day-of portrait services, a stylist can ensure a wedding couple and their attendants are chic, comfortable and confident. A stylist’s advice on the fabric, cut and design of some of the most expensive clothing you may ever purchase could prove very valuable.
Distinctive Jewelry
©Olivia Bell, Embark Fine Jewelry @shopembark.com
Zero-Proof Cocktails
Welcome Beach Bags
Fill a straw beach tote with all the things guests may need for a wedding in a tropical location. Start with a keepsake beach towel and personalized ball cap, then put in practical necessities like sunscreen, bug repellent, hand sanitizer, mints and bottled water. Don’t forget the schedule of events, a local guidebook and a taste of the destination like a microbrew or nearby vintage.
Sustainable Celebration
Start your matrimonial journey with a vintage or heirloom engagement ring and carry the idea forward to the reception by selecting an outdoor space, perhaps taking advantage of natural light with an afternoon ceremony. Select a catering menu with sustainable, seasonal cuisine that can be sourced locally, and keep an eye out for other ways to minimize waste and save money.
Zero-Proof Cocktails
High-quality, alcohol-free mocktails are a staple on current bar menus. Craft blends of low or no-alcohol vodka, gin and beer allow sober guests to abstain without giving up the fun of a festive beverage. Complement the setting with seasonal ingredients like berries, herbs or spices.
Resort Buyout
Waterfront resorts like Colombia’s Sofitel Barú will transform the entire property into a private gathering space with a customized program of sun-soaked activities and gourmet dining tailored to your preferences. Try Colombian coffee tastings, guided mountain bike tours or braiding and turban workshops in the Afro-Caribbean tradition.
Enchanted Garden Attire
Beautiful blooms aren’t just for vases, they’re making a statement on bridal party dresses as well as bridal gowns. Floral prints, embroidered motifs and patterned fabrics are hallmarks of a trend called “Enchanted Garden” that embraces a joyful, botanical approach to fashion.
Maritime Marriage
On a cruise, the ceremony may last only an hour, but the festivities continue for days. Combine the wedding and honeymoon and maximize your time spent with cherished loved ones. The ship’s captain can officiate your nuptials on deck, taking advantage of panoramic ocean views before guests dine and dance in jaw-dropping venues designed to wow.
Resort Buyout
©Sofitel Barú Calablanca Beach Resort
Barefoot Buffet, Sofitel Barú Calablanca Beach Resort
© Wedding Planner: Jimena Jaramillo; Photo: Miguel Villasmil
Barefoot Buffet
Seat your rehearsal dinner or reception under the stars. Your guests will never forget your romantic alfresco setting with swaying lanterns and twinkling white lights draped from the treetops above as they gaze out over the shimmering sea.
Late-Night Snacks
Cap off your reception with a post-dinner refreshment table featuring crowd-pleasing carbs like burger sliders, pizza slices, mini churros or fudgy brownies. Set up your late-night bites near the dance floor and keep partygoers fueled and firing into the early morning hours.
Hangout Suite
Welcome guests to your resort or ship in a designated hangout spot stocked with refreshments. The suite acts as a command post where people can get answers to their questions, confirm the schedule and reconnect with relatives they haven’t seen in a minute.
Vivid Flowers
Bright pops of color like marigold, tangerine and terracotta in bouquets, arrangements and flower walls make an eye-catching impact. Complement this floral palette with ribbon fasteners in contrasting hues of green and blue to heighten the bold aesthetic. Tell your story and reflect your personal taste with focal point displays like hanging installations, altar archways and large-scale backdrops.
