Vows: Wedding trends 2018, part 1

Move over, eucalyptus decorations and water pearl centrepieces! It’s time for 2018’s nuptial updates. So, if you are preparing for your walk down the aisle or planning to wait at the end of the aisle, Vows will help you relish your I do’s.

We spoke with three of the island’s leading wedding planners about their predictions for wedding trends this year.

Let’s start with décor. This is the year for ultraviolet, as determined by The Pantone Color Institute. And for CEO of Helen G Event Planning & Design Helen Hutchinson Graham, that colour will burgeon on weddings in the concluding phases of 2018.

She noted that metallics have been dominant in the colour schemes of weddings for the past few years and envisions their continuation with couples, this year, opting for silver and chrome and darker shades like navy blue.

“At the latter part of 2017 royal blue was in high demand and we expect that trend to continue. Navy blue is also the new black. Shades of purple will make an appearance but later in 2018, all will be accentuated by silver, aluminium or chrome and copper will even make an appearance,” Hutchinson Graham said.

But, for the director of sales at Tai Flora Shikima Hinds, colours are going to be striking and bold this year.

“Colour is back! 2017 saw the use of a lot of blush, nudes, neutral tones. 2018 will see the use of bright and bold colours. Deep reds & plum purples will be big this year,” Hinds said.

And more lush appeals in the wood details that surfaced last year will continue, according to Hutchinson Graham.

“It’s clean, fresh and modern for 2018. This includes a lot of greenery, floral and wood details on bits like table numbers and signs, and this year we’ll see a lot of darker tones with our greenery,” she said.

Creative director of Petals and Promises Kara Anderson agreed with Hutchinson Graham, noting that couples will be incorporating more wood elements into their weddings to add “modern touches” on invitations, table numbers, seating cards, tags, chargers and signages.

There will also be a selection of organic ornamentation that will be central in the décor of walls and ceilings with — believe it or not — floral hanging chandeliers.

“Walls covered in natural elements such as hardwood, genuine or faux foliage, textured faux limestone are earthy focal points, great for ceremony backdrops […] Couples will be keeping their guests’ tables simple and focus more on ceiling treatments with hanging florals, light fixtures, candle installations and illusion hanging tablescapes,” Anderson said.

We can also expect tables without covers and distinct flower vases for 2018, according to Hinds.

“Modern, chic and contemporary wedding furniture that does not require table linens are big for 2018. A mix of contemporary metallic and unusual floral vessels set the décor apart. Lush and cascading florals and mixtures of tropical greenery are big for destination weddings” in addition to texture and “multisensory effects” through tropical greens”, she explained.

Wedding gowns are getting updates, too, this year, and they will start with 3-D floral embellishments and beads — a lot of them.

Hinds outlined that, in addition to the floral appliqués expected this year, dress details, including beads, will be providing the distinction.

“Simple silhouette dresses will be the most popular wedding dress style for 2018. They will be accented with 3-D flowers or capes, and detailed pearl or beading embellishments, sheer corsets or a simple black accent is what will set them apart,” Hinds noted.

According to Anderson, they will be integrated with multidimensional accents to add appeal to bridal silhouettes along with an increase in the horse hair hem stitching — “a synthetic nylon or plastic braiding technique that functions to keep trains in a proper shape, also adding a fun, feminine, and whimsical illusion to any bridal gown”, she explained.

But for Hutchinson Graham, gowns will exhibit a mix of “vintage-meets-rock star” — style focusing on softness with an edge, classic silhouettes and of course, beads.

“You will see lots of lace, ruffles, all-over-beading, statement bows and black accents and shades of blue. There will be a comeback of bridal gloves but in very light sheer/lace fabric, and with everything being added, classic silhouettes are the name of the game for 2018.”

Anderson also explained that ivory, rather than white, will be the new colour of choice for dresses as brides move closer to “blush tones, nudes, champagnes and pastels”.

“Still holding onto elegant lace and classic necklines, blush tones will provide the fairy-tale feel that women desire [… and] a unique coloured gown leaves room for more possibilities for the bridal party’s colour palette, as brides can really stand out juxtaposing their bridesmaids in lighter colours.”

“This role reversal is no longer seen as huge wedding taboos. We will see an increase in the blush trend in varied shades of pink and nude, from blush liners covered in ivory lace to full-blown blush bridal gowns. These shades of nudes are in and here to stay,” Anderson stated emphatically.

So with décor and fashion set to make headlines this year through both innovative floral ornamentation and gown colours positioning themselves to turn heads, it is definite that couples will be saying their I do’s in grand style.

Next week we outline the predictions for men’s fashion, food and dining for 2018 weddings.