We all love catching up on wedding trends for the upcoming year – it’s something we look forward to and gets us excited to think about what our clients might debut for the weddings ahead! It’s that time again – welcome to our post on 2015 wedding trends! Some are new and fun, while others are trends that have been around and just aren’t saying sayonara anytime soon.

In 2013, the #1 word engaged couples used to identify their wedding was FUN! In 2015 they are using the phrase “down to earth ambiance”… seen in their florals, food, color schemes, and guest experience.

Florals

What’s In:

Organic looking tablescapes with free-spirited arrangements are trending for 2015. The move is towards a wild-garden look with more than one color or type of flower.

Utilizing non-floral items – such such as berries, fruit, acorns, etc. We witnessed centerpieces in the fall of 2014 filled with accents of artichokes and pomegranates.

Imperfections are welcomed.

Fresh pickings from a farmer’s market or local grower. It’s not only budget-savvy, but it also lends itself to the trend.

Photo Credit: 430 Studios (left) | Ben Pancoast Photography (right)

Food

What’s In:

Food pairings with beer or wine. Local wine or craft beer complimented with delicious bites – what could be better than this 2015 wedding trend?

Family-style dining. The guests feel comfortable and at home, passing delicious food around the table. Guest interaction is a big goal for today’s couples and nothing gets a conversation started quite like this style of service. Family style is acceptable for casual and more formal receptions.

Locally sourced and seasonal food.

Late night snack attack. Give the guests an extra element of surprise near the end of the evening with another round of food. The late night snack tends to make it’s debut around 9:30p at receptions. This time of night you’ll be craving snacks and comfort food. Treat guests to a build-your-own coney bar, sliders and fries, pizza, and quesadillas. You’ll want something that can be versatile enough for all of your guests to enjoy.

Fondant wedding cake vs. buttercream wedding cake. The trend is headed away from the fondant extravaganza and instead showing off a more textured cake using buttercream. Your possibilities are endless with buttercream. We’ve seen tiered cakes that offer a different, but complementary, design on each layer. Of course we can’t forget about the ‘naked cake’ that has been trending too!

Photo Credit: Jordanne + Ryan Photography (bottom left) | 430 Studios (right and upper left)

Color Schemes

What’s In:

Bold colors and non-traditional color combos. Pastels and neutrals aren’t necessarily done for, but the use of a bold or unexpected accent color is something we will see quite a bit as a 2015 wedding trend. We are sure Pantone’s 2015 Color of the Year: Marsala will make its mark, especially in the fall of 2015. Below are the Top 10 Wedding Color Combos for 2015 courtesy Stylish Wedding Ideas.

The Experience

What’s In:

With the average wedding sized around 140 guests (smaller than past years), couples are wanting to create an experience from beginning to end.

Build up the excitement long before the big day with a wedding website or some fun and unique wedding invitations. Since invitations are the first impression for your wedding, make it count with something unexpected that will grab attention and add a wow-factor. The goal is to build the anticipation long before the actual big day.

Give thank you’s as they exit rather than just a favor at a place setting for them to grab. We think this is a great trend for 2015. We’ve seen too many favors get left behind at the dinner tables! If you’re wanting to give guests a takeaway and have the room in your budget, make sure they aren’t left behind!

Offer transportation to accommodate your out of town guests. Buses or trolleys are popular to shuttle guests to and from hotels, allowing them to just enjoy the evening and leave their GPS back at home. 

This is a biggie: keep in mind guest comfort. Recently we wrote a blog on Creating Your Signature Wedding. One of the best things you can do while planning is to think about the experiences and comfort of your guests. Consider all angles: hot or cold weather, hungry or thirsty guests, how to manage a kid-friendly reception and thinking about the flow of your wedding timeline. 

For more on what’s trending – contact us!