Whether you want a wedding that’s traditional or quirky, almost anything goes nowadays. Check out some of 2019’s top wedding trends for inspiration.
WILD WONDERS
Natural elements and bright colors—like Pantone’s Color of the Year, coral—are a big hit this year for giving wedding décor a much-needed boost.
“I’m seeing more couples get comfortable using brighter colors and different textures,” says Jessica Shurtleff, owner of JOYEUX Events. “We’re using pampas grass and bleached fern in lieu of greenery and moving away from the eucalyptus garland to focus on different floral textures that look like they’re growing straight out of the table. It’s a beautiful, natural feel and I’m all for it!”
Ramona Arnold of Simple Country Weddings agrees, noting that floral centerpieces referred to as “low and long”—versus typical tight, full centerpieces like hydrangeas—lend a “loose and almost wild look.”
And when in doubt, layer. “We’re seeing a burst of playful color combinations achieved through florals and linens, textiles and textures that have an artisanal, hand-made quality such as farm tables, forged metal goblets and woven accessories,” says Jennifer Tan of Tan Weddings and Events.
SELF-SERVE SWEETS AND KOOKY CAKES
“For the past few years, we’ve seen dessert stations,” says Teresa Higgins, owner of Capital Confections. “The guests get their piece of cake, but there’s also a station of small desserts to pick off of as they’re milling around.”
Higgins says this trend isn’t going anywhere, since it allows people to socialize and get their sugar fix at the same time. Christina Nichols of Parker Nichols Events & Design explains that “interactive stations are still big, with entertainment being at the forefront of our minds.”
But while some couples are moving away from show-stopping cakes in favor of smaller sweet treats, Shelby Benson of Freeport Bakery says that “we’re also seeing some truly fun new developments in modern wedding cakes this year.”
Benson says that the use of edible images on cakes is being employed in an “elegant and sophisticated way,” as is handpainting with floral or Delft pottery-style designs. Quirkier still are the cakes Benson calls “nerdy or non-traditional cakes that make subtle references to the couple’s mutual interests.”
So, make the dessert course your own . . . but still let them eat cake!
PHOTOS WORTH POSTING
In the age of Instagram, couples are willing to go to the distance— literally—to get the perfect shot.
“More couples are willing to be adventurous,” says Chris Kisela, owner of CMYK Photography. “Sacramento is such a great location, with places like Lake Tahoe and Yosemite close by. Clients would rather go on a six-mile hike and shoot at the top of a mountain than stay on a golf course.”
Shurtleff says that couples are getting their guests involved by creating “lots of photo-op areas and surprises during the reception that make their guests want to whip out their phones and capture it.”
Insta-worthy moments aside, Kisela says that he’s seeing wedding photography trending one of two ways: staying straight-up country—he says that “Sacramento has always been heavily into barn-style weddings”—or getting more urban chic by seeking out the sleek interiors of The Citizen Hotel or the newly constructed Kimpton Sawyer Hotel next to the Golden 1 Center.
TIMELESS TOUCHES
Fads may come and go, but there’s a consensus among wedding professionals that the key to a wedding you’ll be proud to look back on years from now is keeping an eye toward a certain timelessness that transcends trends.
“We still focus the most on bread-and-butter shots of the bridal party and formal family portraits,” Kisela says. “Ten years down the line, you don’t want to not have those shots.”
While some brides are getting more creative with their attire—Brittany Scott of Miosa Bride says that she’s seeing an influx of requests for black wedding gowns as well as “desert chic” looks complete with succulents as a bridal bouquet—many are still sticking with the traditional look.
“Brides are going back to some classic looks,” Arnold of Simple Country Weddings says. “The use of foliage and greenery with draping floral centerpieces will be around again this year, as well as using wood pieces to hold food, drinks and cakes.”
But most importantly, says event planner Tan, “couples want their wedding celebrations to be an experience that reflects individuality, community, creativity and authenticity.”
After all, being yourself will always be in style.
Featured Photo: Lauren Alisse Photography
Yosemite Photo: Charleton Churchill
Bouquet: Fig & Vine
Coordination: Events by Kristina Elyse
Venue: Kimpton Sawyer
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