By Kylie Carlson, International Academy of Wedding and Event Planning
Wedding pros take note – the 2018 International Wedding Trends Report is here! Our annual conversation with the industry’s most influential experts provides savvy wedding business owners with everything they need to know to anticipate the demands of prospective couples- including insight from WeddingIQ's very own Kevin Dennis. Here are some highlights of the report that you can take with you into booking season!
Photo Credit: Summer Rain Photography
Personalization Is Still the Key
Over and over we hear our experts saying loud and clear that clients want personalized events, not cookie cutter parties from Pinterest. According to Sarah Chancey, Wedding Planner, Educator & Creative Director of Chancey Charm, all of her “full planning clients for 2018 want something that’s completely unique to them – it doesn’t have to be décor and all, just something unique in the food or experience.”
Venue Personalization
This demand is consistent in the 2018 venue trends as well. Amy Parfett and Melany McBride, Co-Founders of WedShed observe that unconventional properties like campgrounds, orchards and industrial commercial spaces will rise in popularity in 2018. Most owners of these venues say, in fact, that they would never have considered hosting weddings if not approached first by couples with the question “do you do weddings.”
Couples choosing alternative sites want the freedom to personalize their events. “In line with current trends in the industry, couples expect to be able to have a good degree of flexibility in tailoring their wedding day, and any venues that can’t offer this will struggle to compete with emerging venues that have this ability,” say Parfett and McBride.
Cakes and the Guest Experience
A focus on experience dominates the most exciting trends in catering. Wedding desserts, for example, are a huge focal point at weddings and it is becoming increasingly popular to create stunning “dessert rooms” as part of the great reveal,” says Elizabeth Solaru, Founder of Elizabeth’s Cake Emporium. “Elaborate painted backdrops, mirrors, flowers, flower walls, cherry blossom trees, and even balloons are commonly used to dress the area in coordinating colors to create impact. Also, couples want the dessert area to be interactive and immersive and occasionally, alluring scents are used to draw guests in,” continues Solaru.
Photo Credit: Cream Photography
2017 Floral Design Trends Evolve for 2018
Design in the New Year will continue to be heavily influenced by the most popular themes of 2017 according to most of our contributors. “Following the move towards texture and greenery we saw in 2017,” says stylist Dee McMeeking, “I believe that we will continue to see the use of greenery but the scale of designs will get bigger.” McMeeking predicts that “statement pieces including round arches, hanging florals and decorated staircases will become more common at all price points.” She also points out that wedding professionals should anticipate that the May British Royal wedding will have an influence as well.
These are just some of the incredibly exciting trends we can anticipate for 2018. If you take the time now to prepare for the demands of the upcoming season, you will set your business up for the best booking season yet. Happy New Year!
