It’s hard to believe that 2018 has arrived, and with it a brand-new set of trends to look forward to. We’re unveiling our fourth annual International Wedding Trend Report, with some of the world’s leading event professionals sharing their insights into what we can expect for the upcoming year.
So, what are some the top trends you can expect to see in 2018? We’ve got the answers below:
Entertainment Stays Strong
Entertainment has been booming in the wedding industry for several years, and will only continue to grow and expand with new and exciting features. Juliana Rodriguez of Scarlett Entertainment expects to see more modern and futuristic influence, “Services like the ones offered by our chocolate 3D carvers or ‘print yourself in 3D’ are booming and we expect more and more couples getting married to hire these services to provide their guests with very unique gifts.”
On the other hand, many of the engaged couples today are children of the '90s and are looking to remember the good old days through music.
“Couples are looking to re-live memories from youthful days and enjoy music that they would have grown up with,” explains Matt Warren of Warble Entertainment Agency. “It’s no surprise that we’re seeing a lot of '90s and early 2000s throwbacks and mash-ups entering bands’ sets, with an emphasis on those guilty pleasures from school and college days!”
Style and Decor: No Place Like Home
Perhaps one of the more ever-evolving areas of weddings is styling and decor. Trends come and go so quickly these days that it can be hard to keep up. The good news? There are experts throughout the industry that help keep everyone up-to-date and often ahead of their clients.
Pamella Dunn of Pamella Dunn Events shares her 2018 table top predictions: “We’ll see a mix of quirky elements and avant-garde vessels for flowers, plants and candles,” she explains. “These would have previously been more at home in an interior design brief but now feature heavily in the wedding planning and design process
The romance and intimate feeling that garnered lots of interest in 2017 will continue to lead the industry when it comes to lighting. “Couples are liking more the warm feeling and not to over-produce with the lighting,” says Cindy Salgado of Cindy Salgado Design and Events. “Lots of chandeliers in different sizes and forms, soft lights--and lots of candles, of course--can't miss!”
LGBTQ Destination Weddings Are On the Move
Gay destination weddings continue to be a thriving industry, with more and more acceptance happening globally. So where is everyone jetting off to?
Brittny Drye of Love Inc. says, “Hawaii continues to reign for the top locale for LGBTQ destination weddings and honeymoons. With areas like the Caribbean being notoriously anti-gay, particularly toward men, Hawaii remains a safe, tropical option for a destination.”
More U.S. favorites, according to Chanda Daniels of A Monique Affair include, “San Francisco and wine country areas such as Napa Valley, Sonoma and Carmel Valley, Calif.” Daniels explains that for wine lovers who are looking to give their guests a personal experience, these are the perfect spots. “The guest experience is very high on the priority list, and wine country weddings are going to be attractive to couples who love wine and want their guests to experience “their” love as well,” she says.
This certainly promises to be a great year in weddings. For information on these trends and much more, please visit the full trend report here.
Kylie Carlson is the CEO of the International Academy of Wedding and Event Planning. With six locations globally, the academy boasts an internationally recognized accreditation program that brings professional training to wedding planners, designers and stylists.
