The Latest—What We’re Loving Right Now

The Latest—What We’re Loving Right NowAt the Knot we've rounded up some of our favorite, of-the-moment wedding trends along with tips for how to help couples have the #BestDayEver.Total PersonalizationToday’s wedding tells a story, start to finish—this party is all about the couple and their love story after all. This means complete customization of the details, not just monogrammed napkins. From the invite to the cake, the ceremony officiant to the ring bearer, each element reflects the couple’s favorite tastes and interests. According to The Knot2015 Real Weddings Study, incorporating cultural and religious customs are also on the rise as couples seek to create a highly personalized and sentimental wedding event.Make It Happen: Work with couples to plan a wedding that’s truly reflective of their love story. Encourage them to serve their favorite dish from a local restaurant or have an ordained family member officiate the ceremony. Help them choose original themes that represent whom they are as a couple, like a techy bash (a la The Met Gala) or a Star Wars–inspired after-party.Satellite BarsLast year, the number of couples offering signature cocktails nearly doubled at 22 percent, up from 12 percent in 2008. In addition to standard mixed drinks, beer, and wine setup, a secondary bar is being designated for a special spirit. It’s a great way to personalize the party with a couple’s favorite libation, or even serve a tasting of preferred wines.Make It Happen: Set up a satellite bar that highlights the couples preferred drink, like champagne or a specialty gin—a specialty cocktail with the volume turned up. And while there will always be room for craft beers and locally distilled whiskey, tequila is having a moment. Try some twists on the classic margarita (hello, grapefruit) or tasteful shooters. And don’t forget the presentation—colored glassware, infused ice cubes, or elaborate garnishes—like smoke—will wow the couple and guests, alike.Contemporary ChoirsKeeping guests entertained—and guessing—all night long with special musical performances isn’t new, but we love the latest twist: choirs! Think 20-person ensembles with amazing a cappella abilities.Make It Happen: Find a gospel choir, and ask them to sing the couple’s favorite rock ballad for the walk down the aisle or have them perform an a cappella version of their first dance song. The sounds and energy will create an entertaining and memorable moment that guests will be talking about for years to come.Metallic PalettesIt’s all about shimmer and shine—a trend that seems here to stay. The popularity of metallic gold continues to soar; with 22 percent of couples selecting it as their wedding color last year, up from 7 percent in 2012.Make It Happen: You’re got a sharp eye for design, so encourage couples to mix and match metallics. A little glitz elevates any look, and believe it or not, metallics play well together. Add gunmetal to the couple’s palette for a hint of glitz or make a grand statement with rose-gold centerpieces, foil invites, or a sparkle-dusted cake. Neutrals are a nice complement in the cooler months, while jewel tones warm up summer and fall palettes.Food-Inspired Floral ElementsCouples are embracing the farm-to-table movement, buying locally sourced ingredients for their wedding—including flowers. And now, we’re seeing blooms get a style boost thanks to nontraditional floral elements, like fruit and vegetables—extra points for centerpieces that include elements of the dinner menu (think: kale or artichokes).Make It Happen: Work with couples to pick one favorite element, like berries, and include them in the bouquets, centerpieces, and other eye-catching floral installations for a cohesive take on the trend. If the couple isn’t ready to take the food-forward plunge, try fragrant herbs (lavender and sage add unexpected color and texture to centerpieces and bouquets).Wow-Worthy Websites and Social SharingBecause many weddings are becoming weekend-long celebrations, regardless of the destination, wedding websites are getting more visits than ever. Couples want websites that capture the feel of their wedding, with unique URLs, bespoke details, and personalized illustrations. The use of the wedding hashtag for crowd-sourcing images is also on the rise.Make It Happen: Creating a wedding website should be an easy process and make guest communication a breeze. The Knot's wedding website tool offers more than 100 gorgeous designs and can be personalized to include favorite photos, wedding weekend details, and links to registries. Some website designs even have matching invitations. Encourage couples to design a site early in their planning, and share a link on their save-the-date. This helps combat questions from friends and family in the months leading up to the wedding—for the couple, and you!Sweet EndingsThe wedding cake is here to stay, but it’s no longer the only dessert on the menu. Cakes are getting a design update with graphic prints and textile-like motifs, while plain tiers are acting as a canvas for video displays—the perfect marriage of dessert and technology. Passed treats, especially of the frozen variety, are trending along with installations like doughnut walls (because who says no to doughnuts?!).Make It Happen: Refresh the dancing crowd with a frozen treat like shaved ice (think: retro snow cones) or fruit-infused popsicles with the couple’s name or wedding hashtag on the stick. Help couples connect the dots with their caterer or call in a local food or ice cream truck to serve guests a parting treat, like a soft-serve cone dipped in sprinkles.Lauren Kay, The Knot, New York City