#BestDayEver— The Knot’s Tips for Wedding Trends

At The Knot, we spend a lot of time watching what trends and moments are clicking with couples and looking for what’s next on the horizon. Here are the so-right-now trends we’re loving, along with our tips for how to help your couples score their #BestDayEver.Hire Exceptional EntertainmentEncourage guests to engage with their surroundings throughout the wedding night by hiring a few standout vendors to interact with the group while they’re serving, feeding, or pouring for them. A flair bartender is always a great option (guests will love the flaming cocktails and high-flying glass tricks), while more off-beat ideas like a roaming ice cream cart or oyster-shucking station can feel playful and personalized to your couple. Food carts are another great way to get guests moving around, so consider a four-wheeling dessert display or cocktail hour. Is your couple more low key? Everyone loves a good party game, so plan a few for the cocktail hour and reception. Lawn games like horseshoes, cornhole, and oversized-Jenga are great for outdoor ceremonies, while ‘90’s classics like a photobooth, piñata, or caricature artist will be a hit indoors.Try Out Guest Gift LoungesTake the idea of a welcome bag up a notch by transforming the concept into an over-the-top welcome lounge for wedding guests. Instead of stuffing and delivering gifts for your couple’s guests, set up a room full of goodies (like snacks, drinks, and favorite local treats), and allow guests to choose their favorite things. The wedding party can be inside a hotel room suite or outside at a tent to greet friends and family the evening before the wedding and get a bit more face time in with guests. This serves as a natural icebreaker for guests whom they may have not met before the big event.Serve Up a Fresh FeastThe main meal is coming centerstage, so work with a catering team to energize your clients’ wedding menus with favorite new foodie trends. Wow-worthy food displays (think Peter Callahan’s take on an edible pick-your-own caramel apple tree) give partygoers something to feast their eyes on, while specialty bars focused on just the couple’s favorite brew or spirit take the signature cocktail to the next level. Another big hit? The roaming dinner. Instead of a seated meal, offer guests a plethora of passed apps, filling small plates and interactive stations with everything from oyster-shucking to mozzarella pulling on-the-go.Create Alternative Seating for the CeremonySavvy couples are moving beyond the traditional, two-sided aisle set-up and onto layouts that feel a bit more intimate. Just because they come from two distinct families doesn’t mean they need guests to sit on separate sides of the aisle. Instead, encourage couples to foster mixing and mingling by arranging seating in an arch or semi circle, with the altar in the middle. It’s an easy way to create more “front row” seating and a warm, close-knit environment that will leave your couple feeling enveloped in love. Or, have guests stand for the duration of the ceremony (note: this only works if they’re doing something short-and-sweet—15 minutes or less!), and surround the couple both for a casual, city hall-vibe.Invite a Few Furry FriendsThe hottest wedding guests of the year have four legs and super-soft coats. Having a beloved pup join the festivities is nothing new, but more couples are now looking to hire everything from sweet bunnies and donkeys to dressed-up llamas to roam the grounds of their outdoor reception and entertain guests. We’ve even seen a slew of rescue puppies walk down the aisle with the bridesmaids in place of bouquets—don’t worry, they were up for adoption afterwards!Think Beyond the LimoTransportation is practical, sure—but it can also add a layer of personalization. Think of it as a fun opportunity to nod to the wedding theme or the couple’s love story. Was their first date a pedi-cab ride around New York City’s Central Park? Find a charming rickshaw to take them from the ceremony to the reception. Helping them throw a boho backyard bash? Rent a VW van for a wow-worthy entrance—then, keep it on premises to double as a fun photo backdrop. With so many out-of-the-box options, there’s no need to settle for a traditional choice.Focus on Conscious ConsumerismHosting an incredible wedding, while reducing the carbon footprint is top-of-mind for many couples. From selecting in-season and locally sourced food and flowers, to sending Earth-friendly invitations made from soy-based inks on recycled paper, to-be-weds are becoming more and more conscious of what—and how—they’re consuming. Work to present local or sustainable options when it comes to vendors and resources.Try a Translucent CakeThe new take on the naked cake is the translucent cake. Instead of totally bare tiers, translucent cakes have a thin veil of frosting with just a bit of the cake showing. Typically iced in buttercream, these sweet delights are topped with flowers or in-season fruits that hint at the flavors of the cake filling. You can suggest the use of a fresh type of topper, too—cute, mini party animals pay tribute to a couple’s mutual love of dinosaurs, while a laser-cut phrase gives couples a chance to incorporate a favorite quote or sweet sentiment on top.Install Image-Mapping TechnologyWant to turn your indoor venue into a lush garden, but don’t have the budget for thousands of flowers and potted trees? Try a new projection technology called image mapping that allows you to transform a space with lighting and moving pictures. Give the ceremony and reception their own special vibes by changing scenes from one to the next. You can even use this technology on the wedding cake. Not only is this trend tech-forward, it benefits the environment and will save couples money on flowers and décor.Whatever you and your couples choose, be sure to bring their personalities forward, and add creative flair to their days so they can have the #BestDayEver. WPM__Alyssa Longobucco, The Knot, New York, N.Y.