What’s in Store for 2013 Weddings?

January 18, 2013

As with all seasons each New Year has its own trends and fads that enter into the wedding world. What can you expect on the wedding front for 2013? Check out some of our favorites from the ‘in the know’ wedding bloggers.

*  Patterns  will  be  hot!! I think we’ll surely continue to see chevron and stripes used on everything from table runners to bowties. However, I think we’ll also start to see more and more gingham, paisley and even polka dots. Because what’s not to love? They truly do add a bit of fun and a touch of whimsy. I’m imaging bridesmaids in striped skirts, and groomsmen with paisley ties. There really are so many possibilities when it comes to patterns and we’re so excited to see where they’ll turn up for weddings in 2013! – [Chrissy, The Perfect Palette]

*  The  Reception  Lounge. The reception “lounge” is a wedding trend we’ve seen begin to take off in 2012 and expect to see back even stronger in 2013. It offers an away from the dance floor area for guests to eat, drink and mingle in a relaxed setting. From a groom’s perspective, the lounge is a perfect spot to feature a favorite microbrew, signature cocktail or finger food. If you’re planning to include a photo booth, any yard or table games or a build-your-own drink station – the lounge is the place to do it. As always guys, be sure to talk ideas over with your fiancé before you commit.- [Chris, The Man Registry]

*  Lace,  lace,  lace. Lace has been a mainstay in bridal fashion for centuries, but it seems to be making a comeback right now. From full-on lace dresses to just a touch here and there to accent a dress, lace has already started to appear on the runway. Many designers will be showcasing classic wedding gowns with lace details like lacy cap sleeves, illusion necklaces, contrasting color lace and more in their spring 2013 collections. My favorite thing about lace is that it’s not just for the gown – lace details in the wedding décor is becoming a hot trend, too. Lace can make an elegant statement anywhere from the invitation to the wedding cake. Lace details can be chic and sophisticated, or when paired with rustic or vintage elements, lace can become a bit more whimsical! – [Erika, Borrowed & Bleu]

*  Virtual  Guests.  In 2013, technology will play in huge role in how couples will share their most precious moments with friends and family around the world.  Live-stream weddings will continue to gain popularity and next year will be a defining year for this type of service. If a loved one cannot attend a wedding, couples will opt to “broadcast” their event and allow front row access to anyone, anywhere.  It’s real-time streaming of a real life event.  It’s a great idea for couples who want to include more and more people in the wedding. I often ask planning brides if this is something that they would consider, and most are not even aware that this is an option!  Look for more live-stream weddings to emerge in 2013. – [Rachel, Austin Wedding Blog]

*   The  Fun  Factor. In 2013, couples will be putting an even bigger emphasis on fun! And that means, lots of creative food stations (i.e. mashed potato bars), snack stations (i.e. DIY Smores, popcorn) and late night goodies. Carnival foods such as snow cones, cotton candy & candy apples will be ever-popular for summer weddings, as will food trucks, ice cream trucks, french fry trucks and taco trucks. Late night barbecue will also be sizzlin’. Along with emphasizing the fun factor with food, couples will continue to create make their cocktail hour and reception interactive with games such as corn hole, bocce ball & horseshoes.  Entertainment will also get interactive, with couples hiring everything from live event artists, on-site poets and dance instructors to magicians & tarot card readers. To make the fun last even longer, the post-wedding after party where couples hire a bus or van to take guests to a local night club after the reception will be big for 2013. – [Christina, Intimate Weddings]

*  Wedding  Dresses…  With  Pockets.  Finally, the wait is over!  Pocket wedding dresses will break out in 2013 and brides everywhere will rejoice. Functional fashion is in and fashion designers are coming around to the idea of adding soft, dainty pockets to traditional and modern bridal wear.  I recently spoke to a Very popular gown designer who dished that some very high-profile celebrities will be debuting pocket dresses in 2013. Honestly, I’m stunned it’s taken so long for this trend to go pseudo-mainstream. If your wedding is more than 6 months away, you might want to entertain the idea of a wedding dress… with pockets. – [Bridal Snob]

*  Localized  Weddings.  As one year of wedding trends comes to a close another will emerge with vibrant ideas, new methods of entertaining guests and bits of eye candy that will set weddings apart as truly spectacular. These are the trends that will live on and become classic. As we are knee-deep in planning and prepping for marvelous 2013 weddings we look ahead to the localized wedding. You needn’t look too far past your hometown for preeminent wines, sea foods or fresh bounty from farmers or bakers. Caterers will see an increase of delectable menus that are thoughtful and sourced locally, showcasing the best of what’s to offer where their creativity can truly shine.

To truly give guests an incredibly unique experience {at often a fraction of the price for shipping foods cross-country or wine across The Pond}, couples can look to nearby family-run apple cideries for a fun approach to bubbly, to a regional winery to select a scrumptious blend to pair with dinner, or work with a farmer or chef to personalize favorite food elements in an elevated light. The focus will be on quality, not quantity, and a remarkable experience will ensue! – [Aleah + Nick, Valley & Co.]

*  Grooms   start  spending. In 2013, we expect the average cost of a wedding to increase slightly, partly due to spending by the groom.  As more grooms begin playing an active role in the planning details of their wedding (a growing trend we’ve seen over the past 2 years), certain items such as groom cakes, groom rings, accessories, intricate honeymoon plans and unique groom gifts could significantly impact most wedding budgets, causing engaged couples to ultimately spend more.  Most of the grooms that we’ve spoken to state that their bride-to-be is totally on board for this increase in spending since it is as much his wedding as it is hers. – [Mason, WeddingStats.org]

*  A  return  to  elegance. In 2013 we are going to see a return to elegance. 2012 weddings reflected the world economy with a shabby chic, ‘do it yourself’ kind of attitude but 2013 brides will draw inspiration from old world glamour with cinematic and literary influences like The Great Gatsby, Anna Karenina,  Downton Abbey, and A Royal Affair. I expect to see decadent fabrics, corsets, ornate lace details, metallics, costume jewelry, and more formal receptions. This trend is already being reflected on red carpets and runways around the world and I can’t wait to see it find its way back into weddings again! – [Sara, Burnett’s Boards]

*    Fabulous  Florals. Of course for the 2013 wedding trend, I have to speak on the wedding flowers.  For Spring 2013, I think we’ll see soft shades of yellows mixed with grays and lots of pastels for the romantic look and feel.  Come summer, get ready for over-sized and brightly colored blooms.  Picture lush coral or hot pink peonies tied together with lots of pretty ribbons.  Also, the “just picked from the garden” look and feel hand tied bouquet and lush centerpieces will always be a favorite.  And, let’s not forget to use lots of texture by incorporating fruits, grasses, pods, berries and succulents.  I hope we’ll also see more of the monochromatic bouquets.  We can achieve this look with a lush bouquet of pretty tulips, ranunculus and garden roses.  These pretty blooms come in a variety of gorgeous colors and would be the perfect on your wedding day.  And for the DIY bride, let’s not forget all the vibrant color summer blooms at the farmer’s market.  To tie the look all together, lots of pretty ribbons and lace around the bouquet handle.  –  [Janie, The Bride’s Cafe]

* Birds  of  a  feather.  I predict the hot wedding trend for 2013 goes to the birds! We’ve seen bird themed weddings grow in popularity in 2012, but expect to see an increase in bird-themed everything throughout 2013, particularly in the spring.  Some examples include tossing bird seed, bird cages as card holders,  bird themed invitations, and bird’s nest favors (complete with blue Jordan almond ‘eggs’).  Look for bird necklaces, particularly ones with a minimalist look (like single feather pendants or tiny sparrows), both of which are popular and make great gifts for bridesmaids and flower girls.  We’re also seeing an increase in feather-inspired hair accessories (like veils and fascinators) to subtly tie in the theme.  Fans of Portlandia will revel in this wedding theme, as couples everywhere will find a way to “put a bird on it”.  (I couldn’t resist.) – [Emma, EmmalineBride]

*  DIY  attire. On the do-it-yourself front, I predict couples will choose projects that are more advanced skill-wise and require bigger budget and/or time commitments than they have in recent years. Much of DIY for the last few seasons has been focused on quick and inexpensive but we’re really seeing a swing towards more challenging and sophisticated projects. On the top of the list, I think we’ll see a lot of DIY attire: handmade bridal gowns and accessories, custom ties and pocket squares for the groomsmen, revamped and upcycled clothing.  Shows like Project Runway have certainly fueled an interest in clothing construction and, therefore, sewing. Jewelry-making, especially the advanced techniques like metalsmithing, intricate beading, and metal clays, has been trending in the mainstream craft world for well over a year now and I think we’ll definitely see DIYers embrace these new trends and skill sets wedding world in 2013. – [Khris, DIY Bride]

*   Low  Key  soirees. 2012 was the year of the detail-heavy ‘blogworthy’ wedding. Bunting, cupcakes, tents, tipis, mason jars, bicycles covered in flowers… it was the year of weddings with lots of ‘stuff’. With so much wedding inspiration around on wedding blogs, I think that engaged couples are starting to feel a certain amount of pressure to make sure they have the right ‘stuff’ for their day – to make it look a certain way, or have certain things. So my prediction for 2013 would be that couples will start to rebel and we’ll see a lot more low key weddings – elopements, small family gatherings, less pressure and less ‘stuff’. Weddings taking inspiration from nature and the natural elements around their chosen venue will dominate rather than adding lots and lots of extra ‘things’. – [Kat, Rock n Roll Bride]

If you have any questions or catering needs give us a call- Cru Catering would love to help make your special day exactly what you’ve dreamt, trendy or not, it is YOUR special day! Need some more ideas? Follow us on Pinterest for lots of great wedding day inspiration.

Blogger information courtesy of Weddingblogs100.com.

 


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