Planning a wedding is hard work. You want your aesthetic to be timeless and elegant, you want each and every one of your guests to have fun, you want to know that, 30 or 40 years from now, you won’t look back on your photos and curse the designer who invented bubble sleeves (how are they back?).
Ultimately, you want your big day to be a reflection of you and your partner as a couple. Trends will come and go, Pinterest boards will lure you into their bottomless depths, but in the end, you really must ask yourself, “Is our everyday aesthetic rustic-chic?” and “Is the wit of this hashtag eternal or does it have the shelf life of a lyrics-heavy yearbook quote?”
That said, 2016 saw many happy evolutions in the art of marriage. In order to identify which of these burgeoning trends have staying power (spoiler alert: it’s usually those that err toward simplicity and authenticity), we consulted some of our favorite wedding planners. For some background, Jove Meyer, founder of Jove Meyer Events, is an in-demand Brooklyn-based wedding planner, designer and host of the podcast Weddings-ish with Jove. (Followers of blogger Nicolette Mason will recognize his work.) Seri Kertzner, Michelle Bachman and Abby Copleston, the trifecta behind the renowned Little Miss Party Planner, specialize in styling big events for small spaces. Click through the slideshow above for their expert takes on the top wedding trends of 2017.
Top Wedding Trends of 2017
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Vibrant Colors
White and blush, while beautiful, are so overdone. More and more, clients are deviating from a typical soft palette in favor of unexpected schemes that better reflect their personal style. "White and neutral tones will always be connected to weddings, but color will play a big role in 2017. Expect to see color in the flowers, the stationery and the attire. Weddings should be a celebration and fun means more colors," observes Brooklyn-based wedding planner Jove Meyer.
Image: @jovemeyer
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Industrial Vibes
What decor best reflects you and your partner as a couple? For many city dwellers, the answer is simple: "Couples are moving toward more industrial vibes. Think exposed brick, cement floors, high ceilings and wooden beams. Couples are eschewing ugly carpets and bad drapery in favor of more natural elements and moments with marble, copper, silver and gold," Meyer shares.
Image: @jovemeyer
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Custom Filters
In the age of technology, two types of couples have emerged: those who encourage guests to unplug and enjoy the moment and those who provide them with a clever name-blending hashtag. In 2017, Meyer predicts the latter will step up their game: "From Instagram photos and Stories to Facebook Live, Twitter and Snapchat, couples are having their friends capture their wedding day in more ways than just hashtags. Creating custom Snapchat filters is going to be a fun way to capture the good times in a personal way."
Image: @jovemeyer
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Digi Date-Savers
In 2017, Meyer along with Seri Kertzner, Michelle Bachman and Abby Copleston of Little Miss Party Planner predict that couples' save-the-dates will also save trees (and some would-be calligrapher a lot of muscle ache). "Stationery will always have its place at weddings, but in 2017, more couples will use digital save-the-dates and their website to have their guests RSVP," Meyer explains. "Going digital means everything can happen easier and faster."
Image: @jovemeyer
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Desserts Beyond Cake
"A wedding cake is and always will be a part of weddings, but more couples are thinking beyond the cake," Meyer notes. "Weddings may have a cake, but there will be other creative mini desserts that can be served passed on the dance floor, so the party can keep on going." Kertzner, Bachman and Copleston echo these sentiments. In the coming year, they expect to see a surge in doughnut cakes and gourmet coffee bars. (Not only do people appreciate an artisanal cup of joe, but caffeine, like passed sweets, is known to prolong the party.)
Image: @jovemeyer
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Petite Wedding Parties
Simplicity is key. Couples spend months planning for their special day and only get to enjoy the fruits of their labor for a few hours. Smaller (or nonexistent) wedding parties allow everyone to make the most of this precious time. "Gone are the days of 10 to 16 person wedding parties," holds Meyer. "In 2017, less is more. Couples will choose to have fewer close friends around, allowing them to focus on partying, not working." There you have it: hire your help, skip the arduous bridesmaids' dress search, party harder.
Image: @jovemeyer
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Mix-and-Match Metals
Sans bridesmaids, there'll be no mixing and matching of dresses. Why not redirect your coordinating energies into your table settings? "Couples no longer have to stick to all silver or all gold decor — mixing metal is super sexy and on trend in 2017," shares Meyer. "Wedding decor is going to look more rustic, infused with metallics, such as soft silvers and shiny copper," offer Kertzner et al.
Image: @jovemeyer
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Greenery
Per usual, Pantone will have a hand in what goes on at weddings in 2017. "The Pantone color of the year is green," writes Kertzner. "With that in mind, a lot of greenery has been showing up as of late. People are spending more on lush greenery rather than a fortune on flowers." By the same financial logic, the ladies of Little Miss Party Planner also expect to see more paper and crepe florals in 2017.
Image: @jovemeyer
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Personal (Hanging) Touches
In the end, it's all about tasteful, timeless accents that are a reflection of you as a couple. Meyer estimates that hanging decor — be it florals, lanterns or bulb lighting — will continue to reign in 2017. "More and more couples will look beyond the table for designs. They will look to install flowers or decor in their venue or outside for more of an impact and personal touch."
Image: @jovemeyer
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Taking a Peek
It's no longer bad luck for the groom to see the bride before she hits the aisle — it's actually ideal. "A wedding day is over in a blink, so couples are finding more ways to spend as much time with their friends and family as possible," explains Meyer. "By having a 'first look' (seeing each other before the ceremony and taking all photos ahead of the wedding) the couple can attend their own cocktail hour, enjoy it and still have all the photos they want." (Bonus points if you hire a drone photographer to take an aerial shot of the bride and groom standing within the same frame, but in different locations, waiting to be seen for the first time.)
Image: @jovemeyer
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Longer Sleeves, Slightly Shorter Hems
As foretold by the runways, Kertzner, Bachman and Copleston expect to see more tea-length, long-sleeve and feather-accented dresses in 2017. (Though we're not experts on the matter, we'd like to add statement earrings to this list. Call it a Marchesa-inspired hunch.)
Image: @jovemeyer
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Fun Over Fine Dining
In case you haven't noticed, Meyer is all about showing his charges a good time. The seasoned vet finds cocktail-style parties allow for optimal merrymaking. "While a seated dinner is lovely and the classic way to dine at weddings, cocktail-style parties are just so much more fun! These setups include limited seating and a more casual approach to dining, so guests can party more and sit less."
Image: Courtesy of Little Miss Party Planner
