Flower crowns have wilted away. Pastels are no more. Two piece gowns are goners.
But fear not, as “out with the old” is always followed by “in with the new.”
Metallic and darker hues are having a moment. Flowers are being given the (ring) finger. And au naturale is all the beauty rage.
For perspective on how to stay with the times, we pinged some of San Diego’s top wedding professionals to forecast what trends the turn of the year brings in.
Colors: A dive into darker
Color, in fact, will be the mainstay of wedding palettes in 2018.
“Brides and grooms are not afraid of color in 2018,” says Catherine Bachelier Smith of CBS Lifestylist, adding deep and saturated hues will reign supreme.
In that vein, warmer metallic tones such as brass and brushed nickel are stepping up for a change, says Laurie Nicoud of The Creative Clique.
“Brides are into moody colors for their wedding decor,” Nicoud says. “Pair darker colors with metallic touches and greenery/floral elements. It’s sexy and a unique way to stand out in a sea of blush and pink palettes.”
Speaking of blush and pink… don’t. “Brides are opting to make a statement with colors and neutrals,” Nicoud says, primarily with Pantone’s Color of the Year that is ultra violet.
“Get ready for a wave of purple inspiration. We’re working on designing an invitation suite in this trending color right now.”
Another invitation craze? Holographic foil—“the perfect way to give your invitation suite an extra special touch besides the ever-so-popular gold or rose gold detail.”
Cakes: Fork over the sleek styles
The icing on the soft-hued cakes, literally, is no more, too.
“Soft, pretty, and pink styles have been going strong for many years now,” says Laura Westhoven of Laura Marie’s. “Moody and modern cake design inspired by fashion, architecture, and interior design (have) become increasingly popular.
“The 2018-2019 wedding season will bring lots of new techniques in sleek black designs, hand-painted art, metallic leaf, chocolate brushstroke, and that minimalist clean line style to cake tables everywhere.”
Beauty: ‘Skin is in!
Still, there’s one category that soft and natural lives on, says Michelle Gilmore of Lipstick & Luster: Makeup.
Michelle Villalobos of Sandra Michelle Artistry validates in simple terms: “Skin is in!”
“Gone are the days of heavy full coverage foundation,” she says. “I love to let my clients’ skin shine through—freckles and all.”
Flower crowns, both beauty mavens concur, have overstayed their welcome, transitioning to an unneeded distraction.
Gowns: Make it minimal
Two-piece gowns, too, have had their 15 minutes of fame, divulges consultants at Luv Bridal.
“Brides are bidding farewell to the two-piece look in favor of whimsical, romantic gowns featuring contrasting tones, with intricate backs and a variety of silhouettes.”
Statement sleeves, peplum and ruching are other details of years past, add consultants from Archive Bridal.
Big ball gowns instead have been making statements on runways, as well as sheer and sexy bodices, plus botanical patterns and lined with nude hues—all of which trend toward more minimal motifs.
Florals: For more than bouquets
And with flower crowns stamped as an accessory of the past, loose buds placed in braids and up-dos will take their place, predicts Lisa Montecinos, owner of Tre Fiori Floral Studio.
Likewise, blooms are no longer reserved just for bouquets but instead for use in roundabout ways.
“I have a few weddings coming up where we are using 10-12″ gold hoops, adorned with a little greenery, a few blooms, and hanging ribbons, that the flower girl will hold as she walks down the aisle,” Montecinos says. “Most flower girls get nervous and barely throw petals, so this is a cute and trend-setting alternative.”
Montecinos also has fastened flowers into rings to be worn in place of corsages for, say, mothers of the bride or as an accessory for bridesmaids.
Texture, she notes, is en vogue.
“Soft romantic blooms mixed in with funky stems of protea, celosia, kale flower, or even artichokes or raw cotton can make such a beautiful statement in a bouquet or arrangement,” she says, and concludes with a nudge, “Mason jars, burlap, and sunflowers have been loitering for way too long and need to get a move on.”
