Image by Jackson Grant via Michelle & Clint’s Chic Wedding At The George Ballroom

The 2018 International Trend Report is here and there is a lot for you to look forward to as you plan your upcoming wedding. The buzzwords for the coming wedding season are “guest experience.” The more you can incorporate different ways for your guests to connect with you as well as each other, the better.

Which trends are most popular this year and how can you incorporate them into your wedding design?

Photo Credit: Rocksalt Photography

Choose an Interesting Venue

In the coming seasons, couples will focus on choosing spaces that are intrinsically interesting and that offer the ability to customise the overall look and feel. Many are interpreting this trend strictly as a demand for empty urban warehouse spaces or wineries, but WedShed’s co-founders Amy Parfett and Melany McBride anticipate the rise of other kinds of venues. “We’re seeing an emergence of less traditional locations,” say Parfett and McBride. “Think school camp venues that aren’t in a necessarily touristic hub, but have enough beds and a beautiful, natural setting.”

Design Beyond the Tabletop

According to Jes Gordon, “Design will not be contained to the tabletop anymore; it will flow well beyond its normal parameters.” She predicts that designs will include everything from the linen on the table, to the rug underneath, the specialty chairs for seating, all the way to chandeliers and hanging installations. Your colours and textures can literally reach out and wrap all around guests extending the experience well beyond place settings and centrepieces.

Floral Trends

Using foliage over flowers continues to be one of the growing trends in the wedding industry. You can incorporate it into your design through “statement pieces including round arches, hanging florals and decorated floral staircases,” according to Dee McMeeking. Tesselaar Flowers’ Kyla Helgeson agrees, saying that many of her clients are requesting “foliage and floral garlands for their long guest tables, and, if budget allows, hanging feature installations above the bridal table or the dance floor.”

Photo Credit: Andrea Harborne Photography

Royal Wait-and-See

McMeeking also predicts that the British royal wedding will influence 2018 weddings in ways that we don’t know yet, exactly. If you love the royal style, keep an eye out and be prepared to emulate Harry and Megan’s style and design choices as soon as they are revealed.

Overall Theming

All of these elements can be tied together under the arch of a single theme. Romance is the overwhelming favorite theme for 2018. For instance, a romantic garden wedding could have a “Midsummer Night’s Dream vibe,” says Ceci Johnson. It might be “a little bit dreamy and ethereal with a drop of fantasy mixed in, including starry nights dripping with flowers and lots of love in the air.”

Whichever theme you choose, remember that “authenticity is key,” as Liz Linkleter says. You can make your theme come alive by adding local musicians, regional cuisine, and “artisans who are truly passionate and skilled” in their fields, says Linkleter. Hire specialty entertainers to interact with your guests during the cocktail period, and ask your caterer to incorporate local ingredients in your menu to give your guests an authentic feel for the local culture.

There are so many ways to incorporate the latest trends into your wedding design. Which 2018 trends are you anticipating most?

Ms Zigzag says: Fantastic insight into the very latest wedding trends from around the world. This is one report that I’m very excited to read from start to end. 

About Kylie Carlson: Kylie Carlson is the CEO of the International Academy of Wedding and Event Planning. With six locations globally, the academy boasts an internationally recognised accreditation program that brings professional training to wedding planners, designers and stylists.