International Wedding Trend Report 2016

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Tableof contents

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Researching Trends Colour Trends Fashion Trends Interior Design Trends Pop Culture Trends Key Trends

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Colour Combinations Themes Venues and Locations Styling and Decor Floral Design Linen & Accessories

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Stationery Catering Beverages Cakes Entertainment Photography

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Transport LGBT Destination Weddings Contributors Styled Shoot Teams Publishers

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ResearchingTrends Identifying a trend is a continuous effort of compiling observations. It requires a lot of curiosity and interest in a wide array of subjects including art and design, fashion, pop culture, as well as food, colour and travel to name but a few.

Whilst gathering facts, at the root of it is also a personal intuition and an eye for what's next, that can't be taught or necessarily explained.

With trends that are very present on the Internet, in magazines, often stemming from the streets or the catwalks, it's easy to see they might have a 1 to 2 year cycle. Some trends however, are perennial and so embedded in our common language that they never fully go away, for example fifties fashion or military inspired clothing.

It is important to have a very good knowledge of what was designed 10 years, 40 years or over 100 years ago.

Every trend has its roots somewhere in history. So whilst you're looking forward, you're also taking into account past references. For this report we researched fashion history books, blogs, interior design and more, and it's very interesting to see the commonalities with what's being designed today. You realise it's one big creative loop that is constantly growing and updating

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it's all about colour...

2016 will bring together natural elements, stunning metals, and clean tones.

Think weathered wood meets smooth cement, spirited bohemian meets organised architect. Imagine gathering fresh vegetables and herbs from the garden to scatter on a reclaimed wood table. Getting dirt under your fingernails and rinsing your hands in the farmhouse sink. Sipping sweet sangria out of steel goblets.

We?ll see colours go back to the basics with hues derived from natural elements, which will complement and contrast more industrial looks.

Expect to see soft winter colours - dusty roses, deep purples, and frosty greys continue to be an important statement for simple, modern styling.

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Met al l ics - Metallic is having a major moment. Seen in reflective leathers, lamĂŠ and crinkled silks, it makes a high-impact piece out of even the simplest styles.

Sparkl es - Sequins and other shiny materials have never looked so good.

Lat in - Right in step with the season?s many womanly wiles were the flamenco-tinged tiers and ruffles.

Tie Dye - Tie dye?s new side is simple, sophisticated, and all grown up.

Fine Lines - Horizontal or vertical, thick or thin, many-hued or monochromatic, stripes are going to be huge. You?ll be hard-pressed to top them in terms of sheer graphic appeal, too.

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RenĂŠeStrauss 2016 wil l del iver dreams. Consumers are spending and weddings will illustrate the upswing. Gowns are flowing in homage to grand tradition and romance. Lace adorns everything from gowns to decor, highlighted with sparkle and luscious pastel florals. Lighting will play a meaningful role in the transformation of ballrooms or tents into dreamy wonderlands. The cake will translate either literally (say cheese-cake, for example) served with fancy fruit (a-la European style), or become the centre of attention on a lavish sweet table spread. Big bands will open the festivities with djs taking over into the wee hours. Worldwide wedding and honeymoon destination getaways increase in popularity to Europe (see @wwwedaways) as couples pool their resources and invest in a travel experience that will set the tone of their lives.

- Star of TLC's Brides of Beverly Hills

P amella D unn Our t op 5 t rends going int o 2016 are high floral installations, personalised and bespoke table linen, luxury textures and hand died fabrics, mixed metallic and design led lighting. Our 2016 hot three colour predictions are Serenity - Iced Coffee - Green Flash ( I love the green flash as much as I love the emerald green interiors trend) - Pamella Dunn Events

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K aren Cinnamon I t hink t hat grooms are becoming more and more invol ved in every aspect of t he wedding pl anning. Over the last few years, grooms have been really impressing us all by adopting great style, but now many of them are getting super involved with wedding planning too - it?s wonderful!

I?m a big fan of more intimate guest lists (by which I mean smaller numbers) over large, grand celebrations, and I think we are going to see a lot more of that - Smashing The Glass

M s P olka D ot High f ashion, beaut if ul l y craf t ed wedding gowns t hat have unexpect ed det ail s or t ones. Gorgeous floral arrangements that focus heavily on greenery elements like olive branches and herbs.

Arrangements with plenty of texture and varieties of blooms. Unique food ideas. Food trucks, food stations and interactive food displays that showcase sentimental to the couple foods or their favourite delicacies. Intimate, gorgeously styled sit down dinners than wedding receptions with plenty of guests. Unique wedding venues.

Think caves, rainforests, ramshackle houses in the country and rooftops in the city.

- Polka Dot Bride

Sara B urnett My f ive key t rend predict ions f or weddings in 2016 are: Intimate, personalised, foodie-focused with industrial settings, with jewel-toned colour palettes. It should be a gorgeous year!

- Burnett's Boards

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TheTop5 MIXED METALLICS JEWEL TONES OMBRE PALETTES MONOCHROMATIC PINK & PURPLE HUES

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J es Gordon We are happilyworking with a lot of ombre colour palettes in the next year; using onecolour such as Navy Blue and working within every tone of that colour from the lightest to darkest shade within that colour family. We are seeing colour combinations made up of alight tone such as light pink accented with adark Burgundy, or a light Lavender then accented with a deep violet. Monochromatic installations are still very popular .

BLING and Metallics!! mixed metallics are some of our favorites; using rose gold along withgun metal and evencut glass has been the perfect accent for all of our upcoming designs - jesGORDON/properFUN!

Colin Cowie Jewel Tone, Metallics and Black and White.

- Colin Cowie Weddings

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Colin Cowie

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Sara B urnett Jewel Tones: One of the top colour schemes for 2016 is going to be jewel tones and jewel tones for every style of wedding from rustic to glam.

Weddings are getting more and more intimate as well and deeper, richer palettes help create that sense of closeness. Anything with Grey: Grey is going to be popular in 2016, whether it?s Pantone?s Lilac Gray or more of a slate colour, it?s going to be big with more and more industrial, urban styles coming into play. Grey is a fabulous balancer and can really pair well with anything!

Blue colour palettes are going to come back in style. They got pushed aside with all the Marsala last year, but with jewel tones and greys, a blue won?t go wrong either. Plus, there are THREE blues in Pantone?s Spring 2016 color report, so something blue it is!

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Colin Cowie Farm-to-table isn?t just the biggest trend in restaurants right now but it?s also the hottest thing in weddings. Nowadays, brides aren?t just asking for organic greens- they are asking for the exact farm that their greens came from. Caterers are working with local farms to create the best menu and experience for the new-age bride.

- Colin Cowie Weddings

B rit B ertino We are seeing a re-rising trend in the sparkle or what we use to call "bling." Glitz like gems, crystals, glitter, and sequenceare always on our brides request list. They seem to be seeking awhimsical feel to their design's as well.Complete full and richness to design is in.

Meaning less is no longer more. "More is More" Budget's are coming back with a bang and the brides want a complete rich and full look to their designs versus twigs, branches, and half filled mason jars.

- Brit Bertino

K evin D ennis Geometrics are certainly in - there's something about angular shapes that bring modern art to mind and what a way to design a wedding!

Metallics are another fun theme we've been seeing - from copper to gold, precious metals are certainly a favorite on the wedding scene. As for overall themes, the top two we're seeing are Vintage Glam and Geek Chic - each of these are ways for couples to really allow their personalities to shine and we're loving the unique details we're seeing!

- Fantasy Sound Event Services

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J es Gordon We are seeing that the Farm to Table food movement has brought a lot of elegant and black tie affairs back to farm settings and tent weddings seem to be making a big come back on vineyardsand beach fronts. I also feel that the castle wedding is coming into play; the romantic gothiccandlelight feel with limestone surroundings and long dining tables will never go out of style.

- jesGORDON/properFUN!

K athy A spostolidis Ibiza, city living and home weddings. European uber lux resort elements are definitely in play. Clean lines, symmetry, with an unstructured bold feature as punctuation. Artistic elements such as the use of artworks and sculptures as feature elements - Nightingales

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Emma H la A relaxed affair with family & friends is still the top priority for wedding days so couples are wanting to find a venue they feel at home in ? warm, welcoming and super friendly.

Our couples are style conscious and know what they?re looking for in their wedding venue ? visiting on average 4 locations before they find ?the one?, Brides & Grooms take this first step seriously!

The weekend and destination weddings are continuing to reign!

Scotland & Ireland are having a super romantic moment. Think taking over grand castles and offering a luxurious hideaway for guests to rustic barns where wild parties can be thrown over 2-3 days.

Couples want originality and for their guests to be wowed, so if you?re a new venue for 2016 then you?ll be hot property!

With the botanical and tropical trend hot for 2016, I think we?ll see the garden wedding bloom. As well as secret walled gardens, think about orangeries and glasshouses.

Individuality is really key to couples; Brides & Grooms are steering further away from the ?package? wedding wanting to create their own day. We?re seeing couples choosing venues with a wealth of character and a bold, eclectic style mixed with contemporary Eco chic.

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For 2016 I predict the elopement will be a serious option for couples. The trend for micro nuptials with maximum style is here and the expert in this area in the UK is Ever After in Devon.

They?ve put together everything a couple might need for a luxury micro wedding including the venue, the bouquet, the photographer, the champagne and canapĂŠs.

The wedding breakfast is prepared by a private chef, overnight with accommodation in their 18th Century honeymoon cottage!

Utterly magical and if I could I would do it all again.

- Coco Wedding Venues

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Some of the top 2016 designs we're seeing aren't exactly new. Lots of candlelight, LED fairy lights, Edison bulbs - but when a trend is truly captivating, can it really go out of style?

Couples these days are all about pulling inspiration from what they're seeing and then turning it into something entirely their own. We're seeing lots of earthy, greenery inspired weddings coming our way and we can't wait to see them!

Hanging dĂŠcor will never go out of fashion! We continue to work with couples that are planning to hang lanterns around their wedding space.

But if in the past those lanterns would be filled with candles ? in recent years there has been a shift towards battery candles, which allows couples to reduce the risk of fire, and to comply with local fire department codes.

Other popular lighting favourites are chandeliers, hanging lights, and fairy lights.

Hanging dĂŠcor adds dynamism to an area and you can't argue that sparkling lights in the air aren't magical!

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- 100Candles.com

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J es Gordon We notice that Brides are drawn to sprawling design meaning that they aren?t just designing for round dining tables, but more for very long dining environments where the decor can kind of ramble on for days. Also the bride is wanting eclectic decor meaning that they are happy using modern elements, as long as its mixed with something unique but traditional, like mixing chinois with a contemporary wine glass, so there is a traditional yet edgy component to their overall decor.

Also something very important is that we are finding ourselves designing through the five senses and not just visually...all elements need to harmonise within the wedding to make it a memorable and unique experience.

Hanging decor is more popular than ever. When the number of guests start to become an issue we always suggest to design ?up? and make the ceiling a focal point allowing the flow of the room to be freed up for the guests. With the importance of food these days we are often finding ourselves designing above the table in order to make room for sharing plates and wine tasting.

Organic elements are a must these days meaning the room can be completely high tech and sleek, but we then need to add in a huge organic element such as a floral wall or massive chandelier but made out of ferns rather than glass or metal, so an organic focal point seems crucial. Lighting is everything at a wedding but oddly enough when its done right its not really noticeable to the average eye.

The fine art of lighting a wedding is a humble one that is truly noticed when they are turned off ha! Lighting should be used to make the environment a better version of itself and not overpower the experience. Lighting can also pose a challenge to wedding photography so again, the art of highlighting a room is serious business!!!

- jesGORDON / properFUN!

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Floral D esign

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D esign

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Elizabeth M arsh

The Pantone colours for 2016 will be very fresh, with bright Spring-like hues from peach through to see-breeze blues, pastel yellows and fuchsias etc. The image that immediately comes to mind is of a beautiful mix of garden roses, fully opened, fragrant and vibrant with fresh Spring colours. This will work well with the rose gold that is prevailing in upmarket jewellery (see Williamson and son?s latest collection of diamond and rose gold necklaces), containers and vases where copper is really holding its own against brass and silver still.

Creative designs will come into their own this year and we are certainly excited at the prospect of coming up with some new innovations to wow our clients guests and give them the opportunity to step into their new roles as newlyweds.

Craftmanship is also a key element this year, the Far and Middle East are both very excited by the prospect of working with highly skilled British designers generally and this does not stop at floral design.

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Y oungsongM artin Rustic Chic is out and Refined Elegance is in! In 2016, I predict that you?ll be seeing more of the old world opulence with elaborate florals and abundant tablescape dĂŠcor elements vs the rustic outdoor simple look. Much of the influence will be pulled from all around the world; from magnificent tapestries and ornate architecture of Paris and European Art to the lavishness of traditional Mediterranean style.

Romantic elegance, Tulle, Lace and Sequins are the most popular styles!

Tulle whether on the chair cover or table linen will be very popular this year.

It is even being seen on wedding dresses and other dĂŠcor in the events industry. Lace is also a popular fabric that many brides love for its soft and romantic gesture. And finally, sequins linens are popular fabrics that will be here to stay!

For a more modern and contemporary feel, using large print with some sort of sheen will work perfectly. Damask Prints will also be making its comeback so you?ll see a lot of brides wanting a more formal and regal elegance to their tablescapes.

One of the most impressive and statement driving accessories for table linens are chair cover treatments. A lot of people do so much on the tables but do nothing with the chairs that surround the table and all its beauty.

Why not use the chairs as accents to your tablescape? Remember, there are 100 chairs in a room vs 10 tables so the impact is so much greater and more powerful! Also, as a designer, I always want to keep the look fresh and exciting and I know that anyone who designs in the wedding industry will want to do the same.

Pantone Colours will always have an influence on brides and designer when planning their event but I don?t necessarily feel it will always dictate the theme.

In our industry, events are very theme and style specific so if someone is doing a 50th anniversary, a modern contemporary wedding or a retro style theme party, they may not look at the new pantone colours for inspiration.

Our design team has been creating numerous collections that include soft champagnes and pastel colour fabrics that are perfect for a romantic and opulent dĂŠcor setting.

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D ahlia W exler We are seeing a demand for upscale overlays, such as our Monaco and Heirloom Hydrangea, as well as laces of all varieties. Therefore, our 2016 collections include many new overlay options to tantalise our clients. The most popular basic linen choices are silk-like fabrics, such as our Shantung, Dupionique and Iridescence, and natural looking fabrics, such as our Amalfi. Finally, sequins and all that sparkle are still very much in demand.

For wedding receptions, brides are looking for traditional patterns such as damasks and intricate laces. However, for bridal showers, rehearsal dinners and morning after brunches, patterns of all types are in demand, including Spanish themed, Moroccan, floral designs, stripes and geometrics.

The demand for Chiavari Chair backs as dĂŠcor is re-emerging. One difference between chair backs of the past and the ones currently in demand, is that the newer designs just cover the chair back (don't go to the floor) and are made with cleaner lines. Gone is the demand for over-the-top fluffy chair backs.

We continue to see demand for neutrals and soft tones, such as blush, champagne, ivory and metallics. One trend that is clearly emerging is a shift in metallic from silver to gold. We believe 2016 will be heavily influenced by gold. While the Pantone colour can predict emerging trends for the home and fashion, they don't dictate what brides want. So we have to look to Pantone Colour(s) for an overall trend. And, this year, the three wedding colours selected are all soft tones. So, we expect soft neutrals to dominate the wedding industry this year.

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Suzi W aters Invitations and RSVP cards continue to be popular. We?re also seeing a lot of guest accommodation and extra information cards - couples want their guests to be as informed as possible The big colours and colour combinations we predict will be Navy and Ocean blue, silver grey, and classic black and white.

Wedding stationery in 2016 will be simple and modern in style.

Elegantly designed pieces without fuss.

Floral is making a comeback and we are starting to see polka dots in an array of colours. Typographic invitations continue to be popular as well.

- Alannah Rose

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P hylecia Sutherland Continuity in the wedding stationery is key and more and more couples are opting for their stationers to provide all the paper products, from the reply cards to table numbers. But many couples are opting for virtual Save the Dates and focusing on the invitation and on-the-day pieces. I predict a big push in show-stopping maps, from hand-illustrated to very useful yet simple visual directions. There will be much more focus and value placed on-the-day pieces including gorgeous menus and keepsake order of service/ programs.

Overall, couples are emphasising the desire for all the stationery pieces to come together as a perfectly curated package.

Predicting colour trends by year is always difficult because colours can be so evocative and personal. As a general shift, we?re moving on from soft pastel hues in the previous years into rich, deep tones as well bold colours such as red. Black or grey on white is always popular for those opting for a more traditional or minimalist feel.

I have seen an increasing desire to move back to traditional design, whilst also keeping up the wow factor. You see this with classic designs moving from simple custom monograms to elaborate bespoke crests. Adding more depth to the design is the addition of hot foil to the ever-popular letterpress printing as couples are wanting the beautiful print with classy touches of shine that the metallic hot foils bring.

The rise of Boho has permeated not only styling but stationery and bridal gowns. We?ll see this in more elegant ways moving past burlap and twine to more refined designs, playing with material like leather and specialist papers.

Floral patterns are still very popular, but this is seeing a slow move from the soft, watercolour patterns we?ve seen for the past few years to those with much deeper colours or more definite shape. Though, these still may be done with a hand-painted look. We?ll also see a rise in patterns influenced by art and architecture such as Greek and Moroccan tiles and Indian textile prints. I also foresee a lot of these patterns being introduced to the wedding stationery suite in envelope liners, bringing that little bit of texture and pattern to the more traditionally-designed invitation.

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Catering

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10 cat ering t rends f or 2016 1.Foraging: Searching in the forest, woods, mountains, field or gardens(for urbanites) for delicious exotic ingredients such as mushrooms, roots, flowers and herbs to incorporate into your menus. Even picking fragrant blooms like jasmine or lemon leaves can be considered foraging. Add something that is not store-bought to your plate and you have a recipe for success.

2.Edibl e Dust : flavoured, coloured dehydrated beetroot, pumpkin, lemon or asparagus dust can be drizzled as a complementary visual accent on your plate.

3.Edibl e Sprays: Fragranced aromatic mists such as ginger, pear or vanilla to spritz into the air whilst serving a plated course- this enhances the flavour and overall sensory experience of the food, and people will love the drama of it all.

4.Theat re of f ood: incorporate unusual elements like fancily dressed hostesses, champagne girls hanging from a chandelier serving bubbly, a python draped around her body or a sexy violinist in a bubble, or a floral swing in a tree- make sure that there?s at least one unique point of interest at every event that can be talked about at length.

5.Furnace t o Fork: charcoal fire-roasted meats, chicken and fish from the furnace served straight to the table- fire is always a talking point and the flavour is deeply enhanced by natural coals.

6.Low carb, High Prot ein: healthy meals are becoming very trendy at events with more and more people requesting salmon, quinoa, salads and light chicken menus.

7.Himal ayan rock sl abs: usually used as individual plates in restaurants, we are using them to serve sizzling skewers at events-they?re incredibly impressive both because of the salty taste they exude on the food, as well as the drama of the live grilling that the guests witness at the party.

8.Lat e night snacks: more and more people are enjoying a late night snack such as fries with gourmet sauces, petit sliders, mini pizzas and noodle boxes to fill the gap after a night of hard partying.

9.Food and drink pairings: recently we are pairing craft beers, chilled champagnes and bespoke liquors with complementary mini meals to really enhance the culinary offering at parties- gone are the days of simple drinks at events, these days we try much harder to impress with flaming cocktails and sexy snacks to match on the same tray.

10.Mul t i-cul t ural menus: people wish to honour different heritages, impress their guests and also offer a greater selection of food with a thoughtful chef-created blending of different cultures and their traditional dishes 75 74

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P aulineP arry Street foods have been a trend here over the past few years and that has started to die out with tastes leaning towards more complex and higher end foods. Late night snacks continue to be an integral part of the reception with a focus on more elegant types of appetizers like those that are served during the cocktail hour. Items such as Paprika Beef Short Rib Tarro Cones, Truffled Mac & Cheese Cupcakes, California Bluefin Poke have replaced sliders and french fries.

The days of formal dining are certainly not over, in fact most of our couples are asking for elegant dining whether it be a plated service or family style service. For family style service most opt for a plated first course, followed by plated entrees served with family style side dishes. This style works very smoothly and provides guest interaction and still keeps things elegant.

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Tony W atson Although I couldn't pinpoint the top 10, I can say that through experience the most are : 1. Cl ient part icipat ion ? especially on the main course, with designated servers on each table.

2. Sharing menus ? very popular this year, and pushing into next, we as a wedding caterer are offering alternative versions of our most popular sharing boards menus for next year.

3. Cl ient s booking t heir f avourit e rest aurant t o cat er f or t hem ? we have come across this quite a bit this year, and although it may be more of a challenge for the restaurant to ?outside cater?, it is proving more popular.

4. Wood-f ired!! Anything cooked in a wood-fired oven is definitely getting everyone?s attention at the moment. From bread to Pizza. Lucky for us we invested in one this year.

5. As above, t he st reet f ood t rend st il l has yet t o peak, and will carry on through 2016 into 2017 before it see?s its full potential from the masses of small companies now offering it. It is here to stay, with its constant regeneration, it will always stay interesting. ?6. Home produced?Taking the locally sourced thing to the highest degree, we have had first hand experience of brides growing their own veg & potatoes for their special day. Supplying them to us prior to the day, to be included in the wedding ?breakfast?.

7. Comf ort f ood, is still high on everybody?s list, whether its included in the canapes, main meal or evening food. It could be that mini toad in the holes and fish & chips are served at 1pm with the welcome drinks, or 1am as the ?midnight snack?.

8. ?One f or t he boys & one f or t he girl s? be it his & hers cocktails, cordials or craft beers as welcome drinks, or even a dish specifically for the male guests and one for the ladies, we?ve seen it a couple of times this year, and predict it will be more popular in 2016.

- Eat Me Drink Me

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Emma Riddell So what are we predicting we will see on the wedding menu in 2016?

1)Rust ic / Less Formal Dining ? Yes people are still opting for a sit down meal, but we have seen sharing platters and family style dining go in place of individual starters, mains and desserts.

2) Food Vans ? Whether it be throughout the reception or in place of a formal wedding breakfast, perhaps even used for the late night snacks, food vans are increasing in popularity.

3) Organic, Fresh and Art isan ? Couples and caterers alike are opting for locally sourced, fresh and seasonal ingredients.

Raw, Vegan and foraged food is also starting to creep into the wedding catering world. Watch this space!

4) Comf ort Food and Big Kids ? Pizza, Burgers, Hot Dogs and Fish & Chips.

These are incredibly popular and rightly so! The presentation however is key, maybe monogramed wrappers or boxes.

5) Brunch ? Weddings aren?t just for the afternoon now. Lunches and Dinners are still the most popular time to sit down; however we have started to notice there are some early morning weddings.

Brunch is a big thing, especially in the wider foodie world. Mimosa?s, Bloody Mary?s, Eggs Benedict or Royale, Avocado, Bacon? breakfast foods are so popular and who says they can?t be for a wedding!

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6) Drinks St at ions ? Be it DIY ones or staffed. A Lemonade bar is super popular currently, and particularly with the children, as are prosecco bars, infused waters and cocktails.

7) Get t ing Invol ved ? Similar to the drinks stations, DIY food stations are popping up and requested more frequently. Look out for Interactive food stations ? chef?s preparing food in front of your eyes!

8) St reet and Et hnic Food ? This seems to be everywhere currently. With pop ups and restaurants taking this and running with it, it really is the most popular trend and it is filtering down to the wedding world. Ceviche and Burrito wraps seem to be the most popular choices.

9) Truf f l es ? The ingredient of the moment. Truffle risotto, truffle burgers, truffle chips, truffle mac n? cheese ? ok I?m hungry now. Not to everyone?s taste, but if you want to impress, then this is how.

10) Lat e Night Snacks ? It?s a great way to end the night and satisfy any remaining hunger cravings. Handed out on trays, or on a buffet or even food stations, food such as mini hot dogs, or burgers, hog roast, sushi or even a sundae bar or sweet cart are the way forward.

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P eggy P orschen Dessert tables have already been very popular over the past two years, but we see a trend towards long tables or bars of mixed cakes and confections. It is not just about the theme and look, but also about the experience and offering your guests a choice of different options. A dessert table makes always a great talking point.

We are selling more and more naked cakes. This may be due to budget as they cost a lot less than iced cakes. But also, customers really appreciate the natural rustic look and they look great with fresh flowers. We are just about to make a naked cake for a winter wedding decorated with iced gingerbread snowflakes.

Metallics are still very popular, but also darker and warmer shades such a charcoal grey and warm champagne colours. The difficulty as a cake designer is to find beautiful metallics, such as gold and silver that are completely edible. Unfortunately most are now classed as non-toxic and cannot be eaten, so the design options are very limited.

People are always looking for something a little different and because Macaroons are so pretty, delicious and versatile they are still a very popular choice too.

- Peggy Porschen Cakes

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ElizabethSolaru Macarons have been the It Girls of the dessert world for the last couple of years. Many keen bakers have been giving them a go and this has even led to the rise in the sale of macaron baking kits. Their attraction is due to their size, range of colours, flavours and fillings. The popularity of the macaron shows no sign of waning but we are now seeing other miniature edibles such as eclairs and meringues becoming the next big thing.

The dessert table is still going to be popular in 2016. Styles can range from the simple and elegant to vibrant and opulent. It is a great way to display gorgeous edible treats ranging from macaroons, mini cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, meringues, cookies, mousses and marshmallows, thereby giving guests a sugar high to end a very special day.

The naked cake can be very appropriate in rustic settings. However, it seems as if the love affair with such cakes is on the wane. Naked cakes have now evolved to include hints of coloured buttercream or coloured ganache coverings with a hint of cake showing through.

From gold to silver and bronze detailing, metallic wedding cakes have been all the rage for the past few years. On cakes, these metallic colours can be achieved by using edible gold, silver, pewter, copper leafing and they can also be painted on. Considered to be the height of opulence, metallic cakes are a perfect way to showcase the centrepiece of any wedding reception!

- Elizabeth Cake Emporium

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For 2016 we?re seeing a clear steering away from requests for traditional entertainment, with couples thinking outside of the box and asking for unique alternatives. We are getting more and more requests for ?Bride and Groom Reveals?, interesting ways for the couple to to appear at the ceremony and surprise each other and their guests! For example, we?ve been asked for a bride to be flown in on a heliosphere and a groom to be part of a giant dance reveal. Walkabout food acts, such as champagne aerialists and living tables handing out canapĂŠs and sweet treats, are also becoming an increasingly popular choice for the drinks reception and evening party as they add a unique and interactive wow factor. Mix and mingle and interactive acts in general are in higher demand for 2016 including LED dancers, photo booths and green screens!

With the rise in popularity of rustic and vintage themed weddings, acoustic bands and video and photo booths are a favourite combination. The latest technology is also allowing acts to integrate electronics with acoustic instruments making for an exciting new genre of music.

- Scarlett Entertainment

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Photobooths are more popular than ever and new inventive ideas along this line are popping up all the time. For example, slow-mo video booths and quirky photo booths within a VW camper van. Also vintage style booths are very popular. The biggest stumbling block in terms of technology is that more and more venues are being forced to install noise limiters which can cause big problems for bands, who are constantly having to evolve in order to be able to work with them.

Bands are still popular and specifically at the moment along with acoustic and unique bands, the current trend is for large 8 piece bands to include extra instruments such as brass with the ability to cover a wide range of music.

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P hotography Theoverall trend that continues togrowis the demand for better and better wedding photography.

- Jonny Draper

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P hotography

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I think there will always be some key wedding photography styles that never change in their approach. Brides and grooms love documentary images of their day - moments captured that they missed and moments that they were involved in that are meaningful to them. But it's the evolution of this approach that is really interesting. Photographers who are true artists but aren't setting things up. They're seeing a moment happen and they are framing it beautifully, their control of the light is exquisite and each frame they take is one that could be hung on a wall. I'm seeing more and more photographers stepping away from the 'traditional' approach to reportage photography and are actually considering it from creative point of view.

It's impossible to create something brand new. What great photographers do however, is put their own signature and their own style on to the weddings they shoot. Good, creative photographers will always look at different ways of

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capturing the day, different ways of using available light and external light sources and ways of making their clients love what they do for them.

Trash the Dress shoots have never made it particularly big in the UK. They were big in the US and Australia, but it takes a brave bride to get into the sea in Blackpool in her wedding dress? .!!! I don't think it has been overtaken by anything else in particular. I think the overall trend that continues to grow is the demand for better and better wedding photography. Brides and grooms have virtually unlimited access to stunning wedding photos and inspiration wherever you look on the internet and as a result, that is what they want for their wedding day. And it's our job as wedding photographers to deliver those stunning images that clients deserve .

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Transport

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M s P olka D ot I?m seeing more couples using cars that have a precious place in their heart- a car their husband has restored, an old family favourite or the car their family drove as they grew up.

I think couples are doing what they want! Our couples are choosing one car (ie a kombi van) and travelling together, or staying within walking distance of their venue. However, there is always the traditional, beautiful moment of the bride travelling to the wedding with her parents.

- Polka Dot Bride

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P etra Truneckova The demand for luxury venues in the south of England will continue to grow. Destination weddings are becoming more popular, especially as more and more countries legalise same-sex marriages, and I am seeing more interest in the exclusive hire of boutique hotels and private villas. I expect this to continue in 2016. I also see a growing interest in beach weddings.

It is also fair to say that same-sex couples are less constrained by tradition and are more comfortable creating unique weddings overseas than straight couples. Additionally, for both groups the world is getting smaller and a destination wedding can actually be much better value that getting married in the UK. The colour trends that I see for 2016 for same-sex weddings are lots of different shades of green - lime green, jade green and sea green. I also see lots of blue - dark blues (navy blue, electric blue and indigo) and light blues (aquamarine and hydrangea blue). Additionally, London runways during the last Fashion Week were flooded with animal and jungle prints and I predict this will influence weddings throughout 2016.

For honeymoos the USA is always a popular destination with San Francisco, Las Vegas and Hawaii being the top choices with same-sex couples. Spain is another favourite closer to home, more specifically Ibiza and Barcelona. Interest will continue in Greece in particular Zante, Santorini and Mykonos. The interest in Mexico will also grow especially Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Maya.

In terms of destinations to be avoided it?s best not to go on honeymoon in countries that are not gay-friendly or have strict anti-gay laws. For example, Jamaica, Barbados, muslim countries and Russia.

- Gay Wedding Planner

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D estination W eddings

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M agali D unkwu Italy, France, Greece, Morocco and Spain are the top countries for destination weddings in 2016 with the most popular style of wedding being Country, Beach and Villa/ beautiful estates. Beach weddings are extremely popular, as are old castles and hidden country estates, there are so many options and each wedding is very dependant on the individuality of the couples.

Couples are looking for nice weather, great welcome gifts and amazing views as their must have items when planning a destination wedding.

The average number of guests tends to be between 50 - 70 with the bridal couple often taking care of the transfers and different activities such as a welcome and post brunch for their guests.

We believe that a destination wedding is actually an entire wedding experience - where you turn the weekend festivities into unforgettable experience with those that were able to make it!

Whereas homeland weddings allows you to have all your friends and family attend into an amazing day. In saying that we are also seeing a trend for weekend long weddings in the UK. - Le Jet Fete

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The top destinations frequented by our couples include Mexico, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and Hawaii. However, we?re also seeing destinations such as Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, and Grenada on the rise.

While beach weddings are a perpetually popular choice, we?re seeing more and more couples flocking to historic cities and the countryside for their vows. Couples are also saying ?I do? to gazebo weddings, as they opt for getting hitched in lush, picturesque gardens. When it comes down to it, personalisation is key, so these days it?s really up to the couple to choose the style of their wedding locale.

If heading out of the country brides and grooms should check their passports at least six months in advance, in case the expiration date is nearing. They?ll also need to determine what kind of paperwork they?ll need ? depending on the destination, birth certificates may be required along with a divorce decree, if it?s a second marriage for either party.

Additionally, a versatile wardrobe that factors in local weather and any potential excursions is a must. We encourage clients to bring their own toiletries

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and sun block as they tend to carry a heavy price tag in tourist areas and on-site resort shops.

Couples are playing a larger hosting role with their own special wedding getaway. Destination couples are taking responsibility of keeping their guests in the loop with wedding websites as a central hub for information including hotel block information, travel details, itineraries, and more. As weddings away from home can take more planning and logistics, couples are informing their guests much earlier to make for easy scheduling. In addition to wedding festivities itself, couples are also taking it upon themselves to pre-book excursions for themselves and their guests ? not only does this result in cost savings, but it also saves people from dealing with bookings on-site, allowing them to simply enjoy their time in paradise.

Additionally, brides and grooms are embracing the guest experience by greeting them with welcome bags full of local goodies and inviting them on excursions around the area. Wedding programs, local maps, and sunscreen are all great things to include ? consider things that guests may need during their stay.

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Courses in: -

W eddingP lanning Event D esign W eddingStyling Event P lanning D estination W eddings

The International Academy of Wedding and Event Planning is the leading E Learning education company for the wedding industry with campuses worldwide. To find out more about becoming accredited and taking your career to the next level find your nearest campus below and visit the website.

UAE

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W eddingP lanning Event D esign W eddingStyling Event P lanning D estination W eddings

M eet theContributors

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Colin Cow ie

Ceci Johnson

South African lifestyle guru and party planner to the stars, television personality and writer.

Founder of Ceci New York, the internationally renowned luxury invitation and corporate ID design.

http://colincow ie.com

http://cecinew york.com/

RenĂŠe Strauss

Jes Gordon

Go-to stylist for celebrities and trendsetting brides-to-be, frequently being called upon by film &

Award-winning event producer & designer, author, and most recently, star of Rocco's Dinner Party

http:/ / www.reneestrauss.com

http:/ / www.jesgordon.com

Kristin Banta

M arley M ajcher

Event & Wedding Producer & Designer + TV personality. 2014 & 2015 Event Planner of the Year.

CEO of The Party Goddess!, has planned events for A-list celebs such as Pierce Brosnan and Sofia Vergara.

http://w w w.kristinbanta.com

http://thepartygoddess.com

Sara Burnett

Vicky Crease

Editor of Burnett ?s Boards & named one of the most influential social media users in the state of Hawaii.

TV show host, multiple international award winning catering and event specialist.

http://burnettsboards.com

http://w w w.vickycrease.com

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Amy Lucas & Mel any Mashman Co-Owners of WedShed ,an online collection of unique Australian venues.

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Pamella Dunn Highly acclaimed Yorkshire based Wedding Planner, Event Planner and Stylist.

http://w w w.w edshed.com.au

http://pamelladunn.co.uk

Pauline Parry

Rhiannon Dow nie-Hurst

Owner of Good Gracious! & inductee to the Event Industry Hall of Fame for Event Solutions.

Founder and Editor of Bride Club ME and The Engage Academy .

http://w w w.goodgraciousevents.com

http://brideclubme.com

Elizabeth Solaru

Rebecca Hochreiter

Founder of Elizabeth?s Cake Emporium and three time winner of Wedding TV?s The Great Cake Bake.

Vice President of Marketing and Customer Engagement for Destination Weddings.

http://elizabethscakeemporium.com

http://w w w.destinationw eddings.com

Emma Hla

Jonny Draper

Founder of Coco Wedding Venues in the UK launched in early 2014.

Leading wedding photographer specialising in contemporary reportage wedding photography.

http://cocow eddingvenues.co.uk

http://w w w.jonnydraper.co.uk

Petra Truneckova

Elizabeth M arsh

Founder of Gay Wedding Planner and leading LGBT wedding planner in the UK.

Owner of award winning Elizabeth Marsh Floral Design based in New Covent Garden Market.

http://w w w.gayw eddingplanner.org.uk

http://w w w.emfd.co.uk

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Tony Watson

Amanda M onaghan

Owner of Eat Me Drink Me creative catering company based in the UK.

Co-founder of PapaK책ta, providers of Sperry Tents and Teepees in the UK.

http://w w w.eatme-drinkme.co.uk

http://w w w.papakata.co.uk

Jane Riddell

Igal Sapir

One of the UK's leading Wedding, Event and Party Planners also offering destination planning

Founder of 100Candles.com offering quality Candles, LED Lights, Candle Holders, Floral Lights & more.

http://w w w.plannedforperfection.co.uk

http://w w w.100candles.com

Jay Ashton

Stephanie Cross

Owner of Totally Tipi a UK based family company hiring out giant tipi tents.

Representing Ivy Ellen an award winning British wedding stationery brand founded in 2009.

http://w w w.totallytipi.com

http://ivyellenw eddinginvitations.co.

Phylecia Sutherland

Alanna Bestw ick

Stationery designer and letterpress printer dabbling in modern calligraphy.

Representing Scarlett Entertainment top destination entertainment specialists globally.

http://w w w.phyleciasutherland.com

http://w w w.scarlettentertainment.co

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Gilded Linens

Whitehouse Crockery

http://gildedlinens.com

http://w w w.eventcrockeryhire.co.uk

Blacks Event Furniture

Dan Flanders

http://w w w.eventfurniture.com/

http://w w w.danflanders.co.uk

Sprae PR

http://w w w.sprae.co.uk

P antoneM ood B oard D esign -

Lilac Gray - Ashlee Brindley

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Peach Echo - Kylie Carlos

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Rose Quartz - Ashlea Burns?

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Serenity - Hannah Rogers

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Snorkel Blue - Ashlee Brindley

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Fiesta - Cassandra Piacentini

Taken from the Academy Pantone Competition - see more

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TheP ublishers The International Academy of Wedding and Event Planning has campuses across the globe and is the leading training company for wedding planners, stylists and designers, so we are well-placed to compile a report that pulls together all the trends we are seeing in the wedding industry. To help us with this we have called upon some of the top wedding professionals in the industry to give their insight into what is trending in their corner of the world. To learn more about courses or certification through the Academy visit one of our websites below.

UAE

TREND REPORT DESIGN BY DESIGNER BLOGS

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