Wedding Trends for 2012

At the beginning of every year all of the wedding magazines, blogs, and websites come out with their take on wedding trends for the upcoming year.  While many are spot on with their predictions for the coming year, there are also many that I read and just think to myself, "They have got to be kidding!"

Being in the thick of it, I think I have a pretty good perspective on what you can expect to see in the 2012 wedding season.  I thought now is a good time to give you my take on 2012 wedding trends and to give you links to other resources that I think offer a good perspective as well.  Here are my predictions for the top trends of 2012.

1. Vintage is in.  Brides see this look as simple, but romantic.  With decor, I like to convey the vintage look with apothecary jars and floral that gives you the feel it has just been picked from the garden.  Simple, beautiful and definitely romantic.

2. Tied to the vintage feel is the extensive use of lace.  This clearly started with Kate Middleton's dress at the royal wedding, and is continuing into 2012.  Bridal gowns are using more lace and the look is even carrying into wedding cakes and decor.  Perfect examples can be found at TheKnot.com.

3. Bouquets will also feature a more natural, textured look, a belief that is echoed by the Washington Post.  Classic orange, coral and purple are being combined with natural elements to give bouquets a garden feel.

4. Add a pop of color.  Brides are moving toward adding color to the decor as opposed to all white or ivory.  Peach, tangerine, and raspberry are very popular as colors that are added to wedding centerpieces and bouquets.

5. With all of the options for invitations there has been a shift toward more personalized invitations that offer more character than the traditional invitation.  There is also more use of texture that helps give an invitation that unique look and feel.

6. Smaller is better.  There is definitely a trend toward smaller weddings and, with the continued uncertainty in the economy, it makes sense.  Couples I speak with want to have a beautiful wedding but need to find a way to cut cost.  The easiest way to cut costs is to cut the guest list.  You can still have the wedding of your dreams without the big price tag.

7. Another change in the reception is the move away from a formal, seated dinner to a cocktail style reception.  Of course, couples still want to make sure their guests are fed so they are combining substantial passed hors d'oeuvres with food stations.  The result is a more casual wedding that invites guest to mingle with each other.

In the end, remember it is not about any trend, but rather a special day for the Bride and Groom that reflects their personality and love for each other.

Cheers!