Wedding Trends 2022
The wedding industry is very similar to the fashion industry in that every year (and every season!) new trends emerge to excite and inspire engaged couples planning their nuptials. Personally, I don’t think that you need to follow trends religiously, I very much believe that focusing on a timeless, classic style is always going to last you a lifetime - however, it can absolutely be fun to incorporate some elements of upcoming trends. Below I’ve picked out my favourite ones for this year.
Colour Schemes
There are two major colour schemes that are dominating this year; the first one is a very earthy, nature inspired palette. Think terracotta, burnt orange, amber and rust tones. With a clear focus on the environment, these colours can be reflected in anything from the napkins, table linens, flowers and table scapes, to the food and service materials, cocktails and bar designs. These colours create a very sophisticated aesthetic, and by mixing in a blush pink with nudes, ivory and a cafe au lait you can still have a very soft, light and feminine overall look and design concept.
The second colour trend that I’m seeing a lot this year is pastel blue and periwinkle (which - let’s be honest, is a top 5 name for a colour). This soft shade of blue is reminiscent of the French countryside, and instantly adds a calming and luxurious aire to any event. Incorporate the colour in a table runner with matching napkins and dinner candles, or add touches of blues in your flower arrangements by using Scabious, Tweedia or Delphinium.
Flowers
For me, flower design is one of the most important elements of any event that I organise. I really believe you can tell so many different stories through flower arrangements, and reflect your personalities through which flowers and colours you use, and the creations you make with them. This year we’re seeing a lot of dried flower trends, which go hand in hand with the colour schemes mentioned above, as well as being much more sustainable than fresh flowers.
Don’t worry if dried flowers are not your cup of tea, fresh flowers are still very much sticking around. Rather than traditional arches, and table arrangements, this year is all about creative and unique designs. Ceremony arches can be any shape or size that you can imagine and couples are opting more for hanging flower installations above their dining tables (which is also a great way to create more space for family style shared meals). Let your imagination run free but if you feel stuck for ideas, have a look at this amazing collection in Brides Magazine.
PHOTO BY LAUREN FAIR; FLORALS BY SULLIVAN OWEN
Decoration
I feel so incredibly lucky to work with some amazing stylists and decoration companies who always understand my vision and are able to bring it to life! This year, the natural and organic style of weddings continue, focusing on sustainability and ‘backyard’ weddings more than ever (more on this below), as well as adding a touch of metallics. Gold, silver, bronze - add one or add all, mix and match as you like! Incorporating metallics into your table scapes is fairly straight forward; gold candleholders, silver charger plates, and metallic napkin rings are all readily available and easy to combine with any colour scheme you are working with. If you want to get a bit more creative, look at adding in metallic touches to your invitations, in your wedding attire or make up, or in your bar design and materials.
Wedding Dresses
Oh the fashion, the fashion, anyone else obsessed with wedding dresses? If you were looking for approval to have more than one, this is it! There are two big trends for wedding dresses this year, and this first one I die for: Colour! Gone are the days when wedding dresses needed to be white and pure - nowadays it is all about individuality. Think bold prints from brands such as Monique Lhuillier and delicate embroidery and 3D appliqués from Claire Pettibone and Costarellos. If you feel like something even more out of the norm, you’re in luck because this year bridal separates (or two pieces) are gaining popularity. Brides are opting for outfits that they feel comfortable in, and that they can effortlessly transition from ceremony, to dinner, to dancing in.
COSTARELLOS SPRING 2022 COLLECTION
Intimate Weddings
Micro-weddings completely took over in 2020 and 2021 and these smaller, intimate gatherings will continue throughout this year. So many couples have had to postpone their celebrations due to the situation the past couple of years, and are now much more aware of safety measures and keeping their loved ones safe. While guest list sizes will be slightly bigger than the last two seasons, couples will be investing in experiences that are important to them. This could mean hosting your wedding in a non-traditional venue; perhaps in your own backyard, offering different food options like food trucks or food stations, or flying over your favourite band to play during the reception.
Sustainable Weddings
Sustainability and eco-friendly weddings are becoming more and more popular, with couples focusing more on reducing waste and their carbon footprints. Keeping your guest numbers small absolutely helps, as well as hosting your ceremony, reception, dinner and dancing all in one space. More couples are also opting for potted plants as their flower arrangements, both for the ceremony and the dinner, even using small potted succulents as the going home gifts for their guests. We love to offer farm to table food options and locally sourced products at our events.
PHOTO BY DIVINE DAY PHOTOGRAPHY
Food & Drinks
Last but not least, let’s talk about the deliciousness of wedding food and drinks. There’s something special about wedding meals, from the canapés, food stations and family style shared starters and mains to the late night snacks. Just like everything else we have mentioned as trends for this year, it’s about personalising the food and drinks to match who you are as a couple. Want to have a crepe stand as dessert to represent the first trip you went on as a couple to Paris? Allons y! Tacos as a late night snack? Si por favor. We love incorporating food from different cultures to reflect the backgrounds of our brides and grooms!
I’m so excited to see how couples choose to incorporate these trends into their weddings this summer and perhaps discover a few new ones myself!
xxx Johanna