You want your wedding to be a celebration of your own unique love story, your particular personality and your own individual sense of style. But there’s no harm in being aware of the latest ideas, looks and trends – you can then embrace them, or ignore them, as you wish! So here you go, a collection of predictions from a variety of magazines, wedding planners, dress designers and style gurus.

The colour purple

Last year the “in” colour was green, with lots of brides opting for the back-to- nature tones of fresh foliage for their tablescapes, installations and bouquets. However 2018 is all set to be the year of Ultra Violet Purple – so expect it to be providing the theme for floral inspiration as well as invites, napkins, plates, coasters and name places. Twinned with accents of gold it creates a look that’s luxurious, sensuous and slightly decadent.

Let them not eat cake

At the wedding breakfast it is traditional to cut the cake after the speeches and serve this as the dessert. More recently, however, some couples have begun to opt for a buffet dessert table – and in 2018 it looks as if this trend will really gather momentum. There’s a lot to recommend the idea. A dessert table is adorably pretty making a great focal point which is also a helpful conversation starter for guests. It also tends to cost less than a wedding cake, freeing up some budget for other touches and ideas. But the plus points don’t end there. Guests have more choice and variety, depending on their individual tastes and preferences. People can help themselves to more, or less, as they wish. A dessert table allows you to cater for both ceremony and reception guests - people can pick and choose what they want throughout the wedding. Finally, it’s a wonderful opportunity for you to get creative and have some fun – you might want to tie it in with your overall theme or come up with something quirky and unique that’ll really get people talking. How about a big spread of doughnuts, or macaroons, or cupcakes, or profiteroles, or chocolate brownies, shot glass sweets…even bowls of brightly coloured jelly? Let your imagination run wild!

Photo by Brian Chan on Unsplash — Photo by Brian Chan on Unsplash

Invitation innovation

Stationery plays a big part in setting the scene – not just the initial invitation but RSVP cards, seating plans, signage, menus, place cards, thank you cards and the like. In 2018 you can expect couples to become more creative and adventurous. Look out for envelopes lined with colours or eye-catching designs, calligraphy and handwriting inspired typography, custom created monograms, beautiful hand drawn maps, gold foil and bold geometric details. One trend is to move away from traditional paper and incorporate fabric or natural materials such as wood, leather, suede, slate and even transparent acrylic, perspex or lucite - laser cut and etched it makes for a very very chic look. There’s even a suggestion that edible place cards will be all the rage in 2018…

Photo by Morgan McDonald on Unsplash — Photo by Morgan McDonald on Unsplash

What’s new in dresses?

If the latest wedding dress collection reveals at New York Bridal Fashion Week are anything to go by you can expect a number of romantic twists on classic styles. Sheer sparkle looks like reigning supreme, but with the addition of capes, feathers and off the shoulder shapes becoming very popular. A cape is well suited to modern and vintage-inspired bridal looks. Go full length for drama, short and beaded for retro glamour, or sleek and simple for super cool. Thanks to Pippa Middleton, expect to see a lot more high-necked wedding dresses on the runway in 2018. This elegant bridal trend is a departure from the plunging necklines that have been popular in recent years and works for weddings in every season.
The biggest surprise, however, is likely to be in the form of colour. Prepare yourself for everything from dark reds to pale blues, and even black accents incorporated into the traditional white dress – sounds crazy, but many dress designers achieve it very successfully with great dramatic effect.

Photo by Charisse Kenion on Unsplash — Photo by Charisse Kenion on Unsplash

https://unsplash.com/photos/69epvVgm0Ws

Make a whole weekend of it

Your big day doesn’t have to be just one day – a lot of couples are extending the event over a whole weekend. It makes a lot of sense, not just for those who have travelled from afar. Everyone always agrees that the day passes in a blur and is over much too soon. Also, it’s wonderful for the happy couple to arrive a day or so early to settle in, and then tarry awhile to prolong the enjoyment. At Clevedon Hall we have 25 wonderful bedrooms for those who want to stay the night before and/or the night afterwards. For the couple themselves, we also have The Cottage, a beautifully secluded property that’s perfect for those who would to take things at a more leisurely pace.

Whatever Harry and Meghan decide to do!

The pair's nuptials will take place on Saturday 19th May 2018 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle – and every tiny detail is sure to set a new trend in motion. Prince William and Kate Middleton’s epic 2011 celebration is still inspiring lace bodice gowns, elaborate fascinators and white bridesmaid dresses a whopping seven years later! Whatever Harry and Meghan decide on (and it is rumoured that they may have a banana cake – very popular with the prince!) their style will be reflected in thousands of other weddings around the globe.

What have you got planned? We’d love to know

It’s your big day, so you can do it your way. We’ve love to help you celebrate it at Clevedon Hall – so if you have any questions, or are looking for expert advice of further inspiration, just get in touch.