The 2016 Wedding Trend Report

It’s that time of year again when our TV’s are filled with sentimental Christmas adverts, our weekends are spent indoors watching British period dramas, frock-off’s and sequins galore and we’re finalising plans for the festive break.

November also signals the annual collaborative Wedding Trend Report with Katrina Otter, our resident Wedding Planner!

Last year we coveted everything from copper, concrete and faux to that ‘just-picked-from-the-garden’ look and this year promises to be just as inspirational…

Katrina:

So where to begin when it comes to predicting our top trends for 2016..?

If, like me, you spend a considerable amount of time each week immersed in beautiful real weddings and inspirational styled shoots (via blogs, magazines, Pinterest and social media) you will already be aware that there are a plethora of new and emerging wedding ideas, especially from the US.

The question is, are they going to become trends in 2016 or not..?

When putting together this feature and narrowing down these ideas I’m giving you my guide to the wedding trends that I think and hope we will start to see in greater frequency.

In addition to the emerging ideas from real weddings and styled shoots and current trends from bridal runways, I’m also casting a wider net and looking at dominant and emerging trends from the high-street, interior and graphic design to bring you the Coco & Kat guide to the wedding trends to look out for and be inspired by in 2016.

Shall we begin…?

PATTERNS, PRINTS, PALMS & PARROTS

The second I stepped foot inside the House of Hackney store in Shoreditch earlier this year I was hooked. Immersed into a world of bold and subversive patterns I was determined to embrace and incorporate their signature style. From a frog in a bowler hat to a fanning otter, to the more widely wedding friendly (and one of my personal favourites) fresh foliage palm leaf print.

Whether you embrace the extremity of House of Hackney or tone your print down a notch, patterns and prints are big and bold news! Once you’ve chosen a particular pattern or print, your design can then be incorporated into every element of your wedding and can act as a common theme / thread throughout. From tablescapes and stationery to cakes and delicious details… you get the drift!

Depending on the design you’ve gone with, in some instances you can also bring your print to life! Take, for example the fresh foliage palm leaf print, which in itself can be seen everywhere from on-trend accessories to unique escort cards.

Stick an ornamental ceramic parrot on top (Hey Style Hire do a fabulous one with gold or silver accents – as seen above!) and you’ll immerse your guests in a bold, detailed defined wedding.

MARBLE

Move over watercolour, in 2016 it’s all about marble!

Reminiscent of watercolour prints but with a modern, slightly industrial take, marble is a great way to introduce colour into your design in a soft, defined and effortless way.

As a print you can work this trend into as many aspects of your wedding décor as you wish, with my personal favourite being the greyed tiered wedding cake which demonstrates the perfect subtle shift in colour.

HANGING & SUSPENDED DÉCOR

Hanging and suspended décor is one of the most visually impactful ways to transcend your theme from floor to ceiling, creating that extra magical WOW factor.

2016 statement suspended trends include; oversized foliage chandeliers and hanging centrepieces, cascading garlands, filament bulbs, rustic illuminated installations, geometrics and an abundance of elegant chandeliers.

COOL CROCKERY & LUXURY CUTLERY

For years now, the UK wedding industry has lusted after the place settings and tablescapes in real weddings and styled shoots as seen across the pond.

The great news in 2016 is that our wait is finally over!

Whether your vibe is feminine, luxe, modern, industrial, rustic or vintage; with the ever growing options now available to hire, your tablescapes can now be deliciously pin worthy and inspirationally unique.

Hélène Millot has always been a Coco & Kat fave and I’m currently OBSESSED with the beautifully curated and timeless collection from Duchess & Butler.

STYLE SCENTS

As we all know, smells have a very powerful impact on our memories, moods and feelings – remember when Emma visited the Jo Malone Town House…?

With weddings being such a personal, emotional and memorable experience, scent will continue to play an integral role as a result of the increasingly creative ways to incorporate it. Think bespoke wedding perfumes, scented invitations and fragrant flowers to multi-sensory menu design.

Design in Scent is one innovative way to really immerse your guests as they offer a sensory storytelling service that combines scent with visuals, sounds, textures and tastes, thereby taking your guests on a memorable journey from the moment they receive their invitations to long after your wedding is over.

WEDDING DRESS TRENDS

Want to know what’s on the cutting-edge of wedding dress design for 2016..? Well here’s a round-up of some of our favourite and lust worthy trends… Oh and you can find most of this in the 2016 collection by Houghton NYC. Emma’s current bridal style crush.

• Fringe
• Feathers
• Floral embellishments
• Texture (think ruffles and appliqué!)
• Asymmetrical hems
• Two-in-one (skirt attachments and skirt/dress overlays)
• Palazzo pants and jumpsuits

MOCKTAILS

One of the hottest beverage trends right now is defined by a missing ingredient – alcohol!

In 2015 we’ve seen the steady rise in popularity of mocktails and even the opening of non-alcoholic cocktail bars. With the increasing array of enticing mocktails now available it’s time to offer your guests a desirable, creative and refreshing alcohol-free alternative.

Think muddled herbs and berries, rosemary and lavender infusions, fresh lemons and elderflower and a mint-leaf garnish on top!

WEDDING CHAIRS

Following in hot pursuit of the rise and availability of cool crockery and luxury cutlery are some seriously sexy wedding chairs! Top of my lust list are the cross-back chairs I’ve been coveting from the States, followed closely by Louis dining chairs, ghost chairs and ice, white and gold chiavari chairs.

As wedding chairs take up a considerable area of your ceremony and reception their design can have a significant impact on the overall style of your day. So, if you’re budget allows and you want to enhance your styling then now is the time to upgrade your rental chairs.

SPRING GREENS AND OVERSIZED BLOOMS

In 2014 and 2015 the ‘just-picked-from-the-garden’ look for floral arrangements and bridal bouquets was HUGE. In 2016 the trend for oversized is going to be just as popular.

For a fresh take on this look then stick to a palette of luscious spring greens (my personal favourite being an abundance of asparagus ferns) and dramatic white blooms.

You’ll spot one of our own creations above! We love the frothiness of this bouquet created by Emma Vowles Flowers for our Classic Elegance styled shoot at Pynes House.

Adore that second bouquet…? Well, that’s by Garden & Wild and you can see the full feature by Wedding Creations & Theresa Furey here.

MODERN ETIQUETTE

As a regular features contributor for Love My Dress I’ve recently written my Modern Day Guide to Wedding Etiquette complete with a new set of relaxed rules. For the purposes of this trend report and in a neat little nutshell, wedding etiquette in 2016 is set by you!

So whether you want a woman as a Groomswoman, your mum to walk you down the aisle, have your pets present, ditch the receiving line or sit with your friends during your wedding breakfast rather than on a top table, it’s completely up to you!

In 2016 take the traditional elements that appeal, ditch those that don’t and forge your own new traditions to suit. Weddings are no longer a ‘one size fits all’ occasion and we should have the confidence to create our own brilliantly personal, utterly individual weddings.

Lots of love…