Happy New Year! 2016 is in the books, and we’re off and running with 2017. Hopefully your year is off to a better start than Mariah Carey’s, but even if 2017 hasn’t taken off like a rocket for you, there’s still plenty of time to turn it around – especially if you’ve got big plans for the year.
If you’re getting married or attending a wedding(s) in 2017, there are a number of new trends you need to know about. So before the year gets any older, let’s dive into them.
Technology
You might be reading this blog on your desktop, or your laptop, or you phone, or your tablet. The point is, technology has brought us a lot of toys over the last decade, and most of us can now barely imagine surviving without them, especially our phones. As we move into 2017, many couples are discovering novel ways to have their weddings reflect society’s tech obsession. Personalized cake toppers, place cards, wedding bands and favors are being made on 3D printers. Meanwhile, some weddings are now being live-streamed on the internet, so even friends and relatives who can’t make the trip can be a part of the big day.
Virtual Planning
Of course, you don’t have to wait for your wedding day to start embracing the tech revolution. Millennials in particular are used to instant gratification, so few want to wait to meet their wedding planner in person for an update. Tomorrow’s weddings will increasingly be mapped out over the internet and using mobile apps, giving couples constant, up-to-date access to their plans and allowing them to easier collaborate with planners by offering instant feedback.
All Day (and Night) Feasts
What’s another thing millennials love? Food. The wedding menu has always been one of the major decisions couples need to make, but these days there is increasingly a lot more on the menu than just salad, steak or chicken and then cake. A variety of appetizers, sides, late-night snacks and small sweets are becoming more and more commonplace.
A Big Entrance
The bridal party’s entrance into the reception hall is a big deal at almost any wedding, but these entrances are increasingly becoming more over-the-top. Couples in 2017 are predicted to continue making elaborate entrances, incorporating props, serious décor and other bits of entertainment to grab guests’ attention and make the experience stand out from other weddings.
Verticality
When it comes to wedding décor, couples are starting to realize there’s more than just tables and chairs to be decorated. Opulent candelabras, tall tapers, low-hanging string lights and chandeliers in a multitude of different sizes, shapes and styles are predicted to be big in 2017.
Creative Ice Breakers
No one wants their guests to sit in quiet, awkward silence while they play on their phones because they don’t know anyone else at the wedding besides the happy couple. In 2017, couples are going to be doing more than ever to prevent that from happening. Lawn games, table games, photo walls and booths and interactive food stations are a few of the most common ways they’ll go about it. Anything to get everyone talking and introducing themselves to one another.
Colors Make a Comeback
The bride wore white – but that doesn’t mean everything else has to be draped in it. If anything, adding more color and props will make the bride’s white gown stick out even more. Elaborate lighting patterns, hanging centerpieces and more will be big in 2017.
Two for One Gowns
Getting back to what the bride wears, one hot trend for this year is going to be gowns with removable skirts. These allow the bride to show both sheath dress and ball gown looks for far less than two complete dresses would cost.
Foreign Destinations
The tropics will always make for popular destination weddings, but some couples looking for a destination will go even further this year. Couples who really want to splurge on the trip and get married somewhere few others do are exploring European locales like Iceland and Italy.
A Charitable Mindset
Last year was a big one for charitable giving, and that trend is expected to carry over into 2017 and spill into weddings. Some couples will be adding charities to their registries to encourage guests to make donations in their honor instead of giving physical gifts.
High-Quality Cubic Zirconia Engagement Rings
One bonus trend that’s expected to be as hot as ever in 2017 is high-quality cubic zirconia engagement rings. These diamond alternatives aren’t “cheap.” Yes, they’re much more affordable than their diamond equivalents, but made via the Russian Formula, high-quality cubic zirconia engagement rings stand apart from the rest by boasting all the shine and beauty of the real thing. And with the money saved on the ring, many couples are happy to have more to spend on making their weddings the best experiences possible.