TheKnot.com has released the top wedding trends for 2007 – here are my favorites:
Orange
Brides have a major crush on orange this year. From creamy peaches and mod citrus hues to deep tangerines and burnt siennas, this bold color is being paired with a range of colors to achieve a variety of moods. For a modern, retro appeal, it’s being teamed with chocolate browns, lime greens, and sky blues. For a preppier feel, it’s being tied with blushing pinks, lemony yellows, and sage greens. And, for a romantic aura, it’s being paired with deep jewel tones-red, aubergine, and gold. What better way to take your tangerine palette up a notch? With a great pattern. Think starbursts, swirls, and playful polka dots on everything from the invite to the bridesmaid dresses, wedding cake, and cocktail napkins.
I had two weddings in 2006 that had a good shot of orange in their color schemes (Sheila & John and Jennifer & Craig), proving once again how fabulous and way ahead of their time my brides are!
The Cocktail Hour
The cocktail hour has become one of the night’s major events — and couples are skipping the not-seeing-each-other tradition to take pictures pre ceremony so they can be there to enjoy it. Design and foodwise, they’re taking this pre-reception party to extremes: awe-inspiring flowers (towering cylinder vases filled with orchids submerged in water); special entertainment (jazz bands, steel drum players, and mariachi bands); and an insane spread of munchies, from full-on raw bars to live sushi chefs and crepe stations.
I LOVE the cocktail hour – it sets the tone for the evening, transitions people from the business of the day (i.e. the ceremony) into the party (i.e. the reception). I like to see couples treating it like a part of the party and understanding their guests would like to see them there as well. Now the etiquette mavens might hate this but I would rather see couples skip the receiving line and just make a point to hit the cocktail hour. It is so much more personal than a handshake, kiss on the cheek and NEXT! Couples can actually greet their guests in a much more relaxed setting.
The Dessert Buffet
The wedding cake is a given. But the new guest at the dessert table is a massive dessert buffet-traditionally known as the Viennese table. Guests are surprised by tables filled with delectable goodies rolling out onto the dance floor or taking up a whole reception room on their own. Popular items are chocolate buffet stations featuring all types of cocoa creations-mousses, truffles, chocolate fondue, and pot du chocolate; cheesecake sampling stations with all flavors from Key lime to snickerdoodle. And candy buffets overflowing with sweet surprises from gourmet pretzels to sweet and sour jelly beans.
Cookie tables have been a staple of wedding receptions for quite a while in my markets of Columbus and Cleveland. Quite a few of my weddings have had them and of course anytime there is chocolate, sugar and yummy baked goods – the guests love it!
Exotic Honeymoons
While Hawaii and the Caribbean remain on the honeymoon hot list, this year it’s all about adventure trips to the Seven Wonders of the World. Couples are seizing the opportunity to see the most exotic famous locales from the Taj Mahal to the Great Wall of China and the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. And more and more couples are looking for destinations that offer plenty of adventure: rafting in the Grand Canyon, hiking in Machu Picchu, and getting up close with nature on African safaris.
I am partial to this trend because Randy and I went to Scotland for our honeymoon – neither of us are beach people (I am too pale and R isn’t a big swimmer) so we picked someplace with no beaches at all! It was an incredible trip and we are thinking about going to Ireland for our 5 year anniversary this summer!
You can see more trends and cool things for 2007 in their full press release: The Knot Unveils Weddings Trends for 2007.
