Photos by Dustin Leader Photography
THE HOTTEST WEDDING TRENDS 2011
Happy New Year Everyone!
The EBE Team has been enjoying a bit of time off in order to be fresh for this upcoming year of fabulous events. We are happy to showcase our latest article in Weddings In Winnipeg regarding the hottest upcoming trends for the 2011 Wedding Season.
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The Events by Emma Team is ready to share an exclusive preview of the chicest and hottest trends for 2011. We know couples dream of beautiful, glamorous events and want their weddings to be different and exciting. So what can we expect for the upcoming wedding season?
TOP TEN hot, hip, and popular trends for 2011:
1. THEME
The theme of romance continues in 2011, adding innovative and rustic-chic concepts to make it new, lots of details, and tons of creativity. Mixing vintage with modern is still in and creating an atmosphere of nostalgic romance is a treat for guests.
Small details make the biggest impact and couples want to make their special day meaningful with elements reflecting their personalities, so, details are more important than ever! No tiny detail should go unseen and everything should be planned for your event from start to finish. If you don’t have time for the details, there’s nothing like hiring a wedding consultant to transform your wedding dreams into reality.
2. COLOURS
Move back to classic shades in 2011, using soft pinks and whites. Gray is the hottest new neutral, and a nice alternative to brown and black. Try gray and blush pink, or gray and yellow. One of the hottest wedding colour trends is navy blue. Though you might think that navy is an odd choice, the key is to pick the right complementary colours—plus, it’s flattering on every skin tone.
On the flip side, try using bold and bright colours like exotic purple orchid, chocolate truffle, lagoon, lipstick red, golden glow, living coral, oyster gray, rose dust or crisp endive.
3. OUTDOOR
Manitoba weather is always hard to predict, but outdoor weddings are a huge trend for 2011. They are different, fun, and relaxing. Just remember that the oh-so-important Plan B is a must have for every couple!
4. FASHION
Vintage detailing, including ruffles and frills, will bring dresses to life along with lace, mermaid style gowns, and dresses with pockets. These special details will help the bridal party look and feel lovely. Jewelled belts, floral detailing on headpieces, trims on veils and adornments on shoes and bags will be big as well.
We’ll continue to see bridesmaids dresses in the same colour, but girls will be able to select dresses in diverse designs and lengths, complimenting each person in the bridal party and allowing every single woman/girl to own an outfit they may wear again and again.
5. DIY
Doing it yourself is definitely here to stay, and it’s one of the best trends for 2011, not only from an economical stand point but because there isn’t anything more special than incorporating handmade elements into the wedding day.
6. INVITATIONS
Gone are the days of pre-assembled invitations from a box. Wedding invitations should reflect your personalities, give a preview of the style and formality of your event, and exhibit a personal touch that gives guests an insight into your lives together. Damask and paisley are popular patterns for 2011.
Letterpress wedding stationery is hugely popular in the US and is quickly becoming the next big thing here as well, checking off all the boxes for stationery trends. The eco-friendly 100% cotton paper is handfed through a vintage press onto soft pillow paper. Merging old world printing techniques with creative design, letterpress stationery can be completely customized to compliment any wedding style.
7. FOOD
Traditional foods presented in modern and original ways is the way to go for 2011. Tapas-style menus, curries, and food stations are all great for sharing and socializing. More and more receptions will offer a wide array of finger foods, commencing with a longer cocktail hour that feels like a red carpet gala. Guests will indulge in delicious comfort dishes including pizza, mini burgers, and pasta with a twist.
Family-style service, including big platters loaded with chicken, beef and pastas, will help spark conversation at tables and create a social and intimate setting. Local produce, organic meat, and local wines are taking their rightful places in the menu, as more couples are environmentally conscious.
Wedding cakes will continue to be tall and elegant, with a touch of rustic-chic by replacing fondant with a delicious and decadent butter cream. Large sugar flowers are replaced by natural flowers, glazed fruit, and unique embellishments. Cakes will become the dessert again, and creative confection bars and late night snack tables will include lots of mini’s and both sweet and salty treats for everyone to enjoy.
8. PHOTOGRAPHY
Photobooths remain the reception craze, replacing the old-fashioned and expensive disposable cameras on the table. Interactive booths manned by your photographer, or just a great camera on a tripod, will be the chic thing to do. And don’t forget the accessories….add anything from confetti to feather boas, sparklers, make-up, or something that matches the concept of the wedding. These photos are a great memory and really add to the atmosphere of the party.
Get digital. iPad albums loaded with wedding images and social media pages on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and other networks showcase all aspects of the wedding, from the engagement to the honeymoon. This a great way to share all of the wedding planning with friends and family all over the globe. Webcams are also growing in popularity and are a grand way to include anyone who cannot make it to the ceremony and reception, providing real-time viewing and inclusion (and a great option for intimate destination weddings!).
9. TRADITIONS
Multi-cultural traditions can add pageantry, richness, and significance to any wedding celebration, making the ceremony more meaningful, the food tastier, and the décor more visually interesting. Most couples come from two different backgrounds, so it makes sense to blend the traditions together. Create food stations featuring different styles of cuisine, or make your décor more stimulating by including cultural elements (from different fabrics, colours, and styles). The ceremony itself will become more memorable when you include family traditions. Overall, the cultural richness will improve your guests’ experience!
10. DÉCOR
Mixing the shapes and sizes of tables is very in vogue, creating any type of look for receptions. Long, elegant tea-party style tables (instead of the typical rounds seating 
are in, paired with different styles of chairs. Chivari chairs are the look right now, and THE choice for a chair upgrade many brides are seeking in 2011. Create a more intimate feeling. We will see things like replacing head tables with communal seating, with the bride and groom sitting with their guests dinner-party style. People are also getting rid of assigned seating—if you want to make a lasting statement, create smaller areas that allow guests to get up and move around, like a lounge, and allow people to sit where they want.
Centrepieces continue to be the focal point of the reception decor, pulling all of the other event elements together. In 2011, centrepieces will become highly textural arrangements set into low, creative containers like small planters, vintage inspired vases, and classic pedestals and candelabras. The key to 2011 tablescape designs is to mix it up! Centerpieces don’t have to be all the same. Vary the height—tall, medium, short—the flowers, and even the style, to create dynamic throughout the room. Unique blooms, Manzanita branches, crystals, feathers, rhinestones, lamp,s and so much more will take centre stage. Even though the centrepieces in 2011 will be different and unique, reception tables will still remain tied together through beautiful speciality linens featuring more textures, bolder colours, and stylish chair coverings.
Lighting is the key! Proper lighting makes your event more memorable by enhancing the mood. Projected monograms and gobos, LED up-lighting and wall washes, candles, and coloured lanterns will continue to be used to make one reception stand apart from the rest.
Scent Events? Making your venue smell as beautiful as it looks will be the next biggest splurge.
EBE Design Note: When choosing the perfect centrepiece, ensure that yours stands tall enough to be visible from a distance and is not hidden amongst the cutlery, glasses, favours, table number and candles scattered on your table.
EXTRA HOT TIPS AND TRENDS
Family owned-heirlooms
Intimate weddings with smaller guests
Dessert bar coordination, offered by a growing number of bakeries
The champagne toast will make its comeback!
Keep in mind when planning your wedding that trends are just that. What’s most important is that you, the bride and groom, use trends as a guide, selecting those things that are in sync with your own ideas, unique tastes, cultural backgrounds, and reflect your own personal style. For more information on the latest wedding trends and to visit our exclusive décor showroom contact the Events by Emma team….
Check out the full article and more images at http://weddingsinwinnipeg.ca/articles.php?articleId=414
