The Top 25 Design Trends for 2012

By Beth EricksonRustic ChicAdding rustic, natural elements with an upscale flair to indoor or outdoor weddings is increasing in popularity. This rustic chic style is illustrated with flea market finds that complement the modern attire, floral, linens, and food. Think mason jars filled with homemade jelly as take-aways, floral centerpieces in old tobacco tins, burlap runners, place cards tacked to a country fence, outdoor hanging chandeliers, and other antique elements refurbished to seamlessly blend the pastoral countryside with modern romance.- Maria Cuhna, Gabi Lavor, Planner 1 Events; Maria Lugo, PBC™, Maria A. Lugo; Victoria Speakes, Allure Events and Photography; Shelly Stone, Signature Events by ShellyBrandingWhat began as a marketing buzzword has become an effective tool for wedding industry professionals. Branding indelibly marks or identifies a product. For weddings, that translates into making a defining statement about who a couple is and sharing it with their guests. Planners are using design and marketing tools to identify styles or personalities and then brand it onto every aspect of the day—from venue and colors to invitations and attire. Creating a branding style doesn’t have to end with the wedding day. Couples can use it in the future to identify events associated with themselves like celebrations, holidays, and birth announcements. - Edna Dratch-Parker, PBC™, EFD Creative—Event Planning & Design (right); Rosie Moore, PBC™, 27 Miracles Wedding ConsultingFashion ForwardToday’s gowns are a mix of Victorian, romantic, classic, and modern. In 2012, we’ll see more fairy-tale dresses along with the return of cap sleeves and bolero jackets, though strapless, backless, or halter styles will remain. Dresses will be full or fitted with rouching, gathering, and other unique elements in delicate fabrics like tulle, lace, chiffon, and organza. Detailing like crystal beading, embroidery, and dots will add accent. Brides wanting to express individuality can mix things up with modern elements like bold statement jewelry, color accents, or dyed crinoline. With the return of vintage styles, we’re also seeing a resurgence in the change-of-dress tradition. Today’s twist, however, is to change dresses midway through the reception rather than as you leave.- Natasha Botes; Merryl Brown (left); Yolanda Furbert, DipEP, ABC™, To Have & To Hold Wedding & Event Planning; Stella Inserra, PBC™, Simply Dazzling Events; Kelly Kauth; Maria Lugo, PBC™, Maria A. Lugo; Rosie Moore, PBC™, 27 Miracles Wedding Consulting; Nicole Palmer, PBC™, CWP, S&N Dream Events and Consulting; Cindy Stevens, Elegant Events, Weddings, and Moments; Amy VanMeter, PBC™, Amy VanMeter EventsThemed Engagement SessionsPhoto sessions held before the wedding day are not only a chance for couples to get familiar with their photographer, they’re an opportunity to have a little fun, show their personal style, or tell a story. The pictures can even be incorporated into announcements or their big day.- Toni DeLisi, MBC™, Memorable Events LLC; Maria Cuhna (above); Maria Lugo, PBC™, Maria A. LugoUnconventional SpacesHosting a wedding in an unconventional environment makes a dramatic statement about a couple’s personality and adds panache to the day.  Consider a library, art gallery, rooftop, or zoo. The options are limited only by your imagination. - Alexis Eliopoulos O’Mara, MBC™, Unique Weddings by Alexis; Rosie Moore, PBC™, 27 Miracles Wedding ConsultingLuxury WeddingsAt once upscale and intimate, couples who can afford to do so are spending the money for unforgettable weddings—whether on a private island or yacht or aboard a catamaran with their closest family and friends in attendance during daytime, evening, or romantic sunset. - Macie E. Dawkins-Hanna, Calypso Weddings; Cynthia Schwarz, Aolani Catamaran Weddings; Cindy Stevens, Elegant Weddings, Events, and MomentsGroom GroomingWeddings are no longer all about the bride. Today’s groom is more fashion-conscious and concerned with personal appearance. Custom-designed men’s wear, grooming services, and personalized fashion elements like colorful socks or no socks at all, unique footwear, suspenders, hats, or other details are finding their way into the groom’s preparations. - Maria Cuhna (right); Maria Lugo, PBC™, Maria A. LugoElaborate DessertsCake pops, candy or sundae bars, specialty tea and coffee stations add flair to accompany traditional wedding cakes.  Other options are s’more stations or dessert bars with decadent sweets like truffles, chocolate fondue, caramel créme brulee, and mousse shooters.- Madeline Chapman, Madeline’s Weddings & Events; Carol Grisanti, Carol Grisanti Weddings & Classic Veils by Carol; Kelly Kauth; Maria Lugo, PBC™, Maria A. Lugo; Rosie Moore, PBC™, 27 Miracles Wedding Consulting; McEmsara Quesada, PBC™, Without a Hitch; Amy VanMeter, PBC™, Amy VanMeter Events; Alicia Vilar, San Miguel WeddingsThe “Unbook” GuestbookBrush aside the standard book and use photo scrapbooks, framed sports jerseys, a quilt, old fashioned typewriter, mailbox with postcards, or a wishing tree for guestbooks. - Karolina Warren, Weddings by Karolina (left); Sarah McQuat, Weddingstar.comLight It UpLighting design will continue to rise. Whether using a pin spot to accent a centerpiece, a color wash to highlight an entire wall, uplighting, lit tables and trees, or gobos to stencil a pattern, monogram, or name in lights, lighting creates a scene like nothing else.- Tamika Brown, Occasions 2 Remember; Meghan Ely, OFD Consulting (bottom); Gaby Ruiz, Terramar DMC/Style Weddings; Paulina Torreblanca, Creaciones Inéditas (top); Tiffeny Wilson, Creations by TiffenyNighttime NuptialsOutdoor, evening weddings are a great way to combat a summer heat wave, create an aura of romance, or stand apart from other weddings and events. Hanging crystals in trees, using candlelight and well-placed lighting create ambiance and highlight the natural environment. - Samantha Dockery, PBC™, Bliss by Sam (cover image & right)Old World EleganceThe royal wedding this past year has inspired a return to old world elegance. The look ranges from sleek and traditional to ethereal and romantic with a color palette of white and ivory—accented with invitations with thick card stock, hanging chandeliers, draping, rich fabrics, silver, gold, crystal, and lace for an opulent, regal look. - Merryl Brown, Merryl Brown Events; Rosie Moore, PBC™, 27 Miracles Wedding Consulting; Michele Tosic, Dochelle Custom CreationsTrees—and Other Natural ElementsThe trend toward adding natural décor elements to weddings saw a new twist at the royal wedding with the use of trees. Brides can purchase or rent trees, container gardens, potted plants and flowers—a trend that is both beautiful and eco-friendly as they can be returned or replanted as a lifelong memory of a special day. - Joyce Barbour, PBC™, Be Our Guest Wedding & Event Planner; Saadia Kibriya, Kismet Event Planning & Design by Saadia Kibriya (right)Dance Floor DesignsCustom-made dance floors give the wedding party and guests something special on which to kick up their heels. Couples are no longer limited to traditional dance floors. Today’s options include white floors with customized monogramming, themed floors incorporating wedding designs and colors, as well as recessed areas filled with décor elements and lighting. From colors to patterns to placement, everything is customizable. Those wanting to create a party atmosphere can even choose interactive dance floors or cocktail table tops filled with opposing biochromatic liquids that swirl and move when you apply pressure.- Erin Schulte, Exclusive Events, Inc. (above)Eco-friendly ELEMENTSGreen is not a color trend; it’s a way of life. And that’s true in the world of weddings as well. We’ll continue to see sustainability, organic and biodegradable products, and an emphasis on lessening carbon footprints. Green registries offer eco-friendly gifts or charity options for couples to register for or consider as party favors. LED lighting, recycled papers for invitations and programs, second-hand clothing for the bridal party, repurposed design elements, local and seasonal foods or floral, and hiring local vendors are just some of the ways to ensure a green day.- Tina Baker, Hacienda Xcanatún; Rebeca Gonzalez, Velas Resorts; Amanda Harkness, The Green Bride Guide; Sally Lorenson Conant, MWV™, Ph.D, Association of Wedding Gown Specialists; Miriam Martinez, Royal Hideaway; Victoria Speakes, Allure Events and Photography; Colleen R. Sutton, Ava Rose Event Design; Paulina Torreblanca, Creaciones Inéditas; Kelly Wigdal, PBC™, Rooster Andy’s CateringPersonalized SeatingOne of the latest places couples are getting personal is with their escort and place cards—by tying them into the colors and theme of the day. Imagine lining them up as footballs on a field, attaching them to fruit, hanging them from branches, or displaying as beach chairs alongside a real sandcastle.- Janet Kasper, Baltic Studios Calligraphy; Katherine Hoggard, PBC™, Events by Katherine; Staci Mandikas, UNIQUE Event Design (left); Sarah McQuat, Weddingstar.comBling!All that glitters lights up 2012 weddings with sparkles, crystals, rhinestones and other precious gems in bridal accessories, table décor, cakes, invitations, bouquets, and more. - Lynda Barness, ABC™, I Do Wedding Consulting; Maria Lugo, PBC™, Maria A. Lugo; Rosie Moore PBC™, 27 Miracles Wedding ConsultingPersonalized DestinationsLocales are being chosen for their nostalgic meaning or exotic appeal, privacy or charm. Whether a bride and groom wed in a castle in Italy, on an Israeli desert, atop an elephant in India, or in a Mayan ritual, one thing is certain, destination weddings are about turning dreams into reality and adding personal touches for an affair that is nothing like a wedding at home.- Terri Altergott, PBC™, Something Borrowed, Something New Events; Paula Balderas, HQM; Michelle Marquis, Marquis Events (right); Cindy Stevens, Elegant Events, Weddings, and MomentsChalkboardsNo longer a staple in the classroom, chalkboards are being repurposed as unique wedding signage. Information like seating, menus, drink selections, and more are displayed using permanent ink so there are no accidental smears or lost information. - Janet Kasper, Baltic Studios Calligraphy (right)Color Splash!Promise and optimism is on the horizon for 2012. The palette illustrates our moods and lifts our spirits. Imagine bright florals, vivid lighting, stationery detailing, even food that can reflect colors including vivid oranges and yellows, bright fuchsias and reds, sapphire and royal blues, and regal golds. Names like Pantone’s Tangerine Tango, Bellflower, Cabaret, Solar Power, Sodalite Blue, Cockatoo, Margarita, and Sweet Lilac are balanced with neutrals like Driftwood and Starfish.- Lynda Barness, ABC™, I Do Wedding Consulting; Natasha Botes; Madeline Chapman, Madeline’s Weddings & Events; Amber Housley, Sweet Life Designs; Maria Lugo, PBC™, Maria A. Lugo; Nicole Palmer, PBC™, CWP, S&N Dream Events and Consulting; Ashley K. Parks; Cindy Stevens, Elegant Events, Weddings, and MomentsSuspended CenterpiecesUse empty space and add whimsy or drama to any event by hanging floral, lighting, and/or display structures from the ceiling. Be sure to remember that guests will see the underside.So add interest there. Works best in venues with existing suspension or truss points. - Veronica Foster, ABC™, Behind the Scenes, Inc.; Patti Gehring, Signature Weddings (below); Gail C. Johnson, ABC™, Wedding SoireeTrivia Anyone?Help guests learn a little more about the wedding couple with cocktail napkins with fun facts, Mad Lib-style RSVP cards, and other trivia opportunities.-Kathi R. Evans, ABC™, All the Best Weddings & CelebrationsVintage VantageWhether it’s due to the economy or simple nostalgia, what was considered “old” is new once again in wedding dress to décor and is often coupled with modern elements. Venues range from natural, outdoor settings to ornate, old hotels. Vintage-style dresses, whether a bride’s grandmother’s dress or a new dress designed in Victorian or Edwardian style with period brooches, chokers, combs, hats, or birdcage veils, add flair for bridal attire. Rich textures like damask, rugs that look worn, Depression-era glass, feathers, pomander balls, antique/mismatched dinnerware, nostalgia candy, and other sentimental details illustrate days gone by.- Tonia Adleta, PBC™, Aribella Events; Maria Brady, PBC™, Choreographed Events; Felicia Gantar, Felicia Events; Heather Holliday, PBC™, Holliday Weddings; Catherine Katz, PBC™, Cherished Celebrations; Maria Lugo, PBC™, Maria A. Lugo; Naieli Macias, Manto de Tisú; Lauren Olson, Social Butterfly; Sandi Silva, Save the Date Now; Victoria Speakes, Allure Events and Photography; Cindy Stevens, Elegant Wedding, Events, and Moments; Amy VanMeter, PBC™, Amy VanMeter Events; Camelú Millán Vargas, MBC™, Diseño Nupcial; Aviva Zack & Kerri Nestorik, Bliss Wedding DesignFOOD TRUCKSCreate interest with a food truck for outdoor weddings or indoor ones with nearby parking for the main course, dessert, or both. International and customizable food options are possible. - Asma Wahab, Kismet Event Planning & Design by Saadia Kibriya (left)HOME-SPUN WEDDING FURNITUREMake an unexpected statement with furniture. A family-style wooden table kept bare resembles a family dinner. An antique table under a chuppah lends a vintage feel. Repurpose and restyle by using antique doors as tabletops or displays. Family trunks are perfect for distributing umbrellas or pashminas for outdoor affairs. -Rebecca Richman, PBC™, The Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants (left)