Photo: Eric Kelley Photography; Mindy Weiss Party Consultants
There are some wedding trends that fade without a second thought, while others make their mark on the bridal world for a good long while. But how do you make these everlasting trends feel fresh, unique and personalized even when they’ve popped up in countless weddings? Enter Mindy Weiss, the Wedding Paper Divas Style Partner and leading wedding planner to the stars — she’s worked her wedding magic for celebrities like Ciara and Russell Wilson, Jenna Dewan and Channing Tatum and more.
With over 20 years of experience planning weddings and events for Hollywood’s top personalities, Weiss acts as Wedding Paper Divas’ authority on the latest wedding trends, from celebrity inspiration to helpful advice for couples. Here, Weiss reveals the wedding trends that are here to stay — plus, she gives her expert tips on how to revitalize these items, and make them feel modern and unique for your own wedding day.
Photo Booths
Who doesn’t love a photo booth? Adding your own personal elements just makes them that much better! Photo booths are the perfect way to bring a playful and interactive touch to your wedding and gives guests something they really want to take home with them. The popularity of photo booths has skyrocketed in recent years, with couples either opting for the old-school booth with a curtain and seat or choosing an open-booth set up with room for plenty of partygoers against a beautiful backdrop.
Props are a must — having costume pieces or fun signs help guests let loose and get creative with their photos. Continue with your wedding theme or use props that tell your love story or represent your favorite hobbies and activities. Take things up a notch by having a GIF booth instead! These booths will usually send the wacky GIF immediately, allowing for instant social sharing. Guests will have a blast making these mini videos, really capturing the essence of the wedding.
Homespun Food
Whether it’s a casual backyard affair or a black tie soiree, I’ve been seeing more and more couples serve more familiar comfort food over formal, elegant fare. Guests love eating delicious food they’re familiar with — they need some fuel for all that dancing! Think of a fun spin on mac ‘n cheese, themed cheeseburger sliders or even a festive taco bar.
Couples can also use these homespun menus to honor loved ones by featuring a grandmother’s famous apple pie recipe or beloved aunt’s Matzah ball soup. One of my favorite ways to put a fresh spin on this is to have a plate of French fries on every table at the reception. Who can ever turn down delicious, hot fries?
After Parties
After parties are here to stay! After months of meticulous planning, the wedding day can fly by. Couples and their guests aren’t ready for the party to end when the bar has its last call and the DJ plays the last song. Keep the party going and give yourselves and your guests the chance to let loose!
The after party can be as informal as a casual get together at a local bar, but a lot of couples are starting to put more thought and some budget into the after party, often renting out a special location close by and hiring high-energy entertainment to pump up the crowd. Elevate the experience even further by having a food truck come by with a late night treat. Pizza, hamburgers or even funnel cakes will be sure to cure those midnight munchies.
See More: This Is the Most Pinned Wedding Dress on Pinterest
Neutral Color Palettes
The white wedding paired with soft neutrals has reigned supreme for quite a while and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Couples have been sticking to elegant color palettes of creams, whites, soft greens and blushes.
While this classic color theme is chic and graceful, don’t be afraid to have some fun with color! Revitalize this trend by picking your own “signature color” and incorporating it into minor details throughout the wedding. Subtle pops of aubergine purple or burnt orange in the ink on your seating cards, cocktail napkins or table overlays, for example, would look simply dazzling.
Hashtags
The wedding hashtag has officially become an essential part of the wedding process for those couples who are willing to share their big day with the world through social media. Your hashtag should reflect you — and be relevant to your celebration in some way. Check your desired hashtag before you communicate it to make sure it’s not already in use — that will make it harder for you to see all your pictures in one place.
To get the most out of your hashtag, start using it before the wedding. Use it when you Instagram pictures of showers, parties, shopping trips and bachelor/bachelorette parties — if you dare! If you want to elevate your social game on the actual day, try a custom geofilter for Snapchat — it’s usually fairly easy, inexpensive and your guests are guaranteed to flip!