Whether you just got engaged or you’re already deep in the throes of planning your wedding, congratulations, you’re no doubt in the middle of one of the most exciting times of your life! Exciting, but when faced with the endless decisions from table linens to bridesmaids shoes and even what time to serve supper, we know it can all be a bit daunting too.
The key to successful wedding planning, as any past bride will tell you, is all about the details. So before you fall into the abyss of Pinterest in a desperate bid to find wedding inspiration, here’s a sneak preview into this coming seasons’ trends to help spark your creative ideas and help you realise your dreams.
Because whether you’re popping into bridal boutiques, sourcing images to show your florist, or looking to commit to a colour scheme and theme, the latest trends will determine what’s ‘in’ and what’s ‘out’ when it comes to finalising your wedding details.
The Royal Effect Wedding Theme
If 2018 was all about the rustic look, we’re predicting a return to old-world charm with romantic elements, royal inspired designs, and just a hint of glam and glitz on the horizon. With the royal wedding capturing hearts all over the world, many brides will look to recreate the elegance of the royal wedding.
And so a rosy hue and a regal tiara (which will call for a classic updo) are very on trend at the moment. You can also expect to see tiered cakes rise in height and popularity, with the latest must-have cake trend seeing the use of different materials and non-traditional items such as logs, vases, and crates to display each tier.
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More Structure, Less Boho
Thanks mostly to Meghan, we’re also seeing a shift towards more structured styles as we move into 2019. Whilst loose-fitting bohemian dresses – loved by brides everywhere – will never truly go out of fashion, we predict we’ll see a lot more of the classic long sleeve and higher neckline styles in the coming seasons. Finished with elegant lace, and pretty broderie Anglaise, it’s a look that’s perfect for a beautiful church wedding, and a trend we adore!
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Less Is More
And whilst the royal effect means you’re officially free to indulge your inner princess, from beauty to venue accessories, you can expect to notice a refined ‘less is more’ approach defining the new season’s trends.
With toned down decor, classic fabrics, and neutral tones, this season’s main bridal trend is all about modern simplicity. Show off a beautiful complexion and natural radiance with a barely there ‘glow’ (as seen on the runway by Watters and as the look du jour for our very own newlywed the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle). And whilst cupcakes have long been a ‘must have’, this season less is more, with just the one statement cake leading the way.
“Whether it’s a really plain lace or a simple mikado (the modern version of satin that’s totally beautiful), we’ve always been lovers of the simple designs,” says Elizabeth Louise Bridal. And really, we think you simply can’t go wrong with an approach that means you can dress it up or down to suit.
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Pastel Colours
As a firm nod to the magical wonderland of a winter wedding, gone are the days where white or ivory were the only two options a bride had. Whether it’s your dress or your wedding cake, this season we’re embracing pastel colours, with a wash of blue, lavender, silver and chrome. Or if you feel a little more conservative, go for a dress with a touch of blush or champagne.
And if 2018 was a toss up between the naked and semi-naked buttercream sponge cake and your more traditional iced wedding cake with ruffles, sugar flowers and metallics that brought the “wow” factor, 2019 is all about softer icing colours and gentle metallics in white and cream.
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Floral Everything
Piggy-backing off the Royal effect and the move towards gentle pastel colours, this season it’s all about delicate romance. For the floral loving bride, ranunculus will replace peonies as the pick of the bunch, giving a romantic feel amongst your flower installations, archways and crowns. And once touted as the old-fashioned grandmother flower, dahlias are set to be the latest bloom for your bridal bouquets.
“This season you can also expect to see flower balls, covered wire shapes and flower ‘hoops’ replace the traditional cake topper,” says Tab Nab Cakes. To up-style your wedding venue, whether hotel or gorgeous oak barn like we have here at Tower Hill Barns, bring nature inside for a very on trend look that’s more magical woodland than rustic.
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Glam & Texture
OK, don’t panic, it wouldn’t be a seasonal shift if there wasn’t a contrasting trend. For the brides that love to make a statement, we’re seeing a lot of new elements come back into fashion as well. This season go bold with metallic makeup, sleek ponytails and a smattering of glitter, or if you’re game to rock it, feathers are totally on point.
You can also expect to find bows, shimmer skirts, beading, lace appliques and 3D florals popping up everywhere. And for the edgier bride, capelets (rather than the traditional veil, a la Big Bang star Kaley Cuoco) are all the trend at the minute offering creative coverage. Bouncing S waves will accentuate cheekbones and show off stunning backless dresses and, as always, classic red lips are a must for any fashion forward bride.
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So there you have it, from beauty to accessories, we completely adore these new season trends! The good news – there’s a wedding trend for every kind of bride this season.
But whether it’s pastel colours peeping through the skirt of your wedding dress, or a classic royal icing paired with delicate posies for your maids, if you’re looking to set a wedding date for the winter and well into autumn 2019, you’ll need to embrace the notion of ‘less is more’ to be on trend this season
Not convinced? We’ll say this: bridal fashions come and go and wedding trends are constantly evolving, but rustic and classic will always be timeless. The great thing about a lot of venues is that you can dress them however you want to get a real mixture of themes. And with brides taking cues from Harry and Meghan and the royal wedding, we’re sure to be in for a season of absolutely stunning weddings.
**With thanks to Tab Nab Cakes and Elizabeth Louise Bridal for their contribution to this article.
