Title Image: Photographer – Brent Calis Photographer, Planner/Designer – Shannon Valente Weddings, Florist: Amborella Floral Studio
This year is all about drama; dramatic skies, colours, portraits and design. While 2014 and 2015 were full of light and airy imagery, 2016 is embracing darker tones with strongly styled fashion and photography. Conservative wedding portraiture is a thing of the past as more and more couples embrace elements of nature and architecture.
Black
Black is back, and not just as an accent colour. Throughout the pages of Architectural Digest, Vogue, and New York Times Style Magazine, all are showing black as the colour of choice for cutting-edge design in 2016. While it may seem intimidating, black does every other colour, pattern or texture a favour by making it pop. Black brings with it a sophisticated and couples aren't afraid to inject lush textures like velvet, suede, and tone on tone patterns such as damask into these traditionally natural wedding themes. Black also adds a sexy sophistication. Try incorporating black table decor, such as matte black vases, plate chargers, and silverware. For a softer look, try pairing it with “robin's egg” blue and gold details.
Themes
The theme of your wedding reflects your personality as a couple, and is influenced as much by your personal style as it is by current trends from the world of wedding, fashion, architecture and design. Embracing a theme will enable you to tie every element of your wedding together, from your venue to table decor to fashion accessories. The unlikely pairing of luxurious and uncultivated elements create a unique visual composition that brings out the best of both worlds.
Design
Just when you thought you knew how to successfully add one pattern into your colour palette, all the rules changed. This year is all about confidently layering patterns on top of patterns, textures on top of textures. Don’t be fooled, getting it right is trickier than it looks, and it’s a good idea to get professional advice on your favourite combinations before sealing the deal with your rental company. From large floral motifs to Swedish dots, geometric to coloured camouflage, incorporating patterns will transform your design from ordinary to extraordinary!
Decor
Natural beauty and floral installations take centre stage in 2016. It’s all about bringing the beauty of a garden indoors to reception spaces. Ornamental leaves, larger-than-life blooms, dramatic colours, and climbing vines are all making waves this coming year. Pairing greenery with other natural elements such as wood, rocks, and crystals continue this natural beauty theme. Crisp white linens with delicate lace overlays create a subtle texture, and add a lightness to a room. High-end chivari chairs and clear ghost chairs make a sleek statement compared to traditional chair covers. None of this would be complete, or properly photographed, without a lighting designer; an expert devoted to highlighting all the most important elements of your decor.
Menus
Local fare is still a must have for menu items in 2016. Fresh beef and bison from Alberta are not only delicious, but in supporting local farmers you’re also supporting your community and lessening your impact on the environment. Flavours that are unique to your region are also still popular, mussels and oysters flown in from the East or West Coast are a wonderful culinary treat for your guests!
Cakes
Cakes are going naked in 2016! “Naked cakes” are still a big trend for this year, with barely-there icing reminding us of last year’s brushed watercolour trend. Geometric designs are also popular. Structured fondant cakes, with geometric tiles in striking colour combinations, are making mouths water. Cupcakes are being replaced by custom designed cookies, a trend which is quickly growing into its own art form. Cookie artists are creating high-end works of art that are almost too pretty to eat! An easy treat for guests to take home and enjoy, consider ordering cookies that reflect your personality, or your customized wedding brand created by your stationery designer.
Sources
K&E Imaging/Boutiq Wedding & Events/Dee Vine Petals/Nicole-Lynn Photography/Pearl Events/Photographs by Grace/Birch & Bunny/Handmade Cake Company/Occasional Bloom/Birch & Bunny Weddings and Events
