For their big day, couples are looking to customize with personal touches that communicate their individual tastes. Whether it’s serving breakfast foods at a cocktail reception or sending out invitations with quirky designs, vendors are finding new ways to instill a sense of personality—or put a new spin on traditions—into wedding events. For example, a bride’s “something blue” might not be an item she carries down the aisle, but rather a cheeky cocktail. At the same time, there are still a lot of requests for classic, vintage-inspired touches such as lace tablecloths or cakes with delicate patterns.
A Perfect Event has also worked on wedding receptions featuring high-end sweets as an alternative to cupcakes or a wedding cake. One example: ending a meal with the delicate French pastry croquembouche.
Photo: Courtesy of Debi Lilly
To divide up or lend warmth to a sprawling reception space, planners are using fresh alternatives to draping. At the Knot Gala in New York, ribbons and bistro lights offered the illusion of a lower ceiling.
Photo: Courtesy of the Knot
The Knot Gala also featured a fresh method for engaging guests during the cocktail hour. At one food station, globes filled with tuna ceviche hung from trees, and guests were encouraged to “forage” for the items with help from staffers.
Photo: Courtesy of the Knot
Lace is also showing up in wedding decor. At a Los Angeles luncheon hosted by Beverly Hills event planner Mindy Weiss and Wedding Paper Divas, a room with heavy draping by Revelry showcased a lace-topped table.
Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
Wedding cakes are being lavished with gilded touches. Ron Ben-Israel Cakes in New York creates confections tinged with lace patterns and metallic hues.
Photo: Courtesy of Ron Ben-Israel Cakes
Invitations are straying from more classic designs to embrace quirkier patterns and themes. For a “sci-fi circus”-theme commitment ceremony, designers Arley-Rose Torsone and Morgan Calderini of Ladyfingers Letterpress in Black Forest, Colorado, created an invitation design featuring funky hand-drawn characters.
Photo: Courtesy of Ladyfingers Press
Instead of, or in addition to, traditional flowers, some couples are incorporating paper floral backdrops into their wedding decor. Lil Epic Event Design in Chicago provides such structures.
Photo: WojoImage
San Francisco firm Events of Distinction incorporates custom fabrics based on clients’ preferences into bar façades, lounge furniture, and pillows for receptions.
Photo: Courtesy of Events of Distinction
Some couples are opting for daytime weddings and serving brunch instead of dinner—or serving brunch items at cocktail parties. Toronto catering firm Eatertainment serves elegant, miniature versions of breakfast dishes such as French toast and pancakes.
Photo: Bruce Gibson
Instead of traditional wedding favors, couples are donating to charities on behalf of their guests, says Jessica Jordan, Trump SoHo New York’s senior catering manager and certified professional bridal consultant. Many are also including philanthropy as part of their registries with help from organizations like the I Do Foundation.
Photo: Courtesy of I Do Foundation
Chicago-based event planner Debi Lilly of A Perfect Event put a new spin on a bride’s “something blue,” designing a thematically hued “hers” cocktail.
Photo: Amanda Hein
Austin, Texas-based Caplan Miller Events set up a personalized whiskey bar cart in honor of the groom at a wedding at the Four Seasons Austin.
Photo: Courtesy of Caplan Miller Events
