Steal These 2019 Wedding Trends for Corporate Events

"Cookies are the new donut," Ardizzone, of Sweet Cheeks Baking Co., said, and she's got a list of reasons why. Cookies can be personalized with a monogram or a photo, and a cookie array can have something for everyone. "Whether tray passed or displayed, offering a variety of flavors satisfies everyone’s sweet tooth—even those with dietary restrictions, as cookies can be made vegan or gluten free more easily than many other desserts," she explained.

Floral and event design firm Renny & Reed created a giant pineapple made up of sunflowers as a statement piece for a welcome party on the Ocean Lawn at the Breakers Palm Beach, kicking off an epic wedding weekend. This cheerful pineapple went on to pop up at other events, including a corporate event for Sotheby's International in the Breakers' Mediterranean Ballroom.

Elaine Ardizzone, owner of San Diego's Sweet Cheeks Baking Co., noticed that couples are asking for vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free dessert options to accommodate wedding guests with dietary restrictions. Ardizzone can whip up a small cake for the cake-cutting moment, along with a dessert bar that has something for everyone, including something naturally sweet. "For a fun alternative, opt for fresh, in-season fruits like kumquats, guavas, and figs and incorporate them into the design of the cake," she said.

Planner Lindsay Landman's brides and grooms are taking the time to assign seats at dinner using place cards. "It fell out of fashion for a long while with the exception of high-society events," she said of this tradition, but that's changing. "Rather than assigning a table and allowing guests to choose their own seat, couples and families are taking the time to carefully curate seating arrangements and putting thought into how to pair unattached guests, how to approach the seating of partnered guests, and how to take the awkwardness and mystery out of finding your seat," said Landman, who maintains locations in New York and the San Francisco Bay area.

According to Landman, many couples are prioritizing plant-based dishes on their menus. "The thoughtful selection of vegetables has become a huge priority in the design of wedding and other social party menus, with many hosts choosing creative vegetarian and vegan entrees, not just for the outliers in the group, but for the whole guest count," she said.

Destination event designer Stefanie Miles of Dallas thinks the details of this navy and cognac-colored reception could easily fit with events that aren't necessarily nuptials. "Thoughtful touches to dinner place settings (like these personalized leather napkin wraps) could easily translate into showing employees or clients a fresh take on thoughtful attention to detail," she said.

Guests naturally make a beeline to bars and food stations, so why not make them a major focal point? "We love to create statement bars fitting the theme of the event since it's an obvious gathering place for the guests," Miles said.

The designers at Ceci New York are creating invites that are one-of-a-kind keepsakes by incorporating acrylic instead of using only paper. "You can play with watercolor on one side and foil for the text on the other. It makes a really dramatic statement," said Ceci New York's Megan Kynast. "Or you could go simple and do something chic, like a milky white plexiglass with gold writing, or even clear if you want to make a really modern statement."

Invites aren’t the only way couples are incorporating acrylic into their big day. "One of the most popular designs for this wedding season are acrylic seating charts. On Etsy, we’ve seen a 115-percent increase in searches in the last three months alone," Etsy trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson said. "We’ve seen this trend in fashion and home decor for a while so it’s no surprise that it’s breaking through to weddings. Couples are loving this fresh take on seating charts because it allows for ultimate personalization and a modern take on a traditional reception necessity."

In the age of Marie Kondo's decluttering philosophy, Etsy sellers are creating gifts and wedding favors that blend form and function. “This year, brides and grooms are sending guests away with gifts thoughtfully selected to be utilized and enjoyed in their everyday lives,” Johnson said in Etsy's 2019 wedding trend report.

Couples are going the extra mile with their signature cocktails by adding designer ice, said Belinda Belk, New Orleans-based planner at Blue Gardenia Events. She has incorporated fun details like ice stamped with a logo or monogram or different ice cube shapes. Then there's designer ice that makes an even bigger impression: "The ice luge is a great interactive feature that not only highlights your specialty cocktail, it's functional (as it perfectly chills your drink) and makes for the perfect moment to capture for social media," Belk said.

Do-it-yourself projects remain popular with couples, and some are opting to create table toppers with interesting objects. “Non-floral centerpieces are by far the most popular wedding detail that couples D.I.Y. (49 percent, according to the Knot 2018 Real Weddings Study)," said the Knot editor Lauren Kay. In this case, a couple created an arrangement using books sourced from the bride's aunt, who is a librarian.

"The new welcome bag is really a welcome lounge, stocked full of essentials for guests," the Knot's Kay said. “By allowing guests to D.I.Y. their own welcome bag, you’re giving them exactly what they want for their stay, and you’re avoiding creating unnecessary waste with unused or unwanted items.”