FASHION
In the business of fashion, trends come and go. The shapes and lengths of gowns change with the seasons, and usually take their cues from fashion designers in Paris, New York and Milan. However, the hottest trend seen in gown designs is a nod to the wedding of the royals in England.
Sleeves: Call it a Comeback
While strapless gowns still line the aisles and adorn the walls of bridal boutiques, dresses with long sleeves will be coming in droves. Designers like Monique Lhuillier revealed a gown with a bateau neckline and long sleeves in her 2012 collection.
Off-the-shoulder and deep-V necklines were showcased by models at the Legends by Romona Keveza 2012 show.
While in the past, contemporary brides have gone away from the modest look of long sleeves, gown designers say that the new sleeve length can look beautiful, classic, and timeless when worn correctly.
Long, sheer lace patterned sleeves can look young, sexy and pretty. The Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine Middleton walked down the aisle at Westminster Abbey in long lace sleeves. Long, wrist-length sleeves aren’t the only length that designers are working with for 2012, however. Carolina Herrera featured short sleeves, Wtoo Brides showcased elbow length sleeves, and many others are incorporating 3/4 length sleeves in to their designs.
Embellished Illusion Necklines
Designers featured many unique necklines this season, but the one that showed up in most runway presentations was the illusion style, which is a sheer, delicate, and often embellished layer of fabric which veils skin that would otherwise be exposed. Brides magazine calls this “strapless with coverage,” but notes its power to transform a more daring, sexy look into a softer, more sophisticated appearance. This look is perfect for busty brides who love the strapless or sweetheart neckline, but don’t want to boldly show off the “girls.”
Belt It
Many designers have completed their bridal looks by adding a ribbon tied or belted at the natural waistline. Gowns can be ordered with a monochromatic style in which the belt is the same color as the dress, or ordered in a bold color, to contrast with the gown. The belt draws the eye to the waistline, which takes attention away from the hips and other trouble spots. A jeweled belt can also add interest to an otherwise simple gown.
Big, Textured Skirts
Many of the design trends seen in 2011 are holding over for 2012, and one of these is the use of texture on gowns. The more, the better! Whether it is ruffles, lace, pleats, rough-edged fabrics, or layers upon layers of tulle or organza, brides love the look of various textures on their gowns.
Ruffled wedding gowns are still popular this year and the trend is expected to continue. From ball gowns and A-lines to trumpet and mermaid silhouettes, all kinds of ruffles are showing up — horizontal, vertical, rough-edged, even some that look like tumbleweed! These can be great plus-size gowns depending on the bride’s body type. Jasmine Couture’s 2012 collection was full of beautiful examples of textured gowns.
Hi-Low Hemlines
Another hot gown trend is the ultra-fashionable “peekaboo” hemline. Brides who don’t skimp on their wedding shoes can now highlight them in this fun asymmetrical style.
ACCESSORIES & HAIR
Most of the trends for wedding hair and accessories are a nod to vintage styling, Victorian and Edwardian-era styles, and the “messy but pretty” look.
Braids
Braids are an interesting way to add detail and they can even be utilized to construct the shape of your style in beautiful and sturdy ways. Hair pieces or extensions can add fullness or length to a braid. The braid can be the focal point of the style or just a part of it, like when putting one along your hair line leading to a chic, low chignon.
Vintage Styles
Wavy starlet hair, left loose and shiny is very sophisticated for brides with longer hair. Other vintage styles like low chignons can be messy and dressed up with feathered accessories or highlighted with a face-framing cage veil.
Floral Design
Wedding florists are often being asked about the current wedding flower trends in both color and design, as just like any aesthetic product, wedding flower trends are constantly evolving. There are dozens of different color schemes and designs predicted for weddings in 2012 that can be designed and catered to a bride’s particular tastes.
Monochrome
Black and white and beautiful all over. Monochrome bouquets are the ultimate style statement and perfect to go with stark contrasting color schemes, art deco, or contemporary venues. Many brides are also asking for all-white bouquets made from large, loose blooming flowers.
Mix & Match
As shown on the opposite page, and at right, brides are less interested in “matching” bouquets and more interested in textures, styles, and that “freshly picked” appearance of garden bouquets. Even babies breath is seeing a resurgence as it’s light, delicate blooms can accent just about any kind of decor.
Non-Floral Bouquets
A couple of years ago non-floral bouquets were considered the domain of the truly offbeat bride, but this year we’ve seen bouquets made out of buttons, crystals, beads, feathers, brooches and even shells really take off in mainstream weddings.
Personalization
The cookie cutter wedding is all but gone. More than ever couples want to personalize their weddings — making elements of their day more unique, and symbolize meaningful things about the two of them as a couple and their tastes.
THEMES & STYLES
So long, Vintage?
Reports and opinions vary on the lifespan of Vintage-influenced weddings. Some experts say that vintage is on its way out, and some say that its going to stick around for a long, long time. The old-fashioned elements with artistic and sometimes quirky elements that surround “vintage” mean different things to different people, everyone interprets this idea differently. Locally, vendors are seeing a dip in the amount of entirely retro-styled weddings, but an increase in various era-inspired elements which are incorporated into them.
To us, vintage is a nod to old-fashioned romance, which includes softer, desaturated colors, flowing and light fabrics mixed with the structure of stiffer fabrics like seersucker on groom’s suits. While vintage romance is lovely, it’s also suggests that the wedding is more casual.
The direction we’d love to see vintage-styling is is to the extravagance of the 1920’s, where lavish, over the top afternoon parties turned in to lavish, over the top elegant affairs at night.
Preppy Chic
With the blazer taking over the cardigan’s throne, preppy is officially back. Look for the continued use of navy, grey, and yellows or reds with the introduction of plaid in table settings, bridesmaid accessories and, of course, cool bow ties.
Rustic Infused Elegance
Nature was 2011’s most popular wedding setting. Couples took their ceremonies and receptions outside into gardens, woods, barnyards, ranches, near lakes and under hundred-year old oak trees. Many brides worked within the colors of the season when hosting an outdoor wedding and used unique elements of personal style to dress up what Mother Nature already made beautiful.
Photobooths
Last year both vintage styled and modern looking photobooths enjoyed a surge in popularity – and experts expect this trend to continue for years to come. However, new trends which accompany this are custom or personalized props, backdrops, and accessories which provide hours of entertainment for guests of all ages.
For more ideas on wedding trends for the coming year, talk to your wedding planner and together you’ll come up with an event that is truly unique
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