By Kevin Dennis, Fantasy Sound Event Services
From Pinterest to wedding blogs and magazines, trends reign supreme in the events industry. Couples are always looking for inspiration for what’s new and fresh, but wedding professionals should be up-to-date as well. For this reason, it’s essential to stay on top of what’s ‘in’ and what’s ‘out’ in order to anticipate and prepare for your client’s needs.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the biggest trends in 2016.
Going Green
With every year that goes by, couples are increasingly motivated to reduce their environmental footprint and with good reason. Luckily, that’s a much easier feat these days with easy access to LED lights, recyclable décor and locally sourced food and beverages.
Precious Metals
Metallic hues are at their prime this year, with unique shades like rose gold and gunmetal in the spotlight. Gold and copper are still ever-present, but there has been a decline in silver accents. Couples are also incorporating anything that sparkles into their wedding celebration. Prepare for much more shimmer to come!
Hanging Lighting
Wedding lighting is a major aspect of the event design – it does, of course, illuminate all of your other gorgeous décor! Couples are embracing hanging lighting in their weddings – from Edison bulbs to chandeliers, there’s nothing quite as breathtaking as a beautifully lit space. Not to mention, hanging lighting is great for adding an intimate, romantic ambience to the venue!
Prints and Patterns
The sky is the limit when it comes to incorporating prints and patterns into an event design. Geometric shapes are huge, with angles making an impact. Floral prints and plaid are also in, giving 2016 weddings a bold vibe. On the other hand, past pattern trends like chevron are becoming outdated and are on their way out of the industry.
Back to Basics
The push for rustic continues as couples are bringing in even more natural elements to their celebrations. This year’s weddings are seeing pieces that are au natural, like wood, slate, stone and agate. Indeed, Mother Nature is the ultimate inspiration!
Keep your eye out for up-and-coming trends, as they’ll often predict the style of events that you’ll be planning in months to come, and it is certainly worth building your expertise. Your clients will surely be grateful for your knowledge!
Kevin Dennis is the owner of Fantasy Sound Event Services, a full-service event company based in Livermore, California. Dennis is the current chapter president for Silicon Valley NACE, and the immediate past national president for WIPA.
