Mindy Weiss' Wedding Trend Predictions for 2018

The celebrity wedding planner and style partner for The Wedding Shop by Shutterfly has served as a consultant for spectacular nuptials of top celebrities, including Ciara and Russell Wilson, Sofía Vergara and Joe Manganiello, and Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi. As part of the esteemed Editors Circle here at Inside Weddings, Mindy also has planned a number of the stunning nuptials featured in our real weddings section. Today she is sharing what she sees as the top trends for 2018. 

Metallic Colors: Neutrals and pastels continue to be all the rage, but a new twist this season is adding metallic touches on your tables, reception décor, and even your bridesmaid dresses. The contrast between the soft pastels and the striking metals creates a nice unexpected visual for guests. Other colors of the year include deep hues like eggplant, burnt orange, and fuchsia.

Smaller but More Flowers: Lower, intimate floral arrangements will prevail over taller centerpieces. Low, lush florals allow for conversation across the table but still keep things looking full. Style has been leaning towards more cascading greenery being mixed in unstructured ways throughout the tableware. In terms of actual floral trends, amaranthus is back! This cascading plant gives floral pieces a lush feel and the striking color adds interest.

French Service Dinners: In recent years, brides have been saving money by having family-style dinners instead of plated. However, family style can be limiting as the plates take up so much room on the table – causing couples to sacrifice décor. A great alternative is French Service, where waiters go around guest to guest with trays of food that they can pick from. Yummy appetizers like Brussels sprouts and French fries can stay on the table for guests to nibble on. 

Cakes on the Decline: Couples are putting less and less emphasis on cakes at their wedding. Smaller cakes this year that are pre-sliced leave more time devoted to dancing! There will also be more dessert options, like passed pretzels and churros that can be devoured right on the dance floor.

Gift Lounges: Having a gift lounge instead of the typical welcome bag has been a big trend recently. Instead of having bags delivered to rooms, guests can pick and choose what they like from an assortment of items upon arrival at the hotel. It’s also a great way for the bride and groom to get face time with their guests before the wedding – without having to travel all over the place to see everyone.

Less-Traditional Invites: While paper invitations are still the way to go, couples are having more fun with their stationery. Mixing fonts and engravings, along with fewer monograms and more customized logos for the couple, is a modern and chic way to request the presence of your nearest and dearest.

Useful Favors: No one wants a drawer in their house full of all the unusable favors from weddings past. Breakfast-to-go or a hot fresh pretzel and a Starbucks gift card are perfect favors – people always need carbs after a night of partying, and who doesn't want a nice warm latte to start their day the next morning?

Colored Candles: Instead of the standard white and ivory candles, couples are looking to add a splash of color to their décor accents. Colored candles on tables or peppered throughout the event space are an easy way to add something unexpected to your décor. Candleholders are also a great way to add a pop of color to small details. 

Balloons: Couples really love using balloons in their wedding décor. White balloons mixed with metallics keep things chic, but fun. Elegant balloon walls are especially popular – and make a great photo backdrop!

Greenery: Clear tents with greenery installations instead of fabric treatments will be a hit next year for outdoor events. Using greenery adds that natural element and makes things really feel organic and crispy.

A Touch of Italy: Italian linen tablecloths and napkins in a variety of colors will make things feel more luxe next year.

See Mindy's predictions for the royal wedding and discover four ways to personalize your nuptials.