Happy New Year, friends! I’m writing to you from my maternity leave :) I’ll still have fresh content coming to you every few weeks (don’t worry…I pre-scheduled it all before baby came so I’m not actually working that much right now!) - I just didn’t want to leave you hanging. I always love to start off the year with a post about the upcoming wedding trends that I see and really like.

I’ll start this off by saying that I actually really DON’T like “trends.” I’ve never really liked shopping in the trendy stores for whatever style is in that month, for the reason that I’m more of a quality over quantity person. Most of the time, things that are earmarked as “trends” are styles and ideas that are mass-marketed (meaning, everyone is going to have them and they’re not special anymore), cheaply made (why would I spend money on something that is going to go in the trash?), and will likely generate a response from you in just a few short months or years wondering “why on earth did I do that?” When it comes to your wedding, I firmly believe in quality over quantity and I never want someone to look back on their wedding and think “Why did I choose THAT for my wedding?”

So all that to say, you can feel rest assured that when I write about the trends that I see, they’re more general style movements that will have lasting power and you’re not likely to regret choosing for one of the most important days of your life. I’m also mostly concerned about trends that play into your wedding flowers or overall event design. With that said, here are some of the “trends” that I am seeing a lot of, or would like to see more of, which I think would be a beautiful addition to your 2019 or 2020 wedding!

Wedding Colour of the Year: Mauve

This is hardly surprising. We’re moving into a slightly deeper, moodier take on the most popular tone of the last few years, blush. But like blush, mauve can be interpreted in more than one way. It can read pinkier, more purple/lavender, or more taupe-like depending on what direction you want to take it - I personally see mauve more as a muddy purple tone but I know a lot of florists who see it more pink. So, just be sure to have some picture or colour swatch representation to make sure that all of your aesthetic wedding vendors are on the same page when it comes to understanding your wishes for mauve.

Favourite flowers in mauve: amnesia rose, cappuccino rose, cafe latte rose, frittillaria, roseanne brown lisianthus

Mauve pairs well with an analogous colour palette, which means a grouping of 3 colours that sit right beside each on the colour wheel. So, shades of pinks, purples, and peaches, as an example, would allow mauve to be the perfect base colour.

Honourable Mention for Colour of the Year: Orange!

Yes, I’m surprising myself when I say this, seeing as orange has always been right at the bottom of my list. But, I’m seeing more and more of it being tucked in as an accent colour to weddings, bringing a shot of vibrancy that many of my couples seem to be craving. Even more surprising, I’m finding that I don’t hate it…but actually kind of like it!

Take a look at the Marchesa gown below, shot by KT Merry for Flutter Mag - orange is not the primary colour by any stretch of the imagination, but it plays a supporting role that awakens the other tones mixed throughout the gown. I have a wedding coming up this year with a similar palette that I CANNOT wait for!

I personally like to see orange used as an accent, as I often find it too aggressive as a focal colour. It pairs beautifully with blue, red, yellow, green, and anything in the peaches to coral range.

Don’t Miss Trend: Touches of the Tropics

If you follow any large-name floral and wedding designers on Instagram, I’m confident that you’ll have noticed one of the more recent trends that I’m saying you can’t miss: a touch of the tropics. I’m talking a dramatic usage of large palm leaves, ferns (both natural and bleached), and tropical flowers like anthuriums or orchids. Now, you don’t need to go all the way with a rainforest-inspired wedding (though I’m definitely not knocking that!) and you can easily work a tropical accent into a garden-inspired design.

What’s Trending in Table Decor? Floral Centrepieces!

I’m pretty pleased to see a return to more floral-heavy centrepieces in the coming year. I’m seeing fewer and fewer requests for garlands, which I have to say I’m happy about - as much as garlands are gorgeous, they get pretty repetitive for us florists. My clients are typically asking for arrangements that are low to the table, as opposed to tall ones, and sometimes asking for styles in which you can’t even see the vase. Of course, just be prepared that a floral arrangement will have a price tag on it. I typically suggest a minimum of $75 for a floral centrepiece, with most of the inspiration photos that people are bringing me from Pinterest coming in around $300 each (generally I find a $125 - $175 budget to be PERFECT).

…And Coloured Candles

I’d love to see more of my clients adding depth to their tablescapes with the use of coloured candles. A subtle taupe elevates the sense of elegance in a space, a petal pink emphasizes femininity, a warm toffee adds richness, a charcoal grey feels chic and big-city. See what I mean? So much depth can be brought to your overall reception design with the simple tweak that is a coloured candle. These are always going to be more expensive than your typical white candle, but I think it’s a worthwhile investment. Some of my favourite sources for coloured candles are Yummi (which is a Canadian brand, and in my opinion, the best!), Creative Candles, and Quick Candles. The set below is from The Floral Society (they recently started selling at Anthropologie!) and I LOVE them!

So there you have it: Some of my favourite “trends” for the 2019 and 2020 wedding season! I’d love to incorporate some of these design ideas into my work so if you see something you like, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m a believer that a design style has to be in keeping with the setting that the wedding is taking place in, so it might be tricky to tuck in bits of orange if you’re getting married in a ballroom with a burgundy palette, but let’s talk :)

Looking for a Wedding Floral and Event Designer in Winnipeg?

My 2020 waitlist has already been started, and couples interested in full event and floral design will be contacted first about their dates. I offer a limited number of dates for event design each year, in order to allow me to work closely with each couple. Combining event and floral design is the perfect option for couples who live out of town, or couples who feel they need a little extra help in creating the visual plan for their wedding day. Click this link to learn more!