According to The New York Times, 2.5 million couples will get married this year — that's a record high since 1984! Call it the year of the wedding boom. With so many couples exchanging vows, it's inevitable for new trends to emerge. Here, top event planners and caterers share what they're seeing right now.
First Gaze Before the Graze
More couples are sharing a special moment to view a “first look” of the venue setup and watch their ideas come to life on the wedding day according to Bill Hansen Catering & Event Production, according to . The "gaze before the graze" moment is similar to the traditional, intimate first look between the bride and groom.
Photo: Avévalo & Co.
Bridgerton-Style String Trio
Couples are looking to pop culture to help set the mood for their big wedding day. In Netflix’s hit show Bridegerton, the show's soundtrack features classic string trios/quartets playing modern songs by Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars. Constellation Culinary Group, the official caterer for the Sarasota Art Museum, has noticed the change in music styles since the release of the show to offer a classical music component to spark up the romance.
Pre-Ceremony Cocktail Hour
Your wedding day is a joyous occasion; start it off on a lighthearted note with some cocktails and social time before the ceremony! Constellation Culinary Group is seeing more couples incorporating a pre-ceremony cocktail hour, allowing their guests to relax and connect with each other instead of just sitting and waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Eco-Conscious Ceremonies
There are environmental benefits to small weddings and elopements, as staggering statistics from Green Bride Guide indicate that about 400 pounds of garbage and over 60 tons of carbon dioxide are the cost of an average wedding. Couples who opt for mini weddings and elopements can still celebrate in a grand way, with a much smaller production that generates less waste. Hillsboro Beach Resort has crafted a special destination elopement package for couples who prefer these detail-centric, mini ceremonies at the beach. With couples choosing intimate romantic celebrations at Hillsboro Beach Resort, they directly invest in local businesses, while also preserving the beach and large sea turtle population with an eco-conscious elopement.
Experiential Catering With Art-Inspired Food
The consistent theme of art-inspired catering options provides couples with a fully immersive experience to connect with the works around them. This new experiential catering trend is a unique way for art enthusiasts to have classic art pieces be part of their special day as well as present to their guests a fun and innovative menu.
Constellation Culinary Group, the official catering partner for the Norton Museum of Art, is now offering catering menus inspired by famous artists on exhibition within the space. An example of creative catering inspired by world-famous art that can be enjoyed at a wedding at the Norton Museum of Art is attendees can delight in Campbell's Tomato Soup served with sliced bread in the branded can as an ode to the famous Warhol painting.
Cake Is Out
Dessert bars are in! At the Pérez Art Museum Miami, ice cream bars are trending. Catered by Constellation Culinary Group, the luxury wedding destination has noticed a shift to ice cream bar stations in exchange for wedding cakes. With Miami’s weather, how does it not melt? Constellation Culinary provides the couple with an ice cream bar cart to keep the creamy dessert from melting away. This alternative is a fun way to break tradition and offer guests something out of the ordinary.
Science Weddings
During this year's wedding boom, couples are looking to mix things up and host their special day at a non-conventional destination. Cue science museums! Weddings at a science museum offer couples ample event space, scientific catering options, and interactive light shows played with the couple's favorite rock bands. At Frost Science Museum, Constellation Culinary Group fully embraces the science theme in their innovative menu. Options include a fun chocolate craters dessert, which is served by a pastry chef who wears an astronaut suit and pink hair. Other scientific servings include a Moon Rock food station that features a nitrogen tank that the chef uses to make "moon rocks" (chocolate mousse frozen in liquid nitrogen) with toppings like hazelnut ganache for guests to enjoy, billowing smoke as they chew. For a pre-reception cocktail hour, the Frost Science Museum is known for its late-night laser light show in the museum's planetarium, which is set to a curated selection of music. Highlights include Queen, Led Zeppelin, and Nirvana. Constellation Culinary Group serves Frost 321 Nitro Cocktails, which are trippy and fun to drink during the evening of lights, music, and science.
A Walk into the Future
Traditionally, walking a bride down the aisle to her soon-to-be husband was done by a father or parent of the bride, but Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has experienced a twist: children and step-children of the bride have been escorting their motherly figure down the aisle. In a memorable moment, families are celebrating every unique aspect that makes their family whole by incorporating small gestures that make a big difference.
Parent-Free Party
Oftentimes, a wedding is accompanied by the idea of having close friends and family partake in the celebrations, but Hotel Effie is slated to host a parent-free ceremony. This couple is fully embracing the intimate, luxury escape by having their children be a part of the wedding – but not their parents. Hotel Effie blends Southern charm with Emerald Coast chic, a gem for a coastal-inspired wedding adaptable to any size.
One Last Dance
Once all the guests have left and the evening begins to quiet down, Constallation Culinary Group is seeing more couples end the night with one last private dance. This intimate moment gives the newlyweds one last special memory to hold onto after the big day.
Photo: Avévalo & Co.
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