Guest Experiences

When starting the planning process, I rarely get asked “What are the newest wedding trends?
We really want to incorporate them into our day!” But, even if it isn’t asked out loud, it is always
hanging out in the background of planning-what is current in the wedding world and how will it
impact this particular wedding?

Before we dive into the trends, first, let me share some insider info on where many of our trends
originate. For years, Pinterest was the undisputed leader in wedding inspo, and while social
media (especially Tik Tok) have started to take the lead, Pinterest still gets plenty of “wedding”
searches. But, what does that process really look like? Many of the images and ideas we find on
Pinterest come from real weddings or styled shoots that get published, and that process is far
from instant. A wedding first needs to get planned (usually at least a year long process), then
photographed & edited (at least a month or 2), and finally submitted and published. All this to
say, those “trendy” ideas you found on Pinterest have probably already started to head toward
their expiration date by the time they ever reach our eyes. The instant gratification of social
media makes that process much speedier, so inspiration strikes a little earlier in the “trend” life
cycle. And, we know, being in the Midwest means that most of the trends we see in our local
weddings were actually big in the larger markets (like the East & West Coast) a few years ago-it
takes about 3 years for a trend to make its way to us.

So, what are the current trends? Well, it isn’t a color, though color is big (think lots of colors,
bold colors, unique color combos) and it isn’t a style, but if you are curious, the trend is more
about maximalism than minimalism. The real trend in the wedding world is about guest
experience.

Today’s couples are leaning all in when it comes to creating an event that feels like fun,
interactive and personal for their friends & family. Incorporating pieces unique to their love story
is a perfect way for couples to make the event memorable for guests, like my couple who met
while at college at SDSU, so we had the SDSU Ice Cream truck show up to serve dessert.
Another couple who met in Vegas wanted to include one of the iconic entertainment elements
from their time there, so we brought in a dueling piano group rather than a traditional DJ (PS-if
you are looking for the most fun, interactive and wildly entertaining option, definitely check out
Dueling Duo for your wedding!).

Sometimes it is about knowing your people and what they are going to have fun participating in.
For a couple who had a ton of kids on their guest list, that meant hiring a balloon artist to
entertain the younger ones during cocktail hour. And let me tell you, it was a serious hit! Another
couple selected their DJ because they had so much fun with him at local karaoke nights…so
that brilliant professional made sure to include his karaoke equipment when he arrived for their
dance and when the traditional reception slowed down, he switched over to karaoke requests
and people went wild! And, they were seriously good singers too!

Occasionally, those social media trends give us that little boost of inspiration we needed to
come up with a unique and unforgettable experience. Like the rise of live paintings as part of the
reception. If you haven’t seen this yet, incredibly skilled artists like Jillian Artistry & Debbie
Bowman are grabbing a snapshot of the couple during the day and then setting up a mini paint
studio at the reception and creating a masterpiece right in front of us. After a few hours of
seriously impressive progress, they usually finish out the art off site and then the couple has a one of a kind reminder of their best day ever and the guests got to watch a masterpiece come to life.

While live music isn’t a trend, it is a really special way to incorporate an experience that most
guests don’t get at every wedding. And, it is impossible to overstate the impact that live music
has in elevating the entire experience, whether it be a harp (PS-check out Devon!) for your
ceremony or a string quartet during cocktail hour.

And, last, but never far from my attention…food experiences! Couples are playing around with
how they provide sustenance to their guests. We have seen everything from food trucks, to food
stations to make the party feel like an upscale cocktail party, and the inclusion of cultural food
details to honor the couples’ heritage and story. Charcuterie tables, like my friend Landi at
Cultivated in Love creates, also provide an interactive option for guests to mingle and nibble
during cocktail hour. Custom drinks (including non-alcoholic options…SoDak Soda anyone?)
have also given couples a way to show off their personality and usually their pets!

The moral of the story is this: instead of spending time, energy and money to impress
Instagram, our couples are leaning into showing off their personality, love story and connection
with their guests for wedding celebrations that truly bring that “celebration” part to life.