1. 2012 Wedding Forecasts
January 17, 2012
Wondering what to expect this year in bridal trends? Some of the wedding industry’s top
experts weigh on in what’s “in” for 2012!

2. Here’s a quick look at some of the highlights ~
• Wedding gowns in fabulous colors
• Feathers
• Shorter hemlines
• Food trucks
• Small bites instead of a sit-down dinner
Forecast from White by Vera Wang ~
Whimsical Details: Delicate origami draping, intricate Chantilly lace appliqués and
asymmetrical organza petal embellishments are key to infusing chic, modern style into
every bridal look.
Prints: For the daring bride who wants to make a bold statement on her wedding day,
printed gowns are an ideal option and a major trend for the spring season.
Shorter Gown Lengths: Long skirts are no longer the only option for gowns this season.
As more brides seek a stylish yet nontraditional look on their special day, shorter
hemlines are a reemerging trend for spring.
Forecast from Town&Country Weddings ~
Tiaras: Once the mark of either true royalty or costumed fools, the tiara is becoming the
hallmark of an impossibly chic bride.
Recycling the Dress: Jewelry designer Monique Péan loved her custom Gilles Mendel
wedding gown so much, she asked him to re-imagine the dress not once, but twice, so it
could be worn to the Met Gala and then again on her one-year wedding anniversary.
Forecast from Preston Bailey ~
And the Bride Didn’t Wear White: Most brides choose to wear white on their wedding
day, but if you love color in your every day life, there’s no reason you shouldn’t have lots
of color on your wedding day, too. New York Bridal Fashion Week for 2012 had
beautiful gowns in a range of hues from pink to gray to blush and you really can have
both – a blend of white with your favorite color.
Consider asking your seamstress to sew your favorite colorful fabric to your wedding
dress’ crinoline petticoat; as you walk down the aisle everyone will catch glimpses of
your favorite color beneath your long white gown. You can also sew a bright, colorful
border to the outer edge of your dress. Alternatively, attaching a bright bow with long
ribbons to your waist so that strips of color cascade down the back of your dress is
another way to add a beautiful accent of color.
Fetching Feathers: There’s something so mysterious and alluring about soft feathers
plucked straight from nature, and like flowers, they are excellent for adding color to your

3. wedding dress and decor. Feathers’ striking colors are iridescent and are created by
bending light. From different angles, iridescent objects look like different colors. So from
one angle, your feather may look deep blue, but from another angle, it might look green
with a gold sheen. Talk about wow factor! It works on the runway, and there’s no reason
it can’t work down the aisle!
Go for either brightly colored feathers that match your wedding color palette, or stick to
soft romantic hues like cream, silver and light pink. Paired tastefully together, feathers
are perfect to work with, lightweight and colorful, and easy to incorporate into lots of
different decorative wedding elements – your hair, your bouquet, the wedding party,
décor, favors and more – it’s all fair game!
Park Your Pet: It used to be a bit rare, but incorporating pets, especially dogs, into
wedding ceremonies has become a more common and accepted practice in the past
couple of years. One of the biggest challenges this brings to the ceremony is extra stress
and a greater chance for things to go awry, but for some, it’s just not a party without the
pooch. In these types of situations, having a clear plan ahead of time can head off
potential problems.
Be sure that someone walks the dog before they walk the aisle. This helps prevent the
chance of unforeseen “accidents.” Weddings create excitement for all involved, including
dogs – that have been known to jump the bride if they get the chance. Brides should do
themselves and guests a favor and be sure to keep your dog in a safe place once they
finish their part in the ceremony, generally just the walk down the aisle. Do predict that
pets are unpredictable. If your pet is uncontrollable, consider having a sculpture of the pet
made out of flowers in its place. This way, you also have a special keepsake from the
wedding.
Forecast from Sasha Souza ~
Giddy Guests: The #1 trend right now is creating the optimal guest experience. To make
sure your guests have a great time, it’s important to keep their experience at the forefront
of the planning. Everybody wants guests to say that it was the “best wedding they have
ever been to,” and making sure that the guests are happy, full and taken care of is key to
creating a festive atmosphere for all.
The Truck Stops Here: There is a food revolution happening at weddings these days, and
old fashioned ice cream trucks, crème brûlée trucks or even bacon trucks offer a fun
addition to the end of the night or the after party.
Document the Details: Make sure you allow enough time during the photography to not
only take pictures of yourself and your new spouse, family and friends, but also the little
details that show the thought and the hard work you’ve put into the event. By building in
time for detail photos of the ceremony and the reception, you capture and keep a much
more complete picture of all the great things you were too busy to enjoy on your wedding
day.

4. Forecast from Bryan Rafanelli ~
Fab, Yet Frugal: On food, one fun idea is to switch it up entirely and do all passed food,
which ends up saving money and keeping the atmosphere very social. Skip the sit-down
meal, the buffet and the courses – from appetizers all the way through to dessert. Just
keep your guests mixing and mingling and taking fun little bites of an array of the
couple’s favorite foods. Drinks also eat in to your budget, which is why great American
wines, “fancy” beers and one (vodka) cocktail are excellent alternatives to providing a
pricey “signature drink.”
Go Natural: Miniature calla lilies in white and green or lavender and brown are popular
for outdoor parties, excellent because they are hearty flowers that add a clean and fresh
feel. Trees are also a sophisticated way to bring height to a room while providing a
romantic canopy at the same time.
Mix, Match and Miniaturize: Smaller centerpieces are very in, especially in multiple
container sizes and shapes. I love the combination of exotic flowers mixed with more
classic flowers. Tight bunches of hot pink carnations in square containers, coupled with
orchids in another holder can look great, even with mini English roses in another
container. It’s all about balance.
Photo Finish: The photo booth “back drop” is the new photo booth. The possibilities here
are endless, but here are a few suggestions; individual handheld picture frames in a
multitude of colors, a favorite quilt, printed fabric or a great architectural element at the
wedding location – these are all great options.
Give the Gift of Surprise: For destination weddings, welcome gifts can add a personal
touch. Consider a mini pre-packaged mix of your own signature cocktail, complete with a
mini shaker. Also, custom music mixes reflecting the weekend on personalized mp3
players can be a wonderful touch on the more extravagant side. More unique than a bottle
of wine and more fun!
Preston Bailey, Bryan Rafanelli and Sasha Souza presented these forecasts at The
Wedding Faire & Symposium.
Forecast from TheWeddingReport.com and Cara Davis ~
It’s a Small World: Couples are keeping a tight rein on guest numbers (under 150), as the
overall cost of the wedding is directly affected by how many heads are in attendance.
Sweet Endings: Dessert buffets continue to take a bite out of receptions, with
nontraditional choices like: square mini-cakes and cupcake tiers or pies, macaroons,
Whoopie Pies, cake pops, color-coordinated candy and even ice cream sundae stations or
a cookies and milk bar. The dessert choices reflect the whimsical, fun nature of today’s
weddings.

5. Casually Groomed: Much to the relief of grooms everywhere, tuxedo rentals are out and
suits and casual wear are in. TheWeddingReport.com states demand for tuxedo rental is
down 11% over 2010 numbers (61% to 54% in 2011).
Non-Traditional Gifts: Non-traditional gift registries like CardAvenue.com are popping
up, allowing couples to register for gift cards according to their tastes and needs, as
research shows that couples are waiting longer to get married (brides are 27 on average,
grooms 29).
Which forecast(s) are you most looking forward to for 2012?
Sources ~
Tangled Up in Blue Silk Organza Wedding Gown by Claire La Faye (Photography by
Ashlee Murr and Rebecca Lindon of Deville Photography)
Tagged as: 2012, Bryan Rafanelli, Preston Bailey, Sasha Souza, Town&Country
Weddings, wedding trends, White by Vera Wang
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