You want to stay ahead of the trends for your Big Day, so we’ve gathered a few findings of what’s in and what’s out.

Spread it out and keep it short. Many brides and grooms are separating the sacred wedding day from the fun, party-time reception by holding the ceremony on one day and a party on a different day. We’re also seeing more couples choose to have a private,  short ceremony over a longer, more traditional one and dedicating more time to the reception celebration with friends and family.

Julia Maier, venue coordinator for The Village House at Litchfield/Event and Wedding Venue, says that while many traditions remain, she is seeing changes. And more parties!
 
“For people who are coming from out of town, welcome parties let them celebrate with the bride and groom.” 

John Debrowski, owner of Local: Eat, Drink, Celebrate in Pawleys Island says he's seeing the same trend.  

“People will have the rehearsal dinner, then open it up for the welcome party. It's nice to see them [bride and groom] before, because you're most likely not going to see much of them the day of the wedding," he laughs.

Casey Mungavin, director of sales for posh venues 21 Main Prime Steakhouse and 21 Main Events at North Beach, notes that "Almost all of our weddings host a welcome party at the start of the wedding weekend. These are more casual and are a great way to start the wedding festivities and say ‘Thank You for your time' to all of your guests!"
Also, many couples are forgoing the long-established Saturday or Sunday weddings in favor of weekdays. “People are now looking for off-season, off-days," continues Maier. They [venues] are usually less expensive, then.”

Head turners. Two head-turning trends for brides are long, textured veils with pearl detailing, flower appliques, or lace, and switching up the classic bridal up-do and letting their hair down in flowing locks.

Mary Grace Moses, assistant manager and purchaser for upscale boutique Foxy Lady in Myrtle Beach, says that the traditional bridal up-do “is not the bridal look, anymore; they are wearing their hair down.”

Jamie Prince, owner of  the upscale boutique Irresistible Elegance in Georgetown, concurs. And says she’s seeing lots of detailed, embellished veils with pearls in them. “Pearls are very in right now,” she notes.  “And there are not many up-dos at all, anymore. People are getting extensions.”

Cut the cake-cutting. Traditional cake-cutting is out and creative dessert stations or boxed to-go wedding cake slices are in.

“People are doing donut walls, for instance, or late-night food instead of cake. They’re really branching out from the traditional three-tier wedding cake,” adds Maier.  “A lot of people are doing specialty coffees and mobile coffee stations. It just depends on what’s important to you.”

Mungavin also agrees that dessert stations are trending.

"This has been a fun tradition for years here at 21 Main Events,” she explains,  noting “the desserts are often accompanied by cute, personalized boxes for guests to pack up a sweet treat before heading home. This could also double as your favors for guests!”

Go bold. Brides are expanding their wedding day color palette from shades of white to bolder, more adventurous colors and patterns, like red, and warm shades.

Rachel Wollard, proprietor of Two Oaks Bridal Boutique in Myrtle Beach says: “Our brides are straying away from ivory gowns,” and dresses are often a bit more “eclectic,” and a bit “less traditional.” Different fabrics are now adorning the bride and her party, and she’s noticing they’re “shaking it up with texture,” and bringing in jacquard fabric with printed flowers. Also, brides are “jazzing it up with puffy sleeves,” for example. “And gloves are coming back,” she says. “It’s really fabulous!”

Wollard says skin tone and culture may also contribute to the bride’s decision-making. “We sell pink or blush gowns and red bridal gowns… different cultures like deep-red colors. Depending on their skin tone and hair color, certain colors really pop."

The Cathedral wedding veils are also going longer and those are Royal Cathedral veils, which can sometimes be up to 13-feet long. “Most brides do not buy stark white, anymore…They are gravitating toward champagne colors,” concludes Moses. Sometimes for a second wedding, they may want bold-colored gowns, but first-time brides mostly want an offshoot of white.”