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 feature
story
wedding
trends
The latest colors, themes and fashions
for the coming autumn and winter seasons.
by Kelsey E. Smith
Approximately 2.23 million couples made the walk down the aisle in 2005,
the last year for which statistics are available. And although June is
still a popular month for weddings, August and July have both surpassed
it for the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively, with 235,000 weddings
taking place in August 2005. This late-summer month marks the coming of
autumn's bounty, and many couples desire more than the "typical" summer
nuptials. September and October have gained favor as well, claiming the
No. 4 and No. 5 spots, respectively.
Brides and grooms are personalizing their weddings by choosing their
favorite season, and many people love the fall; it's got great color
associations, cool weather and romance, notes Christa Vagnozzi, senior
editor of The Knot. Couples also love to get married around the winter
holidays because it's a great way to extend the family celebration.
Darcy Miller, editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings, says the
popularity of destination weddings also is a factor in the rising number
of autumn and winter weddings. It's a great time to travel to warmer
destinations, and often, it can be a more affordable time to marry, she
explains.
 The
following trends are expected to be strong during the autumn 2007 and
winter 2008 wedding seasons.
colors and themes
Traditional autumn and winter colors lend themselves nicely to a variety
of themes, but the coming seasons will welcome a twist on classic hues.
Brides and grooms love to do the traditional red, orange and brown
palette with a leaf motif for fall, Ms. Vagnozzi explains, but we are
also seeing couples mixing it up by using deep purples and various
shades of brown for a modern look.
For autumn 2007 weddings, orange is all the rage, paired with anything
from chocolate brown to scarlet, Ms. Vagnozzi says. She adds that after
a few years of color, white is making a comeback for winter weddings,
but with a modern twist, paired with metallics such as platinum and
gold. Couples also are incorporating texture into their motifs and
floral arrangements, with white-on-white patterns and unusual blooms,
such as parrot tulips, garden roses and peonies.
Ice blue and classic red palettes also are popular for winter, lending
themselves well to seasonal themes such as snowflakes or Christmas.
Blues, shades of gold and classic black-and-white will be in demand for
these seasons as well.
National retailer David's Bridal has introduced a number of
trend-inspired colors for its Fall 2007 collection, which includes three
distinctive themes.
Wine Country - Rich harvest shades of the season such as
Persimmon (red-orange), Truffle (chocolate brown), Redwood (rust brown)
and Champagne as well as fall favorites such as Cabernet (deep
burgundy), Apple (vibrant red) and Serene (dusty blue).
Colorful Destinations - Warm Matisselike colors, with deep and
vibrant shades of Azalea (bright pink), Blue Velvet, Clover (mint
green), Burnt Orange and Regency (purple).
New Traditions - Calming neutrals and modern shades such as
Marine (vibrant dark blue), Truffle, Ivory, Pewter, Titanium, Platinum
and Bisque. A splash of color also is noted, and black is used as a key
accent to add a graphic touch.
 gown
styles
For fabrics, Ms. Miller says traditional materials such as lace will be
used in contemporary ways this autumn and winter. Taffeta and tulle also
are present on runways. The fabrics create soft, feminine styles
reminiscent of the 1950s, Ms. Vagnozzi relates. Think playful ball gowns
with pretty, natural waistlines, bubble hems and circle skirts. Mixing
fabrics such as lace and tulle also will be popular on wedding gowns.
In terms of styles, A-line silhouettes still are classics for weddings
year-round, but trumpet styles are a hot trend, offering a bit of sexy
flair while maintaining the traditional flared skirt at the bottom. Many
brides opt to wear strapless styles no matter what season they are wed,
but sleeves and wraps, such as cropped jackets and cap-sleeved shrugs,
have gained favor once again for 2007.
Ms. Vagnozzi notes that styles for the coming fall and winter seasons
have an abundance of sleeves, bustles and fancy backs reminiscent of the
Edwardian era, and Ms. Miller adds that trains are making a comeback.
Other trends include:
• Shorter front hemlines, longer backs
• Bateau necklines (boat necks), V-necks
• Short dresses
• Polka dots
• Strap details
• Layers (architectural tiers, pleated taffeta, fluid satin, diaphanous
tulle and organza)
• Rich embellishments including intricate beading, embroidery and jewels
• Geometric motifs in ribbon, beading and embroidery
• Metallic threading and fabrics
(See Florists' Review, March 2007, Pages 54-57, for a comprehensive
look at 2007 bridal and bridesmaid gown styles.)
You may contact Kelsey Smith by
e-mail at
ksmith@floristsreview.com or by phone at (800) 367-4708.
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