Its an exciting time to get married! There are so many new innovations and trends for upcoming brides and grooms to consider for their weddings - the days of traditional dresses, invitations and centerpieces are over.

Invite your guests with style. “It truly has grown from just the invitation,” said Colleen Braim, of All The Write Stuff. “There’s so much more going into the planning process, more personality, and the invitation companies have responded with wonderful options and selections for everyone. Couples are putting so much more attention in the details.” 

According to Braim, mocha has taken over as the new black for wedding invitations, and weddings in general! Accented with pale shades including pale pink, robin’s egg blue, periwinkle, Tiffany blue and sage green, brown gives wedding invites and colors a warm, sophisticated feel.

Themed invitations are also gaining popularity, the beauty and simplicity of Asian-themed invitations are becoming increasingly sought after. Braim also has seen couples going for themed invites based on their destination weddings. 

Personalizing invitations with a monogram that can be carried through the wedding and onto the thank you cards is also an emerging trend that is huge.

Couples are also looking at entire invitation packages, including having invitations, direction cards, accommodation cards, menus, place cards and even thank you notes printed altogether. 

If you want to create an impressive package for your invitations, envelopments are the way to go. Envelopments are invitations that look like presentation folders; the invitation is provided on one side and there is a folder on the other side to hold the reception card, accommodations card and everything else. It creates a gorgeous presentation for your invitation.

Bridal party dresses get a makeover. Gone are the days of 10 colors for bridesmaid’s dresses to fill the need of all brides, notes Hylee Gifford of Danielle’s Bridal. 

And Gifford notes the color options for bridesmaid gowns keeps expanding. With lines offering up to 54 color options, brides really can make their wedding party stand out. Even tuxedo companies are expanding their color options to complement the bridal party’s dresses.

Brighter, more vibrant and richer hued dresses are really popular right now. Gifford has found that corals and teals are currently very popular.

Tea length dresses, supplemented by updated fabric options, including organza, taffeta and Tiffany chiffon, are a hot option right now and truly offer opportunities for attendants to use the dresses again.

For bridal dresses, Gifford noted that rauching is the fastest growing trend. Highly detailed beading and embroidery is big, and has taken a “less is more” view. There’s less of it, but what is there is much more intricate. Panels of color, on the back of the dress, or in belts or trim that can be coordinated with the bridesmaids’ dresses is also a neat twist to the traditional white.

Dressmakers are going outside the box, there’s so many options out there right now. In the last four or five years the industry has gotten so exciting,” said Gifford.

Flowers that pop! Even flowers are seeing a makeover, according to Debbie Converse, bridal consultant/designer for Dehn’s Flowers.

Converse notes that traditional formal cascade bouquets, while still popular, have given way to hand tied, looser bouquets. 

Roses still reign supreme as the number one flower for weddings, but more unique flower selection and color options are gaining popularity. Light greens are big lately, with a focus on hydrangeas and green roses. Much like Braim, Converse has noticed the trend toward brown. Chocolate cosmos serve as a nice bouquet option.

Seasonal flowers are also appealing to brides; currently peonies and lilacs are gracing weddings with their beauty and scent. Anemones and mini calla lilies are also a distinguished option. 

“Brides are having fun with their flowers,” said Converse. “The color selections are very vibrant they’re choosing flowers that pop with color!” 

For table centerpieces loosely arranged in large garden urns or tall glass cylinders featuring very natural garden flowers are becoming more popular than very formal traditional centerpieces.