Plan Your Next Event With 10 Stylish Party Trends
Make party planning a breeze with personalized details and unique approaches to decor with these Summer trends
Photo courtesy of The Perfect Petal
This year’s social engagements will be filled with personalized details and unique approaches to decor. Here are some of our favorites:
INTIMATE EVENTS
Although there will always be over-the-top spectacles, parties that evoke warmth and togetherness are making waves this year. “Clients are looking for more approachable affairs with touches of curated luxuries,” shares Allison Welch, principal of As You Wish, an event-planning and luxury lifestyle concierge company. “Think private chef dinners for close friends on the patio, or place settings with personalized details like hand-blown stemware and heirloom linens.”
Photo courtesy of Jaala
FRUITS OF THE SEA
Seafood served up in a boat or a canoe—now that makes for a memorable event! Jaala Sheldon, a creative event planner with a knack for out-of-the-box ideas, says, “With seafood [such as oysters or sushi], it’s fun to serve it in a boat or another vessel. People love to mingle around a boat! When serving lobster, I include little lobster kits with instructions on how to eat lobster—it makes for a fun, interactive experience and demonstrates a thoughtful host or hostess.”
GIFTS THAT LAST
Couples are leaning toward vintage or heirloom-quality items that will help make their houses into homes and will last generations. “Instead of sticking with white dishes or everyday tableware, we are seeing an interest in serving pieces and home accents that allow couples to celebrate everyday events, instead of just major holidays,” says Taylor Kinney of White Peacock. “Pops of color are huge this year, so think (companies like) Ginori 1735 and Juliska, and don’t forget the Le Jacquard Francais table linens.”
Photo courtesy of White Peacock
GET YOUR GUESTS INVOLVED
Rather than focusing on the wedding itself, couples are opting for special experiences that involve their guests all weekend long. From round-robin pickleball tournaments to group hikes, and wine tastings to city tours, brides and grooms are hoping their guests can have a little mini vacay while at their wedding.
CREATE A VISUAL STORY
For event design, the more connection between clients and the spaces they are interacting with, the better. Says Kara Moon, owner and creative principle of Enjoué Studio, “I’m very interested in learning all about our clients’ personal stories. We spend a full year designing and planning to produce a day that’s unforgettable for them. Our passion is to create a visual story of who they are. The colors we select, the details in patterns that symbolize heritage, a special memory, a family heirloom; these are the details that make the visual story rich and layered.” For example, the father of a recent client is Danish, “so we brought in our Royal Copenhagen tableware and wove it into the design concept with nods to Colorado with Indian paintbrush and columbine flowers integrated in the invitations, menu cards and even the textured lighting in the ceiling.”
Photo courtesy of Enjoue Studio
NON-BOOZY BARS
Phony negronis, botanical seltzers and prickly-pear palomas are just a few of the many mocktails on menus at some of the top restaurants in the country. With many people opting to lose the booze, it’s important to offer alcohol-free celebratory drinks at weddings, galas and even casual get-togethers. “Our beverage program is expanding to incorporate more options for our clients,” shares Amanda Holman, marketing director at Peak Beverage. “Flavorful, complex drinks are what people want—and that doesn’t always include alcohol. You can still offer festive drinks and creative combinations no matter what.”
MANNERS MATTER
As renowned etiquette author Emily Post wrote years ago, “Consideration for the rights and feelings of others is not merely a rule for behavior in public but the very foundation upon which social life is built.” Wearing flip-flops to a black-tie gala, not responding to a simple RSVP or not thanking your host are unfortunately common occurrences these days. It’s time we ante up on polite decorum and basic manners and take Emily Post’s advice to heart. Let’s hope this becomes a trend this year!
Photo courtesy of Peak Beverage
SAY CHEESE
An experienced photographer can make all the difference when it comes to capturing the essence of an event, and Bonnie Sen, founder of Bonnie Sen Editorial and Fine Art Photography, has a keen eye for just that. “It’s all about showcasing the personalities of each couple and their unique wedding, so I might aim for more photojournalistic shots or even use classic medium-format film to evoke the authenticity of the couple and the celebration,” she says. Sen notes that many couples are requesting whole-weekend coverage to capture wedding event activities such as horse-back riding and boat-day excursions.
Photo courtesy of Love Emily Bakery
UNIQUE CAKES
According to Emily Campbell of Love Emily Bakery, couples are slowly getting away from the traditional wedding cake. “Cakes are looking funkier and more imperfect, full of bold shapes, texture and more color,” she says. Dome-shaped cakes with textured piping and florals are very popular, but no matter what, it’s all about uber-personalization. “I have a couple who got engaged in Italy and wanted to bring that feel to their wedding cake, so we created a light lemon cake with raspberry filling and a smooth vanilla buttercream exterior in a terracotta-and-gold color scheme adorned with tomatoes on the vine along the tiers for a Tuscan feel.”
@love.emily.bakery
Photo courtesy of The Perfect Petal
BOLD BLOOMS
Flowers have been an integral part of weddings for centuries and provide the finishing touch to any party, from an intimate candlelit dinner for two to an elaborate black-tie affair. Cindy Ollig, owner and designer of The Perfect Petal, says, “Tones of neutrals in ivory, caramel and blush used to dominate wedding color palettes, but currently bold and vibrant florals are in our clients’ vision boards. Couples are expressing their personal style with large-scale floral statements and ‘moments,’ transforming spaces with floral hanging sculptures, floral hallways, flower walls, floral table runners and arches in exaggerated height to add impact and individuality to their event.”
