UP THE AISLE
Cresting a wave of wedding trends
COUNTRY-STYLE weddings, ultraviolet flowers and simple “boho” wedding dresses will be the choices for on-trend brides tying the knot in 2018, according to vendors at the well-attended annual bridal fair held at the East London Golf Club at the weekend.
“Everyone is going for the boho, less-is-more look and girls want revealing bodices with sheer mesh and lace,” said CAN Couture owner and dress designer Caileigh Lutge, who creates custom gowns for brides, bridesmaids, flower-girls and the mothers of brides and grooms.
“Boob tubes are out and people are going for less bling. Pinterest is the in-thing to find ideas for weddings.”
She said soft colours like blush pinks, sage greens and ice grey blues were de rigueur for bridesmaids.
Bridegrooms are following suit and opting for a more casual, rustic look. “A lot of them are wearing chinos, white shirts and waistcoats or suspenders in a more laid-back country style,” said Best Man Suit Hire coowner Samantha Harding. “A lot of them don’t want to spend money on a full suit because the jacket comes off after the ceremony and because of the heat in East London.”
Harding said navy slim-fit suits were also fashionable, as were threepiece vintage-style suits embellished with subtle glitz and patterns for more formal weddings.
Flowers set the scene for any marriage ceremony, and Sarah May Law of Sarah May Florals said the colour trend was moving towards ultraviolet purples, as prompted by the Pantone colour of the year for 2018.
“Trends take a little while to filter down so we will probably see lisianthus and ultraviolet roses near the end of this year. Trends are great, but I like things to be whimsical and pretty with a natural, ‘foraged’ look.”
Law said oversized bouquets filled with scented roses which looked like they were gathered “straight out of the garden” were very popular.
Photographer Stephanie Norman of Stephanie Norman Photography said the informal, romantic trends extended to the way the wedding day was captured on camera.
“People want a relaxed, un-posed style with a lot of laughter and emotion. They want to show the fun of their wedding day. Wedding photos shouldn’t be a tedious process, but rather a time alone for the couple away from wedding-day chaos.”
Nicky van Huyssteen of The Juniper Event said décor trends for 2018 would feature rose-gold geometrics, candles in a variety of heights, raw wood tables and draped Edison light bulbs. “The palette is very natural and clever accessories bring in colour.”
The rose gold and blush pink craze was being carried through to wedding cakes, said Bronwin du Plessis of Bee’s Cupcake Corner. “Most cakes are three-tiered and simple with a lot of gold and blush pink, and incorporating cupcakes because they are cheaper.”
Bride-to-be Zimasa Mkizwana, 32, who is marrying Kanya Pakati, 34, in Mthatha in March, said she had come to the bridal fair with her fiancé to source groomsmen suits.
“We have everything else sorted and have just found the pale grey three-piece suits we want to hire for our country-style wedding in a game reserve,” said Mkizwana.
Taylor-Rose Sims, 19, was shopping for “everything” for her big November wedding at the East London Golf Club. “We are having a big wedding with 420 guests as well as 10 groomsmen and eight bridesmaids, so I am planning well in advance.
“I want white with a hint of blush pink and greenery.” —