When stars like Jessica Simpson, Hilary Duff, Fergie, and Gwen Stefani need to throw a spectacular party, they know who to call — top planner Mindy Weiss. We had the pleasure of wining and dining with her recently at an event hosted by Perfect Circle jewelry insurance, where she gave us the scoop on what's hot for 2013 weddings.
1. Rose gold and yellow gold are in. She was surprised when her daughter-in-law requested a rose gold ring two years ago, but now, she’s seeing it everywhere. Also popular: mixing and matching gold tones.
2. Lace is everywhere right now, from table runners to vases to chandelier covers. She’s even draping a tent entirely in lace for an upcoming wedding! (Her décor motto: Go with a touch or just too much — never middle-of-the-road.) Lace was also huge on the bridal runways this season, and it’s showing up more on shoes and purses as well.
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Messina
3. Grooms are buying instead of renting. "My grooms are very concerned with what they're wearing," said Weiss. She's seeing a return to classic — hand-tied bow ties, vests, black socks ("colorful socks are done"), and slim-fit Tom Ford tuxedos. Shoes and cuff links are becoming a big deal to her grooms.
4. More bridesmaids are giving their ‘maids color swatches and allowing them to choose their own attire in that shade. “It lets them show their personality,” she said. It also cuts down on complaints from bridesmaids who don’t want to spend a ton of money on a dress they’ll never wear again. In particular, her clients are clamouring for bridesmaid dresses by Monique Lhuillier.
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Messina
5. Centerpieces are shrinking. No longer are couples opting for tall, overpowering arrangements, even in massive ballrooms. Low centerpieces create a greater sense of intimacy.
6. Top colors: Creams and greens, especially pistachio. She’s also seeing a lot of lavender right now. What’s out? All-white weddings.
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Messina
7. For invitations, engraving is very “in” right now. Couples are opting to e-mail their save-the-dates, which allows them to splurge on formal, traditional wedding invitations. They're also choosing to spend extra on hand calligraphy, vintage stamps (which are triple the cost of regular stamps) and beveled edging.
8. Lighting is “out of control.” Weiss said that “Clients are finally, for the first time, understanding the importance of lighting.” They're allotting more of the budget to lighting, and they’re looking for interesting fixtures. Chandeliers are on their way out, and colorful lanterns are taking their place.
Photo Credits: Elizabeth Messina
9. In photography, she's seeing a return to classic. “The fusion of colors and filters are going away,” she said. She recommends going for a mix of traditional and artsy — in 20 years, you’re going to want that classic family portrait with Grandma. As a planner, it's her job to make sure that the photographer takes all of your must-have photos.
10. Surprisingly, more couples are cutting videography from the budget. “They feel that no one watches it or that they’ll never watch it,” she said, although she disagrees and always tries to persuade her couples otherwise!
11. The top music right now: '80s hits. They’re the tunes this generation of brides and grooms grew up with, so the music hits at everyone’s nostalgia. DJs are more popular than live bands right now, and they’re much “cooler” than in generations past. Weiss joked that "They can actually talk on the microphone — they're not saying 'give it up for the salad,' which mortifies me."
12. Food is all about farm-to-table, from casual backyard receptions to black tie ballroom celebrations. Couples are opting for long tables rather than round.
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Messina
13. Dessert displays are becoming more personalized. Generic candy buffets are being replaced by more creative themes, like popcorn or cookie tables. Cupcakes are over, and artsy wedding cakes (think Maggie Austin) are in.
14. Traditions are changing. We were very surprised to hear that many of Weiss's clients are requesting to skip the big moment when they cut the cake. She compromises: "Sometimes we do it without an announcement."
The first dance is still a big moment, but couples are taking a more light-hearted approach by choosing a "cool" song, like an instrumental version of a rap tune. They're taking dance lessons, but they're not making the dance as dramatic as it's been in the past (think: those crazy YouTube videos with intricate choreography that spans throughout the decades).
15. Brides are looking to the red carpet for inspiration. Nail polish is a big part of the wedding-day attire, and brides are buying clutches “they’ll never use,” she said. Earrings and arm candy are more popular than necklaces; “Gowns are so beautiful that you don’t need one.”
Reception dresses are still going strong, and she’s hoping more brides will consider changing into a “going away” outfit, like the ones from Monique Lhuillier's new collection. Other designer favorites: Carolina Herrera is making a comeback, and Jenny Packham rocked it this season.
Photo Credit: Curtis Dahl Photography
16. Couples are experiencing social media overload. How did brides ever survive without Pinterest and Lover.ly? They've completely revolutionized the way that we plan, but they can make the wedding planner's job tougher. “There’s so much information, sometimes it’s too much!” she said.
She recommends that you stop looking at these sites a month before the big day; you don’t want to see anything that’s going to make you second-guess yourself.
Couples are also hashtagging their weddings and encouraging guests to share photos across Instagram.
17. After parties are huge. “They just don’t want it to end,” she explained. Couples are even hiring DJs for the after party and making it a big event.
Photo Credit: Jay Lawrence Goldman
18. Pre-wedding parties are expanding. Engagement parties are still popular, though Weiss tries to talk her clients out of it. "Save the money for the wedding," she advised. More brides are having multiple bridal showers to accomodate all guests, and the bridesmaids' luncheon is back.
19. Rehearsal dinners are taking a casual turn. Couples are opting for theme parties, like Mexican fiestas, or family-style Italian dinners, and Mindy's a fan. “It eliminates the pressure the night before and builds up the next night,” she said.
20. Destination weddings are hotter than ever. Last year, she planned 10; this year, she’s planning 30 all over the world. She said couples want the “summer camp” experience but don’t realize the expense it adds: “You have to do a lot of entertaining!”
—Kristen O'Gorman Klein and Stefania Sainato
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