It was so fun yesterday hanging out on the news set at Fox News St. Louis for a morning segment with Lisa Hart on upcoming wedding trends! Below are some of the extended topics that we wanted to go a little more in detail … because we all know three minutes of talking just isn’t enough for me!
Wedding Trends! It’s all about creating an experience for guests these days. We are seeing an increase in budget these days and lowering guest count because our brides and grooms want to create a great time from the beginning until the end. You might think, well Kristin, what does that mean?! How can we do that? Do we need a million dollar budget to do this? The answer is quite simple… hire a great planner and we can make it happen for you… (ps no you don’t need a million dollar budget either). OK, so I might get a little Dr. Phil here and ask, what are your interest, what do you like to do as a couple, where do you eat, whatever the answer is… will help us create an unforgettable wedding for you AND your guests! One thing that I love to do to WOW your guests at a ceremony is giving the the ultimate music with not only an organ and strings but a trump and choir. I promise you, your guests will have goosebumps! Not sure what to do after the ceremony? How about getting shuttles and taking your guests to Ted Drewes ice cream, or a tour of St. Louis on a trolley, maybe even a river boat tour on the Becky Thatcher! Next up for cocktail hour, lets be honest, our guests are ready for a cocktail at this point. So let’s get them a lavender infused French 77 or maybe another specialty drink like a lemon shake up. Another area you can jazz up are your place cards, it doesn’t have to be on paper, we can hang it, stick it, put it on mirrors, the options are endless… Ring the cow bell, we are ready for dinner (kidding). A huge thing right now is brussels sprouts! Yes, jazz it up and put it on a plate! Even though a sit down dinner is what you expect at most weddings, make it more intimate and give them stations or family style! This will give your guests the opportunity to talk to more than just those next to them at the table too! Ok no more small talk (literally), a lot of guests are opting out of doing multiple toasts at weddings and offering their closest friends and family to speak at the rehearsal dinner instead. Don’t worry, we will make sure dad gets his shinning moment! Now, it’s time for what we’ve all been waiting for… DANCING! This is the time to bring your reception to life! Some hot new things are the cigar rolling station, donut walls, bourbon bar (that’s for all you Southern folks), and lately we have adding some fun new things like a cafe (we actually brought in a barista!), caricature station, chocolate the list goes on… but the key is to make it YOU! Don’t just do something because it’s trendy and you want to get the most hits on Pinterest. We want you to love it too…
Destination Weddings! The Kristin Ashley Events team racked up some serious miles with a total of 8 destination weddings. We have traveled overseas to the Caribbean, East Coast-West Coast, even the South of France! It’s a hot thing to do right now… so if you are up for planning a party on a beach or in a chateau – we got you covered!
The Look! Let’s be honest, we will always hear about gold, ivory and blush… however we are seeing a lot of blue hues, greens (tons of greenery), and your oh so classic Southern Living style all white. Be sure to add some textures though to help break up your whites. Think outside the box of your typical peony, ranunculus, hydrangea, fluffy flower… this time ask your florist what they have been dying to try out and let them roll with it! When it comes to linens, we are seeing a lot of velvet, pretty yummy 😉
Don’t Stress– I saved the best for last, how to destress on your wedding day. First and foremost, hire a wedding planner. Ask yourself before picking up the phone, what are my wants and needs. There are lots of great wedding planners these days and its important to pick one from either from start to finish, your Full Planning or that last month to pull it together, your Month of Coordination. Before pulling the trigger, ask yourself, do I trust this person with my special day… and if you say yes. That’s your pick! Go with your gut.. it won’t fail you! Don’t mind me when I say, we are worth our wait in gold 😉 Last but not least… here at Kristin Ashley Events, we offer morning yoga for your wedding. What better way to start your day with a little stretching, breathing and connecting with your besties.
Hair & Makeup: Savanah Summer
Floral: Poppies Design Studio
Linen: Nuage
Rentals: Aries Rental Company
Paper: Cheree Berry Paper