Planners Dish What's Hot In 2015!

We're a third of the way through the year, and with engagement season all wrapped up, there are more brides embarking on the road to wedding planning than ever. In honor of all the newly engaged, and the Maharanis who love adding to their dream list of South Asian wedding ideas, we decided to ask some of our favorite planners what the hottest trends are for 2015 — because no one knows the industry better than these fabulously seasoned experts! Here's what they had to say...

"As wedding planners it is definitely our jobs to stay on top of the new and emerging trends. Our brides will request the most modern and popular ways to add flair and style to their weddings. For 2015, we have noticed lots of new trends that have taken over...

Gone are the days of a bottle of water in a paper bag. Now we see canvas or tote bags, often personalized to reflect the couple or the destination, full to the brim with goodies! These can include beverages, mini snacks, hangover kits or even personal accessories. Designed with the aim of making your guests as comfortable as possible while giving them a warm welcome to your wedding festivities and thanking them for making the trip, welcome bags are becoming an integral part of the planning process.

Mandap entrances and soft colors at receptions are two more trends we have already seen emerging across America this year. Couples want to really wow their guests with an extraordinary entrance to their ceremony, greeting them with large floral archways or stylish gates which set the tone for the rest of the wedding. At the same time, many are favoring softer tones for their reception, as opposed to the brighter more vibrant colors that can typically be found during an Indian ceremony. More and more soft pinks, creams, peaches and blush colors are appearing, which create a really romantic and intimate atmosphere." - Sonal J. Shah, Sonal J. Shah Event Consultants

"We are seeing a trend for having a surprise element, often in centerpieces — a dash of bold color inserted into a romantic foundation of ivories and subtle shades. Also, texture is back. We love the look of rich Banarasi Fabric Panels, layered between flowing georgette chiffon, it's both confident and romantic." - Farzana Mohammad, Milaap Events

"The biggest trend I am seeing for Indian weddings in 2015, is a combination of cultures. Fusion weddings are becoming more popular even when both the bride and groom come from similar Indian families. In many cases they have grown up in the United States and want to incorporate the food and music popular in their home, college or favorite cities and towns in the US. Couples are adding Italian, Chinese and Southern style items to their food stations, are dancing to all types of music — and in some cases wearing a western wedding gown for part of the event." - Tracie Domino, Tracie Domino Events 

"A big trend I've been seeing for 2015 weddings is an Old Bollywood Theme with a modern flare. The most popular aspect to this theme has been a marquee of bride & groom's initials with a modern pattern as the backdrop of their reception stage." - Mili Shah, Planning Elegance

"Something that we have seen that is becoming a big trend in our South Asian Weddings is floral jewelry. Bride’s are loving the unique look created by vibrant, exotic, fragrant full flowers. Any time I have brought this idea up to my brides they instantly love it. Using floral jewelry also helps set your looks apart during your wedding festivities, you are not just wearing gold set after gold set. As a wedding planner, I have seen that there are hair and makeup artists taking on this trend, and now offering custom made floral jewelry perfect for your pre-wedding events." - Anjali Sandhu, Ace Of Events

"One word: Flexibility." Clients want vendors who are flexible and are willing to work with them for their vision! There are a lot of different versions of love — every bride has a different vision they want captured. Again, flexibility is key!" - Dana Erickson, Bridal and Event Lounge

"South Asian brides have begun to mesh several western elements with what our older generations consider 'traditional'. They are going with very modern and contemporary elements. The fashion trends — brides are sticking with a lengha but have begun to change colors from reds to pinks and brighter shades. Receptions have a lot of color contrast — teals, blues, reds... Mandaps have become larger and have many modern touches such as mirrors, shelving, chandeliers, and glamorous floral arrangements on the roof. Technology gives designers a cutting edge, allowing them to construct amazing mandaps." - Poonam Khanna, RSVP Events

"I find that a lot more of my couples want their weddings to be unique to them, and express a sense of intimacy. They want to be interacting and engaged with their guests, and not locked away. They are starting to attend cocktail hour, and I have had some who actually reduced the size of their reception, so that they can spend time with each person.

Last year, I did two weddings where the couples wanted to have their ceremonies at their homes, outdoors. They did this because they wanted their weddings to take place in a setting that was meaningful, and was a part of who they were. They wanted to spend time with family and friends at home. In a home setting, families feel comfortable and more relaxed, planning an outdoor wedding at a home has it's own unique set of challenges, but at the end of the day, is a true reflection of the couple and their families." - Rashi Shyam, Event Nirvana

 

 

We hope you gals found some serious inspiration from our experts!