Marriage ceremonies are million-dollar businesses. Whether one opts for an over-the-top celebration or an intimate ceremony, the focus nowadays is on keeping things unique. Over the years the trends have changed and renewed. Expectedly, this year, too, has a stock of new wedding trends.

Here are a few of the trends that can be followed:

Personalization

Couples are opting to personalise their weddings in a way that feels natural to them. From exotic off beat destinations, bespoke messages embroidered on the bride and groom’s outfits, interactive food stations, to minimal floral décor, the trend has shifted to customised weddings.

Personalised ‘wedding favours’, which are small gifts given to guests as a token of appreciation are also in the mainstream these days. Some off-the-wall ideas include engraved shot glasses or marble coasters, “mint to be” mint tins, handmade spice blends, and pull-out photo boxes. The idea is to add a personal touch to small tokens, to be remembered by guests forever.

The western concept of guests RSVP-ing to weddings is also being adopted. The focus now has shifted to weddings with relatively smaller guest groups, but thoughtful and personalised set-ups.

Cross Culture Weddings

Cross-cultural weddings have caught on like wildfire. Whether it is a two-day wedding with separate ceremonies or a fusion ceremony combining the separate rituals, a confluence of both the bride and groom’s traditions is gaining popularity.

Exotic Destinations

Gone are the days when couples picked only beaches as their wedding destination.

Inspired by various celebrities, serene destinations like Tuscany, Lake Como, Amalfi Coast in Italy; Santorini in Greece; Paradise Islands in The Bahamas; and Napa Valley in California have gained popularity for intimate wedding affairs. Locally, Kerala is slowly becoming a favourite for couples who wish to have a luxurious but tranquil celebration. One such destination wedding we did at Wedniksha was a cruise wedding. It was extravagant and unique.

However, the old but timeless palace weddings are still a beloved pick among couples in India. The Umaid Bhawan in Jodhpur, The Jai Mahal Palace in Jaisalmer, TajFalknuma Palace in Hyderabad, or the Neemrana Fort are perfect for exotic and royal weddings. These will never go out of trend due to their heritage and the grandeur they have to offer. Regal weddings will always be in vogue.

Floral and pastel decor

When it comes to décor, outdoor intricate floral settings are the new go-to. Whimsical mandaps flushed with flowers create a dreamy visual treat for all and are one of the biggest trends of 2019.

Rigid colour palettes have been ditched for the simplicity of pastel hues. Elegance is taking over, with subtle shades of peach, pink and teal being all the rage these days. Glittery chandeliers, hanging garlands, wooden canopies, vintage lanterns, foliage-filled roofs, fairy lights and rustic earthy elements can be seen all around.

An amalgamation of traditional and contemporary themes also seems to be catching up, combining the classic yellow of marigolds with understated off white and blush-hued wisteria, lilies, and daisies.

To lighten up the gravity that comes with wedding rituals, more and more couples are now looking to add fun and quirky elements to their ceremony. Photobooths with amusing props have become a major crowd pleaser over time and will probably be seen all through this year as well.

Minimalist but bold elements like creative seating charts, signage and displays are also famous.

(The author of this article is Bhavnesh Sawhney, Director of Wedniksha)