The latest and greatest in wedding trends

Olivia Buckley

Founder & managing directer, Olivia Buckley International

“What is truly exciting is that there is no longer a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to wedding decor. We are not bound by a single dominating style, be it traditional, extravagant, or modern. Instead, we are seeing a beautiful tapestry of diversity across weddings.”

Olivia Buckley has nailed the thoughtful approach of recent weddings, particularly since the micro wedding days of Covid. Now, although weddings are larger, couples are going after what they really want, be it rituals or colours that reflect their style. “Colour schemes are an ever-evolving canvas of creativity, where couples embrace their style, the beauty of seasonality and their venue. Your wedding venue is your blank canvas, and it is all about creating harmony.”

When it comes to selecting decor and designing tablescapes, couples are moving away from conventional confines yet again, and focusing instead on how the space works altogether.

“Scenography truly elevates wedding design. Instead of fixating on the table, it is about taking a step back and considering spatial dynamics. Where should the focal point or stage be? Where
will the couple be seated? These are pivotal areas that will remain at the centre of attention and warrant special consideration.

“Instead of adhering to uniform round tables, you can experiment with round, rectangular, and oval shapes. This approach allows you to have some fun with the layout, enhancing the flow and guest placement. Also, consider intentional asymmetry – accent rectangular dining tables with low floral and candle arrangements, and round tables with tall floral and candle centrepieces. Introduce diversity by varying the table linen colour and texture, and combining materials like velvets, silks, lace, and linen.” oliviabuckley.com

Aoife Hodgins

Founder & events planner, Blue Blossom Creative

When it comes to choosing the right style, Aoife Hodgins gets to know each couple before inspiration strikes. “It is really important to paint a picture of the couple’s vision for their day. Asking for a picture of the wedding dress and knowing what photography style they envisage gives a good sense as to whether they want a romantic, glam, relaxed or formal design. If they’re unsure, I will present a board with images to illustrate the differences to help them decide.”

Once couples have singled out their style, Aoife helps them execute their vision. In terms of colour schemes and floral arrangements, she says while it varies on the season, she’s seen favouritism towards blue hues and mixed textures.

“I have had quite a few couples with blue in the colour palette, whether it’s added in styling with classic whites and greenery or paired with pastels in summer with soft pinks, peaches and lilacs. For the colder months, I see moody tones such as dark navy and black being used, which I love to create a more dramatic effect. “For me, the choice of flowers makes a huge difference to the overall look and impact. I am seeing a lot of love for ranunculus and anemones at the moment, just be mindful of when they’re in season.

“Then for decor, it is a mix depending on the client’s taste. I do love texture though, and I’ve seen luxe elements such as velvet tablecloths or letterpress on stationery. You have to consider the overall look of the room and the experience of the guests, not just the flowers and candles.” blueblossomcreative.com

Tara Fay

Founder & wedding and event planner, Tara Fay Events

Specialising in luxury Irish weddings and destination weddings, Tara Fay and her team often work with couples across a range of different themes, be it an extravagant wedding in a five-star hotel, at home or a sophisticated outdoor wedding in Portugal.

No matter where they wed, a trend she has noticed of late is couples including odes to their heritage in their ceremonies. “Couples are really exploring their heritage and incorporating elements of it into their wedding. For example, ancient Celtic traditions are a big feature of weddings. Also, couples are personalising the experience for guests with handwritten notes, and other considerate details.”

In regards to decor, Tara says that, over the years, she’s seen colours and florals go in and out of fashion, so rather than focusing on those, they prioritise what their brides want first and foremost, often opting for timeless colour palettes. “In our company, we listen to our clients more so than trends. Having said that, white never goes out of fashion and all white with either silver or gold accents with green is always popular. Lots of colour as well, so it’s either all pale or all very bright happy colours.

And one can never overestimate the significance of florals and candles. “Hanging florals and intentional decor is so important. Candlelight never goes out of fashion and couples love to have an overabundance of candles. They also prefer to re-use and recycle, so we often move florals from the ceremony to the stage areas.”
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