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Date: 1/29/2020
Recently engaged? Tracking the trends in wedding planning as you begin to map out your big day? If you didn’t make it to the 30th Annual Springfield Wedding & Bridal Expo at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield a few weeks back, here’s what was trending at the expo:
The dress
According to Katelyn Patrone, a bridal show consultant for David’s Bridal, which has a shop in the Riverdale Shops in West Springfield, many of the gown styles for 2020 seem to be taking their inspiration from the Royal weddings of recent years.
“Long sleeves are in,” Patrone noted. “And definitely lace. Dresses are definitely more fitted, and there are very long trains.”
Analia St. George, owner of Bridal Corner of Chicopee, confirmed that long sleeves are definitely a trend for 2020. So are “beading, plunging necklines” and skirts with “netting and chiffon,” she noted. To balance the new trend in covered shoulders and arms, St. George noted she’s seen “very low, open backs” on some gown designs. She said there’s also a growing trend away from the traditional white or champagne hues for wedding gowns.
“There’s colors – dresses in black, and navy blue,” she said, showing off a model wearing a full-skirted, strapless design with black, appliqued netting over a champagne-hued underdress.
Both Patrone and St. George said today’s brides are increasingly eschewing the traditional veil for their wedding ceremonies.
The tux
Patrone noted that there has been a shift from the traditional black tux for the groom and his party to navy blue formalwear in recent years. St. George confirmed this trend, adding that for 2020 her shop is offering the groom and his groomsmen a variety of options, including a wide array of tux colors. “There are different color patterns” as well, St. George said, showing designs that mimic paisley and tone-on-tone motifs in her book of options. “Plaids are also back” in tuxes, she added.
The venue & menu
According to Regina K. Spafford, sales coordinator of Chez Josef in Agawam, catered, location weddings are still trending very strongly. “A wedding at a farm, a barn, a greenhouse” are among the many venues Chez Josef has catered in the recent past.
“I think catering is the big thing,” she said. “They want [the reception meal] brought to their venue or house, it’s more customized.”
Spafford also noted there seems to be a trend away from a formal plated dinner at the wedding reception, with more couples opting for a buffet or serving-station style meal.
“They want [their reception] to be more like a cocktail party,” Stafford noted.
Lauren Pastoreck, event manager for the Starting Gate at GreatHorse in Hampden echoed the shift toward a more relaxed trend in reception planning.
“It’s all about the guest experience,” Pastoreck said, noting that many couples are foregoing traditional wedding favors, opting for other types of experiences. She’s had requests for cigar bars – something the venue doesn’t offer because it is a non-smoking facility – and even had one inquiry about a cannabis bar. With recreational marajuana just recently legalized in Massachusetts, Pastoreck said event planners like herself are watching the trend to see if cannabis bars will become a common request going forward.
Even the traditional wedding cake is beginning to take a backseat in reception planning. “People are starting to go away from a large cake, opting for a ceremonial cake [for cutting] and a dessert station, a Viennese station or a cupcake station.”
The sky’s the limit when it comes to the “cake cutting,” according to Erin Witmer, owner of The Boylston Rooms in Easthampton, a popular “blank canvas” venue that can be tailored to a couple’s wedding or reception plans. “[Couples] want to buck tradition and really customize things,” Witmer noted. “If you really love cannolis, have a cannoli cutting! – it’s important to bring in what’s special to the couple.”
Witmer said this “customized” trend is even extending to the venue decor with many couples opting to make their own decorations rather than rely on traditional reception trims.
Late night snacks
Stafford, Pastoreck and Witmer said today’s couples are also interested in being able to offer “after party” type snacks to their guests.
“They want food to go, and snacks available after the dancing,” Stafford said, adding that the mini-slider bars Chez Josef offers as an addition to the reception menu are “very popular … a lot of brides and grooms are excited about it.”
Pastoreck said the Starting Gate is seeing the same type of requests. Brides and grooms want “everything mini” for their late-night snack bar “mini-sliders, mini fajitas, mini-tacos,” she said. Popcorn, Pastoreck noted, is another popular food trend, “either on the tables or at the end of the night as a popcorn bar” after dancing.
The invitations
“A couple of years ago it was all about the Mason jar, now it's more filigree and formal,” said Linda Rafta, owner of Lasting Impressions, a stationary and invitation service located in Wilbraham. “Even barn weddings want [invitations] with lace – and burlap.”
Rafta said intricate, laser-cut designs are very popular right now, as are invitations with pockets that insure all the parts of an invitation remain together for the recipient.
“Acrylic invitations are also a growing trend,” Rafta said, showing off several lucite examples beautifully etched with script and floral designs.
The flowers
“For 2020, it’s all about the rustic look,” said Maryann Bishop, a floral designer for Langone’s Florist of Springfield. Another popular trend Bishop was highlighting at the show were wedding flowers crafted from unusual materials. Arrangements constructed with “succulents, greenery and berries” similar to the bouquet, boutonniere and corsage she had on display were growing in popularity, she said, though there is still a call for the perennial classic bridal bouquet. Even with a more traditional choice, Bishop said today’s brides “like things a little more free-form” than in years past.
The entertainment
DJ David Lash of Belchertown, who has been helping brides and grooms throw a great party since 1980, said today’s receptions are all about personality – music and a style choice that matches that of the couple. He said he’s finding today’s engaged couples also want “someone that will organize and run the event for them.” When it comes to the type of entertainment for the reception, Lash said anything goes.
“I did [a wedding] yesterday that wanted games. They weren’t a family that danced. They wanted games the family could participate in,” Lash said.
The transportation
There were several limo companies and even an open-air carriage reminiscent again of the recent Royal weddings – but the most unique offering for 2020 in Western Mass. was a restored, black and white trolley. Owned by Boylston Rooms proprietor Erin Witmer, the trolley is available for rent for weddings for up to 10 consecutive hours, for travel witting 50 miles of Easthampton, all within the state of Massachusetts. Information about the trolley is available at weddingdaytrolley.com