Although contemporary and edgy wedding décor will be popular in 2019, traditional elements will still be the main option. The classic ballroom wedding is going to be the favored venue despite the popularity of destination weddings. Couples still want the romantic, elegant reception.
“When you hold a wedding reception at a hotel, you go the whole nine yards,” said Vivian Pabelico, director of events for Peninsula Manila. The hotel can handle the practical matters—booking appointments with the designer, makeup artist, jeweler and wedding cake stylists; providing spa treatment and the wedding car (or Pen jeepney); getting the orchestra or choir, prenup pictorial venue and honeymoon suite.
Pabelico added that the trend in prenuptial pictorial has spurred the Peninsula to offer a package for nonclient couples. The P65,000 package includes a holding area for dressing and makeup, five hours of shooting around the hotel and consumable meals. The grand staircase at the lobby is perfect for wedding pictorials.
Couples today are experimenting with non-traditional seating layouts or changing the setup to create a personalized experience. Floral decor will be in architectural shapes.
At the recent Peninsula wedding fair, Peninsula creative director Anna Fay Rosal echoed the trend in bold color combinations and show-stopping backgrounds.
She favored a centerpiece of warm colors, emphasizing marsala and burgundy. The table was a profusion of high-contrast colors of peonies, pink roses, dahlias, spring roses, tulips and carnations.
Pabelico added that there has been a strong emphasis on entertainment as couples hire professional emcees. There’s also the “party after the party” which is all-out entertainment after the standard wedding program and speeches.
For couples organizing their weddings, Peninsula Manila’s recent wedding fair highlighted trends:
Styling: Playing up on textures and voluminous materials make a strong visual impact. Among the theatrical stylists are Teddy Manuel who made a setting dramatized by ceiling drapery. Meanwhile Jo Claravall reflected the trend in clear glass and metallics, coupled with layers for white flowers for a modern classic look. Another key look for 2019 is the restrained color palette of two or three colors.
Printed materials: According to Best Impressions, envelopes are personalized with self-inking stamps which include a water-based ink pad that re-inks for each impression. Although more expensive, it provides the best quality image for the couple’s initials or logos. Monogrammed wax seals also lend a personal touch. Popgram Printing said laser-cut designs take invitations to a notch higher. Write Impressions said letterhead printing with embossed monograms and gold edges are popular these days. Expect more vellum or semi-transparent paper in wedding invitations in 2019.
Theatrical lights and sounds: Weddings today have become production numbers to create mood or highlight the stylist’s fantasy sets.
Fancy footwear: The TV series “The Crown” revived interest in Old World charm such as lace, floral designs and detailing. Self-taught shoe designer Jefferson Si, whose clients include Jodi Sta Maria, Claudine Barretto and Kathryn Bernardo, has created a collection of feminine pumps with a vintage look.
Shoulder-baring gowns: Off-the-shoulder gowns and bouffant skirts are the favorite of brides. Designer Mark Bumgarner veered away from the traditional froufrou and played up with texture and minimal sequins.
Bold wedding cakes: Bruneian cake designer Faridah Yussof has been making wedding gown cakes, including minute embellishments. At the Peninsula, the seven-foot wedding gown cake has been her biggest. Cake specialist Penk Cheng went for a tiered metallic cake which is trending in 2019.
Chocolate wedding flavors: Martha Stewart declares chocolates are the “ultimate crowd pleaser”—they’re reminders of the sweetness of the weddings.
Same-day video edit. Wedding videos today aren’t just chronicles of a special event. Videographers utilize cinematic techniques to create romance and drone photography to highlight destination weddings. For couples in a hurry, the same-day edit is a coverage that includes the preparation for the wedding, behind the scenes until the ceremonial vows. Videos that include the reception and speeches will take longer due to the extensive cinematic editing. —CONTRIBUTED
