It’s just three days to go until MOST CURIOUS, the wedding show for the style-savvy couple. The hottest ticket on the wedding show circuit and a chance to see what’s now and next in the world of weddings as well a being a fun day out, allowing you to tick off from your to do list with the coolest ticks ever!
We thought we’d give you a bit of a run down of the 2018 wedding trends you might see at the show, via our cool new features and of course our mighty 170 exhibitors.
Although we are not a slave to trends, and don’t feel you guys should be either, it is fun to see what fresh feels are coming out for 2018. So here’s our predictions of what you’ll be seeing at creative nuptials this coming year, as well as the movers and shakers (most at our show, what do ya know!) who are making them happen.
A hippy aesthetic
We have a brand new 12 metre long catwalk space this year with space for 100 seated – and there’s two fashion shows per day at 12.15pm and 2.45pm, curated by stylist Luke Reene. Look one will be a Haight Ashbury groovy vibe, that we are expecting to see in aisle style this summer and beyond, so it’s kinda boho but beyond. A more authentic reference to the Janis Joplin’s and Grace Slicks of this world with texture, loose layers, lace, pattern, embroidery and a whole bunch of swishiness going on!
Brides are tuning in to add a little colour and decoration and even flared trouser suits, and of course the flared sleeve ain’t going anywhere either.
Patterns + Sheer
On the other end of the spectrum, fashion forward brides are also going for clean, minimal lines and instead leaving all the detail and impact in graphic motifs on the fabric. Which we’ll be showing off in Look 2 on the catwalk! Negative space in soft sheer panels and interesting patterns that are a million miles away from your traditional bridal lace – think polkadots and flocked velvet – are big features of bridal style in the most wonderful way.
Perspex, Cellophane and Plastic
Cold, hard, shiny plastic. Who knew Cady Heron was on to something? Weddings are going plastic fantastic by continuing the negative space trend with Perspex – we’re talking all the way from invites to the tables you’ll sit at. Set the uber cool and clinical vibe with a giant hand-lettered Perspex sheet as your table plan. Florals are also getting an industrial update, with layers and arrangements of flowerheads and foliage featuring in and behind Perspex containers and as seen in our shoot.
And as total polythene curve ball, we predict big things for flowers in clear plastic bags, you heard it here first! Come and see it in action in some of the installations by Hazel Gardiner floral stylist, all around the show! Word on the street is, a few of our florist exhibitors are feeling the perspex vibes, look out for it. (And yes we are going to recycle!)
Dinky floral
The time of the wildflower is now and you will see more in our fashion show in our blooms by The Floral Editor and Boom Blooms, adorning the models. Gorgeous big-headed and blousy blooms have dominated weddings for the past few years but now smaller-headed, bitty flowers are gaining traction. Daisies and daisy shaped flowers are definitely going to have a moment, alongside our prediction of big things for hippy vibes. Vast sprays of more detailed flowers make gorgeous sylvan-looking bouquets, whilst dried petals and treated sprigs look perfect scattered on tables or immortalised in the buttercream on your wedding cake, and as part of your stationery suite they can set the seeds for your wedding perfectly.
Hang them upside down and include a plastic looking Anthurium Lily and you’re hitting three 2018 floral trends in one! Keep an eye for the look at the show, a trend treasure hunt if you will. Bonus points for Anthurium Lily tally chart.
Catering/grazing platter
As weddings have progressed from standard function rooms to stellar fun venues, the traditional wedding meal has become the obvious choice less and less. With a vast array of catering companies offering personalised menus in every cuisine under the sun, your bellies and hearts will be full. A new wave of catering will be grazing platters or feasting tables, communal stations where delicious food and dips are piled high and guests can go and pick as they please throughout the festivities.
Head straight for our exhibitor Grape and Fig to see the plethora of yumminess in reality.
Holographic foil and retro hand-drawn fonts
With a triumphant return to old-style printing methods and the unbeatable feel of letterpress on quality card stock, couples are opting to add a gorgeous modern twist to their stationery with holographic and iridescent foil. Keeping the resurging kitschy 90s vibes afloat and perfect for those Boomerangs on Instagram, too! We are also seeing a renaissance of retro style hand drawn fonts, from sixties psychedelic style (it’s coming!) to 90s skateboard stickeresque text with that drawn free hand style vibe.
Look out for it on the coolest wedding stationery next year. SO many cool exhibitors showing off these new looks for type – for holographic try EYI LOVE and Lucky Inc, and look around the show for exhibitor Spoonful of Sugar’s retro font signage and wall mural – for all your selfie opportunities!
Soft Waves and Hair Jewellery
Plus a word from our hair and make up sponsors Portraits Bridal! We are not saying we’re going back to vintage, but hair waves do seem to be happening, from the softest of boho flicks and flick overs, to slightly tighter set vibes. Topped off with sparkly adornments, there’s a little more glitz and glam coming back for 2018 trends we feel and after a good few years of braids and toussels we ready for it. More from the experts Portraits Bridal too..
“When it comes to make up, creative and style conscious brides, are going quite editorial with Fresh Dewey Skin as well as a bold matt full lip using striking colours. There’s more confidence in a bolder choice of eyeshadow as well as the amount of eye product they are prepared to wear. Strip lashes are out! Individual extensions done on the day are most definitely in! Our most courageous brides are opting for avant garde eye designs using elements of geometric metallic shapes created exclusively by us and also gold/silver leaf, gems and various sequins.”
“With hair, we are currently seeing more of our 2018 brides leaning towards soft fluffy waves with a modern takes on some of the classic movie star looks. Hair is worn naturally, tucked behind the ear and adorned with large statement earrings or eye catching ear cuffs that strengthen the look. We are also seeing many more experimental looks with jewellery being woven in and out of braids and hair looks to give it an extra special feel.”
Check Tilly Thomas Luxe for the guru of hair jewellery and adornment and of course head to Portraits Bridal to see how they can help you with the look.
Handpainted Murals + Slogans
Wedding décor nowadays is so much more than a seating plan and tabletop adornments – instead, couples are celebrating in blank canvas spaces, and taking over the walls. Murals, fonts and slogans are being painted on the wall for a contemporary take on décor. Wall-to-wall wedding goodness! We’ve even commissioned our own one for all your selfie needs at the show… you won’t be able to miss it..
FEAST shows off the latest food and drink trends
We have a brand new food hall called FEAST, styled by decor hotties Lullaby Inc. With delicious sweet and savoury street food and stalls of course displaying some of the emerging wedding food and drink trends such as totally plant based fare from Planted, fresh Greek platters from Isle of Olive, French Pattisserie yums and closer to home as well as alcoholic sorbets from Sloshed Sorbets, good coffee and Espresso Martinis from Ruttle and Rowe and a Gin Bar from The Portobello Gin Distillery
There’s complimentary gin cocktail for for VIP ticket holders too.
Cloud Bursts and Paper Hangings
We have installation hot spots all around the venue, set to predict what’s gonna be the ‘it’ decor for 2018 and beyond. This year, as you might have guessed, the styling theme is peace, love and understanding – so we will take inspiration from the psychedelic flower power aesthetic and bring it up to date with a modern city hippy vibe. So there will be giant textured walls, mixed media with paper, foil created by Pop Pop Papier and even sprayed dried flowers, along with Spoonful of Sugar’s hand drawn font murals. We predict big things for maximalist tassel walls, they have been around for a bit, but this year they are going big or going home!
We also can feel a new trend for suspended clouds of florals, grasses and dried flowers, such as will be seen in out entrance installation space. Remember how hanging poms poms were huge, well its a similar idea but more ethereal and about natural materials. Our special installation, dedicated to the show founder Becky’s late daughter (read more here and here) , will feature fluffy clouds of gypsophila at head height as well as a floral floor mandala, all ideas coming through for 2018!
See the trends emerge and more at Most Curious Wedding Fair.
And you still have time to purchase tickets ahead of Saturday!
Becky Hoh-Hale View all Becky's articles
Becky Hoh-Hale is the founder of Most Curious Wedding Fair and when she's not doing that is writing about cool design and interiors. She enjoys being half Malaysian Chinese, house plants, good coffee and is waiting patiently for the next season of Stranger Things.
