Spring Wedding Trends for 2021!

There’s no “one” way to have a wedding anymore. Thanks to the 2020 Covid shut-downs, most couples seem to have taken their wedding plans in two very different directions. There’s a spectrum between comfortable, intimate weddings and ones that are delightfully “to-the-max” with everything involved. Overall, each wedding’s consensus has much more intention behind everything from food and decor to unique guest experiences. Put your own twist on these trends to inspire your perfect 2021 wedding.

Welcome Boxes

Distance Party To-Go Box, "Grazing"

Photography- True Photography Welcome Box- Personal Touch Dining

There are so many welcome gifts that have become a new standard for couples to give–and generally have available– to their guests now. It seems like it’d be odd not to offer cute personalized hand sanitizers and optional masks, but what about programs and take-home favors too? Instead of assuming your guests have space to fit all these fun trinkets into their pockets throughout the event, a box filled with everything they could need from the start is the perfect solution. Guest-centered details like this are blowing up in popularity since so many weddings have been downsized. As a wedding favor that they can actually use at the wedding, these boxes act as a thoughtful way to make your loved ones feel that they’re cared for on your wedding day.

Environmentally Mindful

Photography- Meurer Image

An admittedly late, amped-up appreciation for sustainability was said to be a top trend in design and planning for 2020 until all gatherings were put on pause. It was a happy accident that many events in 2020 did end up being inherently more sustainable given their smaller scale. They were planned in backyards, amid gardens, and on terraces with help from neighborhood vendors and were more locally-sourced than ever before! 2021 weddings promise to continue that trend, with much of the product—from food to beverage or floral—being sourced as locally as possible, limiting carbon emissions in transportation and supporting small, artisan businesses. Getting married somewhere is now a commitment to supporting a local economy that undoubtedly felt the effects of 2020.

Uniquely Intentioned Tablescapes

Photography- Alexandria Monette Florist- Wildflower Studios

Couples are centering their event decisions around what is most important to them. We’re seeing more planned “private moments” on timelines and sentimental details taking the forefront in decor. Tablescapes are flourishing with custom linens, handwritten thank you notes, and elaborate food service displays. In theory, since there are fewer guests per table, there is more space to build your dream tablescape design. (We can all thank Pinterest for making us acutely aware of gorgeous stylized shoots.) Luxury linens, layered china, candles, and multicolored crystal glassware are sure to be prominent this Spring season and through the Fall.

Dream Livingroom Lounges

Give us cozy throws, plush pillows, and couches! The outdoor lounge lives on in 2021, but the furnishings are leaning towards a cozy farmhouse rendition of a living room. Guests will most likely find themselves sitting for longer, and the Spring can be known for its chilly moments as it shakes off Winter. Plucked straight from Magnolia to an airy field, create a lounge layout for comfort and warmth.

Color Me Bold!

Leo Carrillo wedding - top shelf photo-286

Photography- Top Shelf Photo Florist- Studio Fleurish

Across the board, Florists have been seeing brilliant pops of yellow become the dominating color in their clients’ requests. Yellow has so many wonderful tones in nature that there are shades to suit every season. Last fall, we saw genius mixes of dried bracken, autumnal-tinged foliage, and honey-yellow roses to achieve a classic “Fall” look. Now, the Spring and Summer seasons are riding the yellow tidal wave. Get ready for buttery yellows, ochers, and bold mustard tones in layers everywhere, including the linens, glassware, and china! Not only does it look good as flowers, but the intensity of mustard works so well with rich fabrics like velvet and satin. Events this year are inherently going to mean so much more than they used to, and with yellow being such a vibrant, joyful color, it seems fitting to help bring us back from such a dark year.

Floral Focus

A 2021 floral trend to arise is a pure focus on voluminous floral arrangements that are equal parts breathtaking and sentimental. Couples are unanimously making design decisions based on this key importance. Instead of vaguely describing their dream florals in colors or choosing whatever is “in” at the moment, couples are insisting on a sense of personal touch. When you notice intricacies in the season’s details, the event’s motif flows effortlessly. The flavors and colors harmonize naturally, and the difference between this and something fabricated is obvious. The flowers chosen can create magic between the food you pick and the music played, collecting everything together beautifully. Statement florals are no longer impressive and impossible simply for the sake of impossibility. If the floral design is meant to reflect the couples, it becomes less orchestrated and more sensible, but no less eye-catching.

Something Spontaneous

Leo Carrillo wedding - top shelf photo-446

Photography- Top Shelf Photo Lithuanian “Sakotas Cake”

As we’ve mentioned, 2021 wedding trends—reflective of more intimate affairs—are all about going deep into the details and accompanying experiences. Why not include an element of surprise or spontaneity? Whether it’s having a mentalist perform or asking a celeb to sing your first dance song over Zoom, the options to delight your guests are endless. Reducing a sauce will bring out its strongest flavors, and having smaller weddings allows couples to focus on smaller details. Adding in dashes of spice in the form of the couple’s unique personalities might be the right amount of quirky to be seen as spontaneous. Guests eat that up. We’ve seen caricature artists, palm and tarot readers, even custom haiku writers at our events, but waiting in the wings, even wilder interactive experiences await!

 

Looking for even more Spring 2021 Wedding Trends?

Check out our Instagram and Pinterest!

 

Tabletop Centerpiece Inspiration!

When deciding how to have your dining tables and centerpieces set, there tends to be much more to it than originally considered.  Chargers or none? Which type of plate? Silver or gold cutlery? Napkin color and fold? Favors? Garlands or vases? It just goes on and on.

Thankfully, we’re here to help!

These are some of our favorite examples of tabletop centerpiece ideas over the last couple of years to help narrow your search and provide a bit more to visualize.

Houston_0089

Photography- Vacay Photo Florist- Haystack Floral

From the moment our guests step down from the ceremony to the reception, the first thing that captures their eyes are the exquisite tables displaying none other than the choice of centerpieces that our clients envisioned for their big day.

Photography- Alexandria Monette Florist- Wildflower Studios

No matter how many events we’ve had, we are always surprised at the latest form of ingenuity and creativity! The outcome of the centerpieces leaves us absolutely speechless with how breathtaking it all comes together.

Photography- Amy Lynn Photography Florist- KO Floral Designs

These wood Farm Tables fit the tone that carries over from our historic Hacienda. They also allow more space for guests and elaborate, exciting centerpieces!

Photography- Mirelle Carmichael Florist-  Foxtail Floral 

Traditional round tables instead of Farm Tables are still a blank canvas for the creative spirit! These are packed full of potential and provide a more intimate seating arrangement for guests to have easy conversations with the rest of their table. They also allow for smaller centerpieces, but that doesn’t mean they have to be less fun or exquisite.

There are endless combinations of glassware, silverware, chargers, and plates that we can access for your tables to look perfect on the big day. All it takes is some imagination!

Looking for More Inspiration?

Check out our Instagram and Pinterest for tons of incredible table centerpieces!

 

Big thanks to all these fabulous couples for daring to go all out and to the photographers for these inspirational pics!

 

 

Vendor Spotlight! | Kami Olavarria Photography

Kami Olavarria: San Diego Wedding Photographer

 

Kami Olavarria. How much do we love her? Let us count the ways.

Working side-by-side with Kami at events is effortless. She’s an instant “Work Bestie.” Her capability and passion for what she does shine from her friendly smile. She’s a photographer who takes our mutual clients’ wants and needs into consideration without losing sight of the event’s bigger picture. Working as a team with strange vendors can be a gamble of strong personalities behind the scenes at an event, but having Kami around feels like welcoming home one of our own. She shares our same commitment to excellence and loyalty to her clients, two standards that we strive to keep high within our little work family.

Amy + Mike

From a client’s perspective, the photos she produces are stunning, and we feel they capture the best parts of our couples during their magical day with us. She can light up even the most awkward crowd, making everyone feel comfortable and look their best. She takes to heart all of your important details and will do everything in her power to see that your needs are met. On her website, she states that as your wedding photographer, she’s “your right-hand-woman. I’m like your bridesmaid / groomslady with a camera.” She takes it upon herself to become “more than just a hired vendor.” Her genuine excitement and support for her clients make her uniquely wonderful and fantastic at what she does.

Kathleen + Derrick

Behind the Lens

According to her website, with the experience, knowledge, and expertise of photographing nearly 300 weddings, Kami works tirelessly to be there for every step of the planning process.

My job is to make your day as easy and fun as possible, and in the meantime, capturing incredible images, you can look back on forever to remember the best day of all time. I am here with you every step of the way to be your sounding board and help you navigate the wedding industry with my planning guides, vendor referrals lists, coffee (or drink!) dates, video-chat sessions, and whatever else you need to help you sort through the BS and plan the celebration you’ve always wanted.”

Kathleen + Derrick

The Method

It’s a true art finding the balance between knowing how to guide a crowd through an event without squashing the spontaneous merriment of the moment.

“My biggest philosophy is never making your day feel like a production – knowing when to step in and be directive but more importantly knowing when to step back and let your day unfold.”

Her unique sensitivity to each event helps her determine the right blend of candid documentary storytelling and high-energy direction. This talent allows for creating priceless images that blossom in the space where you have the time of your life on your big day!

Amy + Mike

Trust Kami Olavarria to go above and beyond your expectations. Reach out today!

Check out these Real Weddings with Kami here at our Ranch!

Kathleen + Derrick

Amy + Mike

 

Fantastic Client Review!

Easy, Breezy Wedding Planning Experience!

We’re so glad Paulina had a stress- free time planning her wedding with us! We take care to ensure that our all-inclusive packages make your wedding worries disappear. Minor details are our specialty, so we’ll make sure you don’t miss a thing. Our Special Events Team are pros at coordinating and helping you design your dream wedding.

Thanks, Paulina, for taking the time to review us!

 

 

 

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