Destination Wedding Trends: Experts Weigh-In on What's "In" & What's "Out"

Words by Courtney Cox & WeddingChannel.com
Photo courtesy of Carolina Herrera

The wedding industry is extremely driven by trends, so it’s important to know what’s going on in the market. After all, no bride wants to be seen in a dress which is no longer considered “current” or carry flowers which were popular last year and are on their way out. Naturally not all brides care about staying on trend, but for those who do, WeddingChannel.com has a list for 2012 of what’s “in” and what’s “out.”

WeddingChannel.com created this list by gathering up some of the biggest names in the bridal biz. Pros who have worked with some of Hollywood’s A-listers like Kate Holmes, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jim Carrey, weighed in on what the big trends are for the upcoming year and what to avoid. Keep reading for your insider’s look into 2012’s wedding trends.

Wedding Dress

In: Coy coverage
Out: Dare-to-bare necklines

Carolina Herrera Spring 2012 Collection

Although designers have been creating dresses with sleeves for years, Kate Middleton has brought the trend mainstream. Don’t consider long sleeves your only option. Think: capelets, illusion sleeves, sheer backs and even a bolero for a demure wedding day look that’s all your own. “Every bride wants a gown and wedding that is uniquely ‘theirs,’” says Randy Fenoli, star of TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress and fashion director at Kleinfeld Bridal New York. “They no longer desire to be that cookie-cutter bride, but wish to express their individual style and taste.”

Wedding Style

In: Country-chic, waterfront weddings and Napa nuptials
Out: Vintage everything

Some of the most recent celeb weddings offer style ideas that step away from the overdone vintage theme. Be inspired by Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth’s country-chic wedding that took place at her rustic ranch, where guests were seated at long wooden tables, served mustard-grilled chicken and herb-roasted lamb and danced to the sounds of a bluegrass band. Reese even donned a pair of cowboy boots when it was time to hit the dance floor. If water and sun are your wedding day must-haves, take a cue from Brooke Burke and David Charvet, who exchanged vows on a 77-foot yacht in St. Barts with an intimate guest list and ended the night by sending a handwritten message in a bottle out to sea. Wine lovers? Look to the Napa nuptials of Seth Rogen, Tamera Mowry and Nikki Reed for influence.

Wedding Food

In: Global meats
Out: Bacon, bacon, bacon

2012 is all about expanding meat options beyond steak and chicken, and while bacon is a flavor classic that showed up in a ton of weddings last year, it’s time to move on. “Lean global meats like goat, kangaroo, antelope and horse will be big,” predicts Peter Callahan, creative director of Peter Callahan Catering, whose clients include Will Smith, Kelly Ripa and Regis Philbin. “Nothing takes on Moroccan, Mexican, Greek and Middle-Eastern flavors better than goat!”

Wedding Cake

In: Hand-painted designs
Out: Towering tiers

Having an over-the-top wedding cake actually tower over the bride à la Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries is so 2011. Skip the desire to break a Guinness world record for the tallest cake and concentrate on the detailing. Buddy Valastro, owner of Carlo’s Bakery and star of TLC’s Cake Boss predicts, “In 2012, hand painted designs will give brides a new medium to add detail and personality to their cakes. Whimsical designs can be painted on top of fondant, and can be as subdued or as bold as the bride wants.”

Wedding Flowers

In: Textural, leafy bouquets
Out: Giant colorful bouquets

When it comes to bouquets, don’t be afraid of green. Think: mixed greenery with lots of texture such as bupleurum, hellebores, green hydrangeas and green dianthus for a monochromatic arrangement of lush foliage that differs from the traditional floral bouquet. Even incorporate greenery into your bridal party look like Kate Moss did with lush, green head wreaths worn by her bridesmaids. “Bouquets that are textural and interesting, yet not busy are in for 2012. Remember, it’s about you, then the dress, then the flowers. Not the other way around,” says Todd Fiscus, owner/creative director of Todd Events, whose clients include Tony Romo, Eli Mannng and Jay-Z.

Wedding Invitations

In: Dual-purpose interactive invitations
Out: Ribbon and buckle embellishments

Thanks in part to Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo’s airplane ticket wedding invitation to their Necker Island nuptials, dual-purpose interactive invitations are on the rise. “Airline ticket invites for destination weddings, invites that double as fans for an outdoor affair and comic book save-the-dates that tell the engaged couple’s story are definitely in for 2012,” predicts Ceci Johnson, founder and creative director of Ceci New York, who’s designed invitations for Diddy and Katherine Heigl.

Wedding Photography

In: Stylized post-wedding shoots
Out: Trash the dress sessions

Trash the dress photo sessions where a bride steps back into her gown post-wedding to swim in the ocean or play paintball with her husband have definitely run their course. In for 2012 is the stylized post-wedding dress session—a photo shoot wearing your dress, but this time restyling your look with chunky colorful jewelry, sultry makeup, wild hair or any completely different look than what you walked down the aisle in. “Maybe it’s the accessories that didn’t make the wedding day cut, or the hairstyle your mom didn’t approve of that you’re now able to rock in a restylized post-wedding shoot,” says Robert Evans, celebrity photographer for Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise and cofounder of WeddingPhotography411.com. “It’s like the bride gets to style and star in her own magazine spread.”

Wedding Videos

In: Bride-to-be roast videos
Out: Choreographed bridal dance videos

Definitely out in wedding videos this year? The choreographed bridal party dances we’ve seen time and time again to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” Chris Brown’s “Forever” and even Justin Bieber. Expanding beyond the popular “Sh*t Brides Say” YouTube video, brides are having a blast making fun of the silly (and sometimes ridiculous) things they’ve said and done during their wedding planning via Comedy Central-style roast videos. We won’t be surprised if more of these videos pop up at bachelorette parties where bridesmaids have the opportunity to “roast” the bride-to-be as a fun send-off before her big day.

Wedding Registry

In: Charity registries
Out: Reckless registries

If your registry includes things like a $1,200 serving spoon, $500 teapot and nothing under $100, you’re sure to upset more than a few of your guests. Instead of registering for the most expensive items you can find and not considering your guests, take a cue from Kate and Wills and create a charity registry. “At a time when most couples are feelings so thankful for what they have, the Charity Donation Program on WeddingChannel.com provides the perfect opportunity to give back to those who are less fortunate,” says Amy Eisinger, associate editor of WeddingChannel.com.

So, whether you’re having a destination wedding or hometown affair, consider these experts’ opinions in how to pull-off a W-day which will never go out of style!

Dreamy Advice for your Dream Destination Wedding!

Words by Courtney Cox
Photos courtesy of Shang Chen Photography

Nicole and Lino never doubted where they would have their destination wedding. The bride grew up in Puerto Rico and it’s where the majority of her family still lives. Plus, it’s ridiculously gorgeous! After months of thoughtful planning, the couple left Boston for sunny San Juan. Nicole and Lino said “I do” in the San Juan Evangelista Church and held their reception at San Juan Marriott Resort.





It was important to the couple that they make their destination wedding as convenient for their guests as possible. “We sent the ‘Save the Dates’ nine months before the wedding to give them a lot of time to plan ahead,” Nicole says. “We picked the summer partly because it’s low season in Puerto Rico and plane/hotel tickets were less expensive. We provided our guests with suggestions on where to stay and how to cut costs.”

Come W-day, Nicole looked gorgeous in a Monique Lhuillier gown. For the reception, she changed into her party dress which was made my Pronovias. Nicole was a truly DIY bride who took great pride in planning her wedding and, with the help of a wedding planner, pulled off the wedding of her dreams.





“I made my seating cards, favors, candy bar, menus, table numbers, ceremony programs and monogram,” says Nicole. “I bought stationary, stamps, embossing tools, ribbons and crystals at Paper Source and designed and made all of these because I really wanted every detail of the wedding to be custom. And quite honestly, I have always been a very creative person so putting these together was not only fun but meaningful – making them myself made them all the more special; they were exactly what I had envisioned and I’ll never forget that.”




Nicole obviously invested lots of time into creating her own unique touches for her destination wedding, but she doesn’t regret it for a second. “Sure, it was a little tougher than it would have been to plan it in Boston and yes I did spend more time planning the wedding, but it was quality, well-spent time. I was planning the wedding of my dreams and I would only get to do that once, so why sacrifice my vision for a slight increase in inconvenience?”





The couple made a few last minute decisions and, ironically, these were their guests favorite touches! The candy bar, custom flip-flops for midnight dancing and 2 a.m. munchies were the biggest successes of the night! While have a destination wedding definitely lessened the couple’s guest list, it gave them more wiggle room on their budget and ensured their guests were all taken care of. Nicole offers some words of advice for other brides planning their own dream destination wedding:

“If you want to be very involved, start saving vacation days and setting expectations and money aside for travel so that you won’t feel as far away from the process. Above all, infuse your wedding with a combination of local charm and a little bit of the two of you – after all, it’s a destination wedding, an experience that you and your guests will always remember.”

Destination Wedding Hair: Protect Your Strands from the Elements

Words by Courtney Cox
Photos courtesy of Ouidad

Between living in Arizona and traveling relatively often, my hair undergoes some pretty harsh exposure. That’s why when Ouidad Sun Shield crossed my desk I was so interested in giving it a try. This leave-in conditioner promises to not only protect your locks against harmful UV rays, but give you curly, beach waves. A recent trip to Ixtapa, Mexico was the perfect opportunity for me to try out the product.

My hair was the perfect guinea pig in that it’s just wavy enough to not straighten easily, but not curly enough to dry naturally beautiful. I was lucky enough during my trip to Mexico to spend many an afternoon bouncing between the pool and laying in the sun. Before getting my tan on, I sprayed the Ouidad Sun Shield on my wet hair.


The first thing I noticed was how good the leave-in conditioner smells. My location was a bit ironic in that Ouidad smells like the organic herbs and fragrant flowers I’ve often encountered in Mexican spas. I applied the product in front of a mirror and saw the wave in my hair instantly become more bouncy and hydrated. This is definitely something I will bring along with me when I travel to hot, tropical places and it is perfect for honeymooners.

Spending countless hours in the sun can leave your hair looking oxidized and dehydrated. This is especially true for color-treated hair. After spending so much time and effort making sure your hair looks its best come W-day, keep it looking gorgeous through your honeymoon with this protective spray. As a heads-up, the leave-in conditioner doesn’t come in a travel size bottle, but I simply transferred some to an empty spray bottle.


Here are the key benefits of Ouidad Sun Shield:

• A lightweight, conditioning spray to condition and protect hair
• Sun Shield’s blend of special proteins and amino acids seal in moisture and nourish hair while shielding from overexposure to the drying and stiffening elements common to outdoor activity
• Provides a shield against damaging environmental factors such as sun, wind, salt, and chlorine with specialized UV filters to protect strands
• Great for color protection particularly in the sun exposed months of spring and summer
• Available for $20

For more information on the wide range of Ouidad products, or to order your own bottle of Sun Shield, visit Ouidad.com.

Destination Wedding Cape Cod: This Couple's Perfect Spot

Words by Courtney Cox
Photos courtesy of Relive Photography

Shannon and Bradford never had any doubts where they would say “I do.” Cape Cod was the only place they could see themselves getting married since their first ever conversation had been about their mutual love of the destination. Not only that, but the groom proposed there. So, after a year of intense planning, the couple found themselves exchanging vows surrounded by their closest family and friends.





The couple ran into a couple of issues with their chosen venue, but was more than willing to work around them. One such issue was transportation and accommodations for their guests. “There were no big hotels where everyone could stay,” said Shannon. “We ended up getting a school bus to pick up the gusts from two different locations. While it wasn’t super classy, it was affordable and got the job done.”





The couple held their destination wedding in Cade Cod last August and had a fear of hurricanes. To safeguard themselves, they took out wedding insurance so they wouldn’t lose all of their deposits in case of a cancellation due to weather. This is a smart idea for any couple who is holding their wedding in a coastal region during hurricane season. Shannon was worried about the weather throughout the planning process, but eventually let it go.






“By the time the wedding was close, I just wanted to get married,” recalls the bride. “All of the things I worried about and planned to the last detail just didn’t matter. The love of my life and I were able to get married that day with our closest family and friends – no hurricane was going to take that from us!”



Despite a few hiccups and some extra cash along the way, the couple still believes whole-heartedly that Cape Cod was the only place for them to start their life together. “No matter how you cut it, weddings are expensive,” says Shannon. “If you are going to pay all the money, you better have it where you want it. We could have done something small at someone’s home and saved lots of money, but that wasn’t what we wanted. I could not imagine a more perfect place for us. It would not have been the same anywhere else.”

Vendors:
Photographer: Laura Parent with Relive Photography
Ceremony/Reception site: Wychmere Harbor Club in Harwich Port, MA
Florist: Meredith Fancy with Fancy Flowers
Gown Designer: Casablanca
Groom’s Clothing Designer: Brooks Brothers, Charles Tyrwhitt & Jos A Bank
Bridesmaid’s Clothing Designer: Alfred Angelo

Destination Elopement: Romance in Costa Rica

Words by Courtney Cox
Photos courtesy of Los Suenos Marriott Resort

A large traditional wedding just isn’t for everyone. If a smaller, destination affair is the way for you, why not consider eloping? Running away to say “I do” with just your betrothed can take off the pressure of a big wedding and is the most intimate experience possible. If a tropical hot spot is your destination of choice then consider Herradura, Costa Rica.


The Los Suenos Marriott Resort is offering an Elopement Wedding Package perfect for no-fuss couples who still wish for that romantic ceremony. Rates for the package start at $2,800 and includes:

• Complete Wedding Ceremony
• Photography (before, during and after ceremony, plus portraits)
• 1 Bridal Bouquet
• 1 Groom Boutonniere
• Ceremony Set Up


Say “I do” overlooking Herradura Bay and surrounded by tropical rainforests. The Los Suenos Marriott resort promises to provide an authentic Costa Rican experience with all the luxury you would expect for your destination wedding and honeymoon. For more information, contact Marriott Hotels and Resorts Wedding Planner, Dunia Murillo, at dunia.murillo@marriotthotels.com or visit MarriottCostaRicaWeddings.com.