Rebecca Grinnals of Engaging Concepts in Florida tracks trends in Canada and in the U.S. She is a sought-after consultant who co-founded Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings and Honeymoons. When she was in Toronto, she talked about major trends – and one of the biggest is destination weddings. For example, the market in destination weddings in 2009 was five times larger than it was in 2001. “It’s a result of the recession,” she says. “The cost of a wedding directly relates to the number of guests. So destination weddings help keep the budget in check because far fewer guests will attend.”
Top trends in destination weddings
Hot Spots – Caribbean ranks first, but other popular spots include Florida, Maui, Napa, Las Vegas, Mexico and destinations with mountain vistas.
Shared Passions – Couples are choosing destinations that cater to their shared passion, from diving out of an airplane to getting married underwater in dive gear.
Something Blue – That translates to any colour that you can introduce to add to the basic white gown. Even dresses are emerging in colour such as fuchsia, tangerine and ocean blues.
Two Dresses – Brides are opting for one dress for the service and a second dress for the party.
Embrace Culture – Couples are introducing elements of the culture of the destination as well as including elements from their own culture.
Dramatic Getaways – Be unique. Couples are leaving their own reception in style, from skiing down a mountain, riding off in a hot air balloon or speeding away on a boat. The fun is all about the big finale.
Ditch the DJ – Couples are creating their own playlists on an iPod and downloading music from local artists to create a unique party mix.
Hitched in High-Tech – Using sites such as Twitter and Facebook keeps everyone up-to-date. Some brides are even designating a ’tweet of honour’ who is responsible for giving a play-by-play of the event. Others are using webcast services to keep the folks at home involved.
Eco Everything – It’s easier to go green at a destination wedding and couples are embracing the trend.
Map It Out – Maps of the destination, complete with best restaurants and entertainment, are being presented to guests to make their stay memorable.
Trash the Dress – Especially in Caribbean locales, the couple holds a photo shoot the next day and jump into the ocean in their wedding outfits.