Sarah Corcoran

Top Wedding Trends for 2018 Are you getting married next year? Perhaps you are a dutiful Maid of Honour or a Groom with an interest in wedding planning? We’ve put together what we predict will be the biggest trends of 2018 to inspire and motivate you to make your wedding the trendiest of the year! The Dress Following the latest trends isn’t easy these days, fashion changes so fast that sometimes it’s hard to keep up and wedding fashion is no different. However much the dress may change, the newest trend, wedding jackets, can be worn over any style of dress. These can be adapted to suit your style and taste using a variety of materials – lace, satin and even leather! A wedding jacket can also be worn after the event, guaranteeing value for money too. Especially handy for those brave couples who have opted for an autumn/winter wedding, you can never predict what the Irish weather will bring from one day to the next. The Food More and more couples are being adventurous with the food choices for their weddings and we predict 2018 will be no different. Gone are the days of a traditional fruit wedding cake with the white icing, the biggest trend for 2018 will be cake tables. Couples are opting for a selection of cakes and desserts instead of the traditional dessert option with dinner so guests can help themselves. This will also cut costs for budget wary couples. A popular variation of a cake table is a doughnut wall. Dozens of delicious doughnuts hung from a ‘wall’ with hooks, allowing guests to choose their favourite and leaving a lasting memory of your special day in their minds. I dough not think that’s a bad idea at all! The Style We know it’s not exactly a new trend but we reckon the traditional vintage style will continue into next year and many years to follow. Some trends don’t go out of fashion and vintage styles are definitely a firm favourite. From vintage dresses to old-world décor there are so many ways to incorporate this timeless style into your wedding. Copper and brass colour schemes will be popular in 2018 and if you have an eye for it you can mix vintage and modern themes to create a unique atmosphere on your special day. Our beautiful grand ballroom in the Ocean Sands Hotel is customisable to suit both the size and style of your wedding and we will be on hand to help in any way that we can to accommodate your preferences on your special day. The Flowers Flowers have always been an integral part of weddings and this year is no different. There is no better way to brighten up a room or bring elements of nature to your wedding. Next year a big trend in wedding flowers will be bold and bright colours. Think of a beautiful bunch of fresh red dahlias against a crisp white wedding dress or a complimentary red rose as a lapel flower or buttonhole. Of course, these would be customisable to suit the colour scheme of your wedding and your budget. Flower based centrepieces are going to be a big trend next year also especially ones that incorporate foliage. The greenery brings a beautiful sense of nature and earthy tones to the room and is usually more cost-effective than fresh flowers. The Technology The age of the internet is well and truly upon us and coming with it are many ways to keep in touch on social media. The hashtag is huge! The hashtag turns the word or phrase that follows it into a searchable link. 2018 will see a big increase in wedding hashtags such as #SuzieandRichardsbigday or #RobertandJanesWedding. What better way to bring all your guest’s wedding pictures together than giving them a hashtag and ask that they use it to tag the candid photos they want to post online, you won’t miss a moment. It will also be helpful to communicate with your wedding guests before and after the event. Hashtags are certainly not a new thing but now that also all social media including Facebook have adopted them, next year will certainly see a rise in the popularity of wedding-related hashtags and we think it’s a very #cleveridea. Why not visit Ireland’s leading seaside hotel, the Ocean Sands Hotel and consider us for your special day. We are located in the heart of Enniscrone in County Sligo a perfect location for your special day with beautiful coastal scenery visible from many of the bedrooms including our stunning Bridal Suite. We offer a complimentary stay in the Bridal Suite with all of our wedding packages along with our dedicated and experienced wedding team who will work with you to ensure that you have a day you will never forget. Our packages are flexible depending on size and budget and can be customised to suit you. For more information or to book a wedding consultation, visit our website https://www.theoceansandshotel.ie/weddings or call us on-. Happy planning!