We are halfway through 2022 and with that, it’s time for another round-up of wedding trends that the experts are foreseeing. This time it’s our very own DWP Bali Speakers who will help you navigate the second half. This year’s Congress is being held under the theme of “To Infinity & Beyond” – Reviving, Restarting & Reigniting the love for weddings which will cover essential aspects to rejuvenating the wedding industry and giving it a new look post-Covid. With our fabulous lineup of speakers from the far East to the West, here’s what our experts predict for the mesmerizing world of weddings in 2022-23.
Travel Itineraries & Bold Colors
Picture Courtesy: @roeyyohaistudios / Planning: @fete.ny
One of the most sought-after event designers in the world, having created spectacular celebrations for a discerning roster of clients, corporate and private, Jung Lee, Founder of FÊTE Events, USA sees these as the biggest trends for destination weddings in 2022 – 23.
“Definitely, travel itineraries. Couples are now creating weekday events for their guests. Full itineraries with activities, dinners, etc. Couples want their guests to get the most out of the experience especially when they are taking time out of their lives to go to a destination.
Incorporating color into weddings instead of traditional white. Couples are embracing vibrant colors that evoke happiness and joy. Utilizing the colors of a specific destination and culture honors the destination and sets the wedding apart.”
Go For It All!
Picture Courtesy: @davidbeahm
Known for his inventive work and trademark lavish flower creations, David Beahm from USA has clients such as Van Cleef & Arpels Jewelry, Victoria’s Secret Beauty, Christian Dior, McDonald’s and Louis Vuitton. He advises us to just go with the flow. “The biggest trend right now is just going for it. Spending however you see fit. We’ve learned that the moments we spend together are the most precious. In the past, options were looked over, and now, clients are going for it all!”
Lavish Intimacy
Picture Courtesy: @sjsevents
Continuing with the theme of putting guests first, some couples are taking the added measure of tailoring multi-generational experiences for their loved ones. Sonal J. Shah, a strong name from the USA, especially in South Asian weddings, who has been associated with DWP for quite a long time, tells “Everyone is looking to do smaller more intimate weddings. The further they go, the guest list goes down greatly. Smaller guest lists are definitely a trend. Also, lots of live entertainment with bands, singers, and performers is a huge trend. Lots and lots of decor and flowers is another huge trend.”
Multi-Day Destination Wedding
Picture Courtesy: @marriagemaestros
With over twenty years of experience in the fields of hospitality, catering, travel, event production and bridal wear design Evelyn Mills, CEO of Marriage Maestros from Hong Kong shares “As the world starts to open up again, multi-day destination weddings are becoming more popular than ever with couples and their guests wanting to make the most of being able to travel. Smaller in-person hybrid weddings with live-streaming options that allow more guests to attend virtually are also a popular and growing trend for couples who want to create a more inclusive and real-time experience with loved ones who are unable to travel and physically attend their wedding.”
Fluid Formats, Sustainability & Unique Destinations Are In for 2022-23
Picture Couresy: @thehouseontheclouds / Planning: @tamarindglobalweddings
Mahesh Shirodkar, Founder of Tamarind Global who just did a million-dollar Indian destination wedding in Jordan explains it below:
“Firstly, the format of weddings is changing. No longer are the cocktail party, sangeet, wedding pheras and reception dinner set in stone, in that order. Formats are getting more and more fluid, with events being planned in different locations with different guest lists – sangeets happen after the wedding, lavish parties are planned as one-off events in a destination while the wedding is downsized to a family event, and sangeets are hybrid events with un sangeet like themes – it’s pretty much a blank canvass and the family paints it any way they like. There will be even more attention to detailed curating of everything from entertainment and décor to food and hospitality, making the event more experiential for the guest.
The second big trend which is already here but I feel will pick up momentum in the months to come is sustainability. Upcycling, recycling, going green, and being environmentally friendly are buzzwords that are making it to the mainstream rather than niche areas. Conscious young couples are exploring avenues to enjoy responsible celebrations and sustainability is becoming a bigger part of the conversation.
Internationally, a growing trend is to cut the clutter and go minimalist with the adage that fewer ids more, but I’m not sure if this will translate to Indian weddings, which tend to remain big and fat.
Food trends are getting more nuanced, with the exotic and the hard to find gaining more and more momentum. Celebrity chefs, unusual cuisine, and artistic presentation mean that caterers and bar artisans will have to up their game.
Unique honeymoons are another trend – an exotic beach or a European city will no longer suffice. It has to be something experiential, out of the way, and definitely Instagram-able.”
It’s All About Guest Experience
Picture Courtesy: @badalrajacompany / Planner: @cineyug
Mohomed Morani, Founder of Cineyug Group of Companies, India which is India’s premier entertainment company that covers all aspects of the entertainment spectrum says “Destination weddings have traditionally been known to be intimate, but have become even more so since the onset of the pandemic. Considering the fact that the scale has been reduced number-wise, greater importance has been placed on the guest experience. From customized name tags for baggage, hampers, meals, and more, to personalized care for the guests, attention to dietary restrictions, higher quality of food and alcohol, and more classy decoration.”
Picture Courtesy: @kmeventsturkeydubai
Similar sentiments were shared by Meltem Tepler who’s a Turkish woman entrepreneur, well recognized in her country as well as in Gulf Region. She founded her company KM Events, the leading event and wedding company in Turkey, in 1995 in Istanbul. She says- “The destination weddings are back finally after 2 years. But of course, they changed after covid. They are smaller in size now but they are more based on experience. The wedding couples are trying to make their guests have different and unique experiences during the destination wedding. So as planners, we are focused on creating experiences about the destination as well as the décor and flow of the wedding. Wine tasting, horse riding, and riding hot air balloons are some of the experiences we offer just before or after the wedding day. Destination weddings are more fun now and they look like a trip you make with your beloved ones.”
Picture Courtesy: @nadiaduran
Millennials and Gen Z are all about pursuing life’s experiences over material goods. Nadia Duran, the Sydney-based international event planner has won multiple awards for her impeccable style shares her thoughts on experience-based events.
“The current trends of 2022-2023 for destination weddings are brides & grooms using their weddings to offer a one-of-a-kind holiday experience to their guests. Previously destination weddings were about finding a location that was only meaningful to the couple. Since covid, I feel brides & grooms are looking more for something that can be a vacation for each individual guest who has been stuck in one place throughout the pandemic. People have changed the way they travel and brides & grooms are thinking more about the holistic experience of their destination wedding and how it would impact each individual guest. A perfect example of this is couples planning not only their wedding day but creating itineraries with an abundance of experiences for their guests to enjoy whilst overseas. Taking the pressure off guests to plan their trip and providing them with a dream escape from their everyday life.
Focus On Contracts
Picture Courtesy: @shutterstock
Rob Schenk, Founder of Wedding Industry Law from the USA gives us some useful insights to save money and protect through wedding insurance. “From a legal perspective, the biggest trends for destination weddings in 2022-2023 continue to be dispute resolution between vendors and clients regarding event cancellation due to travel restrictions or supply issues. Contracts should address the obligations of the parties if an event cannot occur and if there is conflict, where and how the conflict will be resolved.”
Celebrate More!
Picture Courtesy: @barbara.diez
Barbara Diez, CEO of Diez Events is joining us from Argentina who is the author of Wedding Architecture, a celebrated bridal consultant, TV presenter, public speaker and winner of multiple international awards. She concludes- “Post pandemic, the trend is to CELEBRATE more than ever before. Fly, visit, elope. Seaside spots, feet on the sand, back to basics.”
We couldn’t agree more! Continuing this celebration vibes, we cannot wait to celebrate and party like never before at the 8th annual DWP Congress from 27-29 September in Bali. If you haven’t registered yet, this is your last chance! Email us at info@dwpcongress.com to register your slot!
Feature Image Credit: @gusmankphotography
