What you choose to have at your wedding – flowers, food, decor, traditions and lots more –makes your big day special to you. The options are endless and it can honestly all become quite overwhelming. One way to get a handle on all of this is to work with an experienced caterer.
At Copper Kitchen, we guide you through the entire wedding planning process – not just the food + drink – and then on the big day, we take care of every little detail. Starting with the rehearsal dinner to the reception and wrapping up with brunch, we handle it all – so you can simply enjoy yourself.
Now let’s have some fun and take a look at some of the 2023 trends forecasted by wedding planners across the country.
ENVIRONMENT FIRST
This is a big one! Couples are asking us to identify parts of their weddings that can be recycled, composted or reused. So many couples are tired of seeing the excessive waste in the wedding industry – if it’s destined to be thrown out or only used once, skip it or buy second hand. To many, living sustainably equals some sort of completely crunchy aesthetic, but nothing is further from the truth. Rather, it means using what is already in the world and being thoughtful in your choices.
Two-thirds of 2023 brides say they are planning to make their wedding more sustainable. This can take form in so many areas of a wedding or event. Think about using plants instead of flowers for table decor, making a bouquet out of paper flowers via Etsy (a big trend), sourcing everything locally to lower your wedding’s overall carbon footprint, embracing “something old” with upcycled and vintage vs buying new items, committing to a no-waste reception by asking your caterer to use compostables or non-disposable serveware only and recycling, composting and donating leftovers. And yes, skip the paper invitations and have them online completely. (Via Green Matters)
COLOR ALL AROUND
Photo cred: Rad + In Love via Martha Stewart
While 2022’s best color themes have been muted and dusty, with some metallic tones, 2023 weddings will bold, vibrant jewel tones and rainbow bridesmaids’ dresses. We may still see some of those cool metallics, but the story for 2023 will be warm and vibrant. (via Cool Receptions) See more on the mismatch bridal party thing further down.
ALL-WEEKEND LONG
Photo cred: Here Comes the Guide
One trend that is universally growing is the idea of an all-weekend wedding. Couples are looking for experiences to entertain guests on either side of their wedding day. Perhaps it’s an interactive rehearsal dinner (maybe add a wine tasting or a fun cooking activity) the night before and then on the Sunday bringing everyone back for a casual brunch on the lawn with Bloody Marys, BBQ, lawn games and more. All of this depends on the time of year and the size of your wedding, but we have a lot of experience here and can help you research and plan all of this!
P.S. A destination wedding does not automatically equal expensive or too fancy. There are so many options out there.
MISMATCHED BRIDAL PARTIES
In addition to warm jewel tones, you can expect to see bridesmaid outfits changing up. Bridesmaids’ attire might be a sort of ombre or rainbow look, or each person may choose their own hue or color completely. This creates more of a layered texture to your wedding party and celebrates each special person’s uniqueness. In addition, you could have your people all in the same color, but with different dress styles that suit them the best. This feels more modern but still a little bit traditional. The possibilities are definitely endless and having everyone feel more comfortable and have a little more ownership in their outfit just feels good. Let it go!
THE COCKTAIL HOUR
A reception feature that’s making its way back is the cocktail hour. This little break between the ceremony and reception meal allows everyone to relax and visit. Couples can either choose one cocktail that’s sentimental to them, or offer two or three of their favorites. Having your caterer make the drinks in larger format batches will save time and working with local distilleries and farms for ingredients will give it a fun and local feel. Not only does this give you a little breathing room between the ceremony and reception, it also allows guests to loosen up a bit and get ready to dance! That said, you should also have a few creative (ie: not just lemonade, water, etc) for your guests who do not drink. Many, many people are choosing to be booze-free these days – it’s a growing lifestyle not to be ignored or approached with little thought. Zero-proof cocktails are a big trend we see sticking around. We have so many ideas to share with you!
CREATIVE CAKES
Photo cred: Julie’s Journey + Bramble Bakes
This past year, we saw more and more cakes adorned with fruit and flowers and this will definitely continue to grow. Share photos with us of what you might like to see – screenshots on your phone are great! We love working with local flower farmers to bring your vision and ideas to life, or well, cake. Also, we are seeing many more cakes with unusual and seasonal flavor combinations like Earl Gray and lavender, lemon and elderflower, strawberry and rose – the creativity is truly endless. Our co-owner and head chef Kevin Miller is a trained pastry chef, so you’re in good hands with Copper Kitchen and your cake is guaranteed to be both beautiful and delicious!
PLANT-BASED MENUS
Photo cred: Martha Stewart Weddings
We know that some of your guests will be expecting a meat protein at your reception, but for those couples who are passionate about healthy eating (and/or food that does not come from animals) this is one that we are seeing more and more. Plant-based eating is becoming more and more mainstream in people’s homes and many couples want to incorporate this into their weddings. Long gone are boring vegan and vegetarian ingredients and menus – it’s way more than salad and roasted vegetables these days. Just look at the much-improved options and quality of vegan cheeses and nut-based milks (which help you create delicious appetizers, mains and desserts), as well as the growing popularity of the Mediterranean diet. This is not about being “on a diet”, rather it’s about feeling good and making choices that are healthier for you, your guests and the planet. We’ve done a good number of totally vegan events and we’d be glad to curate a special menu just for you.
