An anticipated walk down the aisle. The first dance. Heartfelt vows. Some things just don’t change when it comes to weddings. But for other details—like gowns, flowers and food—trends evolve with each passing year. We talked to local experts to find out what brides are asking for in 2016.
bridal gowns – megan rumsey, sales manager at the ultimate bride
>> The two-piece bridal gown just hit the St. Louis market this season. It’s often a big tulle skirt paired with various styles of top, like a camisole, shirt or even a crop 
>> Strapless is out. For the past year or so, sleeves and straps have been huge. I would say 99 percent of brides come in asking for any kind of sleeve or strap.
>> The illusion top is super popular. ‘Tattoo’ or ‘floating’ lace is placed on skin-tone netting to make it look like the lace is tattooed onto the skin.
>> Satin is making a comeback.
>> A top request is for gowns in a champagne or cafe color, which suits a lot of women. These shades look great on many different skin tones and oftentimes are more flattering than traditional white.
>> If brides opt for a veil, many are bringing in a borrowed veil that their mom or grandma wore, and we modify and repurpose it. This way, they have something old and borrowed!
bridesmaid dresses – megan rumsey, sales manager at the ultimate bride
>> For years, bridesmaid dresses were all the same color and style. Now, brides are dressing the girls in different hues of one color and this year, some are even choosing all different colors. I advise brides who go this route to look at examples before ordering to make sure they really like the look!
>> Metallic dresses hit Pinterest a couple months ago. We had a lot of weddings on New Year’s Eve with girls in gold sequins and gold dresses. We’re even ordering them for weddings in May.
TIP: I always tell brides, especially those shopping for the first time, to bring in pictures from magazines and online so the bridal consultant immediately has an idea of what their personal style is and knows what they want. It removes some of the guesswork for us!
flowers – ann rabbitt, owner of thorn studio
>> Popular blooms are ranunculus, garden roses and peonies.
>> The rustic farm wedding is still really popular, and for those, it’s best to use natural, local flowers to complement the theme.
>> Regardless of the wedding venue, many brides want to use flowers that are sustainable and locally obtained and grown. This isn’t always less expensive, but the flowers will be a lot fresher. Some brides still want a specific flower no matter what’s in season or available locally, so to cut down on cost, I’ll suggest using it just in their personal bouquet and not in the centerpieces. Some brides want to add a little pizzazz to their bouquet with a special handkerchief, broach or cameo, and we can always work it in. To honor someone who has passed, I suggest putting pictures in a locket that I’ll tie to the bouquet handle with ribbon.
>> Brides want more than just flowers in the middle of the table, so florists are starting to offer more as well. Many want to incorporate candles on each table, and florists are renting these out so brides don’t have to worry about finding and buying the extras.
TIP: You need to be your own person when deciding what kind of flowers and arrangements you want. Just because your friend did it one way doesn’t mean you have to.
food – melody lowry, director of sales and catering at butler’s pantry
>> A trend couples are easing into is ‘communal dining,’ which is more like a family-style dinner. They’ll use big king-style tables, which are perfectly suited for this setup.
>> Couples really want the food to be representative of who they are and where they live. Brides who live out of town want to represent their home, like with an In-N-Out burger or Philly cheese steak. It’s all about the personalized extras, all the way down to cute signage.
>> Late-night snacks are still really popular, and many couples love small plates for dinner.
>> There are still those who invite 300-plus, usually younger brides. But smaller guest lists are becoming more and more popular, around 100 or less. This way, you can go all out with your food and have a custom menu. We recently had a rehearsal dinner with an upscale five-course meal. Each was a different St. Louis-themed small plate, and the chef came out and explained each course.
>> People now want a more intimate dining experience. We had a couple who left two spots open at each table. For each of the six courses, they switched tables so they could sit with everyone.
>> Wedding cakes are still popular, but couples are choosing to have a variety of bite-sized dessert options as well.
>> Bars are huge this year. Couples want the premium liquors that mixologists are using, and Champagne is back. We’ve also added a craft beer package that has a lot of awesome microbrews. Because just like with wine, there are beer connoisseurs now!
TIP: Caterers should be prepared to do whatever couples want, so give them all your ideas! We’re always excited to see what clients come up with.