Georgina Clatworthy

By Georgina Clatworthy

With 2011 now well under way it is time to update you on the 2011 wedding trends expected to appear at many couples nuptials over the next 10 and a half months! In part 3 of my look at up coming wedding trends I find the circus, outdoor home comforts and exotic influences are all set to make it big in 2011.

• Big Tops and Acrobats: Take inspiration from the circus for your 2011 wedding theme and create a day filled with toffee apples, carousels and stationery with a big top poster feel. And for the final finishing touch hire a Master of Ceremonies dressed as a ringmaster!
• Inside Out: give your guests some home comforts at your outdoor summer wedding. One of this year’s biggest trends will be outdoor receptions with sofas, floor cushions, coffee tables and even chandeliers. Imagine setting up your lounge room under a big tree complete with fairy lights, candles and pretty vases of flowers.
• Cameo Craze: Victoriana is still a strong theme and cameos are proving a popular and subtle way of personalizing your wedding day. A cameo of you and your groom is a popular addition to wedding cakes at the moment and adding personal cameos to wedding stationery is also one of this year’s big trends. Try creating cameos of your guests using original paper cutting techniques and using them for your wedding favors.
• Top Tables: add some interest to your color scheme and reception design by using coordinating but different table linens. Use coordinating prints, florals and checks on different tables to create a sophisticated look that helps bring all of your smaller details together.
• Brand It: one of the biggest trends last year is set to continue into 2011. Create your own brand or wedding monogram which can be used on everything from your cake to your stationery, stitched onto your table linens and printed on your favors.
• East Meets West: although a popular wedding theme for some years now, all things Japanese and Asian are set to be big this year. Try giving your guests origami wedding invitations and serve a menu filled with Japanese influences, sake cocktails and cherry blossom decorations.
• All Over the World: if you love to travel then giving your wedding a travel theme is the perfect way to personalize your day. Have vintage style globes as your centrepieces, tables named after places you have visited and wedding invitations with a map design.
• Budget Savvy: budget conscious is set to be a major factor for 2011 weddings with couples looking to save money wherever possible. Clever use of inexpensive details and decorations can create big impact and will be something your guests will never expect.