Popular Wedding Decor Trends That Will Die in 2018

If the first time you’ve stepped into a barn is in the presence of a wedding planner, you shouldn’t be having your wedding there. Sure, barn planks make a nice selfie backdrop but so would the smooth concrete wall of a cool downtown loft…a few blocks from your condo.

When it comes to wedding décor themes, there’s a big shift away from the recently dominant bohemian chic. Gone are the dreamcatchers, teepees and twine-tied favours. Instead, a simplified elegance is taking its place – the weddings in 2018 are going to be simply stunning.

Once an everyday jam-making staple in kitchens, now a catch-all container for hipsters’ dining rooms, mason jars have gone from basic to “basic”. When you can rent cases of these squat jars from wedding suppliers, their once-cool vibe now feels a tad try-hard.

As tempting as it is to make this popular print the centerpiece of your wedding, chevrons bold lines can be overwhelming when used in large quantities. Stick to one or two colours and play with different shades within that palette to create contrast.

Part outfit accessory and part room décor, the bridal bouquet plays an important aesthetic role in the whole feel of a wedding. But for the past few years it’s been hogging the stage – now, big bridal bouquets are out and are making way for more understated options.

We are a culture in love with romance – and the expression of romance (Hi, Disney!). So, while setting up a welcome sign emblazed with “One smile can change the world, but yours changed mine” may seem like a sweet sentiment, it may also come off as cheesy. A simple “Welcome!” says it all.

Blame it on our love of minimalism, but frosting-less “naked cakes” have been popping up all over Pinterest. While they do look paired down, frosting actually serves a purpose – keeping the cake moist. Traditional white tiered always takes the cake

Cheap and easy to use, it’s no wonder this woven wonder has turned into a wedding-décor material of choice – but it’s been so overused, the trend has run its course. Opt for another eco fabric such as linen or hemp to get that same natural hue and texture without any of the negative connotations.

Raffia around the cutlery, raffia around the chairs, raffia around the mason jars, raffia around the bride…OK, that last one is taking it a bit too far but then again, this twine trend has gone a bit too far. Time to cut back on the raffia.

Wedding photographers are professionals who are there to help you capture your day and – if they’re good – your feelings for each other. Elaborately staged shots and overthought poses probably don’t reflect how you interact normally so skip the show and keep it simple. Remember, these shots will be on your walls in the coming months.

When a trend moves from the niche DIY sphere to the mass-market one, you know it’s about to trail off. Chalkboards are everywhere and are no longer the fun, unique signage option they used to be. (Although they are handy if you own a coffee shop.)

Large bushy flower garlands winding their way down the centre of a long guest table look amazing in a wide-angle, lowly lit photograph but when it comes to actually eating at said table, they’re completely impractical. Give your guests room for their glasses and plates and stick to smaller floral arrangements.

Unless you’re pulling a Sean Parker and putting on a “Lord of the Rings” costume wedding (check it out), it’s hard to pull off a forest-themed wedding without it looking like a Medieval Times revival. Plus, bugs.

White everything – white linens, white china, white flowers, white candles, etc. – has been a huge trend and, boy, did it look good in pictures. But colour is finding its way back into wedding palettes and suddenly the future is much brighter (and less panicked about red-wine spills).

The home decorating trend of mixing vintage furnishing in modern spaces – such as a rustic farm table in a new loft – had moved its way into wedding décor. But what looks quirky in an apartment can look confusing in a large, open venue space so keep it cohesive and stick to one design aesthetic.

Pinterest is a fantastic tool when trying to gather visual ideas for a wedding but problems come up when you try to incorporate every idea. The end results can look overdone and even overwhelming. Pick one or two favourites to try and let the rest remain online.

Switching up arranged seating at tables for pick-n-mix picnic blankets may seem whimsical and sweet but the reality is much harder. Nobody wants to sit on the ground in suits, dresses and high heels no matter how cute the photos will turn out.

Food trucks are amazing, and while your guests may appreciate having duck-confit poutine, kimchi tacos or salted-caramel sundaes on site, they won’t be so thrilled to wait in the obligatory long lines (in high heels, no less). Consider getting the food truck purveyors to cater without the wheels.

Yes, white bridesmaid dresses have been a trend for quite some time now…and it’s time for it to stop. The bride is getting married, not her bridal party, so let the woman wear white – there are plenty of other colours for her cousins and friends to wear.

Another wedding decorating trend that will hopefully got the way of the dodo – black wedding cakes. Yes, that’s a thing. And while a black tiered cake does look amazing in black-and-white photos, it doesn’t look so good when the black fondant turns guests’ lips and teeth black.

In an attempt to get that “vintage” feel, rolls of lace are wrapped around everything from table settings to the wedding cake. When used sparingly, lace can be beautiful but if it’s being bought by the yard (and it’s not for the wedding dress or veil) it’s too much.

You only have to look at your parents’ (or grandparents’) wedding photos to see that wedding décor trends come and go, but if there’s something that really resonates with you, do it. If you’re unsure of a certain style or theme, ask yourself if you’d have it in your home. If the answer is yes, you’re golden.