Alice Fay, wedding specialist at the Fairmont Chicago, will celebrate her 500th event on May 16. With more than 15 years of experience under her belt, Fay has planned events ranging from intimate social gatherings to large-scale gala weddings.
Fay recently provided the 10 hottest trends for summer weddings in 2015:
Craft cocktails: Brides and grooms are interested in featuring creative, custom cocktails. Bitters are a must, and old school drinks with a modern twist are also popular. Giant ice cubes are a big hit, especially among bourbon drinkers.
Beer pairings: Microbrews are not only growing in popularity at the Fairmont Chicago, but also throughout the U.S. Brides and grooms are sharing their favorite labels and pairing them with casual items such as mini pretzel bites, a custom bar mix, or hors d’oeuvre paired with a mini beer sampling.
Pre-ceremony libations: Greeting guests arriving at the ceremony with a mini glass of bubbly or a non-alcoholic festively garnished flavored sparkling water is becoming more common.
Notable quotables: Thoughtful quotations pertaining to the specific couple about their love story, relationship, favorite movie or song can be printed or written and placed in a frame, on a napkin or on a chalkboard and displayed for all to see and discuss during the reception.
Finger foods for cocktail hour: Buffet lines and carrying around plates during cocktail hour are becoming outdated. Instead, Fay suggests brides and grooms serve small appetizers on printed cocktail napkins (perhaps with a notable quotable on it) paired with a small signature cocktail or microbrew.
Coursed dinners: It’s on-trend right now to serve a coursed dinner that allows guests to sit, relax, enjoy the beautiful centerpieces and eat. To make the most of the evening, brides and grooms can plan speeches and dances in between courses.
Coursed wines: As a complement to the coursed dinner, brides and grooms are more frequently choosing a special wine to pair with each food offering instead of a house red or white. The couple might choose a wine with a significant meaning, and the extra glasses on the table can add a tasteful décor element.
Custom menu planning: It’s popular to serve food that is meaningful to the couple. For example, if the bride and groom were engaged in Italy, Fay suggests serving a regional Italian course, or if the family is from the South it could be fun to serve biscuits as part of the bread selection. Couples who love gourmet doughnuts might serve these pastries in place of a cake, and each guest may take a couple home for a late night snack.
Unusual tables: Fay observes more couples are moving away from cookie-cutter tables and opting for a mix of round, square and rectangle options. The centerpieces may vary as well, with candles and floral arrangements placed on alternating tables.
Candlelight and natural ambient lighting: Intimate and romantic lighting is gaining popularity.
