NEW YORK (December 29, 2014) The Knot, the #1 online wedding resource and mobile app, today released its annual Wedding Trends Report, including the top 10 trends in weddings for the coming year. From Coachella-esque festival inspired weddings with macramé ceremony backdrops and bohemian influences to luxurious, white tie elements, the trends for 2015 weddings are clever, personalized twists on traditions.

"Couples are finding wedding inspiration literally everywhere-celebrity weddings, music festivals and fashion runway shows, and they're infusing their personalities into all aspects of the wedding. This year, it will include fashion-forward jumpsuits instead of traditional wedding dresses, unique wedding venues or a return to formality with opulent, dramatic details," says Rebecca Dolgin, Editor-in-Chief, The Knot.  "Couples are embracing technology, using drones for aerial photos, GoPro cameras, and selfie sticks, as well as to mobile apps like The Knot Wedding Planner App, TaskRabbit, registry managers and honeymoon itineraries."

Drone Wedding Photos and GoPro Videos
If you want a view of your wedding from every angle imaginable then try this trend. Some photographers are getting in on the action by using drones to capture aerial shots, like the view of your ceremony from overhead and the amazing scenery. Videographers are doing it too by bringing along GoPro cameras to the wedding in addition to their video cameras. The cool part about these is that they can be attached to a "selfie stick" to get ultra-creative shots of you and your guests on the dance floor and record your guests' candid reactions as they enter the reception.

Bridesmaids Are Off the Hook -- There's An App for That!
You don't need to get all of your bridesmaids together to tie bows on wedding favors anymore. Instead, lots of couples are enlisting wedding planning help through apps like TaskRabbit to take on any small to-dos, TouristEye to help plan the honeymoon itinerary, and (ahem) The Knot Wedding Planner app to find and get in touch with all of the right wedding professionals. Being a wedding guest is easier this year too. All of the major registries make it easy to buy gifts straight from your smartphone, and car service apps like Uber and Lyft ensure guests can find a safe ride home at the end of the reception.

Wild West Weddings
The big theme of the year is inspired by ranches and lots of leather accents. The details are personal and elevated, but the party has a fun, relaxed vibe. A rustic ranch sets the scene for details like antler motifs, distressed lounges with cowhide rugs and wildflower bouquets. Mix in leather elements to contrast the soft and romantic wedding details in accents like the napkin belly band. Guests can sip on specialty craft beers or mix their own heirloom bourbon cocktails in a copper mug. Your attire can echo the Wild West look in a long-sleeve dress with subtle lace embellishments and an ethereal illusion neckline.

Foodie Installations
Food and drink are taking center stage at weddings this year in an outrageous way. We're talking hanging salad stations, doughnut dessert walls that double as escort cards and beer-garden-inspired stations, complete with beer steins made of ice. You could ask your caterer to help you come up with creative ideas or hire a food stylist to dream up something over-the-top.

Wedding Jumpsuits and Statement-Making Separates and Accessories
Wedding dress designers like Houghton, Delphine Manivet and Theia are giving the traditional dress a new edge that is celebrity inspired. Remember Olivia Palermo's chic shorts with a tulle overlay and Solange Knowles' jumpsuits? If that's too much of a departure from tradition, brides can look to the latest accessory trends, which involve bold add-ons such as top hats, ear cuffs and lace gloves.

Unexpected Wedding Venues
More couples in 2015 will look to unexpected locations for their wedding venue, like castles, private estates, museums and even caves (yep, you read that right -- the one in Bowling Green, Kentucky, is crazy-beautiful). The best part about a unique venue choice is you don't have to go overboard on all the décor -- you can let the space speak for itself. Keep in mind that if you go this way, the logistics may be trickier than in a traditional wedding venue.

Royal Color Palettes
Marsala, Pantone's Color of the Year, set the tone for 2015's wedding hues. It's a rich wine-inspired red that is sophisticated, stylish and versatile. Pair marsala with dusty blue for a pretty, romantic feel (imagine marsala centerpieces paired with blue velvet linens), while a rose gold and marsala palette is rich and glamorous (think: rose gold foil font on a marsala card stock). Bonus: Flowers, like dahlias and peonies, grow naturally in this hot hue, and it's a flattering color for your bridesmaids to wear if you want to make a statement.

The Third Dress
Why have one dress when you can have three? We've heard of brides changing their dress for the reception or late night for the after-party. Now, fashion-forward brides are choosing three different gowns for each part of the day: a ball gown for the ceremony, a sleek sheath for the reception, and then a short, feathery minidress for the after-party.

A White-Glove Comeback
Casual weddings have reigned for more than five years. However, this changes in 2015 as couples are take their wedding style in the very opposite direction with opulent details, like a champagne tower, multitier cake and a dramatic entrance. If you really want to go over-the-top, take a page from the new Cinderella movie and actually have it in a castle (a few of our favorite castles and estates are the Biltmore Estate, Oheka Castle and Hearst Castle). Even if your wedding won't be in a castle, you could still add formality to it with touches like hand-delivered invitations and valets to escort guests to their seats at the reception. This is your chance to go all out and wear a big, white ball gown and even a crown. Guys can get fancy too in three-piece suits.

Peace, Love and Macrame
Blame all the fashion coverage at Coachella for the excitement here. If your style is totally laid-back and casual, use boho-chic music festivals, like Coachella, to inspire your wedding. Think: a backyard or open-field setting, complete with kitschy details like striped tepees, cocktail hour lounges and picnic-style dining. Keep the colors bright and festive, yet earthy (try sunny yellow and teal paired with terra-cotta). Must-have elements include hand-drawn maps with your invitations and fun, not fussy, wording on your invites (instead of "accept" write "you in?") to really drive home your theme. For the fashion, a gauzy and modern take on the bell-sleeve wedding dress evokes a '70s, Woodstock vibe. Intentionally mismatched bridesmaid dresses will keep the look effortless and easy.

About TheKnot.com
The Knot is the nation's leading wedding resource, reaching nearly every couple in America through the #1 wedding website, TheKnot.com; mobile apps, The Knot national and local wedding magazines; The Knot book series; syndicated columns in newspapers nationwide. The Knot is the flagship brand of XO Group Inc. (NYSE: XOXO; http://www.xogroupinc.com), the premier consumer internet and media company devoted to weddings, pregnancy and everything in between, providing young couples with the trusted information, products and advice they need to guide them through the most transformative events of their lives. Follow The Knot on Twitter @TheKnot.

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CONTACT: Caty Bennett
Public Relations Manager
The Knot
212-515-3595
CBennett@xogrp.com


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