Is South Africa ready for the “quiet luxury” wedding trend?

Wedding content creators, fringes and tassels, and sustainable centerpieces are all trending in 2024

Photo credit: Stocksy

The beginning of every year brings a flurry of wedding trends to the fore and this year is no different. My inner diva delights in the comeback of fringes and tassels; indoor plants as wedding décor are in vogue; wedding content creators make it to the wedding scene and even Barbie still has an influence with shades of light pink doing the rounds (The Pantone colour for 2024 is Peach, and I suspect it was because Barbie Pink is just a bit too much to stomach). We will touch on each of these trends in this month’s wedding blog. The 2023 micro trend of Quiet Luxury” continues gaining momentum in 2024. “Quiet luxury” Google searches have increased by 614 percent in the last year alone, just to give you an idea.

 

Fringes and tassels 

Photo credit:Pinterest

Fringes and tassels are evident in all aspects of weddings – from tables to décor to dresses. It’s an easy and fun element to introduce to your big day, and ever so whimsical.  Hanging tassel installations create a dramatic focal point in any venue. Tasselled shoes (even for the men), earrings and menu décor create subtle finishing touches to the theme, but it is conversation stoppers like the use of tassels in the bridal entourage’s floral bouquets in the place of satin ribbons, that are the true showstoppers.

 

Photo credit: CJ Williams

 

Sustainable centrepieces

Photo credits: Designsalon + SkinnyWhistle

Ever walked into one of those lifestyle shops and fallen in love with the plant displays? Introduce this element to your wedding day with indoor plants as sustainable centerpieces. Add décor items that have special meaning to you and the groom. Group potted plants together and intersperse them with candles, for the perfect take-home wedding gift. Or keep it for yourself and start your own indoor garden or atrium.

Adapt your plant choices to your themes – cacti, lavender and even roses all come in pots. So does our all-time elegant flower, the orchid.

Potted plant decor can be made ahead of the wedding and is an ideal project for grooms and granddads with green fingers. Be sure to mix heights and blooms with greenery for the best effect – it creates layers and depth. If inspiration evades you, do a Pinterest search for floral shop windows – it will bring you hours of delight and bloomin’ great ideas.

 

Wedding content creators

Photo credit: Canva

Move over wedding photographer and make space for the wedding content creator. What exactly will a wedding content creator do? A talented content creator captures real-time, real-life photos and may publish them in real-time if you request them to do so. One of the main reasons couples hire a wedding content creator is to have access to pics and footage of their special day almost immediately. With wedding photographers, there is often a delay because of the editing and packaging of photos. And face it, it’s pretty frustrating when your friends publish social pics right away and you have to save theirs, just to have images to share.

A wedding content creator is skilled in various social media platforms and online editing and will adapt and edit your images for the platforms you intend to share them on. Part of their appeal is their video editing skills, especially short videos which can be used on reels, stories and TikTok. When you find a wedding content creator who can set the tone of your wedding with carefully trending audio, you have a winner. Junebug has some great tips on what to look out for when hiring a wedding content creator here – heads up, do your online research! 

 

Is South Africa ready for Quiet Luxury?

 

Photo credit: Celebrate Creativity + My French Country Home

South Africa’s (nouveau) riche are fond of flashing logos. But beware, there is a new trend in town. Quiet luxury. It’s elegant, it’s understated, classic and discreet. Elle Canada refers to it as “stealth wealth,” a refreshing “logo-free fashion with outsized price tags.” Think of it as the opposite of loud logo-mania.

While the ‘real’ Quiet Luxury trend has massive price tags attached to it, quiet luxury doesn’t require an endless budget, but rather tremendous attention to detail. Wedding planners who have been keeping a close eye on the trend will be quick to advise that you can’t exactly recreate a celebrity wedding, but you can achieve a similar look, even on a tight budget. (Tik Tok Legend Emily Mariko’s “pretty” engagement ring was in fact a Van Cleef & Arpels sapphire and diamond ring worth around $30 000, roughly R500 000.)

A quick tick list of how to achieve your perfect quiet luxury wedding:

• Remember that a neutral colour palette that will transcend trends and time. Diamonds are forever, but so are ivory, cream, and blush colour themes.
• Keep wedding invitation designs simple and refined.
• Opt for a classic simple table setting.
• Monogrammed napkins will add a luxurious touch.
• Politely enforce a no-phone policy.
• Entertain will talented musicians – light classic music remains the first choice.

 

• And then, the dress:

 

Stillwhite, confirms that bespoke Quiet luxury is all about timeless sophistication. “These wedding styles look expensive, but in a subtle way. A more minimalist approach to ultra-luxe bridal designs. Quiet luxury wedding looks are perfect for the bride who wants a low-key wedding style, that still feels ultra-sophisticated. These less-is-more gowns speak for themselves with minimal embellishment and classic fabrics.”

Nothing says quiet luxury like a timeless satin slip dress and designers Jenny Yoo and Besa at Anthropology inspire us with the luxe styles of Old Hollywood glamour. Stillwhite has some breath-taking examples of ‘quiet luxury’ wedding dresses in their blog: https://www.stillwhite.com/blog/quiet-luxury

With so many wedding trends to choose from, something for every personality and taste, we look forward to seeing what inspires you at your Umthunzi Hotel or beach wedding. Wishing you a prosperous 2024 – filled with beautiful wedding moments.

She knows her Merlot from her Mojito, her hotel from her motel. From craft food to caviar, her innate curiosity about life and wanderlust provide inspiration for her blogs, articles and press releases about the travel, wedding and Spa industry. Over twenty years in the hotel marketing & PR arena with impressive hotel groups, from Dubai to Durbanville, has evolved into the pure enjoyment of freelance projects under the banner of About Branding.