Wedding Related Event Trends in Miami

The latest wedding trends are usually splashed across social media and the magazine aisle of the grocery store, but the wedding related events, such as bridal showers and rehearsal dinners, aren’t discussed as often.

These wedding-related events require attention too, and typically have a completely different feel, so it’s a shame that they’re not in the spotlight more often.

For many couples, the showers and rehearsal dinners provide the opportunity to get a little more creative and infuse more of their personalities into the design. A wedding couple may have a formal wedding, but a shower or dinner can incorporate favorite colors or patterns, a beloved sports team, or shared interests very easily.

Regardless of region and market, wedding related events allow room for a couple to display their personality through decor and rentals.

As we see in event design in Miami and South Florida, there’s no need to match these events to the wedding theme, so couples can genuinely have free rein when it comes to décor. Of course, it can complement the wedding aesthetic — but we find that more and more couples prefer to do something different and let the wedding stand on its own. For example, a tropical-themed rehearsal dinner paired with a formal black-tie wedding allows the couple to have the best of both experiences.

Let’s take a look at some of the event trends in Miami and South Florida that we are seeing in 2020.

Intimate layouts

For smaller events, the guest list is usually shorter and encompasses immediate family and friends. We find that more casual layouts are preferred, with family-style or cocktail-style tables winning out. Couples also prefer to leave the seating unassigned, so people can mingle and get to know each other beyond the traditional round tables and seating chart.

Banquet tables are also popular, especially for bridal showers. Seating at a long table allows the conversation to flow naturally, and also provides an excellent setting for playing games and connecting over shared dishes.

Unique rentals

Since these wedding-related events are great ways to infuse some personality, wedding couples in Miami area are opting for creative rental choices that wouldn’t necessarily fit into their wedding theme. Like bringing in their favorite colors through linens, settees, and accent pieces.

If they met in a unique way, find ways to incorporate details that speak to that story — think city skylines if they got together in New York City or tropical details if they met in Miami beach.

Food stations are a great way to add to the guest experience while also providing a special place to showcase décor. Make it interactive to keep people entertained and immersed in the event.

When looking for rentals for rehearsal dinners and showers, people usually limit their budget as they allocate the majority to the wedding itself. This often means booking a restaurant or country club for a venue, which doesn’t always offer the design freedom as other properties. Some great ways to add a personal touch to these locations include custom linens, colored glassware and chargers, lounge furniture, and even a dance floor if the venue can accommodate it.

Be sure to check with the venue to see what they have on site. Then, work with the venue and rental company to enhance those items with unique details that create the desired look within the couple’s budget.

Heather Rouffe is the Director of Sales and Partner of Atlas Event Rental, a full-service event rental company serving the Southern Florida market for over 30 years. Recently named one of the top 30 rental companies in the US by Special Events Magazine, Atlas provides top quality products and unparalleled customer service to each and every customer.