Meghan Markle & Prince Eugenie just inspired the biggest wedding trends of 2019

You can't deny it, 2018 was quite a big year for weddings, not in the least because there were not one, but two royal weddings. In May, Meghan Markle wed Prince Harry, and in October, Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank, with both couples choosing St George's Chapel and then Windsor castle as their wedding venues.

It turns out they've very much set the tone for wedding trends for the year ahead. According to Bethan Davies, Senior Executive of Special Occasions at Celtic Manor Resort, this is what's going to be hot in the wedding market for 2019.

Eco weddings

The Blue Planet effect has seen increased consumer engagement with environmental issues and we’re seeing couples considering more eco-friendly options for their big day. Princess Eugenie went plastic-free on her big day and where the royals tread, others follow.

Wedding gin bars

If 2018 was the year of popping the Prosecco, 2019 is set to be the year of gin-spiration. From infused gin wedding favours to hiring a mobile ‘gin tin’, we anticipate high demand for new and unusual twists on this juniper-based tipple at weddings next year.

Wedding mirror selfie

The photo booth has been a firm favourite for many years – giving guests a personal memento to take away with them, as a reminder of the day. However, now with the evolution of tech, couples are looking for exciting ways to capture these special moments and make them easy to share on social channels. From geo-targeted social media filters to virtual mirrors, the possibilities are almost endless.

Nature weddings

We’ve seen this trend emerging throughout this year, with floral displays being front and centre of many of our weddings. In 2019 we’ll see this taken to the next level with lines between indoors and outdoors blurring as couples choose to incorporate nature in their big day. We’re not just talking bouquets and floral halos, but instead grasses and other foliage being heavily featured in wedding décor.

Themed weddings

The best part of my job is making sure that everyone’s special day is unique. One of my highlights from the past year was a Harry Potter themed wedding and next year we’re anticipating the rise of brides-men and groom-girls. I’m sure we’ll see some spectacular themed weddings in the year ahead as well as surprising developments across the whole industry.