Four Wedding Trends to Note from the Events Team at Four Seasons Resort Orlando

The catering and events team at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort has an abundance of weddings on the calendar for 2022. From incredible cakes to signature wines, here are their top four wedding trends:

Grand affairs are back: Intimate weddings were quite popular in 2021, with many opting to add virtual elements such as a ceremony live stream. However, “micro weddings” may now be a term of the past, as for 2022, large weddings are back more than ever, says Laure Hitzig Clavette, Director of Catering. “We are seeing the return of grand, opulent weddings, several that are multi-day affairs,” notes Clavette. “The Resort offers so many different options for large events, including the Grand and Palm Ballrooms, plus our event lawns, which are always popular.”   Plus, with the Resort’s expansive offerings, including a water park, golf, tennis, spa, salon, six restaurants and more, it’s easy for destination wedding guests to stay several days as part of the wedding festivities and make a true vacation out of it.

Special wines: Gone are the days of a simple red and white wine served with dinner. “It’s no longer ‘any chardonnay will do,’” notes Sascha Voss, Catering Sales Manager. “Couples prefer wines that are special to them. They enjoy meeting with our sommelier and selecting the perfect wine to pair with their chosen menu,” says Voss. “I see many pinot grigio and sauvignon blanc wines now on the menu at weddings.”  A recent wedding reception included a wine ceremony, where the couple each poured a glass of wine to make a blend, sipping from the combined wine.

“For wedding receptions, I love to suggest bright and vibrant wine, usually on the lighter side to slowly start the palate,” says Antoine Boissonot, Resort Sommelier. “I recommend any light white wine with great freshness and minerality such as the Patient Cottat Sancerre from Loire Valley France. We obviously cannot forget bubbles, and Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve shows great texture, fine bubbles and beautiful toasted and green apple notes.”

Over-the-top cakes: Desserts in miniature had their moment, but the Catering team is now seeing a comeback of the classic wedding cake, and it seems large, tiered, more over-the-top cakes are on everyone’s wish list. Executive Pastry Chef Rabii Saber recently created a wedding cake that was over eight feet tall and four feet wide (2.4 by 1.2 metres), which included 200 pounds (90 kilograms) of fondant and had more than 300 flowers on the cake, plus chandelier accent strips, LED lights, gold leaf, and other decorator elements that made it a showstopping décor element of the wedding. Saber says couples are primarily seeking cakes that are geometrical in shape with modern and creative techniques. “We are seeing a demand for larger, sumptuous and elaborate cakes,” says Saber. “This has been very popular in India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, where an abundance and the size of cake culturally expresses hospitality, but also can express social status and wealth. Now, this trend is more common everywhere, especially for larger weddings where the cake becomes a centrepiece of the festivities and an amazing addition to the wedding ritual.” Saber notes that with the Resort’s spacious ballrooms, high ceilings and chandeliers, large cakes display beautifully.

For flavours, Saber notes the most popular flavour of wedding cake is the vanilla cake with vanilla mousseline and fresh strawberry filling, although some opt for a more “fun” flavour such as cookies and cream, served with the Resort’s housemade cookie dough gelato. “We have had an increased demand recently for a duo plate, featuring two favourite flavours that represent the couple,” adds Saber. With the frequency of social media sharing, Saber says he meets with couples who bring their own ideas found online, and together they design a customised showpiece that is as beautiful as is delicious.

Custom and elaborate décor elements: With fewer large parties and events over the past two years, 2022 weddings are shaping up to be grand affairs, and the more elaborate, the better. Anticipate more black-tie weddings, with fancier décor and theming. Elegant plated multi-course dinners replace buffets or family-style service. Clavette notes “gone are the place card tables; custom seating charts that are a visual showpiece become a subject of conversation during cocktail hour.”

Clavette adds specialty cocktails are still popular, based on the couples’ respective favourite drink, or a drink based on their favourite vacation destination.  She says dance floor wraps, which have been popular for a while, are now taken to new levels as any look can be reproduced on vinyl and applied to the dance floor.  “The monogram on a classic white dance floor with rose gold edges is now a classic,” notes Clavette. “A dance floor inspired by a bride’s favourite fashion brand, now that’s something unique.  One of my brides is a Lilly Pulitzer fan. When you entered the Ballroom, you knew it was her wedding; the colour scheme carried throughout the room, and the stunning dance floor was such as representation of her style. It was unique, it was HER and everyone loved it.”

Clavette notes that this year, people are attending a lot of weddings, because of rescheduled celebrations.  “Couples have been waiting so long to make their special day happen, they want to give guests the time of their lives and make the celebration uniquely theirs.”