Believe it or not, winter is the most popular time of year for a proposal. Perhaps it’s the jovial holiday atmosphere, or the high number of family get-togethers, but December proves to be the most popular month to pop the question, followed by Valentine’s Day in February.

If 2014 is your year to get married, then take note that the wedding industry on the Island is expecting some new trends for the coming months.

Khaliah Nisbett, the owner of Occasions Bridal & Formal, said she has seen a shift away from the popular sweetheart necklines, and strapless wedding dresses, as more brides are choosing to go conservative.

While Steven Faries, of Exclusive Events, has found that more and more local couples are choosing to add a fun element to their wedding by having fun photo backdrops that people can take pictures against.

Read on to find out about a host of other exciting trends for weddings this year:

The dress

High splits or high-low hems (that are high in the front and low in the back). These two styles of dresses could be making their way to local alters soon, said Ms Nisbett. The high split allows brides to show off a little more of their legs (if that’s an asset they are particularly fond of), while the high-low hem allows women to give people a peak at their shoes and also has a train in the back.

Beaded illusion necklines. These dresses are typically sheer at the top and then have crystal beading across the neckline for added drama. Ms Nisbett predicts more brides may be choosing this style of dress in 2014.

Non-white wedding dresses. A few women are choosing to break tradition and find wedding dresses in colours like purple, red and black, according to Kandra Dears, of Beautiq. “They may choose to wear black and their bridesmaids will wear white,” she explained. “And they want to get something they can wear again and don’t want to spend a whole lot of money anymore.”

Rustic decor

According to Mr Faries rustic design elements — which are country chic, yet down to earth — should be making a major comeback in this year. The wedding designer said he’s seen an increase in people asking for rustic accents like wood signs; sporadic placed candles around a room or on tables; and mason jars with cut flowers, instead of a formal arrangement. He said rustic accents give off a warm feeling and are also popular in home decor right now. “If you go into a store like Pier One or HomeGoods it’s right there. They have lots of rustic wood, candles and clear glass and that’s what people are buying and that is what’s in magazines,” he said.

Non-traditional venues

Philip Barnett, of catering company Island Restaurant Group, said many of the couples who contact him are looking at more unique wedding venues for their receptions. He couldn’t say whether this was a new trend or whether this just applied to their clientele specifically, but he has participated in a wedding on Hen Island, in the middle of the St George’s Harbour; and a few others, which have taken place at Cambridge House in Mangrove Bay, Somerset.

Photo backdrops

These have a similar effect to a photo booth, but are a bit friendlier on the wallet. Mr Faries said he has seen more couples choosing to have these funky photo backdrops as a fun way to get guests engaged in the festivities. He said: “It’s also cheaper because you are paying to have the photographers be there all day and guests just stand in front of the backdrop and get their photos taken. With a photo booth you have to pay for an additional cost, but you get the pictures on the spot for your guests to take away.”

Neutral colours for bridesmaids

Ms Nisbett said bridal show runways suggested that nude, grey and pale pink would be popular colours for bridesmaids in 2014. “Bridal designers did still feature bridesmaids dresses in vibrant or bold colours, but it did seem more common for those nude colours this year,” she added.

Ladies jackets.

There also seems to be a move towards lace jackets that allow the bride to dress a little more modestly. Ms Nisbett said many dresses coming out this year are more conservative, whereas the sweetheart and strapless gowns were all the rage last year.

Bling.

Bermudian couples typically like to add luxe crystal accents to their decor for a hint of glamour. Mr Faries said he has also seen a move towards adding faux diamonds or jewellery to their floral bouquets as well. He said the bling look is also “crisp and clean” when paired with white flowers and linens and with silver as an accent colour.

No fuss food.

Mr Barnett explained that many of their clients are moving away from sit down meals where everything is served at the table and opting for more casual or light foods. Stand up options, like canapés, allow people to move around and talk more easily, while other ideas like food stations and IRG’s Churrascaria Station, which offers mini bites of fire grilled fish and meats on long swords, are becoming increasingly popular. “People want their day to be very unique whether bare footed and bohemian or black tie and bubbles,” Mr Barnett said.

Purple, lilac and violet.

This shade is expected to be a really popular colour at weddings this year. Wedding designer Mr Faries described it as the hot colour for this season, but also said hues like blue and turquoise never seem to go out of style in Bermuda, seeing that they complement the Island’s natural landscape.