Let me just precursor this trend report with these two statements:  

ALWAYS ask yourself if you LOVE it and if it MEANS something to you.  

Trends come and go but what triggers your HEART and PASSION will be with you forever.

Now, onto the 2012 predictions for all things celebratory:  anniversaries, birthdays, engagements, weddings and more.

In Canada, mismatched wooden chairs, harvest tables, upholstered settees and chairs, milk glass, silver and frames will hold the spot light for vintage fetes.  
There will be an increased demand for strings of globes lights at outdoor parties.  Pretty chandeliers, dripping with crystals, will draw attention to head tables and special seating areas.

Rustic vintage will brighten up this season with splashes of trendy colours such as tangerine tango, cabaret (think, fuschia) and sodalite blue, in line with Pantone’s Spring 2012 colours.  Yellow (solar power) and charcoal (driftwood) are still hot too.  In my opinion they are just a bit darker, not so cheery or silvery.  

Lace and a more Grace Kelly-esk approach to vintage will grow throughout the season and will hold ground throughout 2013.  A finer approach to vintage is trending in Europe and to the south of us as people aspire for the Kate & Will’s look of what old is new but in a very clean and crisp manner.

Lace doilies are filling in where burlap left off.  Whether it is bunting, table runners, lighting or guest gifts; lace is everywhere.   Those not wanting to give up on burlap will find it combined with lace, buttons and sheet music or printed pages.

Vintage linens and/or patterns will be ever present too.  Mismatched napkins for a casual party and crisp white linens for a more formal event (and when I say ‘linen’, I mean ‘linen’).

Coloured bottles are taking over from canning jars or at the very least being added to the mix.  

Ever present props such as luggage, keys, typewriters, canning jars, burlap, bird cages and crates will continue to hold a prominent place at Canadian weddings this year.  That being said, these types of props are starting to give way and will only be used by party hosts if the items have true meaning to them.

For a recap (in no particular order):

1.  Coloured bottles, milk glass and silver (mercury glass too) containers
2.  Lace, burlap, buttons, sheet music and printed pages from books
3.  Harvest tables and mismatched chairs a la vineyards
4.  Crisp white linens, handkerchiefs 
5.  Settees and chairs
6.  Chalkboards (so handy) and frames
7.  Globe lights and crystal dripping chandeliers
8.  Spring Pantone 2012 colours