With 2018 ending on a high note, there is so much to look forward to in the year that we are all set to embrace. Here, we list down a few things and trends that will be replacing their predecessors for good.

Festive Trends

Whether you’re planning a wedding, milestone birthday, or fundraising gala for 2019, check out our predictions for the hottest event trends for the year ahead.

Eco-friendly confetti

Speaking of being more environmentally friendly, classic confetti is getting a lean, green makeover! Eco-friendly confetti (ecofetti) is a biodegradable, organic solution to an otherwise wasteful tradition. What a great way to bring Mother Nature back into the mix!

Instagrammable moments

This one is a no-brainer. Guests want to be able to show off every detail of the event in their Instagram stories, so there has been an increase in popularity of visually stunning and interactive elements, like liquid nitrogen ice cream, beautiful charcuterie tables, roaming oyster shuckers and bespoke cocktail stations.

Beyond food and drink, the guests look for shareable details that create buzz. From neon signs to balloon art, everyone is looking for that next Instagrammable moment.

Green weddings

Continuing the trend towards whimsical and romantic weddings, 2019 will see an infusion of natural elements in wedding décor. Greenery will continue to be the classic go-to shade for the wedding season, with foliage becoming more organic and bountiful. You will see trees inside the venue, lush greens for the ceremony, and simple white blooms on the tablescapes.

Fashion Trends

Bag The Bamboo

The Cult Gaia effect will continue to show in 2019: According to Pinterest, searches for "bamboo bags" are up 2,215 percent — so, you can expect to see even more of them on your feeds in the new year.

A Burberry trench

Whether you opt for something cut from winter-ready cashmere or wool by Burberry, a less embellished style from that other British stalwart Macintosh, or something in high-shine leather or nylon from Prada, right now, a slim-cut trench is the only coat to go for.

Social Media Star of 2019

Billie Eilish

If 2018 was Dua Lipa’s year, then 2019 belongs to Billie Eilish, the 16-year-old pop prodigy with a billion streams and counting. With an eerie sound best described as Lana Del Rey meets Lykke Li, and cutting-edge cool girl style, this LA native is not your average teen. In her biggest hit, ‘Bellyache’ (111 million Spotify streams), she takes on the character of a psychopath who’s just killed all her friends.

Next-gen social platform Vero

In current climate of Facebook fatigue, fake news and private data sales, Vero’s mission to make social smarter has never felt so necessary. The next-gen social platform's user base is growing exponentially and the team behind it is gearing up for a big spike in 2019. Its best feature? Slick interface and straight-forward functionality aside, we can’t get enough of the post types. Recommend (or reject) films, TV series, places, music and books. It’s like having a cultural bible in your pocket, permanently.

Foldable gadgets

From the Royole to Samsung’s prototype, manufacturers are showing off their versions of foldable smartphones at various events. But just like 5G, it is too early to say how the consumers will perceive the ‘differently’ designed phones. Although we did find foldable phones unimpressive – they are certainly on the list of manufacturers for the coming year

Samsung finally teased the release of their forthcoming ‘foldable phone’ in November and tech industry insiders are buzzing about the possibilities and the cost. The phone will potentially be called the ‘Galaxy F’ and will feature two primary screens. The phone is expected to debut in March and will feature a projected price point of $1,770,

Colour Of The Year

Pantone’s [social media inspired] colour is 16-1546 Living Coral

Vibrant, yet mellow PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment.

The colour is chosen in reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media in our into daily lives. The engaging nature of PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity. Representing the fusion of modern life, PANTONE Living Coral is a nurturing colour that appears in our natural surroundings and at the same time, displays a lively presence within social media.

Social Media Trends

One-stop shopping solutions Instagram

Instagram has evolved massively. Recently Instagram introduced shoppable Instagram Stories stickers. This way e-commerce brands can use the “product” sticker in Instagram Stories to tag specific products in stories, just like you can with regular Instagram shopping posts. Or, another way to sell on Instagram is to use swipe-up links. Either way, Instagram has become a very effective sales channel.

Pinterest

It has always been the primary stop for people in the quest of shopping inspiration. And when you find something that you really want to buy, it’s very easy to actually make that purchase by simply clicking through to the retailer’s website. And the reason: where people go to look for inspiration, they should also be able to shop right from their feed. It’s effective for brands and consumers alike.

Micro-influencers

Social media stars have millions of followers. As the number of social media influencers has grown over time, prices for their services have also skyrocketed. That leads more businesses to look at other alternatives, including micro-influencers. These smaller names are not massively targeted by advertisers, so they are trustworthy and humble. The marketing potential is very high and marketers are about to recognise this in 2019.

On The Rise

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

On the other side of the world in Los Angeles – the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will open its’ door in autumn 2019. The building is designed by Renzo Piano and looks great.

The main long-term exhibit, titled ‘Where Dreams Are Made: A Journey Inside the Movies,” will be in place when the museum opens to paying customers next year. The designers are also trying to create a “wow” factor, with galleries intended to awe visitors with the emotional power of film.

Travel Trends

Here’s what to look for if you are a travel junkie.

There have been numerous exciting trends to look out for in 2019

Insta-holidays In this social media age, travel business is increasingly driven by a location’s Instagram-ability. According to surveys, it’s the “Instagrammability” that makes a place worthy or not-so-worthy so travel to. Whether it is art-driven experiences or beautiful locations that are snapshot-worthy, 2019 sees more social media-inspired tourism.

The Appren-trip

2019 will see a rise in people’s desire to learn something new - this may include volunteering and skills-based holidays - while on holiday. Trips with a purpose will become more popular in 2019, with 68 per cent of global travellers considering taking part in cultural exchanges to learn a new skill, followed by a volunteering trip (54 per cent) and international work placements (52 per cent).

Maximising the micro trip

2019 will be the year of 'bite sized travel' - squeezing in more curated travel itineraries into shorter time frames. Thanks to improvements in flight routes, transport, cheap flights, on-demand car rentals and accommodation, micro trips will become increasingly more popular and varied.

The chance to stay in unique and remarkable types of accommodation during short getaways will also reportedly become more trendy so get those yurt and caravan bookings in ASAP.