Move over ice sculptures of the traditional “Hearts & Doves”! No longer will you just see an ice sculpture of hearts with the wedding couple names engraved on it or just a seafood shell on the wedding buffet line. All new trends with blocks of carved ice now include Altars, Cake Tables, Martini Bars and Sushi Bars and are taking over the reception, the bridal showers and groom’s parties. Guests are now greeted at the entry way to the reception with large ice bowls of champagne, for a self serve glass of the bubbly upon arrival!

From way back 200 years ago, just the elite of our society were able to afford such luxury items as ice sculptures at their receptions, social events and gatherings. The French chefs would serve food on elaborate displays to keep the food cold; they began the first use of ice sculptures in various designs. But today, from the bridal shower and bachelor parties to the reception itself, ice sculptures and ice carvings are becoming increasingly more popular with brides and grooms alike. Grooms are doing liquor shots in ice luges and brides are floating ice carvings in punch bowls as well as luges, for the true “partying crowd”. 

The latest trend for an ice sculpting company in Colorado has been orders for Garden Weddings in the Summer, Winter, Fall and Spring seasons, “it’s become a year round thing these days for Garden Weddings”; complete with ice altars and cake tables with the wedding flowers frozen into the ice.  “We’ve done mountain top weddings in the winter while it’s snowing! And we’ve done a spring garden wedding complete with an ice altar in the back yard.”  We are seeing a more festive trend with couples these days; they are deciding on a theme together and designing their wedding around this theme.

Brides today (and yesterday for that matter) want a personal, intimate and unique celebration. Conveying a festive feeling as soon as the guest arrives, gives you a comfort zone as soon as you walk in. Do you feel the “old etiquette” wedding pressures of yester year? Most people are no longer afraid of the etiquette police coming after them and are doing what makes them happy on their special day. Cakes made of ice are done in place of the traditional wedding cake and dessert stations are made available in its place. Jewish traditions like the dancing wall is now being done out of ice as well. There are photo stations that are being done out of ice for photo opportunities of the family driving the car of the honeymoon couple! Although this has been a long time thing for the east coast, it is moving west. While more and more brides are doing their basic shopping on the internet; not just for ideas anymore either, actual purchases from dresses to ice sculptures and honeymoons are all now being booked on-line.

The possibilities are just endless when it comes to ice carving these days, so reconsider these ideas when planning your special day and don’t just call for the traditional ice sculpture, do something spectacular! Everyone will remember the ice, when they remember nothing else, so keep this in mind when deciding what you want. Anyone can find a sculptor in their area by contacting the National Ice Carving Association at www.nica.org. Don’t be afraid to ask for the extraordinary, and be sure your dealing with an experienced carver for those creative ideas. “Have an Ice Day” and make a memory, not just a moment.