Outdoor Event Style Trends in Miami

Between the fashion forward looks, tropical vibe, and year round summer-like weather, event planners in South Florida area help to set the event trend for the rest of the country!

Events outside of the South Florida region, such as the Northeast (think New York and Boston) or the midwest (such as Chicago!) often look to Miami for their event design ideas to implement during their warmer weather seasons.

For events being planned outside of the Miami area, where the weather isn’t like summer all year long, some looks can be seasonal. For this reason, it’s important to stay on top of event trends in Miami 2020 in order to see the tropical looks and summer season types of event styling taking place.

With the right insight and guidance from event companies in Miami, event professionals can be well prepared to provide summer clients with fresh and unique design styles that are inspired by the latest trends.

Let’s take a look at the top color and style trends for summer events as inspired from South Florida, as well as floorplan considerations and details to keep in mind for an outdoor celebration that goes off without a hitch.

Shades of summer

As always, white, beige, and natural tones are great for adding a clean feel to any bold color, but they can also stand well on their own. Pair neutral linens with metallic details to embrace the metal trend without going overboard.

Jewel tones continue to be a popular choice, but with a lean towards the brighter hues — that means amethyst and sapphire are in, while deeper colors like burgundy are too heavy for the season. Softer shades, like blush and teal, are also bringing weighty velvet into the foreground this summer.

Prints and patterns

Prints are always going to be a trendy way to bring in some personality, but they do change from season to season. This year for event trends in Miami 2020, florals are all the rage, and there’s no better time to embrace bloom-inspired patterns than summer. We see florals used to complement metallic details for a unique contrasting look.

We’re also seeing a surge in animal prints as an event style trend in the South Florida and Miami area — particularly leopard details. Pineapples are still on the scene, too, with Lilly Pulitzer-inspired preppy patterns becoming a hot choice for events this summer from bridal showers to brunches and birthday parties.

Keep it casual

We find that South Florida and Miami outdoor event layouts often have a more relaxed feel. Outdoor and summer layouts provide opportunity to use more eccentric lounge furniture. Informal seating opens up the possibilities to mix and match pieces for a one-of-a-kind design. It also allows for the venue’s beauty to shine through — a garden wedding with cocktail tables provides more room for guests to explore that if it were a formal table layout.

Do ensure to use a digital floorplan tool (like AllSeated!) to ensure that event layouts are not only to-scale but are cohesive and provide enough space for guests to mingle and staff to move through the space easily.

To-scale diagrams are especially important for events with an important vantage point — waterfront celebrations, for example, should be laid out to feature the beautiful landscape as the backdrop.

See also: How Floorplans Assist With Determining An Event’s Style

Mind the weather

Summer is a lovely season, but it also comes with two main risks: frequent (and often unexpected) rain showers and, of course, high temperatures. Your clients look to you to be the problem solver in both of these situations, so you need to be prepared for anything. For events in the Miami area, there is always that chance for rain. A tent is an obvious solution to keep guests dry in case of a sudden storm.

Most rental items should be fine for outdoors, with the exception of certain woods or velvet that shouldn’t get wet. Check with your rental company to ensure that your furniture and linens can be outside. This is especially important if your client prefers to forego the tent — you’ll need to confirm that the dance floor, tables, chairs, and linens are all weatherproof. (Pro tip: Opt for cushionless chairs for outdoor events so that they can be wiped down easily. Nobody wants to sit on a soaked cushion!)

In terms of heat, consider sourcing fans and portable air conditioners if they’re not available from the venue. You can also look at parasols and handheld fans for guests to stay comfortable. While misters can be refreshing, they are hard to control in large groups, and you want to avoid people from getting wet.

It always helps to keep up with the latest trends for outdoor events, but at the end of the day, clients still have the freedom to choose what they like regardless of the season. For event professionals, the important part is ensuring that their preferred design styles blend seamlessly with the venue.

While indoor venues can often feel like a blank slate, outdoor sites are not quite as transformable due to its natural features. Fortunately, that’s an advantage, too — they are typically filled with beautiful flowers, striking views, and the chance to watch the sunset while celebrating with loved ones. Talk about the ingredients for a perfect summer night!

Heather Rouffe is the Director of Sales and Partner of Atlas Event Rental, a full-service event rental company serving the Southern Florida market for over 30 years. Recently named one of the top 30 rental companies in the US by Special Events Magazine, Atlas provides top quality products and unparalleled customer service to each and every customer.