2010 Wedding Trend: Bridal Accessories with Color

The top bridal designers have just shown their latest collections in New York for 2010 brides. When it comes to accessories, one clear trend has emerged: color. Bridal accessories with color will be all the rage for 2010 weddings. Here are some ideas on how to capture this great trend for your own special day.

There are some wonderful ways in which bridal jewelry can be handcrafted with colorful accents while still maintaining that special character that makes it perfect for a wedding. One idea is to choose a handcrafted bridal jewelry set which is created from clear or AB crystals. Add a dash of color by having the designer switch out a few of the clear crystals for ones in your wedding color. This is a great idea, as you can use as much or as little color as you like. Keep the effect subtle with a pastel crystal (pink is especially popular) or go bold and use a stronger color like red.

Another idea for a bridal accessory with color is your wedding hair jewelry. Headbands have been very hot for brides the last few seasons, and they lend themselves to customization. A simple fabric headband can be embroidered with a lovely floral or vine motif in your favorite color. For a bit more pizazz, choose a fabric headpiece and have it beaded with glittering crystals or feminine pearls in a soft rosy color or a rich neutral like bronze. A fantastic alternative is a non-fabric headband made from a wire frame which is adorned with crystals and pearls. A combination of white pearls with colored and clear crystals is modern and fresh. This looks especially stunning when it is a double headband.

When you are thinking about wedding accessories, of course your shoes will be important. Even the most traditional bride can have fun with a pair of baby blue silk sandals peeking out from her conservative white wedding gown. Colorful shoes are also a fabulous accent for the ballerina length and hi-low hemlines that will be hot for 2010. Your accessories are a fantastic place to express your individuality and style, so have fun adding colorful accents that will make your bridal ensemble one-of-a-kind.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Bachelorette Parties

Does a bachelorette party have to be rauchy? No! For that matter, neither does a bachelor party. The idea is to get together with your friends for one last night of fun before your wedding, and if Chippendale dancers and suggestively shaped lollipops are not your idea of a good time, then by all means skip the naughty stuff. A girls’ night out at your favorite pub or hitting the dance floor at the hottest nightclub in town are also fun and memorable, and you won’t spend the night feeling embarrassed.

Who pays for the bachelorette party? The bachelorette party is most often organized by the maid of honor and the bridesmaids (one more reason they deserve really awesome bridesmaid gifts!). If the party is one night at a local bar, they will usually split the costs between them. It may be that any upfront costs are evenly divided  and that each person pays for her own drinks and chips in extra to make sure the bride’s bar tab is covered at the end of the night. However, if the bachelorette party is going to be held over a weekend away at a spa or a party town like Las Vegas, the bride should be expected to pay for many of her own expenses. And no, the bridesmaids do not have to cover her gambling losses at the casino!

Who should be invited? Certainly, all of the bridesmaids and the maid of honor. Unless you are opting for a spa day or some other G-rated activity, the younger members of the bridal party should sit this one out. When the bachelorette party is held locally, feel free to invite the bride’s other friends who are not in the wedding, her co-workers, and so on. Who to leave out? The mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom! Also don’t plan on inviting an extended entourage if you are taking the party on the road; it is just too expensive for most people.

Can it be co-ed? Sure! Just as bridal showers are now sometimes “Jack and Jill” events, so too can there be a co-ed bachelor/bachelorette party. Assemble the whole gang for a wild adventure at a favorite watering hole or club. At least this way, the bride and groom will not have to wonder what the other one did at their party!

Do You Have to Include Every Wedding Tradition?

Weddings are tradition-laden occasions, of this there can be no doubt. It seems like so many of the customs are included in a wedding merely because they are traditional, long after the original meaning has been lost. To some modern couples, this may not seem like enough of a reason to do things in a certain way. These are some of the wedding customs that can easily be skipped, as well as those not to be missed.

Some parts of the wedding have very strong and clear symbolism, and should definitely be included. The biggest examples would be the exchange of vows and the wedding bands. This does not mean that these have to be handled in any particular way, however. Many couples forgo the traditional vows (especially the “obey” part) and write their own vows. Certainly, you can choose any sort of wedding bands that appeal to you, from the classic plain gold band to one-of-a-kind pieces handcrafted by a local artisan. Most men these days do also receive wedding bands in the ceremony, even if they decide not to wear one on a daily basis due to their work or simply personal preference.

A common complaint about weddings is the enormous expense for just one day. While having an affordable wedding is certainly reasonable, there are some customs that cannot be shed just to trim the budget. One of these is giving bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts. If you choose to have a wedding party, giving bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts to thank them for their participation is mandatory, and is really nothing compared to the expense it costs to be in a wedding (attire, travel, gifts, parties, etc.). however, if the bride and groom both agree, it is acceptable for them to leave out the custom of giving one another a gift on the morning of the wedding.

There are lots of things that are done at nearly every wedding that are fine to omit from yours. Do you have to have a cake cutting ceremony? No; in fact, you do not even have to have a traditional wedding cake. If the cake cutting moment does not appeal to you, feel free to substitute a dessert bar, cupcakes, or even fresh fruit pies for the grand cake. Although many brides and grooms seem to relish the spotlight, a shy pair of newlyweds may certainly decide to skip the first dance and open the floor up to general dancing immediately. Certainly don’t give a second thought to the traditional bouquet toss if you think it is ditzy, and by all means, skip the tacky garter toss. Your wedding is a special day to celebrate your love, and by all means, make it your own.

Romantic Italian Honeymoons

Did you know that Italy is consistently ranked as one of the top ten honeymoon destinations in the world? It is a mecca for art lovers, fashionistas, wine and food enthusiasts, as well as anyone who simply wants to enjoy a romantic honeymoon in one of the most beautiful and welcoming places that can be found anywhere. Let this guide help you in deciding where to go, what to do, and what to see while enjoying a romantic Italian honeymoon that you will never forget.

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Romantic Italian Honeymoons

Planning a Multi-Cultural Wedding

A wedding is a time to celebrate your family’s traditions and heritage. Highlighting the customs of the bride and groom’s cultures can play a big part in making their wedding personal and memorable. Yet, when the bride and groom come from very different cultures, it can seem more like a mish-mash than a melting pot. These are some ideas on how to plan a multi-cultural wedding that is beautiful, cohesive, and inclusive.

When there is a potential culture clash brewing, it is important for the bride and groom to sit down together early in the planning process to make a list of the special customs they may wish to include in the wedding. Go ahead and brainstorm a comprehensive list, without worrying about how you can possibly have a Tex-Mex taco bar and a Chinese wedding tea ceremony in the same wedding. Once you start to find out what is important to your significant other, you will have a launching point to begin trying to meld the various traditions.

Also keep in mind that planning a multi-cultural wedding is the perfect opportunity to learn more about your future mate’s heritage. For instance, let’s say that a bride with Irish heritage is marrying a man whose parents are from India. The Irish bride will likely not wear the full traditional Indian suite of wedding jewelry, but she might wish to participate in the bonding experience of a pre-wedding henna ceremony with the groom’s mother and sisters. Likewise, the Indian groom will probably not wear kilt, but he and his bride could exchange gold claddagh rings as their wedding bands, since gold jewelry is such an important part of Indian weddings.

The wedding food is one of the easiest places to combine two cultures into one fabulous wedding. This is best accomplished by serving a wide variety of tastes from both cultures at serving stations. The serving stations allow each guest to sample the foods which they expect to find at a celebration, but it also gives each family the chance to explore the cuisine of the other one. If there is one thing that brings people together across all cultures, it is sitting down and breaking bread together, which is why the food can be the key component of your multi-cultural wedding.

Find the Perfect Gown from the 2010 Bridal Collections

The key to picking the perfect wedding gown is to choose one that both flatters your figure and suits the style of your wedding. There are several key silhouettes and design trends that will be hot for 2010 wedding gowns, and this guide will help you to navigate through all of the tulle and taffeta to zero in on the ones that will be the best fit for you. Once you know what to try, the rest will be easy.

The natural waistline is being emphasized in the 2010 collections in a way that we have not seen for years. This means that the bodice ends right around the smallest part of the waist, and it usually is paired with a full A-line or ballgown skirt for a great 1950s party dress silhouette. So who can wear this shape? The ’50s shape is terrific for brides who love classic elegance, especially those gowns which have tulle or embroidered organza skirts. The natural waist is extremely flattering on petite brides, most of whom should never attempt to wear a drop waist which shortens the look of the legs. This is a very versatile shape that will find many fans.

If you are looking for a more glamorous bridal gown for a 2010 wedding, check out the terrific new trumpet skirt gowns in the latest collections. These gowns are fitted until about the knee and then flare out into a fuller skirt at the bottom. It is a style with a lot of drama and a sultry appeal. Many of the trumpet gowns have been created in lustrous silk satin with beaded accents. The sparkle of the embellishments pair beautifully with accessories such as handmade Swarovski crystal earrings. The strapless neckline is very popular with the trumpet skirts, and you are also seeing some with the chic one shoulder neckline. Highlight an asymmetrical bridal gown with a statement making pair of Swarovski crystal earrings which have been handmade to suit your style.

There were many draped bodices on the runway this time around. The draped bodices generally feature a fitted strapless shape with fabric that has been layered, pleated, or shirred to fit closely to the body. The draping is often set to run on the diagonal, meeting near the center of the gown. The result is a look that is not only striking, but is remarkably flattering to the figure. At first blush, one might think that extra fabric would add bulk, but the artful draping actually draws the eye inward, which whittles the waistline. In addition, the layers are magical at camouflaging an untoned torso. Any bride who wants to look like she has a tiny waist should try a draped bodice gown!

Ideas for Displaying Wedding Favors

The wedding favors you give your guests will make a lasting impression. Make sure it is a great impression by offering thoughtful thank you gifts which are beautifully displayed. These are some great ideas for displaying wedding favors.

Many wedding favors come in small boxes, especially candy. Think about how the gifts can be displayed in a way that ties in with the rest of your wedding. For instance, if you are having an Asian inspired wedding, wrap the boxes in exquisite pieces of patterned origami paper or delicate handmade rice paper. Tie a thin silk cord in a rich red or gold around each box (these are the lucky Chinese wedding colors). To make a real visual impact, stack the beautifully wrapped favor boxes in a pyramid on a specially designated table. Add to the theme by decorating the table with lucky bamboo in pots.

Beach theme weddings are a special category. A destination or beach wedding is so much fun that you will want to enhance the theme whenever you can. For the wedding favors, think about choosing something like a votive candle in a frosted glass holder accented with a silver starfish charm. To display the gifts, create a low wooden tray, fill it with sand or unique smooth sea glass, and nestle the votives inside in neat rows.

Candy bars are one of the most popular wedding favor ideas these days. Think about how you want to arrange the candy for the most attractive display table. For an elegant wedding, use tall clear glass apothecary style footed vases with lids. Take a silver link tag and print the name of each candy on it, then hang it around the neck of the vase. If you were having more of a casual backyard wedding with a simple handmade wedding dress and informal jewelry, opt for a more down to earth style of candy bar. How about tiny galvanized tin pails painted with a gingham check? You can fill the candy bar with your favorite childhood candies or make it extra stylish by choosing only candies in your wedding colors. Of course your guests will need a way to take home all of their sweet treats, so provide them with something like clear Chinese take out containers or clear glassine bags. Put out a stack of customized stickers with your wedding monogram to seal the bags or boxes once they have been filled with loot!

Winter Wonderland Wedding Attire

Planning a Winter Wonderland theme wedding? Great! It is a fabulous and festive theme for a wedding in the cold winter months. A Winter Wonderland wedding needs equally fabulous attire for the bridal party; here is a guide to the most spectacular outfits for everyone from the bride on down.

The hallmarks of a Winter Wonderland wedding are icy sparkle and plenty of shimmer. This is a very fun idea to capture in a bridal gown. Look for a lustrous white silk gown, rather than one in ivory or champagne. Choose a style that has a grand presence, such as a very full ballgown with a box pleated skirt. Then think about the details. Silver embroidery and crystal beadwork are a must!

No wedding gown is complete without the perfect finishing touches. A sparkling headpiece is great for a Winter Wonderland bride. Choose a tiara, a double headband, a festive comb, or a set of hairpins. Crystals and rhinestones can be mixed with tiny pearls for the perfect icy snowflake look. In fact, you can even get hairpins or other jewelry that is made in the shape of a snowflake. A snowflake pendant is a fantastic gift idea for your bridesmaids. You will want plenty of other twinkling touches, too, such as stacks of Swarovski crystal bracelets, chandelier earrings, and a fabulous crystal necklace.

The bridesmaids for a Winter Wonderland wedding should also look spectacular. As popular as red is for winter weddings, it makes too strong a contrast to the icy white palette that characterizes this theme. Opt for bridesmaid dresses in a color like silver, platinum, or champagne instead. They will look just as festive, yet will not be a distraction from the décor. Certainly the bridesmaids will also want to shimmer. Sets of Swarovski crystal bracelets, earrings, and necklaces would be the perfect finishing touch.

Red Winter Wedding Flowers

Red is one of the most fabulous colors for winter wedding flowers. It is rich, passionate, and seasonal. These are some of the most beautiful red centerpiece and bouquet ideas for winter weddings.

Red roses are the ultimate expression of love and passion. They are certainly an enduring favorite for late winter weddings around Valentine’s Day, but they are equally beautiful for any winter affair. One of the most striking way to use red roses for wedding bouquets is to create the bouquets entirely from the same variety of roses tightly packed into a classic round nosegay. If your wedding style is dramatic, opt for deep dark red roses, or choose a vibrant true red for a Christmas wedding.

Seasonal accents can be used to make special red rose winter bouquets and centerpieces. For a wedding in December, a clear footed urn can be filled with different sizes of round Christmas ornaments before being topped with an arrangement of red roses, red hypericum berries, and evergreen. Keep the look sophisticated by filling the vase with red balls mixed with frosted silver or moss green balls, which are an unexpected departure from a traditional holiday green color.

A showy tropical blossom that is popular in the winter is amaryllis, which are forced from bulbs. You can make striking bouquets by accenting the amaryllis with large red crystals and glass beads woven into the flowers. Imagine how pretty that would look if your attendants were wearing red crystal bridesmaid jewelry. Speaking of bridesmaids, be careful not to create a look for them that is completely monochromatic. If they are wearing red dresses accented with handmade red crystal bridesmaid jewelry, make their bouquets from variegated white and red amaryllis, or from red amaryllis mixed with white lilies or roses.

There is no end to the gorgeous red flowers a bride can choose for her winter wedding. From tulips to calla lilies to ranunculus, there is a red flower that will be ideal for your bouquet and centerpiece designs.

What to Wear to a November Wedding

November is not one of the more common months for weddings, and if you have been invited to one, you may find yourself wondering what on earth to wear. Dressing for a November wedding can be a little bit tricky, as the weather will be wintery, but the festive holiday season has not yet begun. From colors to fabrics to styles, this is what to wear to a November wedding.

One question that many guests have is, “Can I wear velvet in November?”. To some extent, this is a personal preference, but a good rule of thumb is that velvet is best reserved for the time between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day. There is some flexibility to that; if you were attending a formal wedding the weekend before Thanksgiving, no one would give it a second thought if you wore a velvet dress. If the wedding is in the beginning of November, head to toe velvet would be a bit much. You could, however, get away with a pretty velvet jacket and a silk skirt. A style with a wide portrait neckline is a gorgeous way to show off your favorite wedding jewelry.

If you are invited to a casual November wedding, think cozy and luxe for your outfit. Beautiful fabrics with great texture are the way to go. Informal pieces with special details work very well, such as a cardigan with a beaded neckline. A cashmere cable knit sweater worn with a brown suede skirt and high heeled boots would be perfect. Add some pretty jewelry, like a Tiffany-inspired silver bracelet or a large pair of pearl studs.

Heavy silks like shantung, satin, and dupioni are always beautiful for a late fall wedding. The shimmer of satin makes it best suited to evening weddings, or to use as a trim (such as a satin color on a dress made from a matte fabric).  For an afternoon wedding ceremony, a silk dupioni sheath with matching tailored jacket would be stunning. With all of the early holiday styles coming into the shops, finding the perfect outfit to wear to a November wedding may be easier than you think.