Wedding Trends That Are On The Decline

Cupcakes. Once upon a time, it seemed fresh and unique to feature a tower of luscious cupcakes at a wedding reception instead of a tiered wedding cake. And then more people starting doing it, and more, and more, until…cupcakes became no more original than a cake. If you happen to love, love, love cupcakes, by all means have them at your wedding. Just be aware that they are no longer more original than having a traditional wedding cake, and they are somewhat limiting when it comes to design.

Sneakers on the Wedding Party. Do you remember the Steve Martin version of the movie “Father of the Bride” when his daughter hiked up her wedding gown to show off the sneakers she was wearing underneath? Unless your dad actually owns a sneaker company like in the movie, there is nothing cute about wearing a pair of Converse with your wedding gown or having the groom wear them with a suit. Ditto for the row of bridesmaids in their party dresses and pretty bridesmaid jewelry wearing sneakers (or plastic flip flops, for that matter). Casual shoes are for casual occasions. Fancy attire calls for equally fancy footwear.

The Orchestrated Aisle Walk. Darn that JK Wedding Entrance Dance video on You Tube! It led countless brides and grooms to think that if they planned a wacky dance instead of simply walking down the aisle that they too could become famous on the Internet. Let’s face it, once it was recreated on “The Office”, that became a sign that it was no longer a novel idea. A wedding is a reason for joy and celebration, of course, but the marriage ceremony is also a monumental right of passage. Save the entertainment for the reception, and show a little dignity when you process down the aisle.

Head Tables. Back when brides and grooms were young and most of their friends were young and unmarried, the head table worked fairly well. The bridal party is a special group, after all, and there was something very decorative about seeing the bride and groom surrounded by the handsome groomsmen in their suits and the bridesmaids in their lovely dresses and pearl bridesmaid jewelry. These days, though, bridal parties tend to be older, and many are married or have significant others. Splitting up couples during dinner is not popular, and most of the attendants would rather sit with their spouses or dates.

Trendy Cocktail Wedding Receptions

What makes a wedding reception cocktail party style? Essentially, it is patterned after a chic cocktail party like they used to have in the 1950s and 1960s. Rather than a full seated dinner, there will be heavy appetizers and drinks, followed by wedding cake. There may be dancing, or if the guest list is small, perhaps just background music for atmosphere. Since the cocktail reception does not have the two separate elements of cocktail hour followed by a seated formal dinner, it will also be a shorter party. For all these reasons, the cocktail reception should be held in the evening, usually following a 7pm wedding ceremony. Indicate on the invitation “cocktail reception” or “hors d’oeuvres to follow” so that your guests will know to eat dinner before the wedding.

Cocktail receptions tend to be very popular with brides and grooms who are 30something or older. They are both very chic and also more affordable for the couple who is paying for their own wedding. The savings on the catering can be significant, since you are essentially hosting just a cocktail hour with appetizers, rather than appetizers followed by an entire dinner. The shorter duration of the cocktail reception may also help reduce the cost of renting the venue, the photographer, musicians, and all of the related expenses. You will even save on centerpieces, since the small round tables which are typical of hors d’oeuvres receptions need less elaborate decorations to look full and lush.

What should the bride wear for a cocktail reception? A very chic dress, of course! This would be the perfect occasion to choose a knee length or tea length wedding dress over a full length gown with a train. A short white lace dress worn with pearl chandelier earrings would be stunning. Another cute idea is a 1950s inspired party dress with a fitted bodice and a full skirt which falls slightly below the knee. Pearl chandelier earrings are a nice update to a classic pearl strand necklace, and of course, you will want a truly fabulous pair of wedding shoes when the gown is not to the floor.

Last but not least, there is the matter of refreshments. When you are offering appetizers instead of dinner, be sure to order them in larger quantities than you would for a cocktail hour followed by a seated meal. While people will eat dinner before your wedding, they will still come to your reception planning to nosh, and the last thing any host wants is to run out of food. A full open bar would be a good idea for a cocktail reception, perhaps with a couple of classic cocktails as the signature drinks (think martinis, Manhattans, and sloe gin fizz). Your guests will be sure to enjoy the ambiance and experience of your hip cocktail party wedding reception!

The Mix and Match Wedding Trend

Brides these days are moving away from the type of wedding where everything is perfectly coordinated. Instead, a natural and colorful trend is on the rise that is all about creating a festive and relaxed atmosphere. Get inspired by the mix and match wedding trend when planning your own celebration.

Bridesmaid dresses are one of the top things that are being mixed up lately.  Nowadays, even the color coordination is being tossed out, in favor of exuberant bridal parties full of lively colors. Kelly green, fuchsia, cobalt blue, you name it, the colors can be put together for the bridesmaids. The unifying theme is that all the colors are equally vibrant (or all equally pale and delicate, if you prefer). To give your group of bridesmaids a sense of cohesiveness, give them all similar bridesmaid jewelry gifts.

A really fun way to give your reception space a funky appeal is to mix and match chair colors.  For instance, a sorbet palette of pale watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew would be fabulous for a spring wedding. Or opt for sophisticated tones such as chocolate, moss green, and taupe for a fall celebration. The concept works equally well for slipcovered chairs, chairs with cushions, or even wood laminate seating in fun colors.

Centerpieces are another wonderful idea for mix and match wedding design. Who says that every table has to be decorated with the same flowers or even the same colors? You can absolutely have pink tulips on one table, deep red roses on the next one, and ivory peonies on the one next to that. The key is to have something about your centerpieces that is common for all of them. Choose similar vases, a general color family, or centerpieces with a similar fullness and height. The style of the blossoms should make sense together, especially in terms of formality. Gerbera daisies paired with orchids simply would not flow well, whereas Gerbera daisies and wildflowers would be charming together for mix and match centerpieces.

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.

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!

The YouTube Wedding Phenomenon

It seems like for many couples these days the most important consideration when planning a wedding is how to end up as the latest YouTube sensation. Anyone who watched Pam and Jim’s wedding on “The Office” now knows that even the ceremony processional is another chance for the bridal party to do something outrageous and memorable (as Jim said, as soon as he saw the video on YouTube of a bridal party dancing up the aisle to “Forever”, he knew they were in for it!). This is a look at the YouTube wedding phenomenon.

Some of the wedding videos on YouTube get literally millions of hits. Think about that; you could have two million people around the world interested in your wedding. The “JK Wedding Entrance Dance” video that inspired the scene on “The Office” has been viewed by over 28 million people! The bridal party who was in it even ended up on the “Today” show. For many couples, that kind of internet fame is simply too enticing to resist. Apparently everyone wants to be featured in the next hot viral video, and to grab their 15 minutes of fame.

Most of the popular wedding videos on YouTube are centered around a surprise (and almost all of the hot videos involve dancing, usually done by people with no special talent in that area). What makes them so fun is the gotcha! moment. As in, the doors to the church open, the bridal party is poised to march down the aisle, and surprise! they do a wacky choreographed dance instead of the expected dignified procession to “The Wedding March”.

Brides and grooms are definitely a big part of the YouTube phenomenon. The first dance used to be a moment when brides in their fine gowns and elegant bridal jewelry sets took a sedate spin around the dance floor with their beaming new husbands to “Unforgettable” or a Frank Sinatra song. These days, it seems like the surprise is when the bride and groom dance to the classic song all the way through. The guests are perched on the edge of their seats waiting for demure brides in their bridal gowns and sets of pearl jewelry to kick off their white shoes and start shaking it to “Crank That” or “Baby Got Back”.

Everyone is getting in on the act. From outrageous father and daughter first dances to entire bridal parties recreating the video to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, wacky choreographed dances are fast becoming a mainstay at otherwise formal and traditional weddings. Personally, I think that there is a trade-off; what you gain in laughs and internet celebrity, you lose in dignity and classic good taste. However, each bride and groom has the right to have the wedding that they want, and if what they choose is to try to get their reception to be a big hit on YouTube, they will certainly have plenty of company!

Hot Trends in Wedding Photography

Like any other aspect of a wedding, the photography follows trends and fresh ideas. The stiff group portraits that were the standard in wedding photography for generations have become the exception rather than the norm. For inspiration for your own wedding, check out these hot trends in wedding photography.

Informal candids are definitely the most popular variety of wedding photos. They are intended less to be a visual record of who was at the wedding, and more as a fluid overview of some of the high points of the day. They should capture the mood and spirit of the wedding by giving the viewer glimpses into the little moments that make the day special.

The bride might want her photographer to be there when she is getting into her bridal gown and wedding jewelry to get a snapshot of her dress going over her head or her sister struggling to pin on her veil. A good candid photographer will have an eye for the other memorable parts of a wedding, from capturing a meaningful glance exchanged by the bride and groom to the look of pure joy on the face of a flower girl on the dance floor.

Wedding photography taken in unusual places is one of the hottest rising trends in weddings. Many of these pictures are taken as engagement photos before the wedding, but they are nothing like the posed studio shots your parents had taken when they announced their betrothal. Urban backgrounds are particularly popular, ranging from black and white photos set against a towering city skyline to gritty scenes in front of graffitied brick walls.

For couples who do not live in a city, popular backgrounds include seasides, natural locations, and even places like carnivals and zoos. These settings are also gaining popularity for day-of-wedding photography; the contrast between the wild setting and the bride in her exquisite bridal gown, veil, and wedding jewelry makes for an interesting juxtaposition which gives the pictures an edgy quality. With all of the amazing technology at our fingertips, wedding photography is a field that is only going to continue evolving in new and fascinating directions.

Neutral Bridesmaid Dresses Your Girls Will Adore

There is an age-old tug-of-war that takes place between brides and bridesmaids. The bride wants her attendants to wear a dress that will enhance the style of her wedding, and the bridesmaids want a dress that doesn’t scream “bridesmaid”. After all, they figure, if they are going to drop hundreds of dollars on a dress, it should be something they can actually use again in the future. The perfect compromise: stylish dresses in versatile neutral tones that can be accessorized in a way that says “bridesmaid” and then worn again with different accessories for future parties.

One of the most chic neutrals right now is gray. For an evening wedding, pair a long one shoulder gray dress with dramatic accents in your wedding colors. You can have bridesmaid jewelry custom made as gifts for your attendants in your wedding colors, such as hot pink crystal chandelier earrings. Many, many other colors work beautifully with gray, from rich red to regal purple to bright canary yellow. That is the beauty of a neutral color such as gray; it is all what you want to make of it.

Light colors like almond and cream are increasingly popular for bridesmaid dresses. They can look very soft and ethereal, and are certainly easy for your friends to wear again in the future.  Short floaty chiffon numbers strike just the right note, especially when accented with bright colors. A creamy short bridesmaid dress paired with lime green silk high heel sandals would look absolutely stunning. Bring in more pops of color with details such as stacks of green crystal bracelets for their bridesmaid jewelry and a simple green satin headband.

Two other popular neutrals for bridesmaid dresses are brown, and of course, the ubiquitous little black dress. Brown is an extremely easy neutral to layer with color. It looks feminine with pink, stylish with aqua, autumnal with orange, luxurious with bronze, and hip with chartreuse. Your favorite color can be layered in as a removable sash, a silk wrap, a beaded clutch, or a trendy headband. After the wedding it will be a snap for your friends to use different accessories to create an entirely different effect.

Wedding Things That I am Over!

If you look at enough pictures of weddings, after a while, you start to see the same things done in the same way over and over again. Sometimes these are ideas that started out as fresh trends only to become so popular that they have lost their unique appeal. In other instances, brides might be doing something in the established way, and it just feels too dated and overdone. This is a list of wedding things that I am over; read along and see if you agree!

Strapless Dresses. Yes I know that they are very flattering and that they also account for 3/4s of the available gown choices these days. And yet it seems like for the last however many years, every bride you see is wearing some variation of a strapless gown. Enough already! The freshest new looks are the one shoulder gowns, often with unique and special couture styling that give them a daring yet elegant appeal. If asymmetry is not your thing, there are also some lovely new gowns with wide set straps that flow into plunging deep v-necks, which is incredibly flattering on most women.

Too Much Jewelry or Not Enough. This may seem like a contradiction, but it seems like many brides have trouble finding that perfect happy medium when it comes to their accessories. You either see brides who are trying to make a minimalist and ultra-modern statement by omitting any ornamentation or brides who pile on so much jewelry that they end up looking like soap opera stars. Neither extreme is good! On the one hand, your wedding is not the time to dress down, so a subtle piece or two of crystal bridal jewelry makes a nice addition to a very simple gown. On the other hand, a very big rhinestone necklace paired with a bold tiara is just way too much. You should pick one stand out accessory, and pair it with a good supporting cast.

Choreographed First Dances. Taking dance lessons so that you don’t feel foolish taking a spin around the dance floor during your spotlight dance is a wonderful idea. Hiring a choreographer and involving an entire cast of “extras”  is just plain tacky. Your guests come to your wedding to join you in celebrating your marriage, not to see a Broadway show. Can we please have a return to the days where the newlyweds did an awkward but honest shuffle around the dance floor to “At Last” or “Unforgettable” and then the floor was opened up to others? Please?

Overly Clever Wedding Cakes. The trend in recent years has been for wedding cakes that are more and more unusual and eye-popping. Neon colors, tilted tiers, lights, sparkles, and cakes costing many, many thousands of dollars have become the norm. There comes a point, however, when you can just get too clever in trying to make your cake unique and it loses the idea of simple beauty that has guided brides for generations. I think that we have reached a tipping point on the trendy cakes, and that it is time for a return to the classics. After several years of over-the-top cake design, more simple desserts will feel like a breath of fresh air.

Wedding Cake Trends for 2009

The wedding cake is truly the showpiece of the reception. Cakes have become more creative, and also follow trends in design and fashion like never before. These are some of the hottest trends for wedding cakes in 2009.

Clean lines are king right now. The smooth-as-glass finish of fondant icing is still all the rage at most weddings, and one stand-out design feature is more popular than a busy cake with a pattern all over it. One interesting trend in wedding cakes has to do with the layers. The basic look of three stacked round layers is still the most common, but you are also seeing a lot more of cakes that are square, octagonal, hexagonal, or a combination of round and shaped layers. Offset layers, which are stacked slightly off-kilter are also a hot look for wedding cakes right now.

Mod design is also something that is being seen in wedding cakes these days. Round circles layered over fondant is one cool effect. Simplistic sugar flowers are another big trend. They are often scattered over the cake in varying density, such as many flowers clustered near the top of the cake, gradually thinning out to just a few blossoms scattered at the base of the cake.

Brides are still interested in having cakes designed that complement their bridal ensemble in some way. For a very unique look, cover a cake in large white sugar “pearls” which are dusted with an opalescent powder. This is a fun and modern reference to classic pearl bridal jewelry. If crystal bridal jewelry is more your style, you can adorn your cake with clear molded sugar “crystals” arranged in a geometric design. Note that the sugar crystals are intended to mimic clear crystals, not silvery rhinestones. It is a more subtle style than the ornate cake jewelry that has been seen in recent years.

The great thing about a wedding cake is that you can have whatever you want. So, take some pointers from the latest trends, or choose to go in another direction; the choice is entirely yours. In the end, all that matters is that you love the way your wedding cake looks, and that your guests love how it tastes.