Current Trends For Weddings
Planning the biggest day of your life starts the second your sweetheart pops the question.
And with 60 percent of marriage proposals happening between March and December, according to The Knot wedding Web site, now is the time to get the plans started.
If you fall into that percentage, you are about to learn arranging a wedding can be stressful and overwhelming. Knowing where to begin, though, is the first step toward making the event everything you’ve dreamed of.
When it comes to wedding dresses this season, it’s all about, well, the bride. And while that may seem like a tired old thought, it’s never been more true than now.
A gaggle of gown trends are sweeping the bridal world this season, allowing every bride to express herself in her own way.
From slinky, mermaid ensembles to sleek, ’50s-inspired frocks, this year’s gowns are as glamorous or traditional as the bride herself.
Lace is also back. Which that trend resurfaced when heiress Ivanka Trump got married last fall in a dress layered in lace. That gown was inspired by the gown worn by Grace Kelly in 1956 when she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
Other trends include dresses with illusion necklines or bits of black trim, The Knot says.
“We have also noticed brides putting color into their gown”, stated Jim Wyant of Wyant Photography.
In addition, the ’50s fashion craze has also brought back tea-length gowns, tulle skirts and high necklines, The Knot reports.
Choosing a color scheme for a wedding is as personal a decision as picking out the perfect wedding dress. It all depends on a bride’s taste and the statement she wants to make.
With so many options, it can be a bit daunting. Looking at the latest trends can spark some inspiration and help narrow down the color choices for your bridesmaid dresses, flowers, invitations, table settings and more.
A bride should consider the season of her wedding date before picking a color. Popular wedding shades for fall brides are deep reds, browns and rusty oranges. Navy and lavender are trendy hues for winter brides. Spring and summer brides gravitate toward brighter colors such as yellow, pink and orange.
Color combos such as black and white or brown and navy have also become popular selections for brides. In addition to colors, prints are becoming a staple of wedding decor. Prints such as a black-and-white damask pattern are being paired with bright colors such as a pale blue. Monograms are also being used in wedding decor, from the cake topper to the reception menus.
Flowers can be as important to the atmosphere of a wedding as the bride and groom themselves. But finding the right blooms isn’t as simple as it looks.
From the bride’s bouquet to the centerpieces at the reception, wedding flower trends change through the years.
This year, popular bridal bouquets will likely be traditional nosegays with a medium-length cascade, or tail, in colors that complement the bridal attendants.
In the ’80s, the cascades were long. Think Princess Diana’s 42-inch-long triangular bouquet that probably required tiny muscular men to hold it up.
In recent years, Martha Stewart and her popular floral arrangements probably changed all that.
But choices have evolved some this year, and a little cascade is being added to the rounded nosegay.
And the type of flowers? That depends on the bride. But one thing’s for sure, roses have never gone out of style. Lilies and orchids are also popular.
Photography is an essential component of a wedding, but it’s often a decision that comes long after the dress, the invitations and just about everything else has been fussed over.
“I’ve noticed this year that brides have stepped up to be unique in their photography. They want their photographs to be only their images not a duplicate of everyone elses wedding that a particular photographer has taken.” Stated Jim Wyant of Wyant Photography.
“With the internet brides are becoming more educated and noticing that because a photographer has a website doesn’t mean that they are really professional. They are noting the quality of the images on line and noticing that there isn’t much variety to some photographers.”
Trends come and go, but when it comes to wedding photography, brides all want the same thing – gorgeous pictures that will last a lifetime. Most brides opt for a combination of traditional posed pictures, with candid photojournalism-style shots.
Once it’s time to see the pictures of the big day, the trend is now to proof the photographs online. Brides log in to Web sites where they can pick and choose which photos they want.
Photo albums also are being replaced by leather-bound coffee-table books. Each page of the coffee-table book is designed with pictures of a couple’s choice and a collage of shots. The books are easier to thumb through than traditional albums and often are more durable.
When it comes to leaving wedding guests with a little something to remember the event, brides are scaling back on the more elaborate favors.
Instead, they are being more socially conscious and opting for charitable favors, such as giving a donation to the American Cancer Society or a scholarship fund. In those instances, couples have left printed charitable donation favor cards at each place setting for guests. Charity registries such as the I Do Foundation helps engaged couples give back by encouraging guests to make donations to charities in lieu of lavish wedding gifts.
As far as favors go, couples also are leaving more personalized gifts, such as tiny jars of jelly with a printed copy of the bride’s grandmother’s recipe.
Tags: Planning Tips, recession planning
