20 New Wedding Trends
By Allison Rushby
- Consider having a theme wedding! Theme weddings are
rising in popularity and offer a great, inexpensive way
to personalize your wedding. By starting with a theme,
you will be surprised at how easy it is to personalize
your wedding with your own special touches. You don't
necessarily need to have a period theme, such as a Victorian
or Renaissance wedding. Instead, you could make your wedding
memorable by personalizing it with your own special theme.
There are many themes to choose from, including: "cupids",
"Paris in springtime", "romantic candlelight"
etc.
- Some brides are starting to use wedding newsletters
to keep their family and friends up to date with their
wedding plans and schedules. Newsletters can save you
from making endless phone calls, and can be revised three
or four times leading up to your wedding date. The newsletter
can include such information as: when people are needed
for fittings, profiles on yourself and the groom (for
guests you may not have met) and other personal information.
- The new trend in bridal gowns leans toward a more elegant
and stylish approach. Many brides are now choosing gowns
with simple, but stunning, lines.
- It seems the trend in bridesmaids dresses and accent
colors is moving away from pastel colors. Deep shades,
such as burgundy, forest green and navy blue are becoming
more popular choices, with cummerbunds and bow ties being
made to match.
- Brides are buying more thoughtful gifts for their attendants.
It is being recognized that the best gifts are not the
most expensive ones, but the ones that are chosen with
your sincere thanks. Some popular ideas include: antique
looking, silver frames with a picture of both you and
your bridesmaid/attendant, or gift baskets filled with
beauty products. The gift needs to say "Thank you
for being here and helping to make my day so special".
- Because wedding costs can be quite expensive, there
is a rising trend in the sharing of the total expense,
not only by both sets of parents, but by the couple themselves.
This is especially the case with professional couples
who have been living on their own for a number of years,
who may even want to pay for the entire wedding.
- Some couples are choosing to be married at their honeymoon
destination, and are inviting only close family and friends.
There are many destination wedding packages available,
so ask your travel agent for details.
- Many couples are personalizing their wedding ceremony
by writing their own vows.
- A wonderful, moving new trend is to face the congregation
during the ceremony (as opposed to the traditional stance
of having your back to them).
- More couples are choosing to incorporate their ethnic
background into their wedding ceremony and theme, as well
as their reception.
- More couples are choosing to incorporate their ethnic
background into their wedding ceremony and theme, as well
as their reception. Many brides are now moving away from
formal, posed shots for their wedding photography. Instead,
candid photography and a photojournalistic approach to
the day are rising in popularity.
- For the reception, buffets are becoming the most popular
menu choice as they accommodate every guest's taste.
- Multi-flavored and layered wedding cakes are becoming
firm favorites. Some brides like to choose a different
flavor for each layer of their cake. For example, a layer
of chocolate cake, a layer of marble cake and a layer
of vanilla cake. Also, more creative decorative ideas
are being used, especially fresh flowers.
- Cake tops are being ordered to match specific wedding
themes and color schemes. Brides are also copying the
cake tops used by their parents and grandparents at their
weddings. If you like, you could follow the trend of placing
wedding photos of your parents and grandparents on your
cake table, which gives a sentimental and romantic touch.
- Less traditional gifts for the guests are being given.
New ideas include: personalized chocolates, seedlings,
monogrammed wine glasses and small perfume bottles tied
with ribbon.
- Another new reception trend is the replacement of the
receiving line. A new, more relaxed way to perform this
duty is for the bride, groom and the wedding party to
make their way around the room, speaking to guests who
are seated at their tables.
- If you have decided to invite children to your reception,
this new trend is for you! By providing a designated play
room and a babysitter for children, you will get the best
of both worlds. By providing this service, the children
are still present, but can be kept entertained and cared
for by the babysitter in the play room, leaving their
parents to relax and enjoy the festivities.
- With the wide variety of materials now available, many
brides are finding it hard to match their reception decorations,
flowers and napkins to the exact shade of their bridesmaid's
dresses. Because of this, a new trend in shading has arisen.
By using varying shades of the color you have chosen,
you will be able to add depth and interest to your color
scheme. For example, if your bridesmaid's dresses are
burgundy in color, you could use a deep red and a light
red to achieve a contrasting look.
- One thoughtful new trend is to donate leftover reception
food to charities who provide food kitchens for the needy.
- More couples are choosing to hyphenate their surnames
and some brides are choosing to keep their maiden names,
for business or personal reasons. However, it's not only
career women who are deciding to keep their maiden name.
If you come from a well-known family, or are an only child,
you may feel strongly about keeping your maiden name also.
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