New Wedding Dress Trend?

I've been noticing around the wedding blog world a new style in wedding dresses popping up- I'm wondering if perhaps it will be a new trend! Brides are always looking for a way to make their dress memorable. Short dresses are certainly making a come back, but these hemlines allow you to have the flirty short look, while not sacrificing a gorgeous train and/or length in the back. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet... tell me what you think of the new asymmetrical wedding gown hems!

2010 Wedding Trend: Gray is the New Brown

I don't know if you noticed, but the last decade of wedding colors was dominated by brown. When choosing wedding colors, many brides go with a neutral (black, brown, navy, gray, cream, etc.) as a base, and then accent with their favorite shades. The early 2000's saw a lot of brown weddings- brown/blue, brown/green, and brown/pink were the most popular combinations. Well, 2010 brides are aiming to set themselves apart- and we're seeing SO many going with gray as a base for their wedding palette!

Gray is a modern choice for wedding color schemes, but with a soft feel that goes well with a lot of the vintage-style weddings we're seeing recently. It give a more muted feel than black, so it works well with pastels such as yellow and peach. It also works well to help control a bright color, such as apple green or fushia. Grays are fast becoming a popular choice for tuxedos, as grooms are straying from the traditional black as well. Tell us what you think of the gray trend! And do you spell it grAy or grEy? An age old question. ;)

Photo credits: 1,2, and 3

2010 Wedding Trend: White Bridesmaid Dresses

A new trend for weddings this coming year is to dress your bridesmaids in white or ivory. In the past this has been taboo, with the understanding that no one but the bride should be wearing white on her wedding day. But our new generation of brides is changing wedding traditions everyday- and we love that! Many brides like the clean look of white or ivory- and often they pair these dresses with a colored sash to bring in their other chosen hues. Here's some inspiration for a bride looking to dress her girls to match the bride. (Click image for credits)

2010 Wedding Trend: Cupcakes

This trend began midway through 2009, but it is still going strong in the wedding world, and I love it! With the rise of sweets tables, serving dessert to seated guests has become a thing of the past and portable desserts are in high demand. What better way to package your delicious choices for cake than to turn them into cupcakes? Cupcake style can range from whimsical and cute to elegant and classy, depending on flavors, decorations, and display. Cupcakes are the perfect way to incorporate your wedding colors and theme into a bite size treat. They can be all the same, or decorated in a dozen different patterns. Most all bakeries offer cupcakes as a cake alternative- if you're looking for a unique sweet treat, consider the cupcake at your wedding!


(all images courtesy The Knot)

2010 Wedding Trend: Backyard Wedding

Another trend we're seeing for the new year is brides planning their weddings closer to home- like in the backyard. :) Or in the backyard of a friend with more room if need be. Cozy backyard weddings are becoming more popular as many brides are looking for a more intimate affair, and also a way to cut costs. While having your wedding at home may actually be more expensive than you think if you chose to rent everything, there are ways to have a fabulous wedding at home and still stay in the budget.

Many backyard weddings take on a rustic or shabby chic vibe, using mismatched furniture, servingware, etc. in an eclectic way. The best way to evoke a cozy, intimate feel for your wedding at home is to pull furniture outside! Couches, chairs, even things like bookcases can be used for seating and display of things like food and your cake. Instead of renting folding chairs and tables, see if you can round up a bunch of vintage-looking chairs from friends and family. Mismatching on purpose can look great- just check out this Backyard Chic Editorial Shoot by Lisa Lefkowitz over on Style Me Pretty.
For decor, use things such as lanterns, mason jars, wooden crates, and anything comfortable and homey. Also, don't forget to let nature do it's work- don't overdo it with flowers and greenery because you're already outside! Chalkboards are a cute idea to direct guests to the wedding site, or let them know what's on the menu this evening.
Speaking of food, try using local vendors, caterers, and grocers, you'll most likely save money doing this and stick with your hometown theme. If you're feeling really brave, have guests or family members do the cooking!
Setup for this type of wedding can be substantial, so definitely get some help the day of to pull it off without a hitch. This is what day-of wedding coordinators are for- so you and your family can enjoy the day and not have to lift a finger! And as I always say for my WNY brides, always have a backup plan when you're planning an outdoor event- you never know what the weather will bring. Have a great Sunday!

2010 Wedding Trend: Hairpieces

Another huge trend hitting the wedding scene in the last few months, and it's bound to pick up speed in the new year, is unique and creative hairpieces. Gone are the days of the typical tiara accompanied by a traditional veil. Today brides are showing their personality through their hairdos and what they choose to put in them.



A very popular choice is feathers (honestly, feathers could have its own post as a 2010 Trend- they are SO popular right now!). Whether white or colored, fluffy or flat, feathers are all over brides heads right now. Some evoke elegance and royalty, while others have more of a vintage feel.

Flowers of course have always been on the wedding scene, but more and more brides are wearing them in their hair, and many are choosing to forego a veil altogether and just have blooms.

Another huge trend when it comes to a bride's head is that of the birdcage veil. Traditional veils are seen less and less, but birdcage veils are all over right now! Accompanied by a small hat, flower, feathers, or on their own- birdcage veils are a sweet, retro way to adorn the bride's hair.

Headbands are another hairpiece trend that we're seeing in everyday fashion, and it's transfering to the aisle. Do we have Blair Waldorf to thank for this? I think so- although she's not wearing headbands in college, we're still dying over them. :)

Tell us, what have you chosen to wear in your hair for your wedding day, and why?

2010 Wedding Trend: Eco-Friendly

2010 is just around the corner, so let's talk about what's big in the wedding world shall we? Eco-friendly, or "green" weddings, is a big deal right now, and we think that saving the earth is a fantastic cause to incorporate in your wedding day! Now of course, there are a million different ways to be eco-friendly when planning your wedding, and being green means different things to everyone. So let's start small, and work our way to full-on, tree-hugging goodness. :)


Small ways to save the earth while planning your wedding...

• Choose invitations made from 100% recycled paper


• Donate to a charity in honor of your guests as a favor (use a service such as the I Do Foundation)


• The Arbor Day Foundation allows you to give trees as favors- love this!!


• Choose a florist who uses organically grown, in-season, local flowers


• Reuse items you already have for decor, such as votive holders, vases, etc. Borrow things if you can!


• Shop Etsy for favors, fashion, and more to support small business owners

Taking it a step further...

• Consider using a catering company that uses only local sources for their ingredients and/or certified sustainable resources for fish and chicken


• Have people RSVP by email or phone, saving paper by cutting out RSVP cards


• Purchase a "once-worn" or vintage wedding dress, rather than buying new


• Choose rings made from recycled gold, or silver because it is less harmful to those mining it


• Cut your guest list
  

And the tree-hugging goodness...

• Use completely biodegradable, compostable plates, silverware, cups, etc. made of things like potato and corn starch (check out worldcentric.org)


• Search for transportation that is more environmentally-friendly, such as those that run on clean fuel (CNG)


• Choose a gown made from organic cotton, peace silk, or hemp- check out gown designer Wai-Ching


• Use beeswax or soy-based candles rather than paraffin, a petroleum-based product


• Plan an ecotourism honeymoon

Do one, do them all- it's totally up to you!