Fall weddings are hot right now and each bride is putting her own individual stamp on her big celebration. Gone are the days of cookie-cutter paper decorations and the same old cold cut sandwiches you had at the last five receptions you went to. These days, it’s all about making weddings fun, memorable, and guest-friendly. Here are some of the hottest wedding trends for fall 2010.
1. Bridesmaid dresses they really will wear again! Instead of dressing their parties in matching bridesmaid dresses that will end up taking up space in the back of your bridesmaid’s closets, 2010 brides are embracing the look of mismatched bridal parties and asking their bridesmaids to buy a dress in a certain shade or color. This means that the parties look pulled together, but the bridesmaids end up with a dress that they chose and can certainly wear again. Want to make your bridesmaids even happier? Choose a non-traditional bridesmaid color that your ‘maids are more likely to wear again, such as black dresses instead of sea green ensembles.
2. Retro-inspired weddings! Wedding celebrations that look like they walked right off of the set of Mad Men are the hot way to put a classic-but-modern spin on your affair. Fun retro touches, such as soda in glass bottles, milk-glass cake stands, vintage cake toppers, and ’50’s inspired wedding gowns can add a little bit of fun to your party. Birdcage veils are also making a strong comeback, both at weddings and at rehearsal dinners and morning-after brunches. For vintage-inspired wedding wear, consider online shops that specialize in retro clothing, such as www.modcloth.com.
3. Comfort foods instead of snooty appetizers! Couples are choosing to forgo the individual porcelain spoons of caviar and crème frache in favor of more down-to-earth appetizers, such as pigs-in-a-blanket, mini chicken-pot-pies, and paper cones of homemade French fries. These yummy snacks not only wet your guests’ appetite for the reception dinner to come…they also set a comfortable mood for your reception. There’s no better way to welcome guests to your party than to make their stomachs feel at ease!
4. Getting married in your own backyard! With the economy getting a bit tighter and the easy availability of DIY wedding inspiration all over the Internet, many couples are choosing to deck out their own backyards (or the yards of their parents) for sweet, intimate, affordable, and completely wonderful home weddings. The atmosphere at these weddings is casual, fun, friendly, and sure to make your guests feel welcome right from the start. Plus, in addition to saving on a venue rental and transportation, many couples are turning to family and friends for help in preparing delicious, home-cooked meals to be served to their guests in place of catered, cookie-cutter wedding dinners. Hey, if your wedding cake is homemade, you know a lot of love was baked into it!
5. Blogging all about it! Wedding blogs have become the hot new way to keep guests informed about your big day. Traditional wedding websites are giving way to personalized blogs that share bits of wedding planning and other personal stories that allow guests to share in the excitement of your day long before the day arrives. These blogs also serve as a good way for guests to get to know the wedding couples, especially if geography makes it difficult for friends and family to see you often. Best of all, wedding blogs often serve as community hubs for brides planning their weddings online, which means brides are enjoying the support of strangers all over the world who are also planning their big day!