More Hot Wedding Trends This Year

We’ve talked about destination weddings being a trend this year. To be more specific, though, the premier destination this year is Italy. Care to give a guess as to why this is the case? Yup, give it to Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. The publicity surrounding their relationship – though the wedding was not really seen a lot – has contributed to the allure of Italy as a destination wedding location. Many know that Italy is a beautiful place but not until this celebrity wedding has it gotten this much attention. Then again, Italy is quite a long way to go for a destination wedding plus the costs are not that cheap. Still, there will always be people who can afford an intimate wedding in this wonderful European country.

Another trend with weddings has something to do with giving back to the environment or humanity in general. We talked about organic weddings a few posts back – these fall under this trend. Awareness of social and environmental issues has grown over the years. Weddings have not escaped this trend. As such, we are seeing more of environmental weddings, weddings wherein favors and gifts are given to charitable causes and the like. If you are the type to lean towards good causes, then this trend is definitely the one for you.

Going back to clothes and decorations, one of the most popular themes includes the use of embellishments such as embroidery and lace. The more intricate and delicate the décor, the better it is. However, these decorations are not only limited to the bride’s and bridesmaids’ gowns but can also be applied to table cloths, runners, and even to invitations and other decorations used in the wedding. Along these lines, dresses used for weddings tend towards having sleeves. This is because sleeves can be made from lace and other similar materials.

What about entertainment? This is the trend for this year as well. Usually, the cocktail hour is spent for photography sessions and guests milling around. Now, it is made more enjoyable by having live music and other forms of entertainment. Some of the more interesting forms of entertainment that have been used for this purpose are flamenco dancers and other traditional or exotic performances, impersonators, fortune tellers, and even fire eaters.

A note before we end, these are only trends. It does not mean that you have to follow what other people are doing. If you have your own ideas in mind, then put them into reality by all means!

Hottest Wedding Trends for This Year

We talked about some wedding trends early this year. Now that we are in the middle of the year, with the traditional wedding month coming up, let us take another look at some more hot trends for 2007 weddings. If you can’t make it this June, then there are still 6 months to go before the year ends!

First trend: glam. Yes indeed, glamorous weddings are in this year. Say goodbye to the simple and quiet wedding. The trend this year is to shout it out to the rest of the world and let everyone know about your wedding. Elegance and sophistication are the themes for this year’s weddings. Then again, this is just a trend and it does not mean that you should follow it. Good for those who have a taste for the glamorous, though!

Second trend: pay particular attention to the back of the wedding dress. Common sense will tell us that most of the time, the wedding guests will be seeing the back of the bride as she will be facing the minister. As such, the trend is for embellished backs. No matter which style you choose for your dress, try to add a little more detail and flair to the back of your gown.

Third trend: go for something that will make a statement. This is in regard to the color theme for the wedding ceremony. From the bride’s gown and the groom’s suit to the flowers and decorations, the trend is to use rich and bold colors such as purple, gold, orange, and the like. Gone are the days of cute and sweet pastels. Of course, you have to choose something that you actually like. More than that, make sure the color of your gown will suit your skin tone as well. Making a statement does not mean that you should not take your aesthetics into consideration as well.

Fourth trend: be square! Being square is a good thing, when it comes to tables that is. Round and rectangular tables for the reception are not the in thing this year, mainly because square tables facilitate interaction among the guests better. More than that, it is easier to plan the layout of the reception area when using square tables. Adding decorations are also better with square tables.

Let us take a look at some more trends in the next post.

Wedding Trends for 2007

Have you ever wondered who dictates what is in and what is not for weddings year after year? More than that, who says what should be the trends for weddings as each season arrives? There is no single answer to that question but I do know that there are professionals who make it their mission to predict what will be the trend for weddings at specific periods of time. Take for example the people at The Ritz Carlton, Buckhead in Atlanta, Georgia. Thanks to years and years of experience, they have the skill and talent of foretelling what the trends for weddings are going to be.

Their prediction for this year goes along these lines:

Seating is non-classical
“Traditional rows of chairs are disappearing from many wedding ceremonies,” said Ms. Mullican. “The newest seating is either intimate and lounge-like, such as sofas and cocktail tables, or exudes high design with beautiful Japanese-styled rectangular benches covered in dupioni silk. The fabric has an elegant luster and is available in a variety of brilliant colors.”

A cocktail reception may be held in the same location immediately following the ceremony, since guests may move easily around the informal seating. “Fill the space with hundreds of glowing candles, and the ambiance of the room is extraordinary,” said Ms. Mullican.

The wine of the year: Rosé
The most popular varietal for spring and summer weddings in 2007 is a crisp, dry Rosé. “Don’t confuse this with sweet white zinfandel,” said Ms. Mullican. “There are some excellent, well-priced rosé wines produced in Provence and California, with great versatility for pairing with the lighter menus and seafood that are so appealing in the warmer months.”

Menus are souped up
Whether butler-passed in icy shot glasses and garnished like miniature cocktails at the reception; elegantly served steaming from antique samovars into delicate espresso cups and topped with savory foam; or poured tableside from ceramic vessels into earthenware bowls, soup is the newest comfort food albeit dressed up in finery. “Classically prepared or with an unexpected twist, soup is definitely one of the year’s hottest culinary trends,” said Ms. Mullican.

Desserts are fun and familiar
Dessert bars—carved from ice, dramatically lighted and unveiled late in the evening–brim with miniature cupcakes and crème brûlées in wonderful varieties of flavors; hand dipped chocolate covered “Oreo-styled” cookies; perfectly melted and toasted s’mores; richly-colored fresh berries and tiny sweet cones filled with passion fruit sorbet. “The trend for ‘finger food’ desserts is strong because guests stroll around the room and sample several desserts in a more informal manner,” said Ms. Mullican. “We recommend warm citrus scented Oshibori hand towels are within easy reach.”

Personalized turndown service
“More wedding guests ‘take the elevator home’ and treat themselves to an evening in the hotel,” said Ms. Mullican. “A special wish from the bridal couple placed in the guestroom is a wonderful, personalized touch.” A small card printed with a heartfelt message from the bridal couple, tied with a sprig of lavender, is the perfect touch on crisp white bed linens. Add homemade chocolate chip cookies and a pitcher of ice cold milk for a delightful way to say ‘thank you and sweet dreams’ to everyone sharing the couple’s special celebration that evening.

In short, they are saying that weddings this year are going to be far from traditional. The question is, are you going to go with the trend or not?

2007 Wedding Trends

If you’ve just begun planning your wedding and want to know what are the trends for this year check out the list below. These are so far the most popular looks for weddings this year according to our various wedding professionals:

• Hot colors for the year. Chocolate brown is coming out as the favorite color for the wedding theme. This rich color is often partnered with bright colors such as blue or pink, in some cases even lime green. The colors are both young, colorful and yet mature and elegant.Orange is the other popular choice among the brides. It can be paired with any number of colors, depending on your taste. It can be paired with chocolate brown for a really cool theme. Mixing it with another bright color makes for a very vivid and lively look at your nuptials. More of a romantic? Mix it wth gold or red instead.
• Detailed Backs are definitely a hot trend. Since most of the wedding ceremony is spent looking at the couple’s back, doesn’t it make perfect sense to make sure that your back looks absolutely gorgeous? The dressmakers definitely think so. That’s why embroidery, lace and jewels decorate not just your bodice, but your back as well. It will be a mark of how creative and talented a dress maker you have.
• Italy is the current favorite honeymoon destination. Thanks in no small part to the attention that the media gave the place during the Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes ceremony. Italy is a beautiful country and is a great choice for celebrating the first few days of your union.
• Bridal dresses still have that long, slim look but there’s more variety with sleeves coming up this year. Strapless will still be in fashion but this year’s brides are opting for some cap sleeves for that more subtly feminine effect. The off the shoulder style is back in vogue as well.
• Geometric shapes are in as well this year. Rather than the round tables, square ones are the rage. If you are a romantic who wants everyone to come in pairs or who wants the opportunity to match make, this set up can be appealing.
• Entertainment during cocktails. Rather than the staid, boring cocktails where your guests are just standing around, waiting for you to join them, the new wedding receptions begin with a more festive cocktail party. Guests get the clubbing atmosphere as they sip their martinis to some really great music. The party gets warmed up well even though you have yet to make your grand entrance.
• Earth Friendly Weddings are in season. More and more couples are becoming environmentally concerned. They want to make sure that they are more in touch with nature. This means flowers that are pesticide free and organic food for the reception. It means recycled paper will be chosen for the invitations and thank you cards - if they send any out. In fact more will opt to use the web and other electronic means instead and save a few more trees.