More Hot Wedding Trends This Year
May 24, 2007 by Lesley-Ann Graham
Filed under Wedding Ideas
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
May 22, 2007 by Lesley-Ann Graham
Filed under Wedding Ideas
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.
Beach Weddings
May 20, 2007 by Lesley-Ann Graham
Filed under Destination Weddings
I love beaches, there is no hiding it. Yet unlike other people, I love a quiet stretch of beach without other vacationers milling around. You may have a different reason for loving the beach but I bet you wouldn’t say no to a June wedding at the beach as well. The beach is in fact one of the most inspiring and romantic places to hold a wedding at. What do you need to consider when planning for a beach wedding?
Of course the first thing should be which beach to hold your wedding at. There are thousands of beaches all over the world but you can only make use of one. As such, you have to choose the perfect location for your wedding. If you live in Florida or California, or any other place with good beaches, then you are in luck. If you live inland then you would have to consider traveling to the beach you favor. That would make your wedding a destination wedding. Whatever you decide on, the important thing is that you pick the location which suits you perfectly.
Another thing that you have to consider is the cost. This actually stems from the fact that you might have to hold your wedding at a place quite far from your home. This would apply especially to those who are going to hold a destination wedding. Travel expenses, lodging, licenses and permits, and of course the food, flowers, and other normal wedding expenses are all part of this consideration.
You also have to put a little more time into planning the whole thing. The time is one important consideration. Do you want to say your vows under a perfect beach sunset? Or maybe you want to hold it early in the morning under the soft rays of the sun. Whichever you may prefer, check the local weather patterns and other related reports so as to avoid any inadvertent events.
Your outfit – and the rest of the wedding party’s as well – would have to be tailor made to suit a beach wedding. Getting married on the beach may be one of the most romantic things on earth but there are other practical considerations too. Try walking on the sand in high heels and you will know what I mean. That is only one thing, actually. In the next post, I’ll share some more tips for a beach wedding in detail.
June Wedding - Go Organic
May 18, 2007 by Lesley-Ann Graham
Filed under Wedding Ideas
I have heard about all sorts of themes for weddings but this one seems to beat them all. You all know about how going organic has been the trend for many things these past few years. I never thought the trend would extend to weddings though! It is true, though. Some couples are now opting for an organic wedding for their June wedding. It seems to be a good idea, I have to admit. So what exactly is an organic wedding?
The main theme revolves around three concepts: recycle, re-use, and reduce. It is pretty much a wedding exalting the environment. We have to admit, with the environmental crisis that we are all facing, this is a very way to go about planning a June wedding.
As this concept is fairly new, it would be a good idea to get hold of a wedding consultant who has had some degree of experience in planning green weddings – which is actually an alternative term for organic weddings. They are basically wedding consultants who know all about the traditional ways of planning weddings with the plus of being environment conscious.
One other important consideration in planning an organic wedding is the venue. More than looking for a romantic venue, a couple wanting a green wedding should also consider other factors such as the presence of recycling containers, the use (or actually the “un-use”) of chemical pesticides for the lawn and other greenery, and the like. You can also further contribute to the conservation of the environment by arranging transport for your guests so as to cut back on fuel consumption and emissions as well. Other ideas for a venue would include places that promote the environment. Museums, botanical gardens, and eco-friendly resorts are a few options.
You should also take into consideration the materials to be used for your wedding rings, jewelry, and wedding gown. Fair trade diamonds, traditional crafts, antique jewelry are a few ideas. As for the wedding gown and the groom’s attire, you can consider local designers or dressmakers who make use of natural materials. Keeping in mind the concept of re-using, why not consider wearing your mother’s old wedding gown? If you want to take it one step further, go to eBay and find a used one (this might not be a very attractive idea for some, I know).
The fact is that there are so many ways in which you can apply the three concepts mentioned above. It is up to you and your creativity.
June Weddings - Their Origin
May 16, 2007 by Lesley-Ann Graham
Filed under Wedding Ideas
For as long as I can remember, getting married in June seemed to be the right thing to do. That is why when an aunt of mine got married in December, I couldn’t quite understand why. Come to think of it, I never understood why people wanted to get married in June either. So where did tradition stem from? Remember that cliché all roads lead to Rome? Well, June weddings can also be traced back to the Ancient Roman times.
For one, the Romans placed special attention to June weddings because that month was the time when they paid special obeisance to Juno, the goddess of marriage. As such, getting married in June was deemed lucky. We all know how the gods of the ancient times were very much involved in day to day living. On the other hand, it was not all luck and superstition that had it going for June weddings. It also had a practical aspect to it. If a couple got married in June, it meant that if the wife conceived, she would give birth before harvest time. This translated to the fact that she would be well enough to work the fields come harvest time.
There you are – the nitty gritty stuff about June weddings. With time, however, these reasons faded into the background. People of the modern times merely held on to the tradition that June is a good time to get married and that there is no other more romantic month than this. I have been trying to come up with modern reasons for June being the wedding month. I have done research and racked my brains but to no avail. Unfortunately, I think it is all based on the age old tradition which many do not know about now.
No matter what the reason may be though, June weddings are still quite popular today (though probably not as much as before). With the month of June just peeking around the corner, countless couples are probably getting ready for their own wedding. Their reasons may vary but the fact remains that June is still the prime month for weddings. In the next few posts, let us look into different topics relating to weddings held in June. Though it may be a bit late to plan your own wedding for this June, it will only be a matter of time till the next June comes around.

