Dramatic. Elegant. Just plain cool. Few color combinations say as much as the classic black and white pairing. That's why it's become a go-to theme for brides who want to make a statement. If this two-tone combo is part of your big day, then black and white wedding invitations are a timeless way to announce your upcoming ceremony.
Cool - Sure black and white wedding invitations are elegant, but they're also cool--think Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. With this color choice, you're going to appear way too cool for loud colors or busy color palettes.
Fun - Don't get roped into using these bi-color invites only for formal affairs. Black and white can be fun, too. This two-color theme also works well for whimsical marriage stationery, such as adorable penguins, or for bold graphic images, such as modern black dots on a crisp white paper.
Surprising -Make black and white wedding invitations pop by splashing color onto the invite. If you're having a formal summer ceremony, wrap the invitation in a sunflower yellow tie. Or you might use one of the rising trends in marriage stationery: black and white invitations with a colorful solid or printed wrap. Another surprising addition to conventional black and white wedding invitations is graphic patterns.
Fashion-forward brides are increasingly incorporating bold patterns on the wraps that surround some invitation designs. Many of the trendiest patterns have been inspired by Japanese kimono prints.
Dazzling - Bring on the "wow" factor by sending black and white invitations with jewels attached. If diamonds are your best friend, attach a diamond-look jewel to the invite. For fall or winter nuptials, add a brilliant red jewel to the invite. The contrast between the paper and a gem can make the stationery seem that much more fabulous.
One of the best aspects of black and white invitations is that they often look like you spent a fortune even if you didn't. They're also one of the easiest DIY wedding projects because you don't need to stress out about whether your printer will produce that perfect shade of yellow you're looking for. Instead, print in black ink and you're on your way to an inexpensive invite that only looks like a million dollars.
For a more contemporary look, find an invitation with a thick black border or paper in an unusual size or shape. You'll get the classic two-color look with a modern sensibility.
Dramatic - There's no rule saying brides must print black ink on white paper. Be bold by printing white text on black paper stock. This look isn't for everyone, but if you have a quirky sense of style and want to surprise your guests, these black and white wedding invitations are the way to go.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
More Wedding Trends for 2010
From gowns to favours, here's a sneak peak into more trends for this years' brides.
Gowns
When it comes to wedding dresses this season, it's all about, the bride. And while that may seem like a tired old thought, it has never been more true than now.
A gaggle of gown trends are sweeping the bridal world this season, allowing every bride to express herself in her own way.
From slinky, mermaid ensembles to sleek, '50s-inspired frocks, this year's gowns are as glamorous or traditional as the bride herself.
Lace is also back, with Ivanka Trump lace-layered style dresses.
Also popular are dresses with illusion necklines or bits of black or coloured trim and detailing.
In addition, the '50s fashion craze has also brought back tea-length gowns, tulle skirts and high necklines.
Colours
Choosing a colour scheme for a wedding is as personal a decision as picking out the perfect dress. It all depends on a bride's taste and the statement she wants to make.
With so many options, it can be a bit daunting. Looking at the latest trends can spark some inspiration and help narrow down the colour choices for your bridesmaid dresses, flowers, invitations, table settings and more.
Wedding planner Marlene Walton, owner of KMK Weddings & Special Events in Hope Mills, says a bride should consider the season of her wedding date before picking a colour. Popular wedding shades for fall brides are deep reds, browns and rusty oranges. Navy and lavender are trendy hues for winter brides. Spring and summer brides gravitate toward brighter colours such as yellow, pink and orange.
Colour combos such as black and white or brown and navy have also become popular selections for brides, Walton says. In addition to colours, prints are becoming a staple of wedding decor, Walton says. Prints such as a black-and-white damask pattern are being paired with bright colours such as a pale blue, she says. Monograms are also being used in wedding decor, from the cake topper to the reception menus.
"We're seeing this carried throughout the whole wedding as the theme," Walton says. "It's used to tie everything together."
Flowers
Flowers can be as important to the atmosphere of a wedding as the bride and groom themselves. But finding the right blooms isn't as simple as it looks.
From the bride's bouquet to the centerpieces at the reception, wedding flower trends change through the years.
This year, popular bridal bouquets will likely be traditional nosegays with a medium-length cascade, or tail, in colours that complement the bridal party.
In the '80s, the cascades were long. Think Princess Diana's 42-inch-long triangular bouquet that probably required tiny muscular men to hold it up.
In recent years, Martha Stewart and her popular floral arrangements have changed all that, but choices have evolved some this year, and a little cascade is being added to the rounded settings.
And the type of flowers? That depends on the bride. But one thing's for sure, roses have never gone out of style, and lilies and orchids are always a popular choice.
Other trends in wedding flowers include centerpieces of grouped bud vases in varying sizes – very popular and pretty, and guests can take them as a remembrance.
Photography
Photography is an essential component of a wedding, but it has often a decision that comes long after the dress, the invitations and just about everything else has been fussed over. This isn’t quite the case anymore – couples have started planning their budgets more, and placing a more significant focus on photography.
Trends come and go, but when it comes to wedding photography, brides all want the same thing - gorgeous pictures that will last a lifetime. Most brides opt for a combination of traditional posed pictures, with candid photojournalism-style shots. Having a second photographer can help to ensure the entire wedding is covered, from dress and makeup preparations to well into the night of dancing.
Once it's time to see the pictures of the big day, the trend is now to proof the photographs online. Brides log in to Web sites where they can pick and choose which photos they want.
Photo albums also are being replaced by leather-bound coffee-table books. Each page of the coffee-table book is designed with pictures of a couple's choice and a collage of shots. The books are easier to thumb through than traditional albums and often are more durable and attractive.
Favours
When it comes to leaving wedding guests with a little something to remember the event, brides are scaling back on the more elaborate favours.
Instead, they are being more socially conscious and opting for charitable favours, such as giving a donation to their favourite cause or a scholarship fund. In those instances, couples have left printed charitable donation favour cards at each place setting for guests. Charity registries such as the I Do Foundation helps engaged couples give back by encouraging guests to make donations to charities in lieu of lavish wedding gifts.
As far as favours go, couples also are leaving more personalized gifts, such as tiny jars of jelly with a printed copy of the bride's grandmother's recipe. Another popular idea is setting up a photo booth where guests can have their photos taken. The guests can keep a copy of their pictures, while the couple gets a copy, as well. This photo booth also doubles as great entertainment between the ceremony and reception while the bridal party is off smiling away for their own photos.
Gowns
When it comes to wedding dresses this season, it's all about, the bride. And while that may seem like a tired old thought, it has never been more true than now.
A gaggle of gown trends are sweeping the bridal world this season, allowing every bride to express herself in her own way.
From slinky, mermaid ensembles to sleek, '50s-inspired frocks, this year's gowns are as glamorous or traditional as the bride herself.
Lace is also back, with Ivanka Trump lace-layered style dresses.
Also popular are dresses with illusion necklines or bits of black or coloured trim and detailing.
In addition, the '50s fashion craze has also brought back tea-length gowns, tulle skirts and high necklines.
Colours
Choosing a colour scheme for a wedding is as personal a decision as picking out the perfect dress. It all depends on a bride's taste and the statement she wants to make.
With so many options, it can be a bit daunting. Looking at the latest trends can spark some inspiration and help narrow down the colour choices for your bridesmaid dresses, flowers, invitations, table settings and more.
Wedding planner Marlene Walton, owner of KMK Weddings & Special Events in Hope Mills, says a bride should consider the season of her wedding date before picking a colour. Popular wedding shades for fall brides are deep reds, browns and rusty oranges. Navy and lavender are trendy hues for winter brides. Spring and summer brides gravitate toward brighter colours such as yellow, pink and orange.
Colour combos such as black and white or brown and navy have also become popular selections for brides, Walton says. In addition to colours, prints are becoming a staple of wedding decor, Walton says. Prints such as a black-and-white damask pattern are being paired with bright colours such as a pale blue, she says. Monograms are also being used in wedding decor, from the cake topper to the reception menus.
"We're seeing this carried throughout the whole wedding as the theme," Walton says. "It's used to tie everything together."
Flowers
Flowers can be as important to the atmosphere of a wedding as the bride and groom themselves. But finding the right blooms isn't as simple as it looks.
From the bride's bouquet to the centerpieces at the reception, wedding flower trends change through the years.
This year, popular bridal bouquets will likely be traditional nosegays with a medium-length cascade, or tail, in colours that complement the bridal party.
In the '80s, the cascades were long. Think Princess Diana's 42-inch-long triangular bouquet that probably required tiny muscular men to hold it up.
In recent years, Martha Stewart and her popular floral arrangements have changed all that, but choices have evolved some this year, and a little cascade is being added to the rounded settings.
And the type of flowers? That depends on the bride. But one thing's for sure, roses have never gone out of style, and lilies and orchids are always a popular choice.
Other trends in wedding flowers include centerpieces of grouped bud vases in varying sizes – very popular and pretty, and guests can take them as a remembrance.
Photography
Photography is an essential component of a wedding, but it has often a decision that comes long after the dress, the invitations and just about everything else has been fussed over. This isn’t quite the case anymore – couples have started planning their budgets more, and placing a more significant focus on photography.
Trends come and go, but when it comes to wedding photography, brides all want the same thing - gorgeous pictures that will last a lifetime. Most brides opt for a combination of traditional posed pictures, with candid photojournalism-style shots. Having a second photographer can help to ensure the entire wedding is covered, from dress and makeup preparations to well into the night of dancing.
Once it's time to see the pictures of the big day, the trend is now to proof the photographs online. Brides log in to Web sites where they can pick and choose which photos they want.
Photo albums also are being replaced by leather-bound coffee-table books. Each page of the coffee-table book is designed with pictures of a couple's choice and a collage of shots. The books are easier to thumb through than traditional albums and often are more durable and attractive.
Favours
When it comes to leaving wedding guests with a little something to remember the event, brides are scaling back on the more elaborate favours.
Instead, they are being more socially conscious and opting for charitable favours, such as giving a donation to their favourite cause or a scholarship fund. In those instances, couples have left printed charitable donation favour cards at each place setting for guests. Charity registries such as the I Do Foundation helps engaged couples give back by encouraging guests to make donations to charities in lieu of lavish wedding gifts.
As far as favours go, couples also are leaving more personalized gifts, such as tiny jars of jelly with a printed copy of the bride's grandmother's recipe. Another popular idea is setting up a photo booth where guests can have their photos taken. The guests can keep a copy of their pictures, while the couple gets a copy, as well. This photo booth also doubles as great entertainment between the ceremony and reception while the bridal party is off smiling away for their own photos.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Sick of Plain Wedding Cake? Try a new idea...
It seems wedding cakes are taking a bit of a breather for 2010. Brides are breaking tradition, and branching out by serving alternative, yummy desserts - desserts you do not want to pass on!
Some great alternative ideas include...
Some great alternative ideas include...
- Candy buffets
- Cupcakes
- Donut stations
- Pies and tarts
- Cheesecake lollipops
Dessert stands have become very popular as well, with mini donuts, cookies, brownies, even biscotti.
Another great idea are mini desserts as wedding favours for your guests. Try bagging some homemade cookies, or an assortment of candies or mints - who didn't love getting a goodie-bag at the end of a birthday party when we were growing up!?
Top 2010 Wedding Trends
1. Screw the Trends - Be Yourself
The top wedding trend for 2010 is personalization. Instead of a cookie-cutter ceremony and reception the new focus is on customizing the big day to suit you. Try including you and your future hubby's shared passions as part of the celebration. Also, the emphasis on individual style includes your bridesmaids. Instead of clones wearing the same dress, shoes and identical hairdos, try picking a colour scheme and giving each bridesmaid the opportunity to choose a dress that shows her personality and style.
2. Bright Colour, Black Backdrop
For the latest wedding look, the only thing white is the bride's wedding dress. Black accents and bright, bold colours are in. This includes your bridesmaid dresses, flowers, favors, even table settings and linens.
3. Earth-friendly "I Do's"
You can have a sustainable love and a sustainable wedding. Eco-conscious nuptials are all the rage, featuring pre-owned and vintage wedding dresses, LED lighting, recycled paper invitations and locally-grown food and flower choices.
4. Groomed for Success
Today's groom not only rocks a tux, he dives into the planning process...and a little man-scaping along the way. As a loving and dedicated hubby-to-be, with a vision for his wedding (or at least a few worthy ideas), he's jumping online and searching blogs just like you. Some great ones to tell your man about include: The Man Registry, The Plunge, Temple of the Groom, The Groom Says and Ben the Groom.
5. Everything Old is New Again
Maybe it started with Mad Men, or with the desire to wear a pillowbox hat, or a fixation with a fabulous birdcage veil. Brides are catching vintage fever and falling head over heels for retro looks like Depression-era glass and tea-length dresses. Brides can channel old-school glamour with a modern twist.
6. You Can Go Home Again
Backyard rustic chic is the best way to describe the newest wedding venue - your own backyard. Whether the wedding actually IS in your own backyard, a local park, beach, barn or even the "backyard" of a fabulous resort, the idea is to invite just your nearest and dearest to a wedding that's long on comfort, charm and love. Low heels, casual dresses, and a tent in case of rain (this is Vancouver afterall) are all you need!
7. Mix and Mingle
Instead of a traditional sit down dinner, experiment with a new twist on wining and dining. To get your guests mingling, try an extended cocktail hour, lounge-style seating or a family-style meal. Anything you can do to shake up the format will give your guests a chance to socialize more freely...and avoid the awkward introductions at the table with assigned seating.
8. Return to Romance
Forget the "perfect day". Now couples are letting go of the pressure and creating a "perfect for us" wedding. Romance is in the air with special engagement photo sessions, videotaped proposal stories to capture the memory (and possibly share at the reception) and a renewed focus on marriage. A few other romantic touches include the abundance of lace and tulle on the bridal runway for 2010 dress trends [check back for a blog posting on dress trends soon] and the continuing popularity of deeply emotional vows and toasts.
9. Food You Can Eat
We all cheered when wedding menus expanded beyond chicken, beef and fish, but let's face it, infusions, foams, mousses and "bites" left a lot of us speed-dialing for delivery after a wedding reception. Fortunately, today's wedding receptions are serving upscale comfort food at sit down meals, buffets and as late night snacks. Desserts are getting a make-over too, as hard-to-eat fondant is upgraded to butter cream icing on wedding cakes and the cakes are paired with palate-friendly sweets like pies, brownies and cookies. Note: Full blog posting on new dessert trends coming soon!
10. iDo
Tech-savvy couples are embracing online wedding planning to save time and money...and tweeting about it along the way. Aside from status updates, brides-to-be are experimenting with LED lighting, iPod DJ's and digital camears to complement their professional wedding vendors. WeddingPreParty.com is also a top destination for Facebook-friendly couples who want to bring their friends and guests into the planning process.
The top wedding trend for 2010 is personalization. Instead of a cookie-cutter ceremony and reception the new focus is on customizing the big day to suit you. Try including you and your future hubby's shared passions as part of the celebration. Also, the emphasis on individual style includes your bridesmaids. Instead of clones wearing the same dress, shoes and identical hairdos, try picking a colour scheme and giving each bridesmaid the opportunity to choose a dress that shows her personality and style.
2. Bright Colour, Black Backdrop
For the latest wedding look, the only thing white is the bride's wedding dress. Black accents and bright, bold colours are in. This includes your bridesmaid dresses, flowers, favors, even table settings and linens.
3. Earth-friendly "I Do's"
You can have a sustainable love and a sustainable wedding. Eco-conscious nuptials are all the rage, featuring pre-owned and vintage wedding dresses, LED lighting, recycled paper invitations and locally-grown food and flower choices.
4. Groomed for Success
Today's groom not only rocks a tux, he dives into the planning process...and a little man-scaping along the way. As a loving and dedicated hubby-to-be, with a vision for his wedding (or at least a few worthy ideas), he's jumping online and searching blogs just like you. Some great ones to tell your man about include: The Man Registry, The Plunge, Temple of the Groom, The Groom Says and Ben the Groom.
5. Everything Old is New Again
Maybe it started with Mad Men, or with the desire to wear a pillowbox hat, or a fixation with a fabulous birdcage veil. Brides are catching vintage fever and falling head over heels for retro looks like Depression-era glass and tea-length dresses. Brides can channel old-school glamour with a modern twist.
6. You Can Go Home Again
Backyard rustic chic is the best way to describe the newest wedding venue - your own backyard. Whether the wedding actually IS in your own backyard, a local park, beach, barn or even the "backyard" of a fabulous resort, the idea is to invite just your nearest and dearest to a wedding that's long on comfort, charm and love. Low heels, casual dresses, and a tent in case of rain (this is Vancouver afterall) are all you need!
7. Mix and Mingle
Instead of a traditional sit down dinner, experiment with a new twist on wining and dining. To get your guests mingling, try an extended cocktail hour, lounge-style seating or a family-style meal. Anything you can do to shake up the format will give your guests a chance to socialize more freely...and avoid the awkward introductions at the table with assigned seating.
8. Return to Romance
Forget the "perfect day". Now couples are letting go of the pressure and creating a "perfect for us" wedding. Romance is in the air with special engagement photo sessions, videotaped proposal stories to capture the memory (and possibly share at the reception) and a renewed focus on marriage. A few other romantic touches include the abundance of lace and tulle on the bridal runway for 2010 dress trends [check back for a blog posting on dress trends soon] and the continuing popularity of deeply emotional vows and toasts.
9. Food You Can Eat
We all cheered when wedding menus expanded beyond chicken, beef and fish, but let's face it, infusions, foams, mousses and "bites" left a lot of us speed-dialing for delivery after a wedding reception. Fortunately, today's wedding receptions are serving upscale comfort food at sit down meals, buffets and as late night snacks. Desserts are getting a make-over too, as hard-to-eat fondant is upgraded to butter cream icing on wedding cakes and the cakes are paired with palate-friendly sweets like pies, brownies and cookies. Note: Full blog posting on new dessert trends coming soon!
10. iDo
Tech-savvy couples are embracing online wedding planning to save time and money...and tweeting about it along the way. Aside from status updates, brides-to-be are experimenting with LED lighting, iPod DJ's and digital camears to complement their professional wedding vendors. WeddingPreParty.com is also a top destination for Facebook-friendly couples who want to bring their friends and guests into the planning process.
Content Source: OneWed
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