WEDDING NOTES™ – New Bridal Trends

This season’s bridal gowns are reflecting new looks that one fashion writer termed “More Kate and less Kim”.  Many gowns are reflecting more traditional looks and a bit of classic charm.

Gowns are showing more coverage.  Not necessarily Kate Middleton’s long sleeves, but cap sleeves are being shown along with illusion necklines for those brides who want more coverage than strapless gowns provide.

Longer veils are back in vogue after being absent for a period.  In a survey of brides 75% reported they plan to wear a veil with preferences for floor length or longer.

Many brides are selecting plainer gowns with less “bling” and focusing on fabulous accessories like jewelry and expensive shoes.  More and more brides are choosing colored shoes with blue a popular choice.

Some brides are including “costume changes” in their selection of the wedding gown.  One gown is chosen for the formal ceremony and either adaptations are made in that gown for the reception and dance or a second and more informal gown is worn for the reception.

We are also seeing bridesmaids in white thanks to Pippa.  All white weddings have been appearing in areas, but more brides are choosing the mono theme for spring and summer.

Brides continue to create a personalized wedding with signature color (s), monogrammed items, and motifs to set and reinforce the theme of the event.

What is your view of your ideal wedding gown?

WEDDING NOTES™ – Guest Tips

Your college roommate is getting married in June. Your cousin is getting married in July. A co-worker is planning an August wedding. While the bridal couple may be knee deep in planning, guests have a role to play in helping the couple have a wonderful wedding. Guests are invited to provide public witness to the legal ceremony taking place and to help the newly wedded celebrate the importance of the steps they have taken. Marriage is a public statement indicating the new legal status of the couple. 

While there aren’t many “rules” about what it means to be a wedding guest, there are some time honored expectations and one question - what should I wear to the wedding - is real. While our culture may seem more casual than in decades past, this is still an important event that one honors by dressing appropriately. Check the web page of the couple for clues to how formal the wedding is likely to be. Ask members of the bridal party if you know them. Here are some guidelines to help you decide.

• Don’t dress to stand out. Remember that the bride and groom are the stars of this production. 
• Men should wear a tie (unless the wedding is at a beach somewhere). 
• When in doubt, it is usually better to overdress rather than under dress. 
• Avoid any low cut, tight and/or skimpy dress. Watch the sequins and the glitter. 
• A black cocktail dress is ok, while white can be iffy. If one does choose white, it is necessary to make sure that it looks nothing like a wedding gown. Creamy white and simple style that is totally different from the gown is better. 
• If the wedding is to be “informal” nailing down appropriate apparel can be tough. Ask around to get a feeling of what other guests are planning. Take a cue from where the ceremony is being held. If it is in a large cathedral that will tell you one thing. If it is in a party room at a horse ranch, you know that informal means something else. If you get no clue from the ceremony location, try the reception spot next. A country club cocktail reception will mean something quite different than a reception where beach volleyball will be the main entertainment. 
• If the wedding is semi formal, it means that men should wear a suit and tie. At one time dark suits were indicated, but that is relaxed now and tan or khaki suits are OK. Women should wear a suit, a tailored dress or pant suit. She could add some “bling” but don’t overdo it. 
• If a wedding is clearly a formal affair, men should wear tuxedos and women should wear cocktail dresses – long or short. 

Whatever level of dress a guest decides upon, the other item to include is one’s best manners. This is an important day in life of a couple and one honors them by behaving well. Wearing one’s best behavior is always in style.

WEDDING NOTES™ – Your Green Wedding

More couples are choosing to have an eco friendly wedding.  And while the idea seems appealing, many do not know how to go about staging such an event.  We have some excellent ideas to share with our brides who want to “go green” on their big day.

1.        Plan to stay local.  Choosing a venue that is closest to the majority of your guests enables a maximum number of people to save gas and commuting time while helping you to celebrate.  I f you also work to utilize one location for both ceremony and reception, you save even further.

2.       Check with one of our Certified Wedding Planners for help in identifying Eco friendly venues.  The planner will know about energy efficient locations that practice recycling and other green procedures.

3.       Search out organic, local catering firms that specialize in serving in season foods and beverages.

4.       Your planner can also help you locate organic gardeners who specialize in locally grown flowers and greenery.  Choose in season flowers and consider repurposing the floral pieces you’ve chosen for the ceremony site and using at the reception.

5.        We can help you choose Eco friendly print items.  We have resources that specialize in 100% recycled paper and use non toxic inks.

6.       A number of wedding gown designers have included Eco friendly fabrics in their designs.  Fabrics like organic cotton, bamboo and peace silks are available and lovely.  Some brides lucky enough to have access to heirloom gowns are choosing to wear them and updating them with headpiece and accessory items.  

7.       Many couples are choosing natural gift items for favors.  Currently popular are tree seedlings, organic bulbs and plants.

8.       Wedding gift registries are showing gardening, lawn and recycling equipment in the couple’s choices.

9.       Even wedding rings can express concern for environment.  Many couples are seeking the origin of the engagement diamond – refusing to purchase stones that are from areas that practice unsafe mining or which export “blood” diamonds.

Our experienced wedding planners can offer plenty of ideas to help you marry in green.

WEDDING NOTES™ – Some Planning Tips

As one wedding planner put it, “Just because you have planned something, doesn’t mean it is going to happen.”  Here are some tips from professional planners to help insure that everything works well at your wedding.

1. Getting Ready.   Of course you want to look your best on this big day.  You may have booked a hair stylist for yourself and your bridesmaids.  Maybe someone is doing makeup for all.  In order for everything to flow, treat this as a salon appointment and require everyone to be on time for the appointments.  Work with the stylists to establish a sensible timeline and insist that your wedding party be on time.  A lot goes on before you walk down the aisle, and you don’t need to add undue stress to the list. 
2.  Photographs.  Every couple wants the album of perfect pictures from the wedding.  Check out several photographers and insist on seeing their work.  Some specialize in formal shots and others are masters of creative vignettes.  Some do both.  Make sure that everything goes smoothly by giving the photographer a list of the people you want to make sure are included in your wedding album.  Appoint a friend to run interference for the photographer and make sure that each of those persons is available for photos.  The photographer should spend his/her time shooting pictures, not searching out the people you want in the photos. 
3.  If you are planning a cocktail reception, make sure that the caterer has wait staff ready with trays of cocktails as the guests enter.  For the first five to ten minutes staff should focus on getting beverages into guest’s hands.  Once that has been done, then they can start passing canapés.  Stress the importance of this to the caterer.  You don’t want lines at the bar if you are having an open bar.  Appoint someone as host/hostess at your reception and introduce them to the caterer before your event.  They can make sure that guests are not standing in lines waiting. 
4. Order of Service.   Think of your guests.  If you have elderly relatives, make sure that they are served first.  Unless you feel strongly about it, consider having the head table served last.  That gives the couple a chance to chat with guests and socialize.
5. Be aware of “down time”.  Weddings can lose energy after the food course.  Guests are at different points in the meal.  This can be a good time to introduce one or two toasts.  But have the best man announce that toasts need to be kept to a minimum of 3 – 5 minutes. 

For many other helpful ideas to keep your party flowing nicely, talk with one of our experienced consultants.

WEDDING NOTES™ – Using Technology

Brides who are used to communicating with electronic “tools” may be tempted to “do it all” with technology when they think of wedding planning.  But we caution our brides to take a careful look at the world of Eplanning.   There simply are times when the bride needs to leave the keyboard or apps and do some of her planning face to face.

The Internet will be a help in searching out reception sites that may fit one’s budget, but a bride simply must check it out in person.  She may be able to hear music played by a band she is considering, but nothing beats meeting the group in person.

Cake makers can show photographs of some of their creations on line, but until you’ve tasted the actual product, how can you decide?

Ordering your wedding gown or bridesmaid’s dresses on line is also a bad idea.  Sizing and quality can vary widely so you and your maids should try on your gown choices before making a purchase.  To assure that gowns will be in on time, don’t risk ordering from an online resource.  Shop a reputable store that stands behind its merchandise.

Before registering online for wedding gifts, we recommend that you meet with an expert sales associate at a major retailer.  They have years of experience helping couples select registry items.

Brides may be tempted to send “virtual invitations”, but once again we caution brides against that.  Use the Internet to enter pertinent information about your wedding but plan to send printed invitations.  As one bride put it, “I may be old fashioned, but there is a touch of class I want associated with my wedding and an electronic invitation doesn’t cut it.” 

We advise our brides to be careful about disclosing information about their weddings on the social networks.  Here we feel that “less is more”.  Certainly share the joy of the upcoming wedding but don’t constantly post updates on the status of your plans.  Don’t go overboard posting photos.  A select few are a nice touch.  Too many will leave a bad impression.

By all means use the Internet as an information resource to get ideas and lists of vendors to visit.  But make the key decisions in person with family input as appropriate. 

WEDDING NOTES™ – Etiquette on a Budget

Quiet elegance is always in style. 

Consider a few white lilies for the bridal bouquet instead of an elaborate arrangement.

A garden luncheon can be as charming as a 5 course sit down dinner.

Select fewer attendants.  The larger the wedding and number of attendants, the greater the expense.

But no matter how limited the budget, the rules of etiquette still apply. 

Having a reception which serves only punch and cake is acceptable.  Asking guests to buy their own dinners is not.

Having an alcohol free reception is fine.  Having a cash bar isn’t.

Registering for things the couple would like and need is fine.  Asking for money instead of gifts isn’t.

Sending email invitations instead of printed or handwritten ones for a small intimate wedding isn’t OK.

Neglecting to send thank you notes within an acceptable time frame is not appropriate.

Every part of a wedding, even one done on a very limited budget, should be done with style and good taste.  An affordable wedding can be just as memorable as a lavish one.  Guests will remember the beautiful personal touches, not how much was spent on the wedding.

If you have questions about any aspect of wedding etiquette do stop in a talk with one of our experienced consultants.  We are here to help you have the wedding you want.