What's Trending in Weddings 2014

Over the next few days I'll be posting about some of the hottest trends in weddings right now. Get your pinning finger ready, this is MUST know stuff to design your totally fabulous wedding!

Monochromatic Color

Monochrome weddings are getting an updated twist lately. Think understated—even rustic—furnishings that allow details like flowers and wallpaper to pop without looking overdone. They key is to pair your primary color with neutral colors so as to not overwhelm the senses.

Source: BizBash,

Photo Credit:
BizBash, Wedding Paper Divas, Pinterest, Jana From Alabama, Amy Atlas Events.

How to Thank Your Parents for Your Wedding

One of the nicest trends that has become a part of many weddings in recent years has been the addition of printed words thanking the parents for the wedding. Here are some ideas on how to honor thy mother and father:

Add a thank you poem to the wedding program. The words of thanks don't have to be in the form of a poem. They can simply express your gratitude, although a poem is nice.

For those who have limited budgets, simply saying the words of thanks in front of the assembled guests is just as appropriate--such as after the wedding speeches and toasts.

Honor your parents with music. Ask the DJ to play your parents wedding song (or favorite song) and allow them to have the spotlight for a dance.

You can never go wrong with a thoughtful gift. Some ideas include a gift card, arranging for a nice weekend or a night out on the town, putting together a video using family photographs, a photo album of wedding pictures, your favorite photograph from the wedding in a personalized engraved frame, or a gift they can wear after the wedding.

Bottom line, no matter how you go about it, don't forget to show your appreciation to your parents for all the help they've given you with your wedding!

Etsy

Sources: ask.com, about.com

9 Reasons to Use Succulents in Your Wedding

Succulents are booming in popularity for two simple reasons: they are beautiful and nearly indestructible. These plants are far more robust than their cut flower peers and are tolerant to adverse outdoor conditions that normally would cause fresh cut flowers to prematurely wilt or die off completely. Succulents store water in their leaves, their stems or their roots.

Succulents used with wedding flowers make for an interesting match. Very asymmetrical in size, form and appearance, these plants bring something very different to a wedding floral arrangement. Unique, unusual and very interesting, succulents are very often a real conversation piece with your guests and also make for excellent wedding favors.

Where succulents come into their own in terms of careful design and a creative floral construction is to add bulk and texture, and to amplify and accentuate the wedding flowers, especially the focal wedding flower of choice. Sometimes described as fat plants, succulents simply add enormous value to wedding floral design. They match well with most wedding flowers, but in particular roses, ranunculus, dahlias, proteas, peonies, freesias and orchids.

Brides would want to consider using succulents for one or a combination of the following reasons:

1. These plants are very effective when used in vintage and rustic wedding environments, especially when potted. These plants add a certain quaint intrigue to your floral decorations, making for a talking point amongst your guests.
2. To contribute more greenery to the overall holistic wedding theme, an approach that is particularly effective with brightly colored wedding flowers.
3. To intentionally add additional bulk, texture and volume to the floral designs, and to reduce the overall costs of her wedding floral arrangements.
4. As reception flowers they can also be used very effectively as place card holders, favors, horizontal centerpieces and also work well as hair arrangements.
5. To strive for a unique look to her floral designs using succulents that are available in a diverse range of different shapes and sizes.
6. To use indigenous plants that represent the local vegetation.
7. To leverage maximum benefit of the superior shelf life these drought resistant plants offer compared to freshly cut flowers. 
8. To use these arrangement as a favors for the guests to take home with them, a gift which serves as a lasting reminder for the wedding, reinforced by the fact that various of these plants can be very successfully replanted.
9. To take advantage of a large and widely diverse selection. Most of these plants are available locally all year round.

Pinterest via ...and what not

Pinterest via Brides of Adelaide

Pinterest via Wedding Chicks

Pinterest 

Source: Josh Elliott

Roaring 20's Looks

Vintage inspired weddings are always popular, and different eras come in and out of vogue as the decade of choice.The roaring 20's is one of the hottest new bridal trends right now. Check out these amazing looks from The winter/spring issue of Washingtonian Bride & Groom.

 

Anniversary Photo Shoot Ideas

Many couples are now reliving the magical experience of their wedding day by taking some candid photos with each other to commemorate their anniversary. Let photography capture your romance with some of these photo-shoot ideas:

An anniversary toast during a romantic picnic for two.

Borrowed and Bleu

Use props to spell out the milestone...and if that dress still fits, wear it!

Pinterest

Pinterest

A picture is worth a thousand words

Pinterest via Hue & Hum

Take a movie-inspired pose. This couple's inspiration for their 61st anniversary came from the movie "Up".

yahoo

Poke some fun at the every day routine or of married life.

Pinterest

Feature your growing family

Pinterest

What do you think about anniversary photo shoots?

7 Groomsmen Gift Ideas

While not mandatory, giving your bridal party a small token of your appreciation is customary. It's important that you show gratitude to people who have spent their time and money to help make your wedding day special. I always find it harder to shop for men, so when it comes to groomsmen gifts I'm sometimes at a loss. But today you're in luck! Here are 7 fabulous ideas I found for groomsmen gifts. Feel free to share!

Best Man Collar Stays

Pinterest 

Bowtie Love

Pinterest

Leather Luggage Tags

Colin Cowie Weddings

Luxurious Shaving Kit

Colin Cowie Weddings

Engraved Toiletry Case

Colin Cowie Weddings

Personalized Cocktail Shaker

Colin Cowie Weddings

An Amazing Bottle of Tequilla

Colin Cowie Weddings

4 Tips on Getting Floral Estimates

 Pinterest via Empty Vase

1. Try to find a florist that specializes in your style. Some florists specialize in tall, lush, ornate centerpieces, while other are better at modern, minimalistic arrangements. The florist should be able to show you examples of recent work that matches the aesthetic you desire.

 

2. Have each florist put together a detailed proposal for your wedding, based on what you've told them about your wedding vision and floral budget. Ask them to prepare a "high" best-case scenario and a "low" bare-minimum proposal. You can always mix and match to create a mid-range package.
 
3. When shopping florists and getting estimates, always have them note the type and variety of flowers used. You must compare apples to apples when getting estimates!
 
4. Once you select and hire a florist, request a contract and check it for:

• Vendor name and contact information
• Date, time and location of your ceremony and reception
• Itemized list of all the flower arrangements you've chosen (including specific blooms)
• List of flower alternatives, should certain blooms be unavailable
• List of everything the florist will supply (vases, trellis and other accessories)
• Arrival times and amount of time needed for setup at each site
• Where and when bouquets and boutonnieres should be delivered
• Name of the florist who will be on-hand during setup on the wedding day
• Itemized fees including delivery and setup, a total cost, deposit paid and balance due
• Balance due date, cancellation and refund policy

Source: The Knot

Advice For a Happy Marriage

Here is a compilation of some of the best pieces of advice I've heard on how to have and maintain a happy marriage.

Come as You Are
"Marry someone you love exactly as they are, and be sure they feel the same. That way, you'll never expect more of each other than you are each happy to give. I didn't realize this until my second marriage. Another secret? Don't get married until you're sure of who you are."
Lisa Noll
Martinsburg, West Virginia

"We choose to stay in love. We have traversed parenting, careers, finances, the loss of a pregnancy and loved ones, and fussing over whose turn it is to cook breakfast. He watches Pride and Prejudice for me, and I watch Ultimate Fighting Championship for him. We've changed, but we still choose each other."
Leah Moon
Toledo, Ohio

"My husband and I always make sure that the bedroom is our private place. Not just for physical intimacy, but for having a space to talk and be together."
Carol Czerniawski
Palatine, Illinois

"I once asked an elderly neighbor this very same question. He and his wife had been married more than 50 years. He replied, 'Oh, my dear, it's really very simple. My wife and I agreed long ago that I'd make all the big decisions and she'd make all the little decisions. And in all these years together, there just haven't been any big decisions.'
Cecilia Saad
Washington, D.C.
Source: Real Simple

Pinterest

 

Pinterest

 

Pinterest

 

Pinterest

11 Must-Know Tips About Renting Formalwear

Pinterest

1. Who picks out the Tux the bride or the groom?
The groom should be allowed to pick out his own tux. However, leaving the bride totally in the dark about the attire is not a good idea. The groom should look at a few styles he likes then take the bride along on the 2nd trip to get her opinion. The groom still makes the ultimate decision on what he feels comfortable and happy wearing.

2. They style and type of formalwear should be dictated by the time of day and formality of the wedding.

3. Don't wait until the last minute. Plan to reserve all formalwear 3-4 months before the wedding date.

 

4. Spring and Fall dates are particularly busy at formal wear rental shops due to Prom and homecoming season. If you wait until the last minute around these dates you may not get what you want.

 

5. Decide if the best man will wear the same style as the rest of the groomsmen or whether his outfit will be slightly different somehow.

 

6. Get measured and have the best man an all the other groomsmen come in to do the same (out-of-town groomsmen should get measured by a professional and send in their measurements).

 

7. When renting formal wear, it's best to get the insurance offered by the vendor. It's not expensive and if anything happens that could damage that suit the groom and/or his bridal party is wearing, you will be covered! Otherwise, you could be on the hook and formal wear is not cheap to replace. 

 

8. Don't forget about non-rental accessories such as ties, shirts, shoes, socks, suspenders, belts, cuff links, handkerchiefs, etc...

 

9. Review your receipt carefully for: store name, salesperson's name and contact information, wedding date, complete description of what you're renting including (type and quantity of items, sizes, colors, style numbers, accessories, pickup date and time, return date and time, total price, late return fees, deposit amount, remaining balance, due date, cancellation policy and refund policy).

 

10. Create (or have your wedding planner create) a formalwear checklist to keep track of each groomsmen's order, sizing information, accessories, and to track whether they received all their formalwear and whether they returned all of their formalwear after the event.

11. Formalwear should be picked up a few days before the wedding.
Source: The Knot

Buy a Gown and Support The Fight Against Breast Cancer

I recently learned about Brides Against Breast Cancer (BABC), a Center that offers free information, programs and services to cancer patients, caregivers and family members, while connecting them with others who are undergoing a similar experience. Their more than 100 yearly bridal shows provide brides-to-be with an opportunity to find their dream gown at an incredible savings, while contributing to services that provide education, information and outreach to men, women and children affected by cancer. Wedding gown sales are an important fund-raising event for Brides Against Breast Cancer with thousands of generous donations received from designers, manufactures, bridal shops, and individuals worldwide. If you are a wedding gown retailer, manufacturer or If you have already said your "I Dos," please consider donating your gown to BABC, and your donation is tax deductible.

Pinterest

 

Brides Against Breast Cancer is an affiliate of the Center for Building Hope, operating within The Health Support Network.

How to Assemble Bathroom Guest Baskets

I've seen these Bathroom Baskets at several weddings. They are an excellent idea and add a very nice touch of hospitality. Want to know what essentials and emergency items to put in your basket? Head on over to Wedding Thingz for the deetz!

Pinterest

 

As a wedding planner I'd like to poll all of you. Would you like it if your wedding planner offered Bathroom Baskets as a part of your planning package? Leave your answer in the comments below.