Okay, let's face it...planning a wedding can be really stressful. Hopefully, this checklist will help you in planning your special day...and help to alleviate the some of the stress...
The Dress
Wedding gowns are all about texture this year: In past seasons, we have seen pops of color, lots of bling, and feminine detailing galore. In keeping with the subtly luxurious tone of all wedding trends this year, gowns are following suit with visually interesting and rich textures
Wedding Man Caves
Blackjack tables, brandy bars, PlayStations and stogies. The man cave has officially moved from the home to the wedding, so create your own and don't be surprised if you see all the male wedding guests in the new "groom's corner" at the reception.
Video Guest Books
Building on the idea of wedding photo booths, take it up a notch and create a confessional-style video booth for your guests to say a few words about you to the camera. You could even dress up your iPad as a guest book as the newest way for guests to "write" you well wishes. Bonus? Postwedding, you can easily share your guest book online via YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or Vimeo.
Surprise Honeymoons
Ladies, butt out! Take a cue from Chelsea Clinton's wedding and leave it up to your groom to plan a surprise honeymoon.
Dessert Bars:
Candy tables will always have a place in our heart, but dessert tables are quickly burrowing their way in. Featuring down-home favorites like brownies, bars and different types of pies, they also often feature a modern twist on the wedding cake – several varieties of homemade cakes rather than just one large one.
Outdoor weddings:
Nature is this year’s most popular wedding décor. Couples are taking their ceremonies and receptions outside with garden weddings, wooded fairylands, and barnyard chic. Posing with the local goats and horses has never looked more in style, or romantic.
Vintage:
The past is back and all vintage ideas as well. Incorporating modern elements that have a historical past is a growing trend, which is very appreciated by everyone that participates in weddings with these types of ideas. Presenting your guests with party favors from historical brands, building the wedding theme around this concept, recycling and wearing your mother or grandmother’s wedding dress, incorporating your parents’ or grandparents’ wedding pictures into the décor, creating an atmosphere of nostalgic romance is always nice and very, very trendy these days.
Photography is going to take a vintage spin, with wedding albums that are reminiscent of the seventies. Draped textiles as backgrounds for photographing the bride and the groom, as well as guests, in a relaxed setting is a big trend, so don’t forget to set up something like this at your wedding: it’s very simple and, best of all, loads of fun for everyone.
Details are hardly overlooked but now they are more important than ever! No tiny detail should go unseen and everything should be planned right down to the last feature. If you don’t have time for details, there’s nothing like hiring a wedding planner to transform your wedding dreams into reality. The wedding cake table is a main focal point, the place cards should be original and personalized, the chairs should have a special touch, the wedding color palette should be very well thought out – basically, think about all the small details that will make a big difference.
D.I.Y:
The DIY concept – Do It Yourself – is definitely here to stay and it’s one of the biggest 2011 wedding trends, not only from an economical point of view, but also because there isn’t anything more special than incorporating handmade elements – made by the bride and the groom – into the wedding.
DIY and handmade wedding related items continue to grow in popularity: Hand-made, vintage, and rustic touches are being prominently showcased. Regardless of budget, many brides are getting into the DIY craze as materials are become easier to access and more affordable through major craft retailers and reputable online sources.
The Food:
Just as weddings in general are going to be simple and pretty in 2011, so should the menu. Traditional food presented in a very modern way or with a touch of originality is the way to go. Serving lemonade, mazagran, colorful teas – all in a special way – is definitely a very pretty trend.
Wedding cakes will continue to be tall and elegant, but with a touch of rustic-chic, where fondant is replaced by a delicious butter cream and large sugar flowers are substituted by natural flowers, sugar glazed fruit or just fun details. The wedding cake table is a huge trend: it should be beautiful and a highlight at the reception venue.
Ladies!!! None of your guest wants to see a bridezzila. Chill out! It’s your wedding day. Yes with the wedding comes stress about the dress, cake, grooms tucks, the kids in the wedding, the family and all the decorations, invitations and where to have it…but ask for help!! Moms, dads, sisters, cousins, your husband – be’s family, your husband-to be. This is not a journey you have to do on your own. Take a step back, breath and think, yes this is my day, it will be perfect.
