From Kari Rider Events: Wedding trends change from year to year, season to season. Which flowers are the most popular? What bridal gown designer is the most sought after? How to present the wedding vows – personalized or traditional? In the past, weddings were fairly standard. A church, some music, dancing and a cake. But today’s couples have options. There are so many options, in fact, that planning an Eastern Shore wedding that is both on trend and suits your taste can be overwhelming. Pick up any wedding magazine and it might make your head spin. Wedding trends seem to change faster than you can say “I do”. Here my picks for the top 10 trends in Weddings for 2013:
#1. 1920s Retro: is “in” this year and the 1920s is the decade brides will be most inspired by. Embrace the trend by indulging your inner flapper in a sleek, beaded gown, then try a Great Gatsby theme — complete with fringed chandeliers, Art Deco invites and a black-tie dress code (think top hats for the groomsmen!).
# 2. The Color Mint: This is a fresh color that can be used in a modern or retro style wedding. It can be soft in tone but can also have a pop of tangerine orange (2012 color of the season). Not only does the hue play nicely with others, but it also looks good on just about everyone.This will be a beautiful color, so many ways to incorporate onto your wedding theme.
#3. Gold Gowns: Who says you have to wear white for your walk down the aisle? Gold was a huge fall fashion trend so it’s no surprise it showed up in tons of fall 2013 bridal collections. THEIA, Badgley Mischka and Leila Hafzi were just a few of the many designers who worked them into their collections.
#4. Creative Backdrops: For outdoor weddings (think St. Michaels, Easton, Oxford, Cambridge and beyond!!) and more, a pretty and custom-made backdrop against which to say your vows is a soon to become must-have. These backdrops are the focal point of your wedding ceremony decoration and are spectacular settings for snapshots of your fist kiss. Consider streamers or origami for a very colorful DIY ceremony backdrop. Related upcoming trend: creative and custom-made aisle runners.
# 5. Beer: A trend on the rise is specialty beers. To add a little something to your micro-brew, use personalized labels with your names and wedding date and give them out as wedding favors. Simple and your guests will appreciate the gesture, especially if you have a beer drinking crowd! Check out St. Michael’s own Eastern Shore Brewing for local microbrews!
#6. First Look Photo Sessions: are also growing in popularity, and I can see why! This not only saves time during the cocktail hour and allows the couple to spend time with guests (which in turn eliminates the receiving line) but it also allows your photographer the opportunity to capture a truly intimate and special experience when the groom sees the bride for the first time. Included below are a few taken by Melissa Grimes-Guy Photography! Sometimes the most touching first looks can be between the father of the bride and his daughter! Always a tearful moment!
#7. Stationery Customized & Laser Cut: Everything I’m seeing across the board revolves around customization. With so many options and talented vendors, there’s no reason why anything about your wedding should be cookie-cutter. This could not be more true than with your wedding stationery. Brides are enlisting the expertise of couture stationers to design a motif specifically for them and considering the strides in laser cut technology, the final products are sure to be the envy of your wedding guests. What I love about laser cut designs is that it can be made to look like lace to coordinate with a vintage theme, or you could go with a more graphical design for a modern look.
#8. Dinner Party Chic: Forget the cowboy boots and Mason jars- think causal glamour. Decor is more sophisticated, incorporating crystal, lush centerpieces, luxurious textures, chandeliers and beautiful coloring.
#9 Bridal Hair: Braids can add a very nice touch to your wedding hair. Incorporating braids into your hairstyle may also allow for the style to keep longer (a plus on your special day) since braids can provide a hold or protection of sorts.
#10 . The wild-card trend of the year: Camping! It started with Mathew McConaughey’s star- studded wedding, and now brides are loving the idea of a grown-up summer camp-hence the new term, “glamping.” How perfect for your Eastern Shore wedding experience! Imagine ultra-luxe safari-style tents with heat, electricity and high-end linens. If the idea of overnight guests doesn’t work for you, some brides are using the tents as part of the reception. A more realistic option would be to have a tent with books and bourbon or a kids’ tent.
