Wedding website WeddingPath has put together a list of bridal trends for Summer 2009.
Hot Tip 1: Dynamic Colours
Bright hues are popular for summer weddings but if you try to use too many colours in one space, you might wind up with a look that's more carnival than wedding. Think sophisticated, sticking with just two hues (or two plus an accent colour) will keep your space unified. Instead of multicoloured centrepieces, alternate single-colour floral arrangements for a pulled-together look. Cut citrus fruit is a tried-and-true favorite for summertime centerpieces, but other options out there are more unexpected and just as visually appealing. Have your florist use hollowed-out watermelons as a centrepiece container for a casual look that's fun and seasonal.
Hot tip 2: Upscale Picnic Food
Summer is the season for barbecuing, so consider serving a grilled entree for instant seasonal style, sticking to the lighter offerings of chicken or fish. Bringing in fruity flavors will add even more seasonal flair. Go for upscale picnic-style fare, which is both a low-maintenance and high-style way to go.
Hot tip 3: New Themes
Currently, the top wedding themes are "beach", "garden", "winter wonderland", "vintage glamour", "woodland/rustic", and "Tiffany Blue" (aqua) and "sparkling diamonds." Destination and ethnic-influenced celebrations also remain popular choices. For couples interested in a classic, simple and elegant affair, consider a traditional Victorian wedding, complete with horse and carriage rides for guests and intricately-detailed wedding cakes. While vintage wedding gowns continue to reign in 2009, we’ll also see a shift towards royalty-inspired décor and themes. Look for antique accessories and simple, Victorian designs on party favours and centrepieces.
Hot tip 4: Wedding Stationary
Stationery with ribbon, beach, feather or floral accents remain in high demand. Handmade stationery is a more personal, and with the explosion of scrap booking, stamping, and various computer programs available, there are endless creative options. You could choose to add this personal touch to your wedding. Ultra-creative wedding invitation designers definitely have colour and printing options that are new and vibrant, printing cream onto fuchsia and creating fabric-printed invites, programs, and RSVP cards for a laid-back look perfect for summer.
Hot tip 5: Wine Smoothies
Your guests will definitely want something cold and frosty, but margaritas and daiquiris can be extremely alcoholic. Instead, go for something a little out of the ordinary - wine smoothies. A wine smoothie consists of a fruity wine, like rose, blended with ice and fruits of your choice. Garnished with a couple of berries or fruit slices, it makes for a refreshing and unexpected signature sip.
Hot tip 6: Beyond Wedding Cake
White wedding cakes are popular for every season, and of course, chocolate always reigns for groom's cakes. But with cake makers offering so many delectable flavours and fillings, why not try a seasonal selection? Think fresh strawberries and cream for a strawberry shortcake-style wedding cake, or a citrus-infused filling like Key lime, lemon, or orange vanilla buttercream that honours a summertime fruit. Cakes decorated with handmade icing flowers, shells/starfish and delicate dots and scrollwork remain popular. Couples are choosing cakes that fit with the location, theme and season of their wedding. Flowers, sculptures, and large monogrammed letters are replacing the traditional bride and groom cake top. Beyond the cake, consider serving other desserts. A big-hit idea we love: Hire an ice cream truck to arrive at the end of the night offering summertime favorites -- the perfect nostalgic, late-night snack for your guests.
Hot tip 7: Eco-Friendly Favours
Going green is the trend in almost every area of life and is spilling over into the wedding scene as well. Many couples are choosing organic fabrics, flowers, food and invitations, etc. Eco-friendly favours are bigger than ever, particularly if you're taking advantage of natural beauty and marrying outdoors. Give guests locally grown herbs planted in recyclable glass jars or tin cans. Dressed up with ribbon or paper in your wedding colors, they're gorgeous and good for the earth. Beyond plants, you might also consider donating to a local charity for a wedding favour idea that never goes out of season.
Hot tip 8: The Wedding Dress
Vintage is in. Whether you wear your grandmother’s dress or mother’s dress, or visit a vintage shop for your dress, you will be in style. Think of the glamour days in Hollywood’s golden years; cap sleeves, halter necklines, strapless gowns, plunging necklines, antique lace, satin ribbons for straps, ruffles and tea-length dresses. Romantic dresses in floor length styles remain popular for 2009. Brides are choosing dresses with flowing, soft fabrics, ruffled hems, satin sashes and delicate floral details. Most dress silhouettes are refined and include the delicate overlaying of fabrics such as chiffon, tulle and lace. Gowns with crystal and cubic zirconia embellished bodices are very popular at the moment. The modified A-line skirt also remains prominent on the fashion runways (slim through the waist and flared at the bottom) although many designers have included a few ball gowns in their lines as well. Strapless gowns are perennial favourites, but this year has brought back the one-shoulder dress for brides who want an ethereal, goddess feel to their look. We are continuing to see colour in wedding dresses, champagne, pink, platinum are the most popular choices.
Hot tip 9: Wedding Hair Styles
The word on the street is that brides are wearing the soft, romantic look, with hair down, plenty of ringlets and curls, with a minimum of accessories. The emphasis is going to be on a more natural look, with most updos having some hair loose at the sides or the back for that softer look. The ornate and beautiful tiaras made with rhinestones, crystals and pearls have somewhat disappeared due to the more crystal embellished wedding gowns that take centre stage.
Hot tip 10: Wedding Bouquets
Roses continue to be the most popular and elegant bouquet flower. Lilies, peonies, hydrangeas, tulips and orchids are the trendier choices. The newest wedding bouquet has a just-picked and looser, casual look as opposed to the tightly-bound bouquet shapes of previous seasons. The mother of the bride corsage has given way to carrying small posies.
Hot tip 11: Your own wedding website
On average, 70 brides a day are signing up to Weddingpath.co.uk. WeddingPath is the ultimate tool for building your own free wedding website at the same time as giving you access to vast amounts of online information including vendors lists and suppliers. No invitation is complete without a web address these days! You can use your website to give wedding guests maps, accommodation listings and transport – all with live links – as well as keeping a message board and a PhotoShare page where family and friends can add their pictures after the big day, giving the couple a unique keepsake album in addition to their professional wedding photography. You are also able to download interactive fact sheets on every area of planning the big day, chat on the Wedding Talk Forum with other WeddingPathers exchanging information, hints and valuable tips – just like these!
