Wedding Trends: Top 10 Wedding Trends of 2010
What will be the bridal trends in this new decade? Every engaged girl or even one far from walking down the aisle is dying to know what will be hot in 2010. What are the new color combinations? Is it still okay to choose cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding cake? The common thread among this year’s trends is creativity. One thing is for sure, this decade’s weddings will be full of unique personality.
1. Warm Color Scheme: Aqua and Chartreuse
The combination of these two colors is a match made in marriage heaven. The blue-green hue of the water evokes a sense of calm and its versatility and blends well with virtually all colors. Mix it with a striking chartreuse color, which needs its own pronunciation guide (shahr_trooz), and you have a combination that is sure to silence any critic. When pairing these two, be careful to use chartreuse dominant sparingly, as it can make you feel like you’re stuck in a bad ’70s movie. However, if you can pull it off, your adventure will be the one your girlfriends aim to top.
2. Location: Ditch the Hall
Banquet halls and hotels are notorious for their rules and policies that will give any bride a major headache. This year, brides will opt for non-traditional venues that allow for more intimate celebrations with family and friends. Venues like art spaces, museums, historic mansions, and even family backyards are becoming popular and can sometimes be less expensive. With these venues, she can have more casual options than she would in a stuffy banquet hall.
3. Down to Size: Smaller Wedding Parties
Second only to creativity as a theme in this year’s trend is intimacy. Gone are the days of 8-10 bridesmaids and countless ushers for most brides. If you choose to have a small wedding party, trust me, no one will be offended. If they act the way they do, avoid the blame knowing that they are secretly relieved that their only responsibility is to come and have a good time. With 3-4 in your wedding party, you can eliminate the headaches of infighting and splurge more on your gifts.
4. Variety is the spice
Speaking of weddings, who says all your bridesmaids have to look the same? Opting for variety in your bridesmaids’ attire is very much in fashion. There are several ways to do this and still maintain some consistency. You can simply give them a color or color family and have them choose a standard dress that they love. This can be easier on their pocket and they will surely use it again. Depending on your wedding party, you may want to give them some guidelines, so that you don’t end up with a miniskirt and a ball gown together at your wedding party.
5. Go vintage
Brides have always treasured heirloom pieces that they can wear on that special day. But in this decade, vintage doesn’t have to come from grandma. There are many vendors offering “vintage style” pieces, from jewelry to wedding dresses and decorations. A vintage-inspired wedding will remain timeless in your photographic memories.
6. Buy Used: Upcycled Wedding Dress
This trend may take a while to catch on, especially if you don’t like to recycle or reuse. With TV shows like “Say Yes to the Dress,” some of us can be disappointed that it’s perfectly okay to spend over $10,000 on a dress you can only wear once. However, for some brides, the perfect dress does not have to come with a high price tag. There are many recent brides looking to recoup some of their investment by selling their used wedding dresses through brokers. A trip to the dry cleaners and minor alterations can leave you with a designer dress for half the price.
7. Who made the cake?
Ok, so cupcakes and dessert bars instead of the traditional wedding cake have been all the rage for the last few years. Although the hype may be dying down, it doesn’t mean brides are going back to the traditional three-tiered white cake. Remember, creativity and uniqueness will rule this decade. According to http://www.weddingcaketrends.com, the recurring themes for 2010 include ethnic characters, vintage, color, decorative accents, and eco-friendly.
8. Unique Cake Toppers
For brides who MUST have their traditional cake, there are still ways to give it your own personality. Cake toppers that match the personality of the couple are becoming more and more popular. Is her future husband a couch potato or does he call the nearest golf course her second home? There’s a little porcelain boyfriend for you. Just about every sport is represented in the grooms category and some bridal toppers get in on the action as well. Like the wife who wields a bat waiting to receive a pitch from her husband. Even more comical are the cell phone fanatic couple and boyfriend standing next to a “still shopping” sign as a placeholder for his girlfriend. The folks at Sumthin Blu Weddings have an extensive collection of these unique cake toppers.
9. Go green
Eco-conscious couples will even go green for their big day this decade. There are many ways to go green on your wedding day. About.com’s Danielle Lessovitz lists creative ways to have a green wedding. From cutting back on the guest list, having your ceremony and reception in the same location, to reducing the number of car trips, and choosing vendors that serve organic and locally grown food, it’s easy to go green on your big day.
10. Cash is king
I saved this one for last because I’m sure it will generate a lot of controversy. Expect couples to ask for cash instead of gifts this decade. With one of the worst economic crises far from over, a financial cushion seems much more attractive than that coffee pot. To avoid raising too many eyebrows, you need to be very clear and transparent about where the money is going. People are more likely to stuff their envelopes with cash if they know they’re contributing to a down payment on a house, and unlike Aunt Sally’s cow salt and pepper shaker, this is a gift she’ll actually use.