DIY- As I mentioned before, DIY ("Do It Yourself") elements to a wedding are very popular right now. This allows the bride to add a little personal touch, which is tastefully done. This can also help cut wedding costs, while making the wedding seem more intimate. There are many resources available to help you accomplish whatever you want to do yourself. Examples: table numbers or place-cards, silly props for a photo booth, or little treats for goody-bags for your guests. Be careful that you don't bite off more than you can chew! You don't want to stress yourself out more before your big day and if you don't have the skill or talent to carry out our visions, you don't want to be disappointed by the result. Just make sure you will have time and FUN finishing your DIY tasks.
Menu- Nowadays, brides and grooms are choosing a very nontraditional, flavorful menu experience for their guests. Instead of your normal wedding buffet with chicken, rice, or pasta, couples are choosing elegant food such as gourmet salads, trays of cheeses, olives, and breads with savory dips, or fun buffets such as sushi bars, taco bars, or fajita bars. For evening snacks served later in the night, some people choose fun comfort foods with a classy twist such as pizza, sliders, pigs-in-a-blanket, or warm cookies with milk served in a shot glass. Also, many brides choose not only an elegant wedding cake, but many desserts, candy, and treats arranged tastefully on a table for guests to pick at throughout the night.
Vintage- Vintage never goes out of style! Vintage items allow you to make your wedding more personal and memorable as you reminisce about the past on your special day. Some people are choosing Second-Hand stores to purchase wedding gowns, veils, or shoes, some choose vintage lace, pearls, etc., while other brides choose to restructure and rewear family gowns. This is cost-effective, green-conscious, and celebrates your family's hertiage. Whatever heritage you have, whether it be Indian, German, Native American, or Jewish, integrate it into your ceremony and reception. Also, make sure to equally honor the heritages of both the bride and groom's sides of the family!
These trends are some of the ways brides and grooms are finding more and more ways to personalize their weddings and make them unique and "out of the box" special. Give your guests something to talk about! Keep your guests entertained with props for dancing, playing funny games during dinner, or yard games during the reception. You can choose a band, a DJ, or both! Some brides choose to have a reception, as well as an afterparty at a bar at the hotel they are staying at. Use a sports announcement to both incorporate your favorite sports team and announce the couple during the grand entrance at the reception. Order the groom's cake using his favorite sports team logo and colors. Some brides opt for mismatched bridesmaids, either different colors, dress styles, or both! Also, since wedding days tend to be very busy, some couples have post-wedding photo shoots so they make sure to get all the pictures they want. For example, the wedding party might put on wedding attire the next day to take more casual photos, or some photographers offer packages that include First Anniversary photos! You can return to your wedding location, or just a place that is important to the two of you for one year anniversary photos. The possibilities are endless, so get creative, and add a little touch of YOU!
Above: One of our brides who chose adorable mismatched bridesmaids dresses.
