Brides today want their wedding day to be as unique as they are. And this outside the box thinking is setting new trends for savvy brides in 2012. Designers are artfully combining bright colours with staple neutrals: much like an artist would paint a beautiful work of art.
Warm bamboo, honeysuckle pink, cedar green, deep teal, purple‐hued phlox, coffee liqueur, warm camel nougat and quarry are top shades for the upcoming season.
Wedding dresses have a lot of lace; a trend we forecasted six months ago. There are ruffles, beading and coloured sashes that are sexy and white is not as popular as soft beige, light blues, pink and even soft‐toned greens being introduced into the finest bridal lines.
Styles for gowns are sleek with brides not seeking out the traditional ball gown. Vintage is still strong and there’s no chance of finding their dress duplicated. They make a statement and are stunning in their design.
The venue is still a hot location, with couples seeking old buildings that have been re-purposed such as old train stations, raw factory space and combinations of indoor and outdoor spaces. Local farms and vineyards provide a rustic charm and the outdoor photo opportunities provide endless opportunities. Wedding environments will be more laid back; bookings with nature settings are popular locations. Beaches, parks, homes and other outdoor settings are also being utilized.
Birdcage veils have been in style for many seasons now and the Royal Wedding provided the fascinator, an edgy, over the top headpiece. Headbands and feathers are modern options to a traditional veil. No bride will be bare‐headed in 2012 with everything from glittering tiaras to extra large flowers in contrasting tones.
Shoes, once dyed satin white can now be bold red, purple or blue, peeking out from under that dream dress. Add a feather clip for a touch of fun.
Other ideas include button or feather boutonnieres, multi‐mini cakes as centrepieces, catering carts, such as martini bars, crepe stations, sundae bars, pastry tables and lemonade stands are vying for the bride’s attention. Photo booths continue to be a popular feature for guests.
Social media is centre stage with computer stations being set‐up for guests to leave comments. Webcasting to guests who couldn’t attend the day is heartfelt and, as the day unfolds, hash tags for Twitter are in sync with today’s online culture.
Venues should expect to receive requests for longer cocktail hours, rental companies will see an increase for lounge furniture and guests can expect the unexpected. Ceremonies will have a steady increase in personalization, focusing on the couple’s interests, hobbies and passions as part of the wedding day celebrations. Vows are being written and choreographed by couples with assistance from an Officiant.
Themes such as vintage, diamonds/pearls, romance, garden style, retro 50‐70’s and eco‐friendly are huge. Cakes are bold this year and 2 layered cakes are back with tiers of different heights. Cupcakes are still huge, with innovative flavours and colours.
Grooms are more involved in the planning with their brides, and they are contributing their time and ideas into their day; it’s a new culture in the industry‐ one that until recently has been entirely female.
The 2012 wedding season will find couples saying, “I Do” in a world of different ways. Many will continue partying well into the night with an after party, which is becoming a popular trend. This party has no rules or wedding checklists and is entirely up to the couple.
Wedding Guide Preferred Vendors are dream‐makers; the go‐to service providers with big shoulders and creative thinking. They can make a wedding come to life with all of the above ideas. This area is cosmopolitan irrespective of its size and anything and everything is possible for the next season bride!
” There is only one kind of love, but there are a thousand different versions.” La Rocefoucauld
Your wedding invitation is the first impression that your guests will have of the uniqueness, that is your wedding style. That style, whether traditional or contemporary sets the stage for what’s to come. Your guests get excited for your upcoming nuptials when they receive your invitation in the mail.
 Invitation & Photo by See You There, Windsor, Ontario New style trends are being incorporated with unique creative elements like ribbon embellishments, different die cuts and 3D designs. Brides can choose from handmade papers that offer romantic touches with messages outfitted with bows, ribbons or good luck charms. There are many beautiful options to choose from, including linen papers, corrugated card stocks and embossed that create a sensational and trendy look.
Combinations of bright, bold colours, and recycled paper always carry the beginning of a theme wedding. It’s helpful to have an idea of how formal or informal you want your invitation to be, before you make an appointment with a specialist. Today, your specialist can custom-make invitations and help you with the proper wording for any of hundreds of circumstances and will have examples to show you.
In a time of long distance weddings, a wedding invitation four to six weeks before the chosen date isn’t enough advance notice. The popular “Save the Date” card is a simple postcard, printed notice or magnet that often gives notice of the wedding day months in advance, and require no commitment for a guests presence- that’s why response cards that accompany the invitation are for. They are a friendly FYI of your plans and their interest in having guests participate.
In this day and age, it is still not acceptable to send e-invitations except for engagement parties, brunches, showers or after parties. Remember that some of your guests may not be socially linked so be sure to print additional occasion-related invitations. Nothing takes the place of a proper wedding invitation sent the old fashioned way with a stamp. Your bridal website can be printed on a separate card and enclosed with the invitation and response card. A formal invitation requires a formal response.
Always double check your invitation proofs before sending them back to your stationer. Have someone other than yourself have another look-see also, checking the day and date, the time of the ceremony and the location of the venue.
The language of your invitation is predicated by the place you are holding your ceremony If you are marrying in a religious place of worship, the invitation language should read, ” request the honour of your presence. If the ceremony is being held elsewhere, the wording will read “request the pleasure of your company.”
Whatever style of invitation you are looking for, it’s important to find a stationer that has lots of experience in both traditional and custom wedding invitations, and can handle the creative process from your engagement to your wedding day and beyond with thank you cards.
For invitation information and where to find a Wedding Guide Preferred Vendor in Windsor|Essex County, refer to:
http://www.bridaltalk.theweddingguide.ca - Invitations
I’m sharing my recent interview on our cool player; ( it’s like a You Tube Player) with Arms Bumanlag, AM800Cklw. It’s always fun to sit down with Mr. B and have a chat about what’s happening in the world of weddings! Sunday Morning Live is a great show; very relaxed and informal and I look forward to being a part of it.
Since part of the interview is about Social Media, I thought it would be fun to post the computer technology that we build at our mother company, DMS Communications. If you want more information, please contact [email protected]
Hope you enjoy the show. http://cto.12flat.com/wgnews2011
Social media has been embraced by just about everyone in daily life and wedding
celebrations are no exception!
 Weddings/Social Media With the excitement of their engagement, brides are setting up personal wedding websites to share engagement pictures; their beautiful new ring and in some cases, it serves as an introduction of her fiancé to friends and family from afar. It is an effective icebreaker for the wedding party to interact and get to know one another online, prior to meeting for the first time.
Emily Post manners recently released a statement that said, ”all the old rules that are stuffy can be tossed out!”
While social media is still relatively new to weddings, this generation of couples are internet babies and they want to embrace technology in as many ways as they can. And what better time than on their special day.
 Social Media is hot at weddings this season!
One cardinal rule, that is a definite no-no, is using your mobile device during the ceremony. The bride can appoint one Chief Tweeter to quietly sit in a remote area of the venue to capture the vow-taking. Attach a hash tag to the event and those who couldn’t make it can still be in the loop and follow the day’s proceedings.
At the reception, brides are setting up a computer station, where guests can post their well wishes and upload wedding day pictures they have captured. Other friends who couldn’t attend can post and have their comments read much like the telegram of days gone by.
Webcasting is growing as weddings are broadcast on a live stream feed. If there are elderly relatives or guests who are unable to be with the couple at their location, they can still see the day live from the comfort of their homes.
It’s the 21st century and brides will wow their guests with this emerging trend, and many other special touches that make their wedding distinctive while shining a spotlight on their unique personalties!
Last week, The Wedding Guide Windsor|Essex County hosted the event, “Brides 21st Century Style,” for local, area wedding professionals. The discussion centered around the market in general and keynote Speaker, Paul Pannone, investigative writer and The Editor and Chief of EWEDNews, the reporting channel for the wedding industry in North America, shared his expert opinion on what the industry is up to for this upcoming bridal season. Sponsored by Caesars Windsor, a 4 diamond property, it was an informative evening for all in attendance.
On March 31, I spoke at Windsor’s Wedding Workshop, at St. Clair Centre for the Performing Arts and it was a great event. The Wedding Guide is proud to be affiliated with this hardworking team and we have been sponsoring since its inception, 5 years ago. There was a gathering of over 100 brides and their guests , who were great to meet. I had the opportunity to talk to most of them about their wedding planning. It was interesting to note that there are many weddings booked for June, July and October of 2011.
I see a buoyant season upon us and many brides are fulfilling their dreams by planning their day of days. Each and every wedding day is different and inspired by the disposition, attitudes and interests that they have in common with their fiancés.
The Wedding Guide has worked tirelessly for over 19 years to inform, advise, offer and deliver everything related to wedding planning. We offer 24/7, 365 day access through the printed upscale Wedding Guide, our online socially integrated website and the online blog where brides and grooms can access the very latest wedding trends and tips.
There are many ways to get married; loud or quiet, understated or flashy, spend a little, spend a lot!We believe that the engagement should be a happy time, stress-free and one that’s organized. Enjoy your time together and seek out professionals to help you plan your day. If a price seems too good to be true, it should be a warning. Ask vendors for referrals and the opportunity to see their work. If you are dealing with a DJ, it is not unrealistic to ask to stop into a wedding reception for a few minutes.
Whatever your celebration, from cozy home-style to country or urban chic, couples are infusing their day with distinctive touches and emotion while choreographing a celebration that is meaningful and unique to them.
The 2011 wedding is a wow from the vows to the departure of the very last guests. It will be entertaining, emotional and joy-filled. It won’t be your sister’s or mother’s wedding day!
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