Cheap, Chintzy, Fast and Brainless: welcome to the new standards.
By Paul Pannone
Reprinted from eWed News article
What’s being accepted as the new normal in the wake of a lingering economic decline is becoming increasingly concerning to a wave of professionals that understand standards will never be as they were when they were younger. The shock and dismay of declining standards are said to be forcing some into retirement to enjoy the last years of their life, away from the changes that are concerning to them.
Recent discussions with every walk of life including journalists and college professors that say they’re finding it difficult to accept the cultural changes blame the Internet, citing the rise of mediocrity and lower standards. Along with print publications, most point out the value supplied by the Net, providing real-time information exchange. But just as many say they question the value of the information.
“There are vast amounts of information in every conceivable topic but as the standards of how the information is collected and assembled decreases, the skepticism of the reader should be increasing proportionately. There are many factors to be considered; has the writer taken the time to verify the source’s statements? Were there ample attempts to garner balancing statements and differences of opinion? Those are the questions that should always be asked,” according to writers and journalists that fear the decline in quality.
The comparison of quality versus quantity is a growing concern in every aspect of life apart from professionals, as standards are felt to be giving up ground daily. Manufacturers, sales people and displaced professionals see the changes and say they’re growing increasingly wary of the rising mediocrity and its acceptance. “It wouldn’t be bad if it ends at mediocrity, who knows how low this will go?” say some that feel we’ve not yet seen the bottom of the barrel.
“Have you seen this?” asked one Social Media follower concerned about the decline. Dresses to be married in—we refuse to call them wedding dresses—for under $500 dollars. Veteran dress sources say the quality standards have lowered to meet the decline in consumer spending. Some say past recessions they’ve lived through forced consumers to seek lower pricing but they still demanded quality. “Not anymore; this generation was never taught what quality was. Mommy and daddy coddled them and they never had to think on their feet. Now, as consumers, it shows; they’ll take anything they’re given, as long as it’s cheap,” feel a growing number of sources.
Warning:This video is PAINFUL to watch. Save a dollar or save face, which will it be?
The remarks are offset by New York wedding and other major market consultants that told eWedNews, “I cringe when I read about a $1,200 dollar dress in your articles; I have clients that spend more than that on their underwear.” While the statement may be true, cutbacks in spending at every income level, including luxury, force us to think perhaps the current $1,200 spent on “underwear” is down from $1,800 a few years ago; who would know?
Sources feel, “If manufacturers are creating products for less that is what people will be spending. When the standard price for a wedding gown used to be $3,000 dollars that’s what a bride expected to pay in her mind. Today, if a manufacturer is able to create the look she wants for less, that’s what she will be paying at the counter,” said bridal gown sources.
In all other aspects of wedding planning including the venue and meal itself, tricks to cut down the costs are being exposed. Sheryl Davies of The Wedding Guide in Canada told eWedNews, “An emerging trend; Fill’em with bread and poo- poos and they’ll eat less at dinner. But, seriously it was really a nice touch and we all got to snack!”
“There is no doubt that spending is down,” say numerous sources in the wedding industry. Others that are trying to adapt to couples that want to save money by doing it themselves say the trend may be shifting, as the economy improves. Most bridal planners in major markets say their clients have the means to fund events that will be memorable and leave lasting impressions for decades to come, while in other areas, frugality is expected to continue to guide average spending.
One of the biggest decisions a bride and groom have to make before any wedding planning officially begins, is the colour palette for the day. This can be baffling; something that has to be decided on before you can pick the bridesmaids’ dresses, cake, flowers, décor; everything is predicated by this important outcome.
The best way to begin is to pick two dominant complimentary colours and one highlight colour. Other colours can be added to intensify and highlight your dominant colours.
If you have already worked with an image consultant in the past, you will already be aware of which colours compliment your complexion and give you that wonderful glow that makes you look your absolute best.
Starting with a blank canvas, the process will evolves naturally. From the time you were a young girl, you may have imagined a wedding with deep red roses and crisp white linens. Or, did you envision yourself in a setting that was classy and elegant; perhaps a dramatic and always proper, black and white theme as your décor?
With spring and summer weddings, a feeling of calm waters and beach vacations come to mind with soothing Turquoise, a hot colour this season with the connotation of a faraway beach resort. Add an ocean blue and the feel becomes cool, refreshing and filled with energy.
Yellow makes a statement; its always associated with and bathed, in the warmth of summer. It is always a terrific choice, combined with shades of neutral champagne or taupe.
The new red this season is Tomato Purée, and its zippy and fun, paired with a cream infusion of florals and table linen. Touched with silver or gold, it is a rich, inviting look that is warm and inviting.
When picking your colours, think about your home and what colours you wear most often. These are the colours that are in your comfort zone; ones that you can live with in harmony and feel good about.
You may want to spend some time in the paint section of your local hardware store or building centre, where you can mix and match the chips to see what your true colour personality reveals.
Whether you are looking for a traditional look, an out-of-the-box, bold statement, or a modern feel, the palette you choose from will add glorious colour to the look and feel of your wedding day.
Whatever you decide on, your day should highlight all your favourites, from your beautiful dress to your menu to your accessories, and every colour detail in between. When you pick your colour scheme, you will set both the tone and your own distinctive, signature style for your day.
Don’t jump into something that you think you may like; be honest in your colour approach and you will have a look that you will both love and forever remember.
From urban chic, to haute couture there is a combination for you that will inspire the look and feel of your day, and put your own unique, fingerprint on it; guided by what you love.
The Wedding Guide|Windsor & Region helps local brides find and assess the professional wedding vendors in the area, that deliver first-rate service: reception venues, ceremony sites, photographers, beauty, florists, honeymoons, limousine service and more.
We wish you a beautiful day filled with love!
For your complimentary copy of The Wedding Guide, please visit one of the selected bridal salons on our website: www.theweddingguide.ca
Be sure to visit “Planning” at the beginning of our website, where you’ll find printable checklists, a comprehensive timetable, interactive budget calculator that appropriates each wedding service according to the Canadian average, the best bridal phone resource in the area, and, lots more to assist you with all your wedding day preparations.
Top it off with personality
The trend is to personalize just about anything having to do with your wedding. Why not your cake as well? Creative displays of monograms and the names of the bride and groom are topping layers of wedding cakes. From silver initials studded with crystals to subtle monograms in the frosting décor of the cake layers, it’s just another way to add a symbol of your new bond to the elements of your wedding day celebration. A cake topper with your initials joined together in or by a heart is a contemporary way to adorn your wedding cake with something much more personal than a stature of a bride and groom or a spray of flowers. You can even include flowers along with this signature design element. Another unique idea in toppers include one-of-a-kind glass hand-blown artworks.
Layers of fun
Today’s wedding cake bakers are creatively stretching the idea of what the traditional wedding cake can become. It used to be that choosing different flavours for each layer was somewhat cutting-edge, though it’s probably become more the norm when it comes to having a unique cake. In fact, some cakes might not be layered at all- there may be an assortment of four to five cakes, all varying in size, colour, and flavour, that are combined to make a wedding cake display. One of the hottest wedding cake designs today is that of layers of ornately decorated pillows (imagine the finest available to carry your ring down the aisle) stacked one on top of another. Today’s cakes incorporate all types of colour as well, and cake designers are not limited to the whites and creams of yesteryear. We are also seeing cupcakes remain as a cute trend as well as the emerging trends of macarons, a pastry with a colourful topping that can be hollowed and filled with gelato, cream or sorbet. Get more information on what you’ll need to think about when it comes to your wedding cake with The Wedding Guide.
Look perfect on your big day
If you believe the dress is the most important thing you’ll wear on your wedding day, think again. Your groom and your guests will forever remember your radiant face, sparkling eyes and elegant hair. The dress catches their attention only because it enhances your natural beauty. Nearly every woman wishes a team of professionals would arrive on the scene first thing every morning to make her look perfect and camera ready. But this luxury is actually a necessity for brides, according to wedding experts. Professional assistance is beauty insurance.
Don’t forget the moms
The biggest fashion decision for a wedding is, of course, the wedding gown itself. Next comes the attire for the attendants. Since the search for the perfect Mother-of-the-Bride dress may include a special order or custom tailoring, right after the bride and attendant attire is chosen is the perfect time for the bride to talk to the mothers about their ideas for the dresses. The bride should discuss her preferences of lengths, colours and styles with both/all mother. It’s important that the mothers’ gowns do not conflict with the colour of the attendants’-oftentimes because of this consideration, more neutral colours are worn by one or both mothers. A few traditions seem to hold when it comes to choosing Mothers’ attire: these dresses should never be longer than the bride’s or attendants’ gowns. The same goes for the style: they should not be more formal or lavishly decorated than the bride’s gown. Many bridal salons offer diverse selections of mothers’ gowns, check out our trusted salons online.
Shoe tips
Since you and your bridal party will be on your feet all day, and maybe much of the night, it’s important to pick wedding day shoes that are not only beautiful, but comfortable as well. Take into consideration all the wear and tear that you shoes will have to endure and add tip0s to protect the bottoms and heels of your shoes. If your shoes, or more likely your bridesmaids’ are dyed to match, you may want to also have them scotch guarded in order to protect them from rain and snow. Most wedding fashion salons have shoes for sale and can give you expert advice on what shoes work best with different types of attendant and bridal attire. Begin your quest for the right shoes early and try to break them in a little before the big day. Today’s bridal shoes are absolutely stunning and for shoe-loving brides, you’ll have a blast finding your perfect pair!
Until later,
Sheryl Davies
Publisher
Perfect Wedding Planning @ Your Fingertips since 1992
Expert advice
Here at The Wedding Guide office, we live, eat and breathe weddings. If you have a specific question about protocol, etiquette or something that may be unclear to you, please go to “Ask the Editor” online for your private one-on-one conversation.
If you have a specific question about protocol, etiquette or something that may be unclear to you, please go to “Ask the Editor” online for your private one-on-one conversation.
Facebook and The Wedding Guide Windsor/Essex County
As your local web portal for this area, www.theweddingguide.ca, we are constantly adding information to our Facebook site daily. Check in and see what’s new, what’s exciting and what’s cutting edge. These are tips that will make your wedding day go more smoothly.
Social Media Widgets We do these unique and innovative online social app tools for brides. Share with all your friends, family and wedding party, near and far. The cost is reasonable and the widget can be shared on all social media pages with your friends. (Facebook, Twitter and 50 more. For more information, contact us at dmscommunications.info or call us 519-252-8463.
Special Offers Online
Our wedding professionals have provided special money-saving offers to help you with your wedding cash flow. Check our online Special Offers, top right hand side to save money.
Planning Tools from us
Online under Planning, did you know that you can print out checklists, budgets, timetables and duties for your wedding day? Check out our handy organizational tools at www.theweddingguide.ca
Fabric Makes the Difference
Though you may fall in love with a particular style wedding dress, the fabric in which the dress is created can make it truly spectacular. Familiarize yourself with wedding dress fabrics, as certain ones are better suited to different weather and in creating a particular ambiance. For instance, tulle is often used as an overskirt in creating those fairytale gowns you may have dreamed of since you were a little girl. Different types of silks breathe better in the heat of summer while medium to heavy weight types of silks like Dupont or Peau de Soie, work well for dresses to be worn in the winter months. It truly pays to bone up on your fabric knowledge if you are having a custom-made gown of your own design.
Guy Wear
Though tuxedos are the typical choice for menswear for today’s modern weddings, they do come with many more choices than the typical white shirt, black bow tie, cummerbund, jacket, pants and suspenders. In fact, today’s tuxedos and accessories often incorporate more style and colour than the suits worn in past years past. Vests are often used with, or in place of, cummerbunds and come in various colours and fabrics. Bow ties, neck ties and ascots are often coordinated with the fabrics of the best or cummerbund as well. Cuff links and studs are not only functional, but are used as high-fashion accents to enhance the entire look of the tuxedo they are worn with.
Wedding Day Assistance Maybe you couldn’t afford the services of a wedding consultant to plan your entire wedding. Or maybe you loved planning your own wedding but would prefer to have someone else take charge on your special day, so you can just relax and enjoy yourself. Hire a wedding consultant for the day! Provide clear, detailed notes and instructions for anyone that fills this special role for you. This could be the biggest luxury; or necessity- you give yourself!
Double check the details
Even though you may be a perfectionist, you’ll want to double (and maybe even triple_ check all your wedding day details. The perfect time to double check all the essentials is when you are getting ready to go to print with your invitations. Confirm the day of the week, date, time and location of your ceremony and reception. Go over the guest list to ensure there are enough invitations (including a few extra for addressing mishaps). Verify that you didn’t inadvertently miss putting someone on the list. You would be devastated if they weren’t a part of your wedding day. It’s a great idea to have your groom and someone else from both sides of the family review the list as well. Of course, carefully check the spelling of all the names and locations on your wedding invitation. If you haven’t ordered your invitations yet, check out our list of expert stationers. www.theweddingguide.ca
Keeping everyone happy
It would be great if there were an inside secret that would help make everyone happy on your wedding day, but unfortunately, there is no such thing. Keep in mind, while it is nice to be able to comply with other’s wishes, itis your wedding day. While considering any special needs of your family and friends, remember to be true to your feelings and values. Rest assured that those who love you will honour your choices. Take complaints with a grain of salt; there is always a perfectionist in every group that gathers together. Who knows, it may even be you! Whatever glitches may occur, make sure to relax, take it in stride and most of all, and enjoy your day.
Great new flavours
Though chocolate is still one of the most popular wedding cake flavours, new flavours always seem to make their way into today’s wedding cakes. The emergence of Latin cuisine into today’s mainstream culinary choices has brought the decadent flavours of dulce de leche (“sweet milk”, otherwise known as caramel), and trés leches (three milks- sweetened condensed, evaporated and regular) to super special wedding cakes, plated desserts, and even ice cream. Some popular and often unusual flavours today include: carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, Kahlua white Russian cake, cheesecake with strawberry filling, lemon with lemon curd filling, chocolate truffle, angel food with raspberry filling, banana chocolate chip, mocha cake and hazelnut filling, and even a cannoli cake. Make sure you schedule a tasting before selecting your wedding cake. Check out our article on wedding cakes so you can chose your dream cake and find your dream bakery.
Macarons are the new, hot pastry item and they can be served with sorbet, gelato, ice cream or just plain with a dollop of whipped cream Yummy!
Until next time,
Sheryl Davies
Publisher
The Wedding Guide Windsor/Essex County
Southwestern Ontario’s Official Bridal Magazine, planner & websiteServing brides for 17 years with local, expert advice.
Many couples prefer a more candid style of photography to capture the essence of their wedding day that is often described as natural or unobtrusive. Instead of the numerous photographs of people grouped together and ready to smile at the photographer’s cue, they choose a relaxed yet elegant style of photography known as Wedding Photojournalism to document the activities of their special day.
Some brides and grooms think they may be turned off by this style, classifying it as the latest trend in wedding photography, thinking they don’t want a photographer that will produce or direct their wedding day by creating a “cliché” or “posed ” shots that were once leaders in the genre, like the wedding dress on a hangar or the groom dipping the bride during their first dance.
Actually, by definition, a true wedding photojournalist is there to record the events of your wedding, capturing it all as it happens. Whereas a traditional wedding photographer will mingle with your guests and allow his personality to work with him or her, the weddingphotojournalist is more of an observer, working as more of an outside documentation of the day’s events. Proponents of this style of photography say it results in much more emotion in the final product with truly heartfelt images.
If you think the wedding photojournalism is the style in which you’d like your wedding-day memories preserved, set appointments with several photojournalists to view their portfolios. Find the style that compliments yours.
Watch for Wedding Guide TV in hi-res, in shareable, but not subject to be stolen, format. This protects your photographer’s copyright and lets you post online without your images being used commercially.
Please view the examples below of social online applications that can be formatted for brides to share their pictures on the social media networks. They are copyright protected for your photographer and they can reach all those special people who weren’t able to either be at any of your wedding celebrations or are too far away to be part of paging through your wedding album.
Produced by DMS Communications, Windsor, Ontario for brides, artists, musicians and businesses globally. dmscommunications.info or bridaltalk@theweddingguide.ca
It is important when choosing your Windsor/Essex County wedding photographer, that you and your fiancé discuss first, what pictures you definitely couldn’t live without and then, the rest will fall into place in the order of their importance and wedding day sequence.
This area has great photography talent within all different budget ranges and shooting styles.We also boast great location shots from the urban centre to county beaches and vineyard estates. Want to feel like fashion models? There’s, the zany and fun “Trash the Dress” session, as well as post-wedding picture-taking in unique and innovative locales.
Are you a traditional bride that wants the posed, tried and true pictures of your mother’s generation, or would you prefer a more candid, photo- journalistic style? Or, perhaps a combination of both?
What you don’t want to do is accept a gesture of kindness from a relative or friend who offers to take your pictures for you. Unless they are professionally trained, it is a risky proposition to agree to this kind of arrangement , although the offer is generous.
If your pictures don’t turn out well, or if the camera breaks or that person doesn’t show up- you have no second chance to make it right.
When establishing your budget for photography, budget a little extra, if your wedding photos and albums are an area of priority for the two of you. It will give you the flexibility to do that little extra, that you can look back at years from now with fond memories.
Today’s couples are putting their signature statement on every aspect of their wedding day planning and photography is no exception. From your “Save the Date” cards, shower invitations, rehearsal dinner and the wedding day itself, there will be many beautiful memories made and your images will be captured many times. By spending the time and deciding what it is that will make you both really happy, you will be relaxed and radiant in all your pictures. And, your photographer will be by your side, documenting your day, exactly the way it occurred!
The Wedding Guide Windsor/Essex County. Serving local area brides for 17 years.
Home of Bridal Idol and proud sponsor of Windsor’s Wedding Workshop.
Our mandate is to keep the bride-to-be organized, stress-free and plugged in to everything about weddings!
Special Offers online save your money. Budgets, timetables and relevant wedding planning information.
Ask the Editor is a complimentary one- on- one service, that answers all the questions that are asked whenever a wedding is hosted.
Our website offers this complimentary service that answers all the questions that are asked every time a wedding is hosted. This is a private one-on-one, so feel comfortable knowing that no question goes unanswered. We are the wedding experts in this area, and, we are here to assist you every step of the way.
Special Offer Coupons
When you registered online with The Wedding Guide, you received thousands of dollars of Special Value Coupons. Please feel free to use them with all our services; our vendors are all wedding professionals, and we are confident that you will enjoy their services. Don’t be shy. Make your appointments and decide if they fit your needs for your wedding day. And, tell them The Wedding Guide sent you.
Budget Considerations
Even if you aren’t paying for your own wedding, you’ll need to figure out a wedding budget from which you’ll be making your plans. Coming up with a financial figure and sticking with it throughout the planning process will make planning less stressful for everyone involved. Figure out the important items where quality is the priority for you, whether it is the reception food, fine champagne for toasting, flowers, or your attire, and plan to spend more in those areas. Maybe you are planning on wearing a dress that is a family heirloom, and all you will need are alterations. That will free up a significant amount of money for another part of your wedding day. Check out our interactive budget calculator online under Planning to help you get a feel for where your dollars will be spent.
Please remember that you can contact us at anytime either by phone or via email for any assistance that you may require. And, it’s all complimentary. It’s our goal that you enjoy every minute of your engagement with as little stress as possible. Windsor and area brides love The Wedding Guide and use it for all their wedding plans. We are the area’s wedding experts!!
Until next time
Sheryl Davies
Publisher
The Wedding Guide Windsor/Essex County
519-252-8463
publisher@theweddingguide.ca
