2010 Wedding Trends

Happy New Year! Each new year brings a refreshing new start…especially for newly engaged couples who are just beginning their wedding planning. A wonderful way to get started with brainstorming for ideas for your wedding, is to take a look at the Wedding Trends for this year, 2010. It’s a great way to see what brides are doing differently for their weddings and how recent fashion and economic trends are affecting the bridal world. With a difficult economy still looming over us, we’re seeing many wedding trends that reflect getting more for less, Do-It-Yourself projects, going green, economizing where possible, staying close to home, and a revival of comfort foods. With regard to fashion, short is sexy such as with wedding gowns, hair styles, and veils, and 2010 also promises to converge traditional styles and fabrics with those that have a more contemporary, modern flair and feel, with bold splashes of color.

Wedding Ceremony Trends
Image details: Backyard Wedding, http://www.intimateweddings.com

For Destination weddings, wedding couples are opting to stay closer to home than traveling half way around the world to get married. These closer-to-home locations are likely within driving distance from their home towns so that friends and family can attend without spending a lot of money to travel to a far off location.
The wedding couples having their weddings locally will gravitate toward new, unique and fun places as their wedding or reception venue – in lofts, backyards, private residences/homes, museums, parks, clubs, cafes, galleries, community centers, etc., many of which may be cheaper to rent than more traditional options such as ballrooms at hotels.
For the wedding ceremony, many couples are opting for a non linear aisle – personalizing the procession by having a circular or triangular double aisle so that the couple or bridal party can enter from multiple spots and meet at a central point. It’s a wonderful way to allow all guests at the wedding ceremony to have a great view of the wedding procession.
Whether wedding couples have the Guest Book available for guests to sign at the wedding ceremony location or the reception venue, or both, many wedding couples are opting for something more unusual and personal for their Guest Book. From creating special Guest Book scrapbooks to having Polaroid cameras accompany notecards for guests to write personal notes on, to having a framed print of a special saying, poem or sentiment where guests can write notes around the border of the print, wedding couples are coming up with some wonderful creative ideas for their Guest Book.
Have Pets? Couples are having their beloved pets involved in their wedding ceremonies! What a wonderful idea!

Wedding Reception Decoration Trends
Image details: Do-It-Yourself Oval Tin Favor, http://www.sophiesfavors.com

Wedding Centerpieces: Brides are choosing centerpieces that are in the same color tones but of different sizes to give the guest tables a more interesting and varied look. Brides are also using vase fillers such as glass marbles, sea glass, seashells, acrylic ice, water absorbing crystals, beads, fresh fruits – to bring the cost of centerpieces down. Plants and vines are also being used as part of the centerpieces to save on the cost of florals and to be more eco-friendly as the plants can be planted in the ground after the event.
Homemade, personalized wedding favors – Martha Stewart style. “Do-It-Yourself” is the buzz word for 2010! Do-It-Yourself wedding favors are a great way to achieve a beautiful look for your favors at a much cheaper cost.
Unique materials are being used for wedding accessories and decorations such as galvanized charger plates, Lucite – clear, see through vases, plates, candle holders, favor boxes, even chairs, etc.
Incorporating eco-friendly products and practices as part of their wedding planning – from using favor boxes or invitations made of recyclable material to using alternatives to bottled water, donating leftover food to charities or local shelters, etc.
Fun photo booths that you can rent and have your guests take spontaneous pictures at your wedding!
Smaller weddings and fewer guests are ongoing trends from last year due to these difficult economic times.
Wedding couples are having more weddings at home or in a back yard for a more personal, casual affair. These types of events are especially attractive to those with lots of children and pets in the family.
For the wedding cake, many couples are opting to have individual guest cakes, decorated cupcakes and/or multiple cakes in different flavors to replace the main wedding cake OR be in addition to the main wedding cake.
Confetti for table decorations – many wedding couples are using fake rose petals (because they can be re-used) for decorations at their receptions, and diamond confetti, shells and starfish for those with beach theme weddings.
Candy buffets or confection bars are a hot trend these days to be used in lieu of wedding favors, or in addition to wedding favors. Candy Buffets are created by putting candy in coordinating colors for your wedding in large glass containers, jars or bowls in different sizes and shapes – all grouped nicely onto a table. Scoops or sliver spoons are used and small containers are provided for the guests to put the candy in. Cute labels or tags can be attached to the containers or the scoops to identify the candies or sweet treats. (image detail: Candy buffet from inspiredbride.net)
Candles are still popular for adding ambiance to centerpieces and buffet and guest tables. For those facilities that don’t allow candles, faux tea light candles can be used or battery operated LED lights or fiber optic lights.
Lately, we’ve seen a new trend of having the bride and groom sit at their own, intimate small table for just the two of them instead of at a head table with other family members and friends.
There is a delightful trend of Comfort food at weddings with an extra added touch! Gourmet macaroni and cheese, mini burger appetizers, potatoes, pizza hors d’oeuvres, and more. During these difficult economic times, wedding couples are looking to save money on the food being prepared for their weddings. Comfort food is a cheaper option and is so very tasty!
Wedding favors doing double duty as placecard holders, or as part of the centerpiece as decorations. For visual effect, wedding favor towers are very elegant and beautiful and provide not only favors for your guests, but the favor tower itself is a visual decoration for the reception. The key here is to save money by having the wedding favors serve multiple purposes.
Ring pillows are still widely used but some wedding couples are opting for other types of ring “holders” such as books, sachets, jeweled boxes, even a bed of flowers, etc.
Going green – being eco-friendly -- for some if not many aspects of the wedding decorations is an important consideration for wedding couples these days. Preventing waste and supporting local businesses and promoting the use of recyclable materials is key – some examples are using organic fabrics for table linens, buying food locally for the reception, doing placecards or other wedding stationery on recyclable paper, using biodegradable wedding toss, etc.

Trends for Wedding Dresses
Image details: Beautiful Short Wedding Dress, http://www.shortweddingdress.com

The trend for bridal fashion in 2010 is elegant and generous, but also includes the mixing of traditional and modern fabrics, styles, and embellishments.
Brides are interested in sleeker, refined silhouettes for a modern looking wedding gown – sheaths, trumpets and column wedding dresses. The A line skirt remains prominent on the fashion runways, as well as ball gowns and tea lengths wedding dress styles.
Brides are finding shorter veils and Birdcage veils to be particularly attractive this year – these styles bring an old fashioned glamour to your wedding look.
A bold new trend is wearing bridal hats instead of veils!
Adding splashes of color to white wedding dresses to match a bride’s color scheme, such as colorful sashes, appliqué details, or two toned wedding gowns with a colored bodice against a white or off white skirt. Champagne and platinum and black and red for the spring and fall months are popular.
Higher hemlines are becoming increasingly popular – short is sexy! Tea length and mini shift dresses are all becoming a part of many designers’ collections.
For destination weddings, laid back attire for the bride and groom and bridal party for extra added comfort and versatility.
Tiered skirts - Whether chiffon, tulle, organza, or even feathers – layers of fabric are the newest detail designers are using to create soft and romantic, yet dramatic gowns. Also pleated details are being used to add texture and style to a wedding gown.
Brides today are choosing lighter floaty fabrics like taffeta and organza for the ultimate in a romantic look. These airy, flowing, soft fabrics are easy to layer and more comfortable for a bride to wear for up to 10 hours. And for brides having a summer wedding, wearing a lighter fabric will ensure they’re comfortably cool on their wedding day. Expect to see more ruffles, satin sashes (at the waist), delicate floral and lace details, and more draping.

The One shoulder gown – an update to the basic strapless gown, is an asymmetrical look that is a hot fashion trend that has crossed over into the bridal world. Carrying a simple, no fuss vibe, the one shoulder gown accentuates the neckline or is a wonderful style to draw attention to gorgeous jewelry. (Image details: One Shoulder Wedding Dress style 9963), http://www.jlmcouture.com)
Wedding gowns this year will feature unique hemlines – whether it be scalloped, raw edges, lace, and more.
Pockets! A practical addition to wedding gowns that brides love!
A trend that we love is the use of beautiful shawls, overcoats, and sweaters for brides to wear over their wedding gowns during those chilly outdoor photo sessions! Other gorgeous wraps include boleros, faux-fur wraps, floor length lace coats, feathered capelets, and more. Look for velvet, heavy satin or pashmina fabrics to be used for wraps for the winter. Lighter fabrics such as organza, lace, tulle, and chiffon make perfect wraps for the summer or spring bride.
Brides want shorter trains for less fuss and more comfort.
Bridesmaid dresses are seeing brighter hues such as pink, bright orange and turquoise shades with colorful sashes or other embellishments such as oversized bows and silk flowers or feathers.
Brides are looking to embellish their wedding gowns with bows – from delicate satin bows to downright poofy bows!
Designers are incorporating details into the embellishments of the wedding gown to work with the bride’s theme. For example, one bride had “snowflakes” made of crystals embellished onto her wedding gown since she was having a winter wedding.

Trends for Wedding Accessories
Image details: Birdcage Veil, http://www.BirdcageVeils.com

For wedding accessories – pearls, rhinestones and crystals remain the top jewelry choices for bridal jewelry.
Crystal brooches are a popular accessory for wearing on wedding dresses, in the hair or on the wedding or bridesmaid bouquet handle.
There is a trend toward big, bold statements regarding bridal jewelry selection – showy necklaces such as soft pearls mixed with hard metals -- and dressy earrings such as chandelier earrings. Etsy is a wonderful resource for unique jewelry.
Brides will be wearing hair accessories on their wedding day such as headbands, fascinators, bird cage veils, and decorative hair pins.
Another popular trend includes shoe embellishments that have rhinestones or crystals, feathers, brooches, ribbons and bows on them. Clip-on shoe embellishments make it easy to change the look of the shoes quickly, without fuss.

Trends for wedding invitations
Image details: Wedding invitation with jeweled embellishment, http://www.luxuriouswedding.com

Adorning wedding stationary with ribbons, feathers, jeweled buckles or floral accents adds extra dimension to the wedding stationery or invitations.
Wedding couples are taking inspiration from their destination wedding locations for their wedding invitations as well as for their general wedding theme.
Wedding couples are looking for eco-friendly options for wedding invitation sets – using less pieces, using recycled paper to have them printed on, RSVPs being done by email to save on paper and stamps, etc.
Adding rustic charm or vintage charm touches to the design of wedding invitations to add an outdoor chic style to them.
Wedding couples are taking into account the season of their wedding as they design their wedding invitations, and adding special design touches to their wedding invitations to reflect elements of the season.
Look for unique materials being used for invitations such as leather or satin brocade.
Look for big bold colors and bright patterns on wedding invitations this year.

Trends for Hair Styles
Image details: Long wedding hairstyle, http://www.theknot.com

Long romantic waves or loosely pulled back hair styles are popular choices for brides with long hair this year.
Elegantly styled pony tails and some braids have also made a come back for 2010.
Short hair dos are in – especially for vintage or retro themed weddings.
Hair ornaments such as beautiful hairpins, brooches, and hair vines made with crystals, pearls or rhinestones are popular as well as silk flowers.
Tiaras and decorative hair combs made with rhinestones, crystals or pearls have been popular for a while now, but seem to be getting smaller as more emphasis is put on the wedding gown. Some brides are putting their veils directly on their hair using a single silk flower or decorative hair pin for a minimalist, classic look.

Trends for Wedding Colors

The following colors are expected to be popular at weddings this year:

Spring and Summer:	turquoise, platinum, coral, yellow, champagne, mango (light orange), fuschia
Fall and Winter:	deep red, teal, violet, mocha, sage green
All year long:	beautiful blues – turquoise, sky blue, cobalt blue, navy blue, silver and gray, metallic colors

Turquoise was selected by Pantone as 2010’s color of the year. Specifically, PANTONE® 15-5519 Turquoise.

Monochromatic color schemes are very much in style these days – several shades of the same hue. This type of color scheme can be applied to many different parts of the wedding planning process – to the bridesmaid dresses, to the wedding favors, to the wedding flowers, to the invitations and other wedding stationery, and more.

Trends for Wedding Bouquets, Bridesmaid Bouquets, Wedding Flowers
Image details: Bridal Bouquet with Jewels and Brooch, http://www.theknot.com

Brides are wanting more glamorous bouquets with beads, brooches, jewels, pearls, crystal rhinestone picks, and personalized or monogrammed ribbon to dress up their bouquets.
Adding other elements to bouquets, such as feathers, berries, pinecones, shells, starfish, and more, are becoming popular to add a more natural, rustic look to wedding bouquets and bridesmaid bouquets.
Roses continue to be the most traditionally popular and elegant choice for wedding bouquet and bridesmaid bouquet flowers. Trendier choices would be lilies, peonies, hydrangea, tulips, and orchids.
Many wedding couples are opting for a looser, casual style for their wedding bouquets to reflect a just picked look to replace more tightly bound bouquets.
Vivid flower colors will remain popular in 2010.

Wedding Theme Trends

There are a few unique, beautiful wedding theme trends that have taken center stage and will be popular for 2010. We thought the best way to get a feel for the theme would be to list a string of key words of styles, things, and people that are commonly associated with the trend.

50’s Flair Theme – the Mad Men look, high necklines, tulle skirts, and tea length dress styles, Black Leather Jackets, White T-Shirts, Cuffed Jeans, Poodle Skirts, Sweaters, Bobby Sox, Ponytails, Neck Scarf, Black Horn Rimmed Glasses, Elvis, The Everly Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Nat King Cole, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Fats Domino, 45's, Jukebox, Diners, Soda Shops, Bowling, Drive-In Movies, 'Grease', James Dean, Cheeseburgers, Fries and Coke Bottles, Milkshakes, Floats, Malts, Hula Hoops, Sock Hops, Roller Skates, Megaphones, Gloves for ladies/, Full skirts, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe. (Image details: http://www.coloradoweddingsblog.com)

1940s-50s Old Hollywood Glamour Theme or Hollywood Allure Theme

Hollywood glamour, feathers, pillbox hats, fascinators, short gloves, birdcage veils, padded Shoulders, Halter Tops, Zoot Suits, Fedoras, WWII, Aviation, Glenn Miller, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra, Betty Grable, Pinup Girls, Doris Day, Dinah Shore, Rosemary Clooney, The Andrews Sisters, Wartime Memorabilia (Jeeps, Canteens, Planes, Battleships, Dog Tags, Uniforms), The Oscars, Stars, Palm Trees, Movies, Films, Red Carpet, Red Velvet Curtains, Long Formal Gowns, Black Tie, Tuxedoes, Director's Chairs, Grand Pianos, Top Hats, Moviestars, Celebrities, Glamour and Glitz of Tinseltown, Silver-Gold-Black-Diamonds Jewels, Theaters, Marquees, Popcorn, Autographs, Big Screen, Movies Cameras, Lights, Clapboard, Champagne & Caviar, Cocktail Parties, celebrity chic at its finest – slinky fishtail dresses, move star halterneck gowns, showy jewelry, strappy sandals, unforgettable with stunning glamour.

(Image details: http://www.weddingbycolor.com)

Vintage Glamour Wedding Theme – From a 1920s look to a 1940s and 1960’s look, brides will add their own modern touches to their vintage-year-of-choice themed weddings. Plenty or ornate detailing, crystal, brooches, etc. Pearls, and lace – a delicate yet sophisticated look. Bird cage veils, thick colored glass, old bottles, mason jars, gloves, vintage phones, old style typewriters and cameras, Black & White, Speakeasy Bar, Al Capone/Bugsy Siegel, Flappers, Silent Movies, The Charleston/The Lindy Hop, George Gershwin/Al Jolson/Duke Ellington/Irving Berlin, Prohibition "Bathtub Gin", The Great Gatsby, Bonnie & Clyde, Jimmy Cagney/Humphrey Bogart/Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo/Clara Bow/Laurel & Hardy, WC Fields/Mae West/Louise Brooks/Rudolph Valentino, Cotton Club/Ragtime Band. Felt Fedoras/English Driving Caps/Derby-Bowler Hats, Zoot Suits/Wing Tip Shoes, Model T Fords/Tabloid Newspapers, Long Pearl Necklaces/Headbands/Ostrich Feathers/Cloche Hats, Black & White Photography, Glamour/Elegance, Bette Davis/Jean Harlow/Marlene Dietrich, Clark Gable/Jimmy Stewart/Cary Grant, Fred Astaire/Humphrey Bogart, Billy Holiday/Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman/Tommy Dorsey/Swing Era, Big Band Music, Cole Porter/Bing Crosby, Betty Boop, Count Basie/Cab Calloway/Louis Armstrong, Satin Evening Dress, Fur Wraps & Cloaks (Sable, Mink, Chinchilla, Persian Lamb and Silver Fox), Ankle Strap High Heel Shoes, Double Breasted Suits/Plaids, The Great Depression,Padded Shoulders/Halter Tops. (Image details: http://www.stylemepretty.com)

Retro Chic Theme – typically vintage styles from the 50s, 60s, 70s and even 80s. Tea length dresses, hairbands, Polka dots, Kaleidoscopes, sweater-dresses, brightly colored tights, a real back-in-the-day feel and look, milk-glass cake stands, dress the tables with pretty eyelet runners, and centerpieces in small porcelain vases or silver pitchers, punch served in glass punch glasses at cocktail hour, martini glasses, poodles, disco, old style video games, 60s, 70s and 80’s modern rock music. (Video details: 2009 Wedding Video done by Richard Israel)

Rustic Country Theme – imagine having a wedding at a beautiful ranch with lots of unfinished wood, hay bales, barns – sets the tone for an intimate, yet casually fun setting. Cows, chickens, ducks, horses, geese, pigs, roosters, windmills, cowboy hats, tractors and wagons, trees, leaves, wildflowers, baskets, homemade jam, horse shoes, old watering cans, bar-b-que, saddles, bangos, old style bottles, ropes, sunflowers, twinkle lights, harvest garlands, branches, chalkboards or wooden signs, comfort foods, fiddles, lit candles in jars, etc. (Images detail: Susan Stripling Blog and Elizabeth Anne Designs Blog)

Wedding Services & Wedding Vendor Trends

Wedding Photographer: Engagement Photos are no longer reserved for in-studio pictures! Couples are getting out, getting casual and having fun in their engagement photos. For example, unique settings, wear non-traditional clothing to the photo shoot, edgy poses, etc. Many couples are having a portion of their wedding pictures done in black and white.
Wedding Videography services: Look for wedding videos to be done in HD and Blu Ray.
Wedding Rings: For wedding rings, Tungsten is preferred over platinum or gold. And many couples are opting for eco-friendly wedding bands which can look just as beautiful and timeless as regular jewelry.
Wedding Cake: Out with Fondant and in with Buttercream! Some wedding couples are opting to have more than 1 cake to offer guests a variety of flavors and eye candy.
Bridal Party Dresswear: Wear again bridesmaid dresses or bridesmaid dresses that can convert easily to many different styles without any alterations is a popular trend at the moment.
Wedding Gift Registry: Couples will have more electronic gadgetry on their registries.

The tough economy is causing wedding couples to rethink their budgets and their wish lists for their weddings. 2010 Wedding Trends feature exciting new wedding dress styles, wedding themes, colors and wedding planning options that are sure to help brides and grooms be more eco-friendly, stick to their budgets, and incorporate high tech elements into their weddings. For 2010, it's all about being comfortable, being yourself, having fun, and enjoying your wedding, family and friends on your special day. Even though some sacrifices or compromises will undoubtedly need to be made during the wedding planning and budgeting process, weddings can still be beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime events that will create many lasting memories for years to come.