| What will the wedding trends be in this new decade? | | | | memories. |
| Every engaged gal or even those far from that walk | | | | 6. Buy Used: Recycled Wedding Dress |
| down the aisle are dying to know what will be hot in | | | | This trend might take a while to catch on, especially if |
| 2010. What are the hot new color combinations? Is it | | | | you're not into recycling or reusing. With TV shows like |
| still Ok to go for cupcakes instead of a traditional | | | | "Say yes to the dress" some of us can be disillusioned |
| wedding cake? The one common thread amongst the | | | | to think it's perfectly ok to spend $10,000+ on a dress |
| trends for this year is creativity. One thing's for sure, | | | | you only get to wear once. For some brides however, |
| weddings this decade will be dripping with unique | | | | the perfect dress doesn't have to come with a hefty |
| personality. | | | | price tag. There are many recent brides looking to |
| 1. Hot color combination: Aqua and Chartreuse | | | | recoup some of their investment by selling their used |
| The pairing of these two colors is a match made in | | | | wedding dresses through brokers. A trip to the dry |
| matrimonial heaven. The blue-green hue of aqua | | | | cleaning and minor alterations can leave you with a |
| evokes a sense of calm and its versatility and pairs | | | | designer gown for half the price. |
| well with virtually every color. Mix it up with an | | | | 7. Who Made the Cake? |
| eye-catching color of chartreuse, that needs its own | | | | Ok, so cupcakes and dessert bars instead of the |
| pronunciation guide (shahr_trooz) and you have a | | | | traditional wedding cake were all the rage for the past |
| combination that's sure to silence any critic. When | | | | couple of years. Even though the hype may be dying |
| pairing these two, be careful to use the dominant | | | | down doesn't mean brides are running back to the |
| chartreuse in moderation, as it can very easily make | | | | traditional, white, three- tiered cake. Remember, |
| you feel like you're stuck in a bad 70's movie. If you | | | | creativity and uniqueness will rule this decade. |
| can pull it off, however, your affair will be the one your | | | | According to recurring themes for 2010 include, ethnic |
| girlfriends aim to top. | | | | characters, vintage, color, décor accents and |
| 2. Location: Ditch the Hall | | | | eco-friendly. |
| Banquet halls and hotels are notorious for their rules | | | | 8. Unique Cake Toppers |
| and policies that will give any bride a major headache. | | | | For brides who MUST have their traditional cake, there |
| This year, brides will opt for non-traditional venues that | | | | are still ways to give it your own personality. Cake |
| will allow for more intimate celebrations with family and | | | | toppers that match the couple's personality are |
| friends. Venues such as art spaces, museums, historic | | | | becoming more popular. Is your future husband a |
| mansions and even family backyards are becoming | | | | couch potato or calls the nearest golf course his |
| popular and they can sometimes be less expensive. | | | | second home? There's a little porcelain groom for you. |
| With these venues you can have more casual choices | | | | Almost every sport is represented in the groom |
| than you would in a stuffy banquet hall. | | | | category and some bride toppers also get in the |
| 3. Down to Size: Smaller Wedding Parties | | | | action. Like the bat wielding wife waiting to receive a |
| Second only to creativity as a theme in this year's | | | | pitch from her husband. Even more comical are the |
| trend is intimacy. For most brides, gone are the days | | | | cell phone fanatic couple and the groom standing next |
| of 8-10 bridesmaids and countless ushers. If you chose | | | | to a "still shopping" sign as a placeholder for his bride. |
| to have a small wedding party, trust me no one will be | | | | The folks at Sumthin Blu weddings carry an extensive |
| offended. If they act like they are, hold off on the guilt | | | | collection of these unique cake toppers. |
| knowing that they are secretly relieved that their only | | | | 9. Going Green |
| responsibility is to come and have a good time. With | | | | Eco-conscious couples will be going green even for |
| 3-4 in your wedding party, you can eliminate the | | | | their big day this decade. There are many ways to go |
| headaches of in-fighting and splurge more on their gifts. | | | | green on your wedding day. Danielle Lessovitz of lists |
| 4. Variety is the Spice | | | | creative ways to have an eco-friendly wedding. From |
| Speaking of wedding parties, who says all of your | | | | trimming the guest list, having your ceremony and |
| bridesmaids have to look the same? Opting for variety | | | | reception at the same place to reduce the number of |
| in your bridesmaids attire is so in. There are several | | | | car trips and choosing caterers who serve up organic |
| ways to go about this and still keep some uniformity. | | | | and locally grown food, it is easy to go green on your |
| You can simply give them a color or a color family and | | | | big day. |
| have them choose an off the rack dress that they | | | | 10. Cash is King |
| love. This can be easier on their pocket and they are | | | | I saved this one for last because I'm sure this will stir |
| sure to wear it again. Depending on your wedding | | | | up a lot of controversy. Expect couples to request |
| party, you may want give them some guidelines, so | | | | cash in lieu of gifts this decade. With one of the worst |
| you don't end up with a miniskirt and a ball gown | | | | economic crashes far from over, a financial cushion |
| together in your wedding party. | | | | seems far more attractive than that coffee maker. To |
| 5. Go vintage | | | | avoid raising too many eyebrows, you should be very |
| Brides have always treasured heirloom pieces that | | | | clear and transparent on where the money is going. |
| they can wear on that special day. But in this decade, | | | | People are more willing to stuff your envelopes with |
| vintage doesn't have to come from grandma. There | | | | cash if they know they are contributing to the down |
| are many vendors offering "vintage style" pieces, from | | | | payment of a home and unlike Aunt Sally's cow salt |
| jewelry, wedding gowns and décor. A vintage | | | | and pepper shaker, this is a gift that you'll actually use. |
| inspired wedding will remain timeless in your photo | | | | |