Top 25 Design Trends for 2012- pt. 4

Light It Up
Lighting design will continue to rise. Whether using a pin spot to accent a centerpiece,a color wash to highlight an entire wall, uplighting, lit tables and trees, or gobos to stencil a pattern, monogram, or name in lights, lighting creates a scene like nothing else.

Uplighting

The "Unbook" Guestbook
Brush aside the standard book and use photo scrapbooks, framed sports jerseys, a quilt, old fashioned typewriter, mailbox with postcards or a wishing tree for guestbooks.

Thumbprint Guestbook

Nighttime Nuptials
Outdoor, evening weddings are a great way to combat a summer heat wave, create an aura of romance, or stand apart from other weddings and events. Hanging crystals in trees, using candlelight and well-placed lighting create ambiance and highlight the natural environment.

Nighttime Outdoor Wedding

Top 25 Design Trends for 2012- Pt. 3

Luxury Weddings
At once upscale and intimate, couples who can afford to do so are spending the money for unforgettable weddings- whether on a private island or yacht or aboard a catamaran with their closest family and friends in attendance during daytime, evening or romantic sunset.

Nautical Wedding

Groom Grooming
Weddings are no longer all about the bride. Today's groom is more fashion- conscious and concerned with personal appearance. Custom designed men's wear, grooming services, and personalized fashion elements like colorful socks or no socks at all, unique footwear, suspenders, hats, or other details are finding their way into the groom's preparations.

Groom Grooming

Elaborate Desserts
Cake Pops, candy or sundae bars, specialty tea and coffee stations all add flair to accompany traditional wedding cakes. Other options include s'more stations or dessert bars with decadent sweets like truffles, chocolate fondue, caramel creme brulee, and mousse shooters.

Cake Balls/ Cake Pops

Top 25 Design Trends for 2012 -Pt.2

Fashion Forward
 Today's gowns are a mix of Victorian, romantic, classic and modern. In 2012, we'll see more fairy- tale dresses along with the return of cap sleeves and bolero jackets, though strapless, backless, or halter styles will remain. Dresses will be full or fitted with rouching, gathering, and other unique elements in delicate fabrics like tulle, lace, chiffon, and organza. Detailing like crystal beading, embroidery, and dots will add accent. Brides wanting to express individuality can mix things up with modern elements like bold statement jewelry, color accents or dyed crinoline. With the return of vintage styles, we're also seeing a resurgence in the change-of-dress tradition. Today's twist, however, is to change dresses midway through the reception rather than as you leave.

Lace Dress

Themed Engagement Sessions
Photo sessions held before the wedding day aren't only a chance for the couple to get familiar with their photographer, they're an opportunity to have a little fun, show their personal style, or tell a story. The pictures can even be incorporated into announcements or their big day.

Themed Engagement Session

Unconventional Spaces
Hosting a wedding in an unconventional environment makes a dramatic statement about a couple's personality and adds panache to the day. Consider spaces like a library, an art gallery, a rooftop, or a zoo- the options are only limited by your imagination.

Library Reception

Top 25 Design Trends for 2012- pt. 1

Wedding Planner Magazine has compiled a list of 25 trends to be looking for in 2012, I thought I would share them and hopefully inspire some of you...


Rustic Charm
Adding rustic, natural elements with an upscale flair to indoor/outdoor weddings is increasing in popularity. This rustic chic style is illustrated with flea market finds that compliment the modern attire, floral, linens and food. Think mason jars filled with homemade jelly as take-aways, floral centerpieces in old tobacco tins, burlap runners,place cards tacked to a country fence, outdoor hanging chandeliers, and other antique elements refurbished to seamlessly blend the pastoral countryside with modern romance.

Cozy up to Burlap

Branding

Branding indelibly marks or identifies a product. For weddings, that translates into making a defining statement about who a couple is and sharing it with their guests. It's being used as design and marketing tools to identify styles or personalities, and then brand it onto every aspect of the day- from venue and colors to invitations and attire. Creating a branding style doesn't have to end with your wedding day. You can use it in the future to identify events associated with you and spouse like celebrations, holidays and birth announcements. 

Wedding Branding

Check back, more 2012 design trends will be posted in the near future!...

I Spy!!

Disposable cameras are a cute idea and fun for the guests. They're especially fabulous for keeping younger guests entertained throughout the night. Sadly though, sometimes they either: a) don't get used, or b) the pictures are all too dark/blurry/etc to get a good picture. It's quite sad. But fear not! For here is a great idea that: a) gets the pictures used up, and b) creates specific subjects to seek out- and yet even with the same subject, each picture will have a brilliantly different angle and point of view :) 

Check it out here on Pinterest

An interactive guestbook! After the wedding, you could hang this as an art piece in your home.

Check it out here on Pinterest

Don't forget to have some hand wipes or a damp cloth in the immediate vicinity for guests to clean excess ink (in your wedding colors) off of their thumbs. Also, be sure to have a few skinny pens or sharpies on hand for name signing around each thumb print.

Save the Dates

I've recently discovered Pinterest, an online pinboard filled with endless pictures and ideas.

If you're looking for inspiration for your save the dates, check out these cute ideas:

wemetinabar.wordpress.com

bridalmusings.com

etsy.com

Centerpieces

blog.weddingpaperdivas.com

What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of centerpieces? Typically, the answer is flowers and there's nothing wrong with that, but do something different with them. Ideas include vases of different dimensions, different floral arrangements (don't do the same thing on each table), arrange the flowers in a shape other than a circle or square- like an eiffel tower. It can be something as simple as adding a few drops of food coloring that match your colors to the water, add pearls or fruit such as lemons, oranges, and limes (great for spring and summer weddings) to the bottom, add candles around the arrangement. 

interiordec.about.com

If you're having a fall wedding, use apples, pumpkins, leaves as a large part of the centerpieces.

s295.photobucket.com

Shells and sand- try colored!- are perfect for a beach themed wedding. 

Interactive centerpieces are great, too. Think about doing a simple cake- a different flavor for each table?- instead of having sheet cakes back in the kitchen. 

weddingfavormart.com

A money saver would be to double the centerpieces as favors. Imagine small, potted plants, or picture frames with different pictures in each.

magicmomentspartiesandeventsinc.blogspot.com

For a real conversation starter and something guests will talk about long after the wedding, how about suspended flowers?