2008 Wedding Trends
The following trends have been compiled from hundreds of sources in both North America and Europe to guide your selections and inform you of the vast array of options available.
Eco-Friendly Weddings
The "green" wedding was a wedding trend in 2007, but it's going to be even bigger in 2008. Many couples are realizing that if we don't take care of our planet, who will? Your big day is full of opportunities to make ethical informed decisions as well as many opportunities for waste. If you're an environmentalist, consider using organic flowers in your bouquet, recycled paper in your invitations, natural, plantable favors, local and organic foods at your reception, and even biodegradable plates and forks. Each step can make a difference in this world!
Wedding Dresses
Romantic dresses in floor and ankle-length styles will be popular for the 2008 wedding season. Brides today are choosing dresses with flowing, soft fabrics, ruffled hems, satin sashes, and millinery floral details. Silhouettes are more refined then past seasons and include the delicate overlaying of sheer fabrics. Think Greek goddess.
The modified A-line skirt also remains prominent on the fashion runways (slim through the waist and flared at the bottom). While popular for many seasons, strapless dresses are giving way to romantic off-the-shoulder styles and dresses with unique necklines. In the US, we are now seeing more and more color in wedding dresses which have been popular for some time internationally. Champagne, pink, platinum, and even red dresses are making an appearance.
Wedding Accessories
Shorter trains and veils are popular as are pretty wraps and shawls. For colder weather, brides choose wraps of faux-fur, velvet, heavy satin, or pashmina. Light weight fabrics, including organza, lace, tulle and chiffon, make perfect wraps for the Spring or Summer bride and reduce sun exposure on bare arms and shoulders. Pearls, rhinestones, and crystals remain the top bridal jewelry choice for necklace and earrings.
Wedding Hair Styles
There are no clear trends in hair styles, although wearing the hair in long romantic waves or loosely pulled back are popular choices for brides with long hair. Hair ornaments such as hairpins and hair vines made with crystals, pearls, rhinestones, and/or silk flowers are also popular.
Beautiful Tiaras made with either rhinestones, crystals, or pearls have been the trend for many seasons and seem to be getting smaller as softer dress styles take center-stage. Some brides are placing their veils directly on their hair or using a single silk flower for a simple, classic look.
Wedding Colors
Brides are choosing exciting & bold colors for their wedding party attire and reception decorations. The table below includes the most popular wedding color trends:
| Fall/Winter: |
ruby |
chocolate |
hot pink |
purple |
turquoise |
pewter |
| |
| Spring/Summer: |
pale blue |
lavender |
coral |
soft pink |
pale yellow |
orange |
Camouflage and Black & White color theme weddings are also becoming more popular in 2008.
Wedding Bouquets
Ninety five percent of wedding bouquets are hand-tied, where the flowers are gathered together and the stems are wrapped in satin ribbon. Beads, brooches, jewels, pearls, charms and monogrammed ribbon are dressing up plain ribbon-wrapped stems. Colorful floral wire is also worked into the bouquet itself.
The most popular and elegant flower selection continues to be the rose. Gerber daisies, colorful lilies, peonies, hydrangeas, and gardenias represent the trendier choices, as well as arrangements with a more just-picked, casual look. More and more mothers are carrying small posies instead of wearing the traditional corsage.
Equally popular trends include solid and mixed colored blooms. Bouquet Accents include crystals, rhinestones, berries fruits and feathers. Silk flowers are quickly gaining popularity for their versatility and life-like appearance.
Wedding Budget
Today's couples most often pay for their own weddings, and make their own decisions about what they want for their wedding day. They want to enjoy a wedding that is uniquely theirs, and one that displays their own sense of style and personal taste. Personal touches appear throughout the entire wedding, and can be found in attire, favors, decorations, stationary, photography, themes, flowers, gifts, and locations.
Children's Attire
Flower girls are sporting fairy wings and cute wands, although Flower Girl Baskets with rose petals, posies, pomanders, and dainty purses remain popular. A-line dresses and dresses accented with chiffon overlays steal the show. Floral head wreaths or dainty tiaras finish the look.
The tuxedo is still the most popular choice for the ring bearer. Ring Pillows often come in colors other than white and include bead, ribbon or floral accents. Popular fabrics include velvet, lace, and satin.
Wedding Transportation
Limousines, exotic cars, and horse-drawn carriages are top picks for wedding transportation. More unconventional choices include motorcycles, horses, two-person bikes, hot-air balloons, and sleighs.
Wedding Locations/Venues
Mansions, churches, beaches, country clubs, resorts, hotels, public gardens, museums, yachts, and private homes are still the most popular locations for weddings.
Wedding Ceremony
A current trend is for couples to face their guests during the ceremony. They write their own vows and incorporate their children in the case of second marriages, with a special Family Unity Ceremony . Pets are also part of the day. Brides riding their horse or walking their dog to the altar are not unusual.
Grooms typically escort their mothers down the aisle. Brides are escorted by both father and/or stepfather, or by her mother, mother and father together, or grandparents or by a significant person in their life.
Many couples choose to acknowledge their loved ones who have passed away with the use of a Memorial Accessory during the ceremony. Traditional guest books remain popular, however, a trend that has been around for many years is to display the couple's engagement photograph at the ceremony entrance. The photo Signature Mat takes the place of a guest book when guests sign the matting. Some couples ask their guests to sign a scroll which they later have framed.
Wedding Reception Decorations
Brides are choosing centerpieces that are in the same color tones, but of different sizes. This gives the reception tables a more interesting look and a less "coordinated" feel. Take Away Vases are a continuing trend and are basically smaller glass or silver vases of flowers gathered together in the center of the table. They double as favors when the guests leave.
Rose petals remain the most popular confetti for table decorations and sprinkling confections on the table or placing them in bowls throughout the reception area creates a fun atmosphere. Flowering vines or individually cut flowers are placed directly onto table linens and chairs are decorated with either fabric overlays, floral swags or ribbons.
Chocolate fountains are a popular addition to many weddings. An increasingly popular trend, made popular by Martha Stewart, is the candy buffet or confection bar. This consists of a variety of candies or treats placed in varied sizes of glass containers and grouped on a table. Pretty silver spoons or scoops in each container allows guests to fill small boxes or bags as take-home favors.
Another chic new trend is the Champagne Tasting Bar. Guests can mix their own signature cocktails from the choices you lay out. They can choose their own type of bubbly...Brut, Dry Brut or Rose, and then add favorite mixers like Chambord, Midori, cranberry juice, and pineapple juice.
Bolts of Tulle are typically combined with white lights and/or floral garlands for draping between pews and decorating banisters and ceilings. Candles, always a popular choice for centerpieces & favors, lend a romantic feel to any room. Choices include pillars, tea lights, tapers and floaters. Disposable cameras, placed on each table, allow guests to capture candid moments. Other popular decorating items include faux ivy and balloons.
Many couples are foregoing the head table in favor of regular smaller tables, like the guests sit at. One benefit of this is that you can also seat spouses or guests of the wedding party with their respective attendant. Some feel this is more comfortable for everyone involved in the wedding. It also takes up less room than a head table, if space is limited. Individual tables are also less formal, depending on the atmosphere you want at your reception.
Dove releases add drama and excitement to the event. Butterfly releases, despite the environmental issues, also remain popular.
Wedding Planning
Wedding inspiration boards are increasing in popularity as they are a great tool for helping brides focus their wedding ideas, color schemes and decorating details.
Wedding Cakes
Cakes decorated with handmade icing flowers, shells/starfish and delicate dots and scrollwork remain popular. Couples are choosing cakes that fit with the location, theme and season of their wedding. Four to five layers is the average size for a wedding of 150-200 people. Buttercream or smooth fondant frostings are most common. Popular cake flavors include lemon, chocolate, carrot, spice and "white" although some couples are choosing non-traditional flavors such as gingerbread, espresso and hazelnut.
Tiramisu, cheesecake, and other favored confections are also becoming popular options as an alternative to the standard tiered wedding cake. Couples who enjoy pastries and even cupcakes for dessert are working with wedding cake designers to create a unique, show stopping dessert
Flowers, sculptures, fun & unique cake tops and large Monogrammed Letters are replacing the traditional bride and groom cake top. Wedding Favors
Couples now opt for more fun, practical, and personalized favors. In many cases, the favors do double-duty as place-card holders or centerpiece arrangements. Examples include candles, boxes, glassine bags, soaps, Place card frames, flower/tree seeds, and confections.
Favors fitting with a particular wedding theme, such as shells for a beach wedding, or Christmas ornaments suit some occasions. Bath salts & sachets, and wedding CD's also catch the attention of brides wanting an upscale favor. Small bottles of bubbles, bells, lavender buds, designer wedding rice, rose petals and wedding sparklers are popular items for guests to use as the couple leaves the reception.
Wedding Photography
The photo-journalistic approach to wedding photography is a current trend. Requesting some of the photos be black and white is also popular. Some brides request more candid pictures, with the photographer capturing the day's events as they happen. Naturally, posed pictures are still enjoyed.
Wedding Themes
Currently, the top wedding themes are " beach", "garden", " winter wonderland", " butterflies", "vintage glamour", and "woodland/rustic". Destination, time period themes such as the Victorian era and ethnic-influenced celebrations also remain popular choices.
Wedding Stationary
Stationery with ribbon, crystal embellishments, beach, feather or floral accents remains in high demand. Handmade stationary is popular, with the explosion of scrap booking, stamping, and various computer programs available, there are endless creative options. With the environment on everyone’s mind recycled paper is also being used for all types of stationery and invitations.
Another hot trend is reverse color. Dark colored card stock, such as black card stock with white lettering, or brown with another light color such as bright orange or bright green. Photo invitations of the bride and groom are another popular and growing trend.
Personality & Creativity the Hottest Trend
The bottom line is that personality and creativity are what today's weddings are all about. The most important consideration in planning your wedding is that it be something fun and romantic that you can cherish the memories of for years to come!
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