Creative trends make for unique weddings
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
2 of 3 free articles.
While the core elements of a wedding ceremony — an ancient, sacred tradition — remain unchanged, creativity is the name of the game in planning a wedding these days, according to Joyce Barbour, a Polson-based wedding and event planner. As with any industry, wedding trends are constantly evolving, and brides are taking more and more liberties to add personal, creative touches to their weddings.
From personalized favors like monogrammed coasters or locally made jam to designing one’s own wedding invitations, there are many ways brides can ensure their weddings have unique, memorable accents, explained Barbour, who’s a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants. She described several current trends that are taking the bridal industry by storm.
• Two dresses: It’s becoming more and more popular for brides to select two dresses for their wedding day — one a wedding gown and then a “fun dress” for the reception or party. The trend originated in Japan, Barbour said, and designers are taking note, often making gowns with detachable trains and skirts so they can be modified into party dresses.
• Mix and match: Instead of having all uniform tables at a reception, or all the bridesmaids in the same dresses, it’s common to throw in a smattering of round and square tables and to have each bridesmaid in a different style, or even color, of dress. One dress cut won’t fit everyone, and having a variety of styles and colors makes for more eye-catching pictures, too.
• Colors: Most brides are leaning toward browns, teals and sage greens, while pastels have largely faded out of popularity. Bright colors aren’t unusual, though.
• Tent-less: Rather than a huge, billowy tent, many people are opting for patio umbrellas to shade tables at outdoor weddings. Assuming the weather cooperates, this gives a more outdoorsy feel and can be more aesthetically pleasing.
• Food: White glove, sit-down dinners are “coming back very strong,” Barbour said. Most of her clients want either a “sit-down dinner” or a traditional two-sided buffet. Food stations scattered throughout the reception area are becoming less common.
• Flowers: Natural is the way most brides seem to go as far as selecting flowers. Many people choose a local or state flower and carry a hand-tied bouquet rather than an elaborate floral arrangement.
• For the groom: While tuxedos are still big, “Here in Montana, a lot of grooms are just doing slacks and the (cowboy) hat — you know, the Western style,” Barbour said. “Which makes for fantastic pictures.”
• Music: DJs don’t just play music anymore; they usually serve as emcees as well. But with the extreme popularity of iPods and laptop computers, it’s quite simple to compile one’s own wedding playlist instead of hiring a disc jockey or a band for the reception, Barbour noted. Many couples also plan a unique, choreographed first dance to their favorite song, or even have the wedding party dance their way down the aisle, as seen in “JK Wedding Entrance Dance,” the third most popular YouTube video in 2009.
• Guestbook: Instead of a traditional guestbook that everyone signs only to have it end up buried in a closet, many people have their guests sign a piece of glass, sometimes with a photo of the bride and groom in the center. The signed glass can be hung in the couple’s home as a permanent keepsake.
• Photography: Everyone has a certain number of posed group shots they expect from their wedding photographer, but brides are doing more “fun” pictures, too, Barbour said. Placing disposable cameras on each table at the reception so guests can document the event, too, is “out,” she added.
“But it’s really whatever the bride wants. If the bride wants cameras on the tables, then that’s what she should have,” Barbour said.
And knowing what she wants is crucial for any bride. Careful planning is essential in today’s economy, Barbour added. The average Montana wedding costs $24,800, which may surprise people who assume prices are lower in Montana. One reason it’s easy to rack up a huge bill is that there aren’t a lot of full-service resorts in the state, so many people opt for outdoor weddings, Barbour explained. And renting all the equipment — tents, tables, chairs, dishes, etc. — isn’t cheap.
“It’s hard to stick to a budget … One thing I don’t think brides understand is how important your budget is,” Barbour said.
Researching every aspect of the wedding will make the whole process easier and help keep things on budget.
“I think it’s essential that brides attend as many bridal shows as they can,” Barbour said. “They have to do their homework, too.”
