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Upper Marlboro & Mitchellville, MD 20721-20772
ph: 301-996-4753
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Newsletter
20 New Wedding Trends
By Allison Rushby
- Consider having a theme wedding! Theme weddings are rising in popularity and offer a great, inexpensive way to personalize your wedding. By starting with a theme, you will be surprised at how easy it is to personalize your wedding with your own special touches. You don't necessarily need to have a period theme, such as a Victorian or Renaissance wedding. Instead, you could make your wedding memorable by personalizing it with your own special theme. There are many themes to choose from, including: "cupids", "Paris in springtime", "romantic candlelight" etc.
- Some brides are starting to use wedding newsletters to keep their family and friends up to date with their wedding plans and schedules. Newsletters can save you from making endless phone calls, and can be revised three or four times leading up to your wedding date. The newsletter can include such information as: when people are needed for fittings, profiles on yourself and the groom (for guests you may not have met) and other personal information.
- The new trend in bridal gowns leans toward a more elegant and stylish approach. Many brides are now choosing gowns with simple, but stunning, lines.
- It seems the trend in bridesmaids dresses and accent colors is moving away from pastel colors. Deep shades, such as burgundy, forest green and navy blue are becoming more popular choices, with cummerbunds and bow ties being made to match.
- Brides are buying more thoughtful gifts for their attendants. It is being recognized that the best gifts are not the most expensive ones, but the ones that are chosen with your sincere thanks. Some popular ideas include: antique looking, silver frames with a picture of both you and your bridesmaid/attendant, or gift baskets filled with beauty products. The gift needs to say "Thank you for being here and helping to make my day so special".
- Because wedding costs can be quite expensive, there is a rising trend in the sharing of the total expense, not only by both sets of parents, but by the couple themselves. This is especially the case with professional couples who have been living on their own for a number of years, who may even want to pay for the entire wedding.
- Some couples are choosing to be married at their honeymoon destination, and are inviting only close family and friends. There are many destination wedding packages available, so ask your travel agent for details.
- Many couples are personalizing their wedding ceremony by writing their own vows.
- A wonderful, moving new trend is to face the congregation during the ceremony (as opposed to the traditional stance of having your back to them).
- More couples are choosing to incorporate their ethnic background into their wedding ceremony and theme, as well as their reception.
- More couples are choosing to incorporate their ethnic background into their wedding ceremony and theme, as well as their reception. Many brides are now moving away from formal, posed shots for their wedding photography. Instead, candid photography and a photojournalistic approach to the day are rising in popularity.
- For the reception, buffets are becoming the most popular menu choice as they accommodate every guest's taste.
- Multi-flavored and layered wedding cakes are becoming firm favorites. Some brides like to choose a different flavor for each layer of their cake. For example, a layer of chocolate cake, a layer of marble cake and a layer of vanilla cake. Also, more creative decorative ideas are being used, especially fresh flowers.
- Cake tops are being ordered to match specific wedding themes and color schemes. Brides are also copying the cake tops used by their parents and grandparents at their weddings. If you like, you could follow the trend of placing wedding photos of your parents and grandparents on your cake table, which gives a sentimental and romantic touch.
- Less traditional gifts for the guests are being given. New ideas include: personalized chocolates, seedlings, monogrammed wine glasses and small perfume bottles tied with ribbon.
- Another new reception trend is the replacement of the receiving line. A new, more relaxed way to perform this duty is for the bride, groom and the wedding party to make their way around the room, speaking to guests who are seated at their tables.
- If you have decided to invite children to your reception, this new trend is for you! By providing a designated play room and a babysitter for children, you will get the best of both worlds. By providing this service, the children are still present, but can be kept entertained and cared for by the babysitter in the play room, leaving their parents to relax and enjoy the festivities.
- With the wide variety of materials now available, many brides are finding it hard to match their reception decorations, flowers and napkins to the exact shade of their bridesmaid's dresses. Because of this, a new trend in shading has arisen. By using varying shades of the color you have chosen, you will be able to add depth and interest to your color scheme. For example, if your bridesmaid's dresses are burgundy in color, you could use a deep red and a light red to achieve a contrasting look.
- One thoughtful new trend is to donate leftover reception food to charities who provide food kitchens for the needy.
- More couples are choosing to hyphenate their surnames and some brides are choosing to keep their maiden names, for business or personal reasons. However, it's not only career women who are deciding to keep their maiden name. If you come from a well-known family, or are an only child, you may feel strongly about keeping your maiden name also.
Choosing a Wedding Videographer
By James Ellison
Wedding Videography has become a popular and important part of capturing the feeling, images, and magic of your wedding day. A videographer may even capture moments and experiences that the busy couple is too involved to notice. But how do you get the right videographer for the job?
Cost
Most brides are on a budget and cost is an important factor. Typically, those videographers with the best equipment and the most experience, will cost more money. That doesn't mean that there aren't those who charge a little less and do a fantastic job. Decide what you have in your budget for videography, and then shop among those in that price range to find the best quality.
Experience
Results will usually be best when using a professional videographer. Uncle Bob may have good equipment, but does he have the skills and techniques to create more than an amateur home movie. Look for an experienced videographer that has been in business for a while and has done a variety of work. You don't want to be someone's "practice!"
Demos
Seeing samples of the artists work is critical. It will give you a feel for the types of shots they will take and what they can do. You way want to see both a demo of their best shots, and a more complete piece of a single wedding. This will allow you to see what variety of shots they offer and separate those who get a few great shots each wedding and tie them together into an impressive demo from those who do a great job from finish to end.
What their package includes
Find out exactly what their packages include. For example, I find photo Montage that include 50 or less pictures to be a bit short and feel incomplete. Also, determine if their reception coverage includes the beginning to end. Some event coverage's have time limits and you may be charged extra if the reception runs a little long or they may leave before capturing all of the moments you would like.
Referrals
Satisfied customers is one of the best traits of a good videographer. Talk to others who have used their services and see how happy they are with their videos.
Taking a little time and effort in selecting your videographer can make the difference between having a good video, or having a great one!
Wedding Reception Basics
However tempting it might be to run off after your wedding ceremony with your new spouse to sip champagne, pose for hours of wedding photos, or just get a burger, remember that your wedding guests are waiting for you! The wedding reception is one of the most enjoyable parts of the wedding for the people who love you most, and part of their enjoyment hinges upon getting to see you in all your finery up close.
If you're going to be late to your wedding reception because posing for wedding photographs is going to take a while, be generous and have sumptuous treats to greet your wedding guests. Cocktail hour creates an environment conducive to mingling and conversation, especially when you have soft music playing in the background and plenty of drinks to go around.
Having a cocktail hour at your wedding reception gives your wedding guests an opportunity to get to know each other and talk. To set the mood, opt for jazz classics piping through your reception venue's sound system. Jazz classics are enjoyable, but at the same time set an elegant mood that reminds people that they are in attendance at a solemn and important event.
Consider springing for extra wait staff at the reception venue. It is quite a hassle to have to repeatedly go to the bar, and once there, wait in line. It also adds a sense of refinement to your event to have butlered drinks being passed. Here is a chance to incorporate your personality by having a signature drink passed and available at the bar. Put up a little sign in a silver plated frame explaining the significance of your custom wedding cocktail.
Trust us when we say that it's little touches like that that make a wedding feel truly special... even if the bride and groom haven't yet arrived!
Upper Marlboro & Mitchellville, MD 20721-20772
ph: 301-996-4753
yourplat
