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The Top Wedding and Reception Trends for 2009

Romance and glamour are back for weddings, and even in this current era of recession-thinking, brides and grooms are investing in select elements of their big days to make sure their guests have a phenomenal time and that their wedding dreams come true as well. Spending may be down a bit across the wedding industry spectrum, but sentiment has never been higher on a couple’s priority list. Here are the top trends for 2009:

1. Locations
   Ballrooms still top the list for all-inclusive, experienced wedding presentations, but more couples are selecting the unique locales of rustic barns, estate homes with sprawling gardens and marble staircases, museums, marinas and other unique settings that offer a Wow factor that makes it look like they spent more since they’re using the natural beauty of the setting. Destination and beach weddings are still extremely popular as well.
   
   
2. Colors
   Colors for décor and bridesmaid dresses follow the fashion trends on runways and in style magazines. Since the style reports say that purple is in fashion, purple and all its forms (lavender, lilac, eggplant) is leading the way in wedding hues. For spring and summer of 2009, look for lilac and lavender to be joined by soft butter yellows, aqua and other oceanic colors, sage green, and champagne shades in a nature-inspired palette. For fall and winter, look at richer jewel tones of purple, turquoise, fuchsia, and steel gray (which has replaced the chocolate brown trend of last year).
   
   
3. Wedding gown
   It’s all about romantic elegance, with plenty of ruffles and bows. One-shoulder gowns lead the trend, again following the fashion trends for a Greek goddess look, veils and trains are shorter for greater mobility and lower price, and shine comes in the form of satin sashes at the waist. For sparkle, gowns are increasingly embellished with rhinestone designs on the bodice and waistline, or clear crystals dotted in patterns on the skirt.
   
   
4. Wedding accessories
   The tiara still leads the way as the headpiece of choice, and more brides are opting for a pretty wrap or shawl made from a lightweight fabric such as chiffon or organza as a matching or colorful accessory, especially if the wedding will take place outdoors when evening hours get chillier. Jewelry is smaller and more subdued, due to the fact that there is so much rhinestone or crystal sparkle in the dress. Especially for daytime weddings and including evening weddings, brides want to tone down their jewelry and invest instead in great, designer shoes with sparkle, or perhaps with telltale Louboutin red soles. The shoes are the indulgence, now that it’s become far easier to find a designer gown on a budget.

5. Flowers
   Bouquets have that just-picked look in a hand-tied style which is far more natural than a rounder, tighter bouquet, and the top flowers are locally-grown to keep prices down and lessen the carbon footprint of importing exotic blooms. The trendiest flower choices are hydrangea, lilies, tulips, peonies and other softer, more romantic flowers. Expensive stephanotis and callas are being used only as accents.
   
   
6. Invitations
   We’re back to classic, understated, elegant and romantic invitations in traditional ecru colors with eggplant or other dark print to replace the black of yesteryear, or colorful square invitations. Fold-out invitations are in, such as the pochette or pocket folder style of invitations, though some are keeping layers and inserts to a minimum in order to honor environmental and affordability concerns. One insert might include directions and reception information, for instance. Response cards are still traditional, since e-mailed responses are not accepted in wedding etiquette ruling. Accents to invitations are restrained to include a simple monogram or small monochrome graphic. Ribbon ties are also still in fashion for invitation accents.
   
   
7. Ceremonies
   More couples are choosing private ceremonies, inviting only their closest relatives and friends to share in their exchange of vows and rings, and then a larger guest list is invited to the reception. More couples are including their pets in the ceremony as well. Couples who have children together or from previous relationships are including their kids in the ceremony, and more emphasis has been put on writing personal vows and readings, since sentiment is experiencing an upswing in trend. Traditional readings are out, and more couples are having contemporary writings and poetry included in their ceremonies.
   
   
8. Receptions
   Receptions remain traditional, with the cocktail party preceding the sit-down meal. Food elements are organic and healthier, with lighter fare more attractive to their guests, and the trend is for lush green salads, organic meats and seafoods, and creative presentations of inexpensive entrée options such as chicken or pasta served with a great gourmet sauce. Pricy seafood stations are out, with seafood reserved as accents to pasta or appetizer dishes. Vegan and gluten-free meals are also being made available to guests with special dietary needs.
   
   
9. Wedding cake
   Traditional cakes are back in, with simple white frosting and icing piped in dots or lace designs all the rage now. Cake flavors are more often traditional, and fillings bring in more fruit flavors than simple buttercreams. Flavors from childhood, such as a Snickers bar, are often being created in cake fillings, and dessert buffets may include childhood favorites such as Twinkies or Oreos dipped in chocolate. Candy bars are also a hot trend, with guests helping themselves to a buffet of sweets.
   
   
10. Favors
    The candy buffet works double-duty as the perfect take-home favor. In green weddings, guests may take home a small potted flower or herbs. Couples are also making donations to a charity in lieu of favors, but they’re still providing a pretty bowl of chocolates for guests’ take-home needs. See our article on printing personalized gift wrap for ways you can transform simple, inexpensive favors into fabulous additions to your place setting or escort card table.
    
    
11. Green weddings
    Green or organic wedding elements are a strong trend, with more couples opting for organic food elements in their menus, locally-grown foods and flowers, even eco-friendly fabrics such as bamboo and natural cottons. Organic chocolates and candies are also making an appearance as favors. Many couples are also attracted to sites and resorts that incorporate eco-friendly methods and practices such as recycling and solar power. In the ‘doing good’ mentality, couples choose to donate their food and flower leftovers to charities, nursing homes, hospitals and food pantries.
    
    
12. Transportation
    Hybrid car rentals give couples the chance to experience green transportation, and the other top choice in this budget era is skipping the limo and horse and carriage and just riding in their own, or a friend’s, decorated car or convertible.
    
    
13. Themes
    For those couples who wish to use a theme as the center of their wedding plans, the top theme trends include Golden Age of Hollywood, Tuscan garden, Winter Wonderland (winter weddings are usually less expensive!), and Beach. We’re seeing less in the form of gimmicky themes, since elegance and sophistication are more the focus of this year’s planned events.
    
    
14. DIY elements
    With saving money as a top goal, more couples are taking their wedding details into their own hands, making their own invitations and print items, favors, even bouquets and food elements for the celebration. They work on these tasks as a group, and some even take free or inexpensive craft courses at their local craft store.
    
    
15. Heirloom items
    Saving money and adding sentiment, brides and grooms are asking to borrow a relative’s tiara, train, wedding cake topper, cake knives, classic cars, cufflinks, jewelry, even wedding gowns to honor family tradition and save thousands of dollars. Even diamond rings can be handed down, with some couples choosing to have the stones removed from a grandmother’s brooch and incorporated into a wedding band as the ultimate heirloom/recycle plan to save mega-bucks.