Article From Judith Rivers

BRIDAL TRENDS
by Judith Rivers-Moore

Whether you are married North, East, South or West, you will find couples are including their personal reflections, stylish ideas, fun for guests, and an attitude for weddings and receptions to encompass many ethnic backgrounds and non-traditional viewpoints. As our U.S. populations meet and marry, we see multi-cultural weddings which can be as diverse as the religious variations enjoyed in this country. Consequently more couples are being married outside the sanctuary and temple by two or more clergy or in non-religious settings with non-denominational clergy.

ENGAGEMENT PARTIES have regained great attention cross country.

SHOWERS AND GIFTS have expanded to include ; gift registries for honeymoons, home down payments, gift baskets, holiday assortments, and spa parties.

PLANNING YOUR WEDDING as a couple is really in -- with the celebrations being both of the couple's ideas.

GOWN TRENDS are toward the bride wearing soft muted shades of pink, green, champagne and of course whites. Simple sheik gowns with airy beaded chiffon or silk drapes, and fewer trains.

FOOD TRENDS are food stations, a variety of glorious desserts and Dove Bars and moving away from the large cake. Coffee, brandy and cigars are vogue -- but your building must have a smoking area.

FLOWERS are expressed with all whites and creams plus a growing use of vivid colors in bouquets and unique foreign flowers is growing in popularity. The huge roses from Equador and orchids and lilies of many colors are in.

TRANSPORTATION sees the rental of the vintage or "dream car" for the event along with glamorous shuttle buses for guests to have ease of getting around big cities.

PHOTOGRAPHY is enjoying a renaissance in black and white, sepia tones and hand tinting. Also the large formal portrait is being signed on the matting edges by the guests at the reception

ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS OR CUSTOMS personalization of your event may mean -- study classes, exploring and defining and understanding what to include in your event, and showing mutual respect in what you decide to include, whether it be dress, food, readings, music and of course, the ceremony. Your choices will reflect a great education for those attending your nuptials and celebration. Use the internet with a string search for desired information.

THE LOCATIONS... Trends are moving people toward outside events, private estates and destination weddings, where guests stay several days with an itinerary of fun events in the area, plus opportunities for guest to get to know one another. Specific Tourist Areas, Cruise Ships and popular Honeymoon locations specialize in coordinating these events for couples. Private estates are found through coordinators in each area and or the full service caterer who offers specific venues.

THEME WEDDINGS have doubled in popularity over the past five years and are placed in unique settings or decorated heavily -- which bring the themes of Renaissance or Historical Period, Movie Glamour, Phantom of the Opera, Graveyards, Western Dance Hall, Disney Characters, Mardi Gras, Roaring 20's, Halloween and specific book, musical or movie themes.

PERSONALIZING These touches can be added in a multitude of ways: Your Ceremony Program may include poems you wrote for one another, inclusion of the story of how you met, portions from your mom and dad's ceremonies, written gratitude to your guests for attending your nuptials. The Comfort Of Your Guests can be considered with umbrellas on hot sunny days, an attendant in charge of your out-of-town guests touring the area between the wedding and reception and getting them to your events on-time. The inclusion of a specific food enjoyed and made by a specific relative....with a card stating this on the table. Baby and childhood photos placed on a board from each of you and have the recent engagement photo of you both. Send your flowers after the ceremony to a hospital or convalescent home and sending your left over food to the homeless shelter brings a feeling of personalization.