Applaud Women Winter Article - Wedding Trends for 2010

Wedding Trends for 2010 by Janie Haas of Janie Haas Event Consulting. www.janiehaasevents.com

The hottest trend of 2010 is…that there is no trend! Unlike the days of traditional planning, we are now finding that weddings are more about branding the event with the couple’s personal touches in lieu of a standard, cookie-cutter formula. These days, in the world of wedding planning, anything goes! Everything from lighting and party favors to entertainment and food options can contribute to the creation of a trademark for the wedding that speaks to the bride and groom’s specific preferences and interests.

No longer is it necessary for the ceremony to take place in a banquet hall or country club. Couples are thinking more “out of the box” when it comes to venue choices and are using their ceremony location to speak to who they are as individuals as well as a couple. If they have a favorite vacation setting, a family home or a spot where they first met, they may use that as an alternative to the more traditional ballroom — for instance, planning a wedding for two Red Sox fans at Fenway Park! With all this being said, a ballroom still offers great space, amenities and a security blanket with regard to weather should the couple choose to go a more traditional route. ....For the rest of the article go to the Winter issue of Applaud Women at www.applaudwomen.com. Click on the Winter cover image found on the homepage to enter the publication, turn pages (make sure you turn on your sound to hear the pages swish), print pages or download the entire magazine.

For more information, lists or articles of interest to NH women and MA women visit us at www.applaudwomen.com to read Applaud the on-line magazine for local women. We are the largest, most comprehensive website for (local) NH women and MA women. We deal with subjects like Health, Beauty, Fashion, Finance, Food, Parenting, Home, Dating, Business, Seniors and our most important issue - Inspirational Women (local, national and international). If you have something you would like us to share please e-mail applaud@comcast.net. Additionally we have resource listings for NH & MA restaurants, Hotels (NH only), Female Doctors, Wedding and Beauty related businesses.
Applaud Women Video

How to Dress For A Wedding

From the May. 2009 issue of Allure Magazine.

How to Dress For a Wedding
An Interview with Monique Lhuillier

A Los Angeles-based fashion designer, Lhuillier has made wedding gowns for Ashlee Simpson-Wentz and Jewel.

A wedding is a celebration, and your clothes should reflect that. The pictures of that day are going to be in the bride’s and groom’s lives forever, and beautifully dressed guests really help set the mood.

Dress Up. Being underdressed is the worst feeling, so I’d rather overdo it. Even if an invitation says “casual attired,” the furthest you should take that is a floaty cocktail dress or simple sheath. For a black-tie wedding, a long, formal dress is always appropriate, but if you’d rather go short, choose something knee-length in an opulent fabric. Silk charmeuse has a glamourous, ‘30s vibe and looks effortless but still fancy.

Take a hint. The location of the event is a big clue about what to wear. If the wedding is on a beach in Mexico, it’s pretty obvious that you should stay away from heavy beading. I love chiffon for a resort wedding. It’s romantic, dreamy, and elegant. If the party is in a more traditional setting, like a ballroom or a country club, chances are the dress code will be more conservative.

Embrace color. All black on a wedding guest is too severe. Jewel tones like a peacock blue and emerald green and omber patterns are sophisticated and vibrant. Stay away from white, not just at the reception but at any wedding event, from the rehearsal dinner to the day-after brunch. That’s the bride’s territory.

Stay focused. Choose one item to build your outfit around, whether it’s your shoes or an amazing piece of jewelry. You want to avoid looking as if you piled on every accessory you own. If you have a complicated dress with a lot of ruching or a bold print, keep the jewelry minimal. And those dyed-to-match shoes are a definite no-no—not everything needs to coordinate exactly.

Don’t go flat. Heels are tricky at an outdoor wedding, but flats don’t feel right with a formal dress. Wedges are great for lawn receptions. If a wedding is on sand, I wear embellished sandals, though I often take them off and go barefoot.

For more articles and information of interest to women in NH and MA visit our website at www.applaudwomen.com.

Weddings: United on the molecular level

This is a great wedding story from the New York Times.

The couple profiled here met in 2005, on an (unspecified) online dating service. They were married on Aug. 8.

Last Hanukkah, they bought a microscope and traveled to Connecticut just to get pond scum samples to magnify.

Obviously, they are both into science. Translate "pond scum" into "baseball," or whatever you're into, and read on.

At the end of their first date, Mr. Wolkstein took her hand as she got into a cab and asked when he could see her again. Ms. Blitzer flashed a smile and replied, “A.S.A.P.” — a phrase she then repeated after each of their next nine dates.

These people are pretty high society, but don't be put off if you are not.

In May 2007, Mr. Wolkstein asked Ms. Blitzer to get gussied up for a business brunch for six. When no one else showed up, Mr. Wolkstein admitted it was a setup. Switching to the table where they first met, he dropped on one knee and asked her to marry him.
Her reply?: “A.S.A.P.”

It's a nice story, and something like it could happen to us all (if it hasn't already).

Got a great story about how your romance progressed, or about your wedding? Send it to us!

(We promise not to publish a photo of you that emphasizes the see-through nature of your wedding gown!)