Here comes the bride, all dressed in white. If only it was that easy.
Planning a wedding is no small task. Between choosing the big things like your dress, flowers and bridesmaids, and handling the minutiae, like whether or not to dance the chicken dance, it's easy to become overwhelmed with wedding preparations. To help, Charm checked out some of the latest East Texas wedding trends.
Donna Quarles/ contributing photographer |
Pairing boots with formal wear gives a western nod to traditional wedding attire.
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Donna Quarles/ contributing photographer |
Jessica Musick Jones dips a pretzel in a chocolate fountain. Chocolate fountains and champagne fountains are still popular wedding rentals.
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Location, location, location
Deciding where to hold your wedding and reception is one of the most important decisions you'll make. While many couples get married in one location with the reception held at a separate venue, there is an upswing in the number of couples who are doing both at the same place. "They're starting to do that for convenience, and the cost, because they're not having to pay for two different locations" says Amanda Reid, of The Main Event, a Lufkin party rental company.
Setting the stage
The overdone floral centerpieces of the past are being replaced by simpler looks, using twigs or other natural arrangements, Amanda says.
The same can also be said for accent pieces. "Wrought iron pieces, with a rustic look are really popular," she adds. "Instead of using lattice screens brides are using more iron pieces."
And, matchy-matchy looks have given way to more eclectic mixtures. "For example, with glass vases people are mixing and matching instead of doing all the same vase," Amanda says. "You might have a tall one on one table, a shorter one on another; it might be square then round. They're mixing it up."
Color schemes are still following seasonal trends — jewel tones in fall and winter, brighter colors in spring and summer — although color combinations have become more bold.
"In the spring, bright pink with orange was a pretty popular combination, or bright pink and black," Amanda says. "In the fall, metallics are popular, like bronze with plum or a deep teal. People are using black year-round."
With serving pieces, chocolate fountains are still popular, Amanda says, as are champagne fountains, which can be filled with any type drink.
"We do a lot of champagne fountains is lieu of punch bowls, because you can self-serve," she says.
What not to wear
If you and your groom-to-be don't feel comfortable in traditional formal wear, why wear it? Brides today are walking down the aisle in everything from Renaissance costumes to leather to traditional wedding gowns paired with western boots. Choose wedding attire that honors the occasion while still reflecting your lifestyle. When you look at your wedding pictures years from now, you will want to remember the meaningful parts of the day, not that you had a hard time breathing in your bustier.
Keeping it personal
Many couples are finding ways to personalize their weddings and receptions, by incorporating family and friends. A tabletop display of framed photographs of relatives, living and deceased, brings together generations and families. At some receptions, guests sign an autograph photo mat framing a picture of the wedding couple to create a keepsake.
New takes on old traditions can also make a couple's special day more memorable. Instead of lighting a candle during their wedding ceremony, Jessica and Leslie Musick poured different colored sand into a glass container as a special poem was read, to make their own sand art reminder of their vows.
And instead of rice or birdseed, many couples choose to have guests shower them with rose petals or blow bubbles. Guests at Josh and Christy Clifton's reception lit up the night by holding up sparklers as the newlyweds left the reception.
To learn more, head to The Main Event Bridal Market in Lufkin on Saturday, Sept. 26 from noon to 4 p.m. To register, go to maineventlufkin.com or call 632-6400.
