Fall 2010 Wedding Trends

Why plan a wedding in the fall? The weather is not too hot and not too cool. The trees are starting to turn beautiful hues of reds, oranges, burgundies, and browns. Families are coming home from their summer vacations to start settling in for the first day of school and the holiday season. The fall season is all about family and home. That is why it is a great time to plan a family celebration! To help you make that day "extra" special here are some suggestions and trends for your fall wedding!

While our country is in an economic turmoil, our country is starting to put the focus back onto family and family values. Couples are going back to the basics! They are adding extra touches, using family as a theme to make their day unique! Couples are planning backyard weddings or having smaller weddings. Brides are creating DIY (Do-it-yourself) projects to personalize their wedding while saving money at the same time! For example: brides are now making their own favors by using their favorite grandma's cookie recipe. Whatever you do - - -personalize your wedding to add that extra touch!

Don't know what color scheme to pick? At www.mypersonalartisit.com, burgundy, dark green, navy blue, silver, gold, creams, burnt orange, taupe, brown, and plum are the season's colors! Don't want a fall color scheme themed wedding? Play with the variations of these colors or combine these colors to make your wedding unique. How about navy blue and orange? Or, steel blue, silver, and cream? Whatever you decide, play with the colors and have fun! Again, it's all about personalizing your wedding this year!

"Wedding Paper Divas" expressed on their site that "outdoor chic" and "seasonal styles" are the biggest trends in invitations this year. In the fall, simple nature motifs in soft colors on natural or dark colored background are popular. Invitations are adorn with beautiful metal charms or crystals for a romantic feel. Invitations are held together with satin ribbon, lace, or sashes with adornments. For added interested, the invitation, reception card, reply card and envelope are created with mixed patterns in the same color tones. Earth friendly invitations are still the rage! If interested in earth friendly products, look for "tree-free" or fine papers made from "100% recycled materials." And for the "DIY" Bride, creating your own invitation is still popular! You can create and personalized your own invitation without the stress and the expense! If you do not want to create your own invitations, go to www.weddingpaperdivas.com. Their custom invitations are beautiful and are a fraction of the cost!

This fall, off the shoulder, romantic, flowing dresses are the rage. Either floor-length or cocktail style, dresses are made with soft fabrics of satin, silks, chiffon, tulle, or lace. Dresses are either adorned with ruffles or colored satin sashes. Bodices are adorned with pearl, crystals, or cubic zirconium embellishments. For the cooler weather, brides are wearing shawls and boleros. Shawls and boleros are coming in all kinds of fabric, for example, heavy satin. Veils, tiaras, and combs are shorter and smaller this fall. A simple flower in your hair is very popular! If you are a bride with an art deco themed wedding, a bird cage veil would be an excellent head accessory! Whatever you decide, you have a lot of fun and exciting choices! Can't find white shoes in the fall? That's okay! Brides are picking color for their heels instead of the everyday white!

There are some fads for your wedding party as well! Does your bridesmaid want to wear their dress again? How about giving them a swatch of your wedding colors and have them pick out their own dress! Buying one dress for all your ladies are yesterday's trends! Want a whimsical look to your wedding? Add wings, wands, wreaths of flowers, and/or tiaras to your flower girls!

Long stemmed and hand-tied bridal bouquets with satin ribbon are still popular this season. This year, florist added embellishments (for example: broaches, and monograms) on satin ribbon can add that personal touch. Want something old, borrowed, and blue? Maybe grandma or mom would let you search for a broach in their jewelry box! Wouldn't that be a special touch to your bouquet?

"The Knot" website at www.theknot.com suggests an addition of white flowers to your fall hue arrangements. Further, one should select a variety of flowers, instead of only three blooms. This will add texture and interest. Florists are adding crystals, pearls, shells, broaches, berries, pinecones, feathers, raffia, and twigs to centerpieces. Want to add something beautiful and unique to your centerpieces? Add peacock feathers! The rich jeweled tones in their features would be beautiful for a fall wedding! Finally, fruit, crystals, shells, sea glass are used in clear glass vases. Don't want to use clear vases? How about copper pots, gold leave vases, containers made of wood, black vases, or vases wrapped in fabric? Want more than one large centerpiece on your tables? Use smaller centerpieces using different sized vases in a monochromatic color, for example white! This option might be a consideration for a bride whom is on a tight budget! Don't want to use flowers as a centerpiece? How about using themed props instead! That would be unique! If you want more information or pictures of these suggestions, go to www.theknot.com.

Want a romantic setting? Want to use candles and your reception site won't allow them? Having a "green" wedding? There is a new trend that will be a compromise - - -LED candles! One aspect that I love about LED candles is that they appear like flickering candles and will last throughout your celebration. Won't that be nice to take that off your list of "things to worry about?" Want to use real candles? However, don't want to use small votive candles? Use a few large pillar candles in fall colors! Want mood lighting? Chandlers are still popular this season! Chandlers come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. For the brides that don't have a budget, have a lighting designer design mood lighting over the dance floor or throughout the room, using fall hues and fall themed gobos. How about a gobo of your monogram on the dance floor? This is still a "hot" trend!

Sky's the limit to linen choices! There are so many different fabrics, colors, and fabric patterns to choose from. "The Knott" suggests using textured linen this season! They recommend using linen, ultra suede, velvet, or ruche silk. Or, use solid table clothes with sheer pattern overlays. Also, use solid neutral linen and then add splashes of bright accents for added interest. For example, add punches of bright orange in your napkins, table runner, or chair runners. Speaking about your napkins! Add fall themed accents by adding a fall flower, berries, or fall themed napkin ring. You think metallic is just a trend in shoes? Think again! However, don't just use silver and gold! How about pewter, copper, or bronze?

Want some fall themed favor ideas? How about caramel apples, maple leaf shaped soaps, apple cider mix, sunflower seeds, or mini maple syrup bottles. Don't want fall themed favors? How about picture frames! The frames can be double duty for your guest's seating place card and favor! Want to add an element of surprise? Add your engagement picture behind the seating place card! Now your guests of a framed picture of the two of you that they can take home! For a complete list of ideas, go to www.theknot.com.

Now, for the most important element of your reception! The food! Gourmet comfort food appetizers are still popular this season! This is in excellent choice, because heavier food is a must in the fall! Speaking of heavier choices, brides are now picking soup instead of the salad, for their first course. Pumpkin soup or butternut squash soup would be an excellent unique choice! If you want a salad as well, add berries, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds to the salad.

The serving style is changing as well! Food service is going more casual with family style service. Family style service is when platters of food placed are placed on the tables for guests to help themselves. And interactive food stations are also a trend! Interactive food stations are when chefs prepare food in front of the guests, for example: fajitas or a Caesar salad. This makes for a fun interactive celebration! If you don't want your guests to go home hungry, the late night candy buffet, dessert station, gourmet coffee, or fast food "junkie" cart or station are still popular!

Cocktails are becoming a trend! It's not only about beer, wine, and champagne anymore! 1950's or 1960's cocktails are making a comeback for themed weddings. Also, brides are having one, themed cocktail served to help with their expense and to add a personal touch! How about a Carmel Apple Martini for your fall wedding reception?

Now, last but not least - - the cake! The wedding cake has now become the masterpiece or focal point of the reception! Along with fresh cut flowers adorning the cake, brides are now requesting for handmade icing flowers or themed embellishments to match the overall theme and location. Also, instead of the traditional white wedding cake, brides are picking dark chocolate with dark chocolate frosting or fondant for their cake this fall! Don't like chocolate? How about picking pumpkin, spice, or carrot cake with cream cheese frosting! Wouldn't that add an element of surprise?

This season's couples are all about making their weddings unique and personal, while still keeping a budget in mind. So, take in all that this incredible season provides -- warm hues, comfort foods, the loving closeness of family and friends -- then create that most memorable wedding! Enjoy!

Sources:

Michelle Mospens "Fall 2010 Colors" My Personal Artist

Anja Winikka "Fall Weddings: Fall Inspired Cakes" The Knot

The Knot "Fall Weddings: Fall Wedding Flower Trends" The Knot

The Knot "Fall Weddings: 11 Glam Fall Wedding Ideas" The Knot

The Knot "Fall Weddings: Top Fall Catering Trends" The Knot

Anja Winikka "Fall Weddings: 10 Fall Wedding Favor Ideas" The Knot

Meredith Bodgas "Fall Weddings: 5 New Fall Wedding Style Ideas" The Knot

Heather Levine "Fall Weddings: Find the Perfect Fall Gown" The Knot

Jessica Solloway "Top Wedding Trends 2010" WETV

Amy Ruocco "Our Expert Opinion: 2010 Top Wedding Trends" Wedding Window

Laura Lou "Fall 2010 Wedding Trends" My Wedding Chat

Becca Brett Leish "Get Married Unveils the New Top 10 Bridal Trends for 2010" Get Married

"2010 Wedding Trends" Your Wedding Company

"Top Wedding Invitation Trends for 2010" Wedding Paper Divas