The Urban Girls' Guide to a Contemporary Wedding

More and more girls are getting married later in life and are financially independent. Many older traditions no longer fit the modern wedding and the modern bride. You are certainly free to do things the way you want to do them. Hold on to the traditions that are important to you and lose the ones that aren't. I have listed some ideas for ways you can make your wedding contemporary. You don't have to have a traditional wedding with a lattice backdrop and matching bridesmaids in a row.

Make It Modern
Some people find attending weddings to be very boring. Think about the great parties and social gatherings you have been to and try and bring that feeling to your wedding. It is a celebration after all.

Your Gown, Your Way
Pick a dress that reflects who you are. Look at different styles and fabrics. Don't worry if something you pick wasn't originally intended to be a wedding gown. It doesn't even need to be white. White used to symbolize a bride's purity and virginity. You know, that is really no one's business. You have nothing to prove to anyone. If you want to wear white go right ahead, but do it because you want to. Color right now is hot and trendy. You can use as little or as much as you like in your dress. You can add a gorgeous colored sash to your white gown or use color in other details like the lace or embroidery. You can also choose to have your entire dress made from anything from subtle blush pink or champagne to something bold like tangerine. Feel free to add color in your accessories as well. Colored Pearls and Diamonds are amazing. If you don't want to spend the cash consider Swarovski Crystals. They are much cheaper, easy to find and come in many different colors.

Stylish Venues
If manicured English gardens or grand ballrooms are not for you there are a lot of other options. Many cities have ultra modern reception venues available. Check out your local wedding guides. There are other places that may not be as obvious. A hip restaurant may work perfectly for your wedding. Some city buildings are modern with lots of glass and interesting architecture. Take a look in the more industrial areas of town as well. A warehouse may be able to be converted into a really chic location for a place to party.

Elegant Dining the Modern Way
Food should be a highlight of your event. Caters around the country are creating new and exciting ways to display and serve food. Plated meals with seating assignments are too constricting. Consider setting up food stations around your venue with conversation areas sprinkled throughout. Use fun lounge furniture with coffee tables for guests to set their drinks, or try tall Cabaret tables for guests to stand around. Think about using vertical displays for your food. Demi plates artfully presented are easy for guests to handle and beautiful to look at.

Your cake doesn't have to be traditional either. In fact, you don't even have to have one, however it is a fun tradition. Find a baker that will be willing to try different shapes and colors. If cake isn't your favorite then choose a different dessert. A tower of chocolate covered strawberries or cream puffs is pretty and can be spectacular. Try cheesecake or tiered trays of mini tarts. Personalize your cake or dessert by choosing something you truly like.

Flowers... Or Not
There are many different options for flowers besides traditional roses. Big bright gerbera daisies are popular. They come in many colors. Orchids are a perfect fit for an ultra chic wedding. There are many beautiful plants that are not flowers that can work beautifully alone or mixed with flowers. Bamboo shoots and wheat grass are fun. If you choose to have a bouquet, try something different like a bouquet made completely out of bear grass. Tie the bear grass at the bottom and bring in big chunks and attach to the center to create big loops. Bouquets can be cumbersome and you may not want to carry one around all day but they do add a great deal to your pictures. I recommend having a bouquet but having a vase of water to keep it in while you mingle with guests and dance.

Photojournalistic Photography
The trend in photography right now is to capture your wedding in a photojournalistic style. Black and white photos are making a comeback and go well with the candid style of photojournalism. You will still want to plan some time for posed pictures, since you will want to make sure you have beautiful pictures of you in your gown and with your new husband.

Magazine style and coffee table albums are the new wedding albums. They are designed digitally and since some lay completely flat the photographer can create beautiful panoramic style images that spread across both pages. Make sure to pick a photographer that offers these types of albums. Ask to view some of their completed albums to ensure you like their style since they will be in complete control of the design.

Make It Your Own
Whatever you choose make sure you choose to do it the way you want. Don't feel trapped by traditions that are outdated and that don't apply anymore. Set your own rules. Just make sure that everyone enjoys themselves, including you.