Saturday, November 3, 2007

Trends in Planning Your Dallas Wedding

Trends
There are always new ideas that come into fashion. Some trends have more staying power than others. As a Dallas wedding planner I see many trends come and go in a single season, while others become part of the collective idea of what a beautiful wedding should be.

Wedding Logos
One interesting trend being seen more often is a wedding logo used on invitations, cakes, napkins, and even monogrammed guest favors. Usually an interesting combination of the initials of the bride and groom, but other symbols can be used. The use of a wedding logo can help create a unifying element that ties otherwise separate items together.

Hot Colors
Each year seems to bring a new set of popular colors for weddings. Occasionally it's the lack of color that sets the trend, such as black bridesmaids dresses with a single splash of color in a flower or other small element. This option makes for an elegant black & white theme throughout the wedding party. Since not all colors look good on all people, saving the bold splashes of color for the reception decorations is sometimes an excellent choice.

Donations
Some couples opt to share the celebration of their union by helping others. This is especially true of couples getting married later in life after having an already well established home life. Instead of getting another toaster they don't need, some couples opt to have well wishers make donations to a special group or organization that is important to the bride and groom. Perhaps a medical foundation that focuses on a something a loved one or friend is working through, or perhaps the volunteer organization where the happy couple met or worked together.

Signature Drinks
Another element that can be the “something new” in a wedding is a signature drink. A variation of a classic drink such as an Apple Martini or Cranberry Cosmopolitan can help establish a certain ambiance or mood for the evening celebrations. Sometimes it's a particular type of wine or other libation that is the signature. There are many vineyards and wine distributors that specialize in personalized label wines.

Lighting
One of the most interesting new trends in weddings is the use of accent lighting. An otherwise demure wedding reception can be made very dramatic with custom lighting, or an otherwise large impersonal hall more intimate and cozy. Most reception facilities can accommodate sophisticated lighting and can even offer suggestions on what works well in their space. This is where the wedding logo projected onto the dance floor or bold colors splashed with light around the reception room can really make the space uniquely about the happy couple. It is also a good idea to use light to draw guests attention to the other signature elements of the wedding, such as highlighting the cake, buffet, or large floral arrangements.

Summary
Finding that right balance based of a couple's personal style and taste is sometimes more challenging than you might imagine. Seeing the joy and happiness of the bride and groom when we find the perfect mix of signature elements makes the challenge worth all the time and effort. Not every trend is for every wedding, but a few of them mixed in the right way can make your wedding unique and something to reminisce about for years to come.

Shari Johns is the owner and founder of As you wish wedding & event planning of Dallas. She is certified by and a current, active member of the Association of Certified Wedding Consultants (ACWC) as well as June Weddings, Inc. (JWI). Her membership in these organizations assists her in keeping up to date with current events in the Dallas/Fort Worth wedding market. Shari has also served on the Board of ACWC for four years.

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