2011 & 2012 Wedding Trends

COLOUR TRENDS

The following colors are featuring on all the fashion runways: Turquoise, Coral, Black & White, Yellow,Fuchsia, Deep Red, Slate Grey, Purple & Latte.

WEDDING RECEPTION DECORATIONS
Brides are choosing centerpieces that are in the same colour tones, but of different sizes. They are also changing the shape of the tables, mixing round with square. These trends give the reception tables a more interesting look and a less "coordinated" feel. Unique fillers include glass marbles, glass sea shells, acrylic ice, water absorbing crystals, /beads, and fresh fruits such as lemons and limes.
Faux rose petals, diamond confetti and shells and mini star fish remain the most popular confetti. Also, flowering vines or individually cut flowers are placed directly onto table linens. Reception chairs are decorated with tulle, fabric overlays with bows or sashes, floral swags and/or ribbons. Other popular decorating items include: Chinese lanterns, garlands and balloons. An increasingly popular trend is the candy buffets, this consists of a variety of candies or treats placed in varied sizes of glass containers and grouped on a table. Pretty silver spoons or scoops in each container allow guests to fill small boxes or bags as take-home favours.

Bolts of economical tulle fabric are typically combined with white lights and/or floral garlands for draping

between pews and decorating banisters and ceilings. Candles are always a popular choice for centerpieces, and lend a romantic feel to any room. Choices include pillars, tea lights, tapers and floaters.

Since some facilities do not allow candles, alternatives include faux tea light candles or battery operated

LED lights. Head tables are replaced with a small table for just the bride and groom.

Naturally, posed pictures are still enjoyed and requesting that some of the photos be black and white is

common.

WEDDING FAVORS

thank their guests for coming. In many cases, the favours do double-duty as place-card holders, table decorations, and even centerpiece arrangements where larger favours are grouped together in the centre of the reception tables.

Favours can be ready-made items, although currently popular are hand-made items embellished with ribbon & assents that coordinate with the wedding theme or colour scheme. This is definitely an aspect of weddings that has gone DIY in recent months.

WEDDING THEMES
Currently, the top wedding themes are "beach", "garden", "winter wonderland", "vintage glamour", "woodland/rustic", and "Tiffany Blue" (aqua) and "sparkling diamonds." Destination and ethnic-influenced celebrations also remain popular choices.

WEDDING BOUQUETS
Ninety five percent of wedding bouquets are hand-tied, where the flowers are gathered together and the stems are wrapped in wide satin ribbon. Brides wanting more glamorous bouquets choose beads, brooches, jewel pins, pearls, crystal/rhinestone picks, and monogrammed ribbon to dress up plain ribbonwrapped stems and blooms. With the continuing popularity of the beach and garden themes, brides wanting a more rustic and natural look to their bouquet add elements such as shells/starfish, feathers, berries and pinecones.
The rose continues to be the most popular and elegant bouquet flower. Lilies, peonies, hydrangeas, tulips and orchids represent the trendier choices. Arrangements with a just-picked and looser casual look have replaced the more tightly-bound bouquet shapes of previous seasons. Vivid flower colors will continue in popularity.

WEDDING CAKES
Cakes decorated with handmade icing flowers, shells/starfish and delicate dots and scrollwork remain popular. Couples are choosing cakes that fit with the location, theme and season of their wedding. Four to five layers is the average size for a wedding of 150-200 people. Butter cream or smooth fondant frostings are most common. Popular cake flavors include lemon, chocolate, carrot, spice and "white" although some couples are choosing non-traditional flavors such as gingerbread, espresso and hazelnut.
Flowers, sculptures, and large monogrammed letters are replacing the traditional bride and groom cake top.

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
The photo-journalistic (candid) approach to wedding photography is preferred by many brides to the traditional posed shots. Capturing the day's events as they happen helps tell the story of your wedding.

Wedding Planning - Which do you think is the most important?

"Today, I will like to start with an important discussion. Of all the vendors and service providers arranged for a wedding, which do you think is most important?  That's probably a tough question especially when you consider just how many things a couple need to buy for their wedding and how many service providers there are for the big day. 

Women of course can usually start making a list in their head of all the things they need to purchase and services they require for the wedding ceremony and reception. For example, everyone knows she needs to buy a dress but many brides also go to a salon to get their nails, hair, and makeup done for the wedding. There are flowers for not just her bouquet but boutonnieres for all the men and family members, as well as for decoration and to mark off certain rows of chairs or pews for those family members. 

Food of course is another important part of the reception and a bride and groom may also have a separate provider for alcohol. Usually an entirely different company also prepares the wedding cake.  A professional decorator may be called in for the reception site; this person may provide not just decorations for the room but also centerpieces for the tables. There is also transportation whether it's limousines or horse-drawn carriages or something else. Many brides also purchase wedding favors as a small token of appreciation to hand out to their guests as they leave. And most wedding receptions provide some type of music so that everyone can dance; this means a deejay or band.

So which of these is most important? Obviously they all are - just about everyone can recall going to a wedding where the food was subpar or the deejay was offensive or too loud, or may remember one where everything was absolutely spectacular and beautiful. But all these services and items provided lasted for how long? The food is gone, the decorations are put away, the music is over. Sure, the bride probably saved her dress and some flowers from her bouquet and maybe even one of the wedding favors as a souvenir, but what else about the wedding lasts long after the ceremony and the reception?

The quick answer is the photographs. Of everything else about a wedding, the photographs are one of the few items that are meant to last a lifetime. And considering all the time and energy a bride will put into picking out those items and making sure the details are what she wants, you understand how important photos are. It might be difficult to recall what those centerpieces or what the wedding cake looked like ... so check out the photos.

Wedding photography is much more important than some people realize. Getting good photos that really capture not just the details but the tone, theme, and emotions of the day is absolutely imperative. After all, photos may be the only way that one can recall all those important details over the years to come."

(Quote taken from : Nick Smith)

Lawrence + Anita

What a beautifully unique couple. Anita and her sister came to meet with me and I just adored her from the first moment. I love doing E shoots with couples before their wedding day as this always allows the couple to get to know us and in turn they become more relaxed on their "Big" day.

Their wedding ceremony and reception was held at Evergreen. A beautiful cabin on the premises was where Anita got ready. There was a bustle of activity going on when we arrived. Bridesmaids, flower girls, ring bearer, family, friends, make up lady. It was delightfully crazy :D

Now they say that it is a bride's priviledge to be a little late...but the bridegroom?

Blame it on the Limo that got lost! Yes, true story - the Limo was late in picking up the bridegroom, and then couldn't find the venue!

Unbeknown to us, we were delighted to find that a horse and carriage had arrived to escort Anita and her Bridesmaids to the stunning little Chapel.



May all your days together be filled with showers of rain. Thank you for allowing us to capture your day on DVD and Stills.