Perhaps more than any other sort of celebration, weddings are full of traditions and trends. Most of us have a picture of the ideal wedding solidified in our minds: a groom in a black suit, a bride in a stunning white gown, plenty of flowers, friends and champagne. Beyond the basics, things can get a bit more inventive however, depending on the wedding. For example, DJ services often help to define the more unique style of a wedding, and design can vary quite a bit. But even the littlest elements of a wedding – like the wedding rings themselves – can move according to trends and traditions.
For many of us, wedding bands are also firmly defined: basic yellow or white gold bands with very little in the way of glitz or glamour. However, there are actually more options than many people realize when it comes to wedding and engagement rings, and it’s certainly worth taking a look at some of them if your own wedding happens to be approaching. Here are some noteworthy trends in wedding and engagement rings this year.
Wedding Ring Traditions
Multi-Diamond Engagement Rings
The standard image of an engagement ring tends to be a simple metal band topped with a beautiful diamond. However, in recent years a trend has emerged toward multi-diamond engagement rings. Even these rings can come in a variety of styles, many of which are available at popular stores like 77 Diamonds. For example, consider eternity rings – rings featuring tiny diamonds around their entire surfaces, symbolizing continuity and eternal love. Or, consider trinity rings, which feature two smaller diamonds flanking a larger, central stone.
Diamond Wedding Rings
Sticking with diamonds, another trend in wedding rings is for diamonds to be used in the actual wedding bands, rather than simply engagement rings. Generally, wedding bands with diamonds in them just have 1, 3 or 5 very small diamonds set in the bands at even intervals. And, though this may initially sound like jewellery meant for women, many men are beginning to opt for diamond-set wedding bands as well.
Gemstone Engagement Rings
While diamonds are still, and will likely always be, the standard for engagement rings, gemstones are also becoming quite trendy. Like Kate Middleton’s famous sapphire ring, gemstone engagement pieces can be elegant and beautiful, and offer very attractive alternatives to the standard diamond concept.
Mixing Metals
Another very popular trend for wedding bands is to mix metals for fun and interesting patterns. White, rose and yellow gold, as well as alternative metals like titanium and platinum, are all popular in wedding bands, and mixing them in patterns can make for very unique and original jewellery. For example, one popular option is to have a silver-coloured metal (white gold, titanium, or platinum) in the middle of a band, with small stripes of yellow or rose gold on the outsides. However, there are also more elaborate options, such as swirling or basket woven patterns.
Candy Carts are a New Sweet Idea for your Wedding Reception
With all the weddings that we do, I come across some pretty inventive ideas. I love to share what I see. Here are three fun and yummy new trends in modern weddings, that will help get your taste buds going.
COCKTAIL HOUR GRAND ENTRANCE OF BRIDE & GROOM
An interesting new trend for wedding receptions and cocktail hours is for the bride and groom to actually be announced fifteen minutes or so into the cocktail hour, so that they can enjoy the spirits, as well. As everyone knows, a tasty drink or two can really make the party fun. If the bride and groom get done with their pictures quickly enough, why not?
THE CANDY CART
A sweet new treat in weddings is the Candy Cart. A scrum-dilly-icious candy buffet adds fun and color to any wedding. This new trend has a table on wheels that looks like it was heisted straight out of Wonka’s Chocolate factory. The cart is covered with large glass bowls and vases over-flowing with goodness. Little baggies allow for all of your guests to pick what kind of candy they want and take it home. Kids and adults love taking home little bags of loot so that the sweetness of the reception continues long after the DJ has packed up.
HONEYMOON GIFT REGISTRY
Enough said. Just like any other type of gift registry at a store like Bed & Bath, Macy’s or even on Amazon, friends and family members purchase parts of the bride and groom’s honeymoon, to say, an all-inclusive resort with all the food and drink that one can handle! If it is not the obvious plane tickets or hotel room credits, it could be a show, an expensive dinner or a tour bus ride at the point of destination.
Remember something borrowed and something blue? At first we only saw hints of one color on a bride. A little color maybe in the hair… A blast of color in jewelry… These accents made a nice touch, while still allowing the bride to wear her traditional white, at a traditional white wedding. However, many different colors have been creeping into the scene more and more, with all the new brights and eccentric patterns just as we see in today’s fashion trends. Just as we see people breaking the norm at many receptions, today’s bride who wishes to buck tradition is throwing the color rules out the window.
Just as brides and grooms are breaking it down on the wedding dance floor in the middle of a slow song all over the internet, today’s independent woman is no longer a follower. She is no longer silent. She doesn’t want to go along with the crowd. She wants to be different. She wants to make her day memorable. Today’s daring bride wears what she wants to wear, and sets a trend.
Out of Albany, NY, but willing to travel, I was the Disc Jockey for a recent wedding in Rochester, NY. At this particular wedding, I was pleasantly shocked to see that each bridesmaid had a different pastel color on, as I was calling the introductions over some Black Eyed Peas. The dresses were, in fact, the same cut and style and matched the vest on each of their individual escorts, but none of the dresses were the same color. White at this one was reserved for the bride, however, I am seeing brides dropping this tradition more and more!
What Will Everyone Think? I read that historically, white wedding dresses weren’t the norm until after Queen Victoria wore a white dress for her wedding. Okay, I am just the DJ, and not any sort of fashion plate, but I can tell you this. Not all brides are following the Queen anymore! Brides who are choosing colored gowns, are doing so for many other different reasons.
Quite often, in a world that sees second marriages as commonplace, for today’s bride who wants color but doesn’t want to be too obvious, I have been seeing washed out and faint colors on the dance floor, mixed into in their traditional white dresses. I have also seen very faint colors, it almost still looks white; almost as if someone washed a bright colored sock in with the gown.
Wedding dresses in the palest of pink or the lightest of blue add color, but aren’t looked at as inappropriate and don’t make the groom look as if he is marrying Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.
One denominator for color choice has often been selection to match the season. Spring brides are choosing pale pastels, while those marrying in the summer choose deeper shades of similar colors. Those getting married in autumn are choosing yellows, golds and even shades orange, like my friend Pete, who recently got married on Halloween 2009, which fell on a Saturday.
However, from what I hear, it is the daring trend-setting winter bride who often chooses to make the boldest statement. Last winter, I had a bride in a bright red dress, with a red veil to match. (And yes, she looked like she raided Lady Gaga’s VMA closet.
My opinion on this? The wedding is all about the bride. I think the bride looks beautiful with whatever she chooses to wear, as long as she feels good in it and wears it front of a DJ at the reception, rather than a band!
Modern Wedding trends are today’s choice at most weddings.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR WEDDING FEEL FRESH AND NEW
Lately, the traditions involved in Wedding Receptions are changing to meet the demands of a new generation. They are no longer the boring slow-dance packed night with cake-cutting and garter toss as the main attractions. They are morphing into more elaborate customized events with lots of energy and surprises to mirror the bride and groom’s character.
If you want to host a wedding reception that screams you, consider this top 10 list:
1. Show up in style
If the wedding ceremony and reception take place at different venues, providing guests with transportation that meets the feel you want for the party. A limo, or crazy hummer ride can set the tone. Recently, I did a wedding reception in Fonda, NY, a big parachuting town, in an old airplane hanger that was decked out in a German/Swiss theme. I played polkas and yodel music to start, while they served beer a brauts for the cocktail hour. When it came time for the introductions of the bridal party, I hit the Mission Impossible theme and had everyone look up in the air. People marveled at the party parachuting down to join the festivities.
2. Wedding Cup Cakes:
While you may absolutely love the idea of a classy cream cheese carrot cake, Uncle Charlie may absolutely HATE IT. That doesn’t mean you have to be unselfish and not have carrot cake, it only means you have to think outside of the box. In this case, why not try WEDDING CUPCAKES. You tier up a wedding cake display with many different types of cup cakes, in displayed in the shape of a traditional wedding cake. Everyone, including you and Uncle Charlie is now happy.
3. The First Dance:
Many bride and grooms have dropped the 100% serious tone to the first dance, opting for 50% slow and 50% ridiculous. Rascal Flatts “My Wish” plays just past the first chorus, when Sir Mix A Lot belts out his love for big butts. This is quickly becoming more regular than not, with the added touch of elaborate choreographed moves.
4. Video Game Time
Believe it or not, interactive video game competitions are a new trend. Having a later hour set aside for popular competitions like Guitar Hero or Rock Band is a smart and hip way to add another memorable element of fun to your wedding reception. I have seen digital projectors come into play at night-time tent weddings on the ceiling where a massive screen is created for the game play to unfold.
5. SAY CHEESE! Wedding Photo booths:
Guests will love to jump in and snap silly photos, for great additions to your wedding photo album. Have you seen this yet? Wedding photo booths are quickly becoming a new tradition at modern wedding receptions. It also helps to pass the time when the photographer runs late and the people are waiting t=for the grand entrance of the wedding party.
This little guy had an evil sweet tooth.
6. Funky Snack Attack:
Candy tables, ice cream bars, your favorite trail mix… There are no rules to what you can serve anymore. If you think the snack is cheap, but something everyone will appreciate, you can use a variety of containers (think martini glasses) to add that special decorative touch. On the Fourth of July, 2009, I did a great Pakistani-American Wedding, where all kinds of great Pakistani curry-laden dishes where set in tandem next to the groom’s favorite American chow, you guess it, PIZZA. The pizza was served on elegant silver platters under a heat light, like a prime rib carving roast!
7. Karaoke Hour
Want fun! Add karaoke! This can be really awesome in the right party, but be careful. Place this activity late, if not last, in the event and limit people’s participation, or else it could be come a karaoke concert!)
8. Digital Slide Show Projection
Collect up as many pictures that you can of the bride and groom growing up, then add shots of them together now. (You can go right to Walmart with the old shots and scan them to disc for a couple of bucks!) Next, with the wonders of modern technology, a power point slide show can then be created with ease. The power point can run continuously while the guests eat, or can play once as a scheduled activity set to music. Maybe you even know someone who can work photoshop, to make you a funny one like this slideshow for Ben and Joanna, who by the way got married at an aquarium!
Select a Las Vegas Wedding Theme and WIN!
9. Reception Themes
A themed wedding reception is a great way to let your personalities shine. I have done weddings with many different themes including Heavy Metal, Hawaiian luau, Ethnic-specific, and even Vegas.
10. Hey, Mister DJ!
Great bands rock, but are sometimes limited to only a few sounds that may not be everyone’s cup of tea. A good DJ, however, can be like the weather in New England and change on an instant. At most wedding receptions, your DJ is the life of the party and can shuffle requests and the wishes of the bride & groom to keep EVERYONE happy. I happen to know a real good one, if you are looking! (http://www.kennycasanova.com)
