Crowning Craze - more 2010 trends

2010 Weddings are continuing to bring about new trends. And of course, I have them here for you!

“The stuffy by-the-rule-book wedding of years past has completely vanished. There is a woman in white, music, food, cake and vows - but every other aspect of the American wedding has been reconsidered,” reports BRIDES Magazine New American Wedding Survey.

Here are some additional statistics from the survey related to emerging wedding trends:

• Fewer than half of weddings take place in a house of worship. Many couples are getting married at the site or within yards of their reception. With a increase in "backyard" weddings, I am seeing more and more garden-settings for ceremonies, too.

• 20% of couples have a friend or relative deputized to perform the ceremony. Its so easy to get ordained. And it makes the ceremony more personable and meaningful to the couple. If you are going with a traditional religious service, invite family and friends to contribute with readings and prayers.

• 13% of receptions feature music via iPod. This is best applied when your band is on break. Mix in your favorites or oldies but goodies you band doesn't play.
• Over 1/4 of couples plan their weddings around a theme. I highly recommend this. From color themes, to sports teams and seasons, a theme helps you narrow down your choices and create a well-organized and thoughtful event.
• Couples going with live bands are hiring specialty bands such as salsa, R&B and Polka. Jazz it up with some traditional music from your heritage or region in which you grew up. If your them is "Classic Hollywood" go with big band music to set the mood.

• 97% of grooms get involved with the planning. With more of my couples paying for part or all the wedding expenses, more grooms and giving their opinion and choosing personalized and favorable vendors.

• Soul-food and Mexican are the new go-to wedding cuisines. I am also seeing a lot of  "family style" serving.

From brights to pastels, we are continuing to see color!

Here's a little inspiration board in

turquoise and robin's egg blue:

Crowning Inspiration: Lauren and Joel's Save-the-Date

I am so excited to be working with this creative and talented couple on their July 3rd wedding. Check out their Save-the-Date and you'll see why!

Old Tom Foolery is the brainchild of Joel Gryniewski and Lauren Weinblatt—two ad-industry vets who also happen to be engaged.

Back when Joel was wooing Lauren, he had a tough time finding cards that were: a) funny, b) letterpressed (they’re both suckers for a deep impression), and c) not so dainty as to make her question his masculinity. So they set out to make their own witty letterpress cards that would appeal to both sexes.

Old Tom Foolery launched its first line of "unsappy, uncrappy" greeting cards, The Footnotes Collection, at the National Stationery Show in 2008. Two years later, the company expanded its catalog with a premium, offset-printed line called The Headlines Collection.

More things are to come from these two masterminds - so be sure to check them out!Old Tom Foolery website and blog.
Follow them on facebook.

Crowning Inspiration: Emerald Isle Wedding

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, here are a few traditions, tokens of good luck

and Irish toasts.

Its good luck ...

- to have a man congratulate the bride first

- to rise with the song of birds, particularly if she hears "cuc-koo"

- to have a well-married woman put on your veil; its bad luck for the bride to

- whenever the bride wears her wedding earings

- to tuck a sprig of shamrock into the bouquet. For the Scottish, it's a branch of white heather

- to marry on December 31st and in the month of April, with the traditional saying “'Marry in May and rue the day; marry in April if you can, joy for maiden and for man.”

- Surprisingly, the bride should never wear green at her wedding, it is considered unlucky!

- to tuck a horseshoe into the bridal bouquet or sew it into the wedding gown.
- use a different road home than the one the bride took to the church. Its a symbol of her new life that begins with her marriage

Wedding Toasts

Bride and Groom:

Friends and relatives so fond and dear

tis our greatest pleasure to have you here

when many years this day has passed

our fondest memories will always last.

So we drink a cup of irish mead

and ask God's blessing in our hour of need.

Bestman and Bridesmaid:

On this special day our wish to you

the goodness of the old, the best of the new.

God bless you both who drink this mead

May it always fill your every need.

May your joys be as bright as the morning,

And your sorrows merely be shadows that fade,

In the sunlight of love.

May you have enough

happiness to keep you sweet.

Enough trials to keep you strong.

Enough sorrows to keep you human.

Enough hope to keep you happy.

Enough failure to keep you humble.

Enough success to keep you eager.

Enough friends to give you comfort.

Enough faith and courage in yourself to banish sadness.

Enough wealth to meet your needs.

And one thing more:

enough determination to make each day a more wonderful day

than the day before.

Sláinte!

And a Irish Wedding wouldn't be complete without a Bagpiper piping
the Highland Wedding March:

Gearing up....

This Saturday I will be teaching a seminar on Wedding Planning

at the University of Toledo!

Ladies Luncheon Tablescape

Just because you are out and about celebrating, doesn't mean you can't dress it up a bit!

The theme is Robin's Egg Blue - a favorite color of the guest of honor. 

Contact Crowning Celebrations for a personalized tablescape at your next celebration!

E. brittany@crowningcelebrations.com

T. (419) 297-1133

Eventista

click here for the article:

DIY Weddings do's and don'ts

For all you chic n' crafty brides, here's a book written by none other than the creative Khris Cochran of DIYBride.com!

Khris is stylishly creative, super smart, and ridiculously funny. 

The book has over 224 pages. You can sneak a peak and buy the book at Amazon.

Crowning Inspiration: Mirrored Tabletops

I am doing some research and design concepts for one of my events. I really want to bring in mirrored tabletops to intensify the lighting and create a space that is actually much larger than it really is. I'm loving these pics! Check them out:

Wedding Faux Pas - "The Bachelor" oops!

Millions watched as millions of dollars in event design, florals, rentals, fabrics, camera equipment, lighting, bridesmaids, groomsmen, Manolo Blahniks and a designer Monique Lhuillier gown was DRENCHED! You know exactly what I am raging about if you tuned into last night's Bachelor Wedding on ABC to see Molly and Jason exchange vows in the pouring down rain. I have to say, my jaw dropped and I am still baffled at the thought that wedding coordinator, Jo Gartin and event designer, Eden Rodriguez let this event go on without a tent!

If I could spin the tape back and give Molly & Jason a do-over, I would do it the right way. As both a wedding coordinator and event designer I understand that things do not always go as planned. Sometimes outdoor weddings bring in rain showers and provisions must be made. I stalk the weatherman the week of an event. And if I do not see favorable conditions, I bring in re-enforcements!

In this case, I would have done a clear-top, ClearSpan tent.

"ClearSpan" says it all: ClearSpan tents don't have any interior support columns to interfere with the camera's sight, which means there are no large tent poles inside the tent to get in the way of stages, tables, and equipment. ClearSpan tents are made of aluminum and are designed to withhold in severe wind conditions, like we saw last night. Additionally, a clear-top on a ClearSpan allows natural light to shine through and creates a feeling of openness so that guest do not feel enclosed and can enjoy their natural surroundings.

Here are some examples:

Some images provided by: Aable Tents, Cleveland, Ohio

But I give props to Molly & Jason. Despite the harsh winds and pouring down rain all morning and during their ceremony, they never stopped smiling! Molly was a graceful bride and did not faulter over wet hair, runny make-up and a drenched ( rumored $45,000) gown. She and Jason celebrated what's truely important: love and happiness. And with that kind of spirit and joy, I am sure their marriage will withhold a lifetime of happiness! Best wishes to them and all 2010 brides!