Posts Tagged ‘Weddings’

Don't you just love a good wedding? The beautiful bride, the handsome groom, the outpouring of love, heartfelt speeches and last but certainly not least -- the cake! A fabulous wedding can take months or even years of planning, patience and inspiration.

To help you with the inspiration bit, Canadianliving.com's Relationships editor, Tasia Rivero scoured a local wedding show in search of the latest and greatest wedding trends. Without further ado...Tasia, take it away! -- Jen Melo

Top 5 wedding trends for 2012
by Tasia Rivero

Last Friday, I attended The Wedding Co. Show at the Carlu Hotel in Toronto where 125 vendors met with happy couples looking for the best wedding wares. Organizer Catherine Lash hand-picked her favourite apparel and accessories designers, event organizers, photographers, pastry chefs and more to highlight the hottest wedding trends for 2012. Here are the top five trends you need to know if you're planning a wedding:

1. Fascinators reign supreme

Headpiece by David Dunkley, KCs Hats. KCsHats.com

The modern fascinator continues to be a hot wedding trend for Canadian brides. For 2012, expect to see brides in short veils ("bouquet-length"), birdcage netting covering part of the face, or feathers and/or floral headbands and hairpins.

2. Personalized bridal wear

Blue sponge necklace - also available as hanging earrings -- imported from Italy by Rue Pigalle.

This year, brides-to-be are keen on breaking up an all-white look with a touch of colour. Think dresses accented with gorgeous silk sashes, gem-coloured shoes to peek out from under full skirts, and showstopping coloured jewelry.

3. The sweets table

Decadent sweets table, Truffle Cake & Pastry. Truffletoronto.com

Wedding cake no longer stands alone. This year, expect to see an entire spread of toothsome treats: gourmet, colour-coordinated bowls of candy alongside baked goodies like cupcakes in regular and mini sizes, meringues, madeleines, macarons and cookies. Mmmmm.

4. Hand-crafted stationery

Calligraphy by Rajiv Surendra, Letters in Ink. Lettersinink.com

Wedding stationery was a huge part of the show. This year, couples have plenty of options when it comes to their save-the-date notes, wedding invitations and thank-you cards. Many of these items are uber-personalized, featuring quirky block letters with custom graphics and colours, or sophisticated, hand-drawn calligraphy.

5. Communal dining tables

Communal table setting, Gorgeous Events. Gorgeousevents.ca

Long, communal dining tables are perhaps an unexpected trend at the show. This year, couples are embracing intimate receptions. Get the look by setting up a long, straight table, adorned with low floral arrangements to allow for unobstructed chatter between your guests.

Which of these top five wedding trends is your favourite? Least favourite?

Prince William and his long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton announced in London on Tuesday that they will marry in 2011.

I'm of two minds over the news. The practical, sensible part of me thinks, "Who cares what this pair does? The monarchy should be abolished! The ensuing three-ring circus of a wedding will be a huge waste of public money."

And yet my sentimental side thinks, "How lovely that this poor boy, who lost his precious mother when he was so young, has now found happiness. God bless them. I can't wait to see her wedding dress. And the flowers! Oh the romance of it all makes me swoon."

Likewise, I can go either way on Will's choice of ring. Like, really? You chose to give your bride-to-be your mother's wedding ring? Remember how your parents went through the most public and humiliating divorce of recent times? You want to present your ladyfriend with a token of their love?

But then I read this in an article, Prince William engaged to Kate Middleton, on the CBC news site:

"The couple showed off the engagement ring that belonged to William's mother — Diana, the late Princess of Wales — amid the bright flash from cameras during a crowded news conference on Tuesday. The ring is an oval sapphire surrounded by diamonds.

"It is very special to me. It was my way to make sure my mother did not miss out on today and the excitement that we are going to spend the rest of our lives together," William said."

Well, only the hardest of hearts don't soften after reading that.

I have to say, the sentimental, swoony part of me is winning out. I can see myself abandoning my senses and being swept up in royal wedding fever. What about you? How do you feel about the news? Are you unabashedly excited, do you have reservations, or are you downright disinterested? Post a comment and let me know.

I wonder if she opted for a green wedding!

I went to a wedding this past weekend, and I inevitably got to thinking about what one could do to have a green wedding.

I mean, traditional weddings are usually such large events which require so much planning and so much ... stuff! What possible could be changed or cut back on to help the environment?

My favourite is instead of offering table gifts, make a donation to one of your favourite charities. Another important thing to consider is serving foods and drinks that are grown and produced locally.

Some other tips: (more...)