Category: Trend Watch

Those of us at Here Comes The Guide who are married did not have cookie-cutter weddings: Meredith and her husband had an intimate beach wedding (a.k.a elopement) in Half Moon Bay, Jolene wore a raspberry wedding gown, my husband and I served pizza—old school, unfancy pizza, and Sharon and her husband had their lively reception in a dojo where the black belts in attendance took turns throwing the groom.

Did you see the article in the New York Times about pre-owned wedding dresses? I wouldn’t have either, if it wasn’t for my colleague Jennifer who forwarded the link to me. Anyway, the upshot is that while it’s still “all about the dress,” many brides are watching their budget and shopping for gently used or bought-but-never-used wedding gowns. Not only does this save money, but eco-conscious brides are doing their part in the “reuse, recycle…” mantra.

These challenging economic times have created a novel wedding trend: The mid-week wedding! While Wednesday-night knot-tying is never going to replace Saturday evening extravaganzas, we’re hearing about wedding couples that opt to celebrate on a non-traditional day of the week. And why not? Since it’s an off-time for wedding vendors, they’re more likely to discount their fees. Same goes for your wedding location—you’re sure to get more for less if you wed on an alternate day. Want to upgrade from community center to hotel ballroom? For sure.

A short dress can have a life after the wedding, and it’s also a perfect second-wedding choice.

My colleague Jolene has a husband whose singing voice is often compared to Michael Buble’s, but I try (hard) not to be jealous. I tell myself that with the advent of iTunes, I can instantly have Michael and my own husband to keep me warm. If your fiancé can only muster a few off-key karaoke tunes, you might want to invest in some music downloads to get you through the winter. And if you’re looking for wedding music inspiration, Michael Buble’s updated covers of standards like “Wonderful Tonight” and “The Best is Yet to Come” are guaranteed crowd-pleasers, and also get high marks for a first turn around the dance floor.

As Maid of Honor at my best friend’s wedding, I carried a Japanese parasol instead of the usual bridesmaid bouquet. I really loved this idea, because the bride was able to save money on her flowers and parasols look great in pictures. On top of that, it was a hot September day in Sacramento and these refreshing accessories provided a nice shield from the sun.

There’s something cool about hues of sapphire, graphite, taupe, sky, and peridot. Together, this combination is arresting; simple but sophisticated, serene yet relaxed, serious without being overly pretentious. Add to these colors the crisp blue sky and Ferry Building clock tower in the background, and we’re definitely talking a San Francisco kind of wedding.

After the CA Supreme Court made same-sex marriages legal, the words “bride” and “groom” disappeared from marriage licenses and related legal forms.