Summer is definitely here in the northeast - we're right in the middle of a heat wave with temps reaching 90+ all week. PS: if you need me this week, you will likely find me at my parents house with my two girls and the big inflatable pool they bought this year.  Joining us today is the husband and wife wedding planning and design duo - Sojourner and Milo of Erganic Design based in New York. They are here to share their Top 4 Summer Themed Wedding Trends . . .  

1. Ombre Color Palettes are fresh and visually inspirational. Using analogous colors in block sections makes a bold statement.

2. Soft Color Tones for Flowers are popular in the summer. Try selecting a bold color for the bridesmaids dresses (like Red) to counter the soft understated colors of the flowers.

3. Have a dramatic send off . . . Sparklers will do the trick. Sparklers are a must have for summer nights. They're fun for your guests and great for pics.

4. Non-matching bridesmaids dresses are a chic trend. The colors should be complementary to each other, and work well optically within photos.

The ombré pattern for weddings is still a super hot trend. For those that don't know, ombre is used to describe the use of color that graduates from light to dark. There's ombré frosted wedding cakes, ombré dresses and even table linens. Now, you can decorate your reception with ombré patterned details in 5 great colors from Daisy Days.

Keep your guests cool at your outdoor ceremony or summer wedding with these DIY Accordion Paper Hand Fan Favors. You can even personalize your fans with matching stickers and 3 lines of custom text.

Not only will these fun and unique DIY Accordion Paper Fans Place Cards look amazing on your tables - you can add a personalized sticker for the perfect finishing touch.

These Ombre Colored Round Paper Globe Lanterns will look stunning when used outdoors but they will also add an incredible accent to any party space. You might even consider mixing and matching the paper lantern colors.

This disposable Silver & White Ombre Twilight Wedding Camera is a great way to have your guests capture the candid moments at your wedding in style. Whether you're having a classic wedding or an ombre styled wedding, this camera is sure to be the perfect complement.

You may remember Wednesday's post that featured part 1 of the top wedding trends for 2013 from Mindy Weiss. Today Jackie, {my twitter friend who attended a special luncheon on my behalf} is back with part 2 of the wedding trends Mindy discussed. And, be sure to check out the end of this post as I have details on how you could be the lucky winner of Erica Courtney® platinum diamond earrings worth $11,000 from Perfect Circle® Jewelry Insurance.

I now turn the blog over to Jackie who is back to talk about more of the hottest trends and ideas for 2013 weddings according to Mindy Weiss.​​

Reception & Decor:
​• The outdoor wedding concept is still big - Mindy has gotten lots of requests for bringing the outside in, creating indoor gardens, and large green/floral elements like vertical green walls; indoor furniture and decor incorporates elements like metal furniture and lanterns. Even if the venue is a traditional ballroom-style space, couples are going out of their way to make it feel more personal and intimate and less like a ballroom.
​• If a part of the wedding ceremony or reception is outdoors, decor includes sofas, pillows, chairs and big cushions in "outdoor" fabrics like stripes
​• Lighting is becoming more of an important consideration, but brides are requesting more unique and interesting fixtures; Mindy gave two examples, one in which she lit upside umbrellas and another in which she had colored chandeliers
​• Lace elements and a lot of them are still popular: table linens, lace-wrapped vases and jars, etc. {Mindy even had a reception tent made out of lace}

Food:
​• The big thing in food choices at weddings is "farm-to-table" - lots of local and seasonal ingredients being used if the venue is able to provide it
​• Things on the way out include:
– signature cocktails
– dessert tables or candy buffets - these are morphing into very specific things like a popcorn bar or a cookie bar
– 4+ course sit-down dinners - lots of couples are opting for 3 courses so guests can move around and dance more
​• Brides and grooms are not wanting to do the cake-cutting, though Mindy insists it's still a good idea.

Music & Entertainment:
​• Brides & grooms are choosing DJs over live bands, or having a live band for a few hours and having a DJ play for the end of the evening and into the after party. Couples are still very fond of music from the 1980s!
​• First dance songs are becoming more unique and "hip" - more rock, hip hop, etc; couples are still taking lessons and learning to dance more formally, but the music selections are less traditional, and even less serious

Social Media:
​• Lots of couples are creating wedding hastags to keep track of photos that friends and family take & share on social media sites like Twitter & Instagram
​• Wedding planners have found it easier to work with brides because of sites like Pinterest and Loverly because brides can collect and share what inspires them, which helps planners and other vendors give brides exactly what they want.

Other Wedding-related events:
​• Multiple events are becoming popular: 
​– having more than one bridal shower
​– also gaining popularity is the bridal luncheon, which usually includes the bride and her bridesmaids, mother-of-the-bride and other close female friends & participants in the wedding
​• Rehearsal dinners are becoming less formal and another avenue in which brides & grooms can express their personalities; Mindy has seen and planned many themed rehearsal dinners - mexican fiestas, italian family-style meals, clam bakes, etc, and BBQs still seem to be most popular. By going this more causal route, couples are also saving money.

Destination Weddings: 
​• Still very popular - Mindy planned 10 last year and has 30 scheduled for this year
​• lots of couples like the "summer camp" idea where everyone coming to the wedding makes a mini vacation out of it, and many hotels are now marketing themselves as ideal destination wedding places because of the activities and services they can provide for multiple events.

Lastly - here are some final wedding tips from Mindy:
​• Photography: Mindy has been seeing a lot of 'artsy' photographers turning to wedding photography but many are not experienced enough to know which shots are really important, so couples should be sure to think through what shots they'd like their photographer to take and discuss before the day of the wedding
​• Budget-savers: 
​– Skip the champagne toast. This is a big cost item that most guests probably won't miss; instead opt for sparkling wine or skip it altogether.
​– Going with a DJ over a live band, or having a few live instruments (sax & guitar for example) play along with the DJ. Many DJs have much bigger personalities and are savvy about entertaining guests without being too cheesy or gimmicky, so it's a great way to cut costs.
​– Don't get a wedding cake intended for every single guest - opt for a smaller cake for cutting with a sheet cake option 
​– Use the venue's offerings in terms of linens - tablecloths in particular; then rent napkins to customize your look and add color
​– Unless the venue requires it, opt for fewer courses if it's a sit-down dinner.

With everything I'm seeing in the industry - these trends are spot on for 2013. Although, I have to say I'm not so sure about the Signature Cocktail trend as being on the way out. Maybe it's because of the saturation with Pinterest, but I'm seeing signature cocktails popping up everywhere. What are your thoughts on this "trend"? I'd love to hear what you think.

Photo Credits: 
​outdoor furniture with Striped pillows,  cookie bar, tomato salad, popcorn bar

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And, now for the giveaway details . . . from now through May 21, 2013, by blog readers can visit Perfect Circle Insurance and share their story of everlasting love via a video, photo and/or text entry, for a chance to win Erica Courtney® platinum diamond earrings worth $11,000. The winner will be announced by June 10, 2013.

Wedding season recently kicked off with an exclusive luncheon featuring celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss at the Gramercy Park Hotel Rooftop Terrace in NYC. I was honored to have been asked to join Mindy for lunch, but since I wasn't able to travel to the city I asked Jackie {a recent newlywed who I have met via twitter and works in the city} if she could attend on my behalf. I was thrilled to know she could go and she has come back here to share the details that were discussed. I now turn the blog over to Jackie to share part 1 of the hot trends and ideas for 2013 that Mindy discussed. And, be sure to come back on Friday for even more top wedding trends in part 2. Also on Friday, I will be sharing details on how you could win Erica Courtney® platinum diamond earrings worth $11,000 from Perfect Circle® Jewelry Insurance. {from above: top left photo courtesy of Jackie, bottom left and right photo courtesy of Perfect Circle Jewelry Insurance}

The BIG Wedding Themes according to Mindy include:
​1. Bringing back tradition & classic elements
​2. More personalized details
​3. Creating more intimate events and spaces
​4. Rustic vintage style or themed weddings are still very popular

And, now we move onto more specific elements with even more to come on Friday morning . . .

Bridal Attire, Accessories & Jewelry: 
​• Lots of bridal attire and accessories are inspired by red carpet looks {especially shoes and purses}
​• In addition, brides are also leaning toward more vintage styles in terms of purses and shoes
​• Brides are buying purses for their big day more often than not
​• Wedding bands and engagement rings in yellow & rose gold, also being mixed & matched with other metals to gives a unique & personal style
​• For bridal & bridesmaids jewelry, color is being used to add a personal touch in the wedding colors or even as "something blue"
​• Nail polish has become a more prominent part of bridal attire, as well as a popular bridesmaids gift {lots of unusual colors like neon and gray}
​• Mindy's picks for favorite bridal gown designers in 2013 include Monique Lhuillier, Jenny Packham & Carolina Herrera
​• More brides are wanting to change into a short dress or have a "going away" outfit
​• Lots of wedding day decor items are being influenced by dress details, especially lace. When it comes to decor elements, Mindy recommends either going big (with lace for example, using everywhere) or just a few small details - anything in the middle won't work.

Bridesmaid Attire:
​• Brides are moving away from having their maids wear all the same dress
​• Many brides are now sending their maids a color swatch and allowing them to select their own dresses
​• Popular colors this year are shades of green, perhaps because of Pantone's 2013 color of the year being Emerald. Other popular colors include shades of blush and purple, and much less cream and ivory shades.

Groom attire:
​• Lots of grooms are choosing to purchase their wedding day attire over renting, even tuxedos
​• Hand-tied bow ties are making a come-back
​• Tom Ford has been the men's designer of choice
​• Grooms are also changing into less formal "going away" outfits
​• Many grooms Mindy has worked with recently have become very involved in planning the wedding and care about the details

Paper:
​• Invitations are going back to traditional looks: lots of engraving and classic styles (and much less letterpress), beveled edges; color is used more as a accent in the invitation edging or envelope liners
​• Hand calligraphy is still in, as are vintage stamps
​• Save-the-Dates are becoming more casual - more couples are choosing to send them via email, many preferring to spend the money on invitations; if couples are sending paper save-the-dates, they tend to be more fun and quirky, while the invitation remains more formal

Flowers:
​• Low centerpieces seem to be popular choice, coming from a desire to create a more intimate atmosphere
​• Color trends: creams and greens, lavender and grey-tinted colors - lots flowers like amnesia roses being used.

What are your favorite wedding trends from Mindy? ​On Friday, Jackie will be back to share the trends for receptions, destination weddings and more from Mindy.

Photo Credits: Black and Gray Wedding Invitation Suite, Cypress Breeze Printed Dress, Low Centerpieces, Mini Taffeta Wedding Dress, Checkered Shirt with Pants, Vintage Style Purse, ​That's What She Said Save the Date

Are you planning a wedding this coming fall? Fall weddings are the perfect time of year to be inspired by tradition and enjoy a cozy backyard or smaller, more intimate gathering. No matter how you plan your wedding, be sure to personalize it.

Apple Cider Drink Mix in Personalized Natural Cotton Favor Bag

Themes
Weddings are always best remembered for their uniqueness so you might want to start out by picking a theme for your wedding. The next step would be to personalize it and one idea is with a common interest or hobby that you an your fiancé might share that can be integrated into your wedding theme. For fall weddings, you can incorporate darker hues in the colors or go with a leaf, twig or pinecone motif. These can be incorporated into everything including the color of the bridesmaids' dresses to the flowers, table linens, invitations, wedding favors and even the wedding cake. Letting both of your personalities flow all throughout your wedding is fun for you and the guests. Remember, this is your day, so spoil yourself and go with what feels right for you as a couple.

Fall Themed Chocolate Brownie Pops

Ceremony and Reception Details
Once you have decided upon a theme, you can then select your wedding attire, flowers and centerpieces to coordinate with it.

Wedding Attire
Fall wedding dresses tend to be a bit more whimsical, romantic, and inspired by old Hollywood glam. It's all about laces, chiffons, light silks, satins, pearls, crystals and breezy silhouettes. Here's a few ideas . . . you can have your bridesmaids wear cocktail dresses instead of floor length gowns, or you can just give them swatches of your color motif and have them buy their own dresses. This will be cost-effective and stress free.

You can read the rest of this article on Beau-coup.com. While you are there, please be sure to check out their fantastic selection of fall wedding favors.

The above post was submitted by Beau-coup, an affiliate of Brenda's Wedding Blog