February 15, 2010 – The new year has arrived, and this year’s brides have offered up what they are looking for when it comes to planning their event. Our staff has compiled research from across the Internet, and what we found were some interesting preferences among brides in putting together their big day. Here are just a few of the trends that we uncovered.

• Colored shoes
Forget plain white pumps, wear something with a little more zing! Make your shoes your something blue, or match your bridesmaids’ dresses. If you’re wearing a long gown your shoes probably won’t be seen more than a few times anyway, so you might as well have fun with them! It’s also a great way to reuse if you invest in shoes that you’ll wear again after the event!

• Time capsules
I am such a fan of this trend. You can create a time capsule yourself, or you can ask guests to bring a little something to add to it as an addition/alternative to your guest book! How amazing would it be to have that to look back at on your 20th anniversary!

• Neutral bridesmaids dresses
Neutral colors like beige are very pretty options for bridesmaids’ dresses. In the past, it’s been a major faux pas to have the bridesmaids in anything related to white, but that restriction is slowly going away. A soft champagne color never goes out of style, so as long as there is enough contrast between your dress and theirs, we say go for it!

• Day-after photo shoots
I’m actually a huge fan of this trend. Doing a day after photo shoot for your and your new hubby is a great idea to get great pictures of you two as a couple. Lots of couples are using these photo shoots to get more relaxed, fun photos rather than the super-posed pictures from the event day.

• Long Tables
Long tables are not only elegant, they can save you money as well. With a long table you can use fewer centerpieces, and it creates a more inclusive atmosphere for your guests. Depending on your venue, they can also be great space savers.

• Birdcage vales
These super-elegant accessories are more of an exceptional hairpiece than an actual veil. The term birdcage actually refers to the shape of the veil rather than the material. A birdcage veil usually falls about chin length, but modern styles have gotten shorter falling beneath the eyes or asymmetrically across the face. The birdcage veil is very fashion forward with a vintage feel.

• Tea length gowns
Once again, this is a vintage inspired trend straight out of the 1950’s. These fun gowns are great for more casual events, or even as a reception dress. And, if you have an awesome pair of shoes you want to show off, these tea-length gowns are for you!

• Candy/Desert Buffets
The desert buffet table has been popular throughout certain regions of the country for a while, but its now spreading everywhere. Do a little research on the Internet about how to set up a stellar candy buffet; there are some really neat ideas out there. There are so many different colors and types of candy that a buffet will definitely add an interesting visual to your reception.

• Black and White Photography
Classic. Color pictures are great too, but black and white is so classy! Vintage themes work great with black and white photography. The most important thing is to find the right photographer. Look at several portfolios before making your decision.

• Smaller events
Intimate event are on the rise. Certainly the economy has something to do with brides scaling back, but the movement towards a more sustainable culture has influenced event sizes as well. Reuse, reduce, and recycle is many a brides motto these days, and we hope that this trend will last long after 2010.

• Everything vintage
Vintage is really just a euphemism for old, so there’s no real guideline for a “vintage event.” Usually vintage clothing is considered to incorporate styles from the 1920’s to the 1980’s. The vintage trend is perhaps inspired by a move toward environmental sustainability, but most “vintage” clothes are simply vintage inspired rather than actually second hand. If you have the time to shop around some thrift stores, using vintage pieces in your event is a great way to save money on your big day.

• Eco-friendly events
On the vintage note, there is a growing “green movement” happening in the event industry. “Reduce, reuse and recycle” is quickly becoming the event motto for environmentally conscious brides in 2010.

• Tungsten Rings
Tungsten rings have been increasing in popularity lately. Tungsten is extremely hard, and it’s virtually scratch proof. It’s most popular for men’s wedding bands because of its weightiness, but women’s rings are available as well. While shopping for Tungsten rings, make sure that it’s tungsten carbide, otherwise you’ll be getting a very hard, but not scratch-proof ring. Also make sure that there is no Cobalt in your ring. Cobalt has a negative reaction to your skin and can damage your ring.