Black, white, and a punch of color. Brides are replacing the previous color trend of chocolate against Tiffany blue, fuschia, lime green, (insert appropriate color here), etc. It’s all about the black, white, and unexpected drama. I’ve seen black and white gingham complemented by red roses, black and white toile tied with aqua ribbons, black and white paisley coupled with lemons. The interrupted monochrome is an exciting and bold statement. Formality is immediately brought to the event, pumping up the dressy factor easily. While guests used to shy away from wearing the faux pas black garments to a wedding, it is now a safe bet to wear a black cocktail dress (Note picture of me, Heather, and Liz at Becca’s wedding on July 26th!) It is becoming an ever-more popular trend to have bridesmaids in black dresses, a striking contrast to the bride’s gown. This versatile and customized color scheme can be made appropriate for a wedding in any season. Think cranberry and orange for fall, midnight blue or hunter green in winter, any pink or green in spring and citrus colors for summer.
Hands down, the fun part of wedding-planning is deciding on colors, attire, music, and favors. However, I will never be able to stress enough how important wedding etiquette is during this time. Remember that etiquette is not a bunch of silly, out-dated “rules” that people used to comply for no reason. It is actually a considerate way to let others know what kind of behavior/response/action is appropriate for any occasion. For example, you send a thank you note upon receiving any gift or gesture not only to express gratitude, but to let the giver know you RECEIVED said gift! Wedding etiquette is not typically ingrained into most people’s lives until they or someone close to them gets married. Don’t be shy at this point. Go to the bookstore or library and load up on books! If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably somewhat internet search engine savvy, and so I recommend this site:
http://www.emilypost.com/weddings/weddings.htm
While you may want to cringe to discover that you’ve actually, unbeknownst to you, insulted the hosts of a wedding (“You mean I wasn’t supposed call up the bride and threaten to not attend a wedding because my 13-year old son wasn’t invited?!), don’t panic. The answer is, of course, no. The important thing is that it’s never too late to become a well-mannered, gracious person. Emily Post’s web site is particularly helpful because of the scope of information. Browse the site to find out the best way to write appropriate and thoughtful thank you notes or what to do if you’re a clueless bridesmaid. While that web site is my favorite, there are tons and tons out there. Google “parents of the groom wedding responsibilities” if that’s your function, and go from there!
Good luck and happy wedding planning!
