HERE'S A LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE AISLE FOR 2010
THE LOOK
Decadent Details & Oversized Ruffles:
From oversized crystals and pearls to tastefully placed sequins, brides are putting some "pizzaz" into their look with a splash of embellishments on their gowns. Not into bling? Oversized ruffles give an instant couture feeling, no matter if you opt to suit your body type (a ruffled collar is oh-so-flattering on a smaller bust) or your personality (soft and flowing for a romantic feel, or crisp and super-sized for a fashion-forward look).
Maids in Various Shades:
Move over, mix-and-match silhouettes in the same color -- now fashion-forward bridal parties are kicking it up a notch by wearing different silhouettes in various shades. Some choose a monochromatic theme (think different hues of blue), while others opt to highlight their wedding colors (in fall tones, for example) -- either way, bridesmaids have never had it so good.
Rent Your Red-Carpet Moment(s):
From the engagement party to the postwedding brunch (and all that's in between), the wedding day isn't the only day a bride will be in the spotlight. But she doesn't need to break the bank buying everything she needs to look her best -- she can rent it instead! From renting diamond jewelry from Adorn Brides on TheKnotShop.com to designer garments on the hot new online boutique, RenttheRunway.com (launching November 2), brides will have the opportunity to live their red-carpet moment(s) like never before.
THE DECOR
360 Lighting:
Lighting is going to a new extreme by creating an entire environment or atmosphere. Every surface of the room is covered with video -- from an elaborate firework display to a romantic rainfall or an actual transition from day to night -- the options are endless, and they will all be inside the comfort of your reception venue!
Brides' Favorite Three-Letter Word? DIY!
It's no surprise that TheKnot.com/DIY is buzzing. After all, nine out of 10 brides make at least one wedding item. From favors to programs and menus, brides are enlisting the help of friends and family to create some of their wedding day essentials. Not only is it budget-friendly, DIY offer brides the opportunity to put their own stylish touches on the ever-important details.
Fire:
Brides are heating up their wedding day by incorporating fire elements into their overall decor for an instant serene and sexy feeling. From outdoor fire pits, to floating fire rings, and even a creme brulee station where the dessert is torched just for you, brides are looking to incorporate this earthly element into every detail.
THE MENU
Edible Cocktails:
Step aside, signature drink, the hottest trend hitting cocktail hour: a small edible bite that's infused with liquor. Think cosmopolitan martini jelly cubes served on amuse bouche spoons, Prosecco gelle, or even a deconstructed Bloody Mary made of a cherry tomato infused with vodka, Worcestershire sauce, and, of course, hot sauce.
Family Style:
Ideal for a semiformal wedding, 2010 brides and grooms will be opting toward a family-focused dinner. The perfect mix of a buffet and plated sit-down service, passing dishes encourages the guests at a table to interact during the meal. And the best part? Family style can cost less than a plated meal since it requires less preparation and fewer servers.
THE CAKE
It's All About the Cake Display:
Brides are turning their cake into a true focal point at their reception by going all-out with its display! From dramatic tents hovering over the cake table to over-the-top cake stands and linens and the return of the cake topper, brides are putting their own stylish stamp on this wedding tradition.
THE HONEYMOON
Learning-moons:
Not every newlywed wants to return from their honeymoon with only a good tan. In fact, a number of couples are using this time away to learn a new skill together! With options such as private cooking classes and wine tastings, taking up a new sport, or even having a private massage lesson, couples are grasping at the opportunity to experience and learn something new together!
Suite Swag:
Today's honeymooners are enjoying much more than a glass of champagne when they arrive at their destination; resorts across the globe are spoiling newlyweds with the ultimate "suite swag"! From small gifts every night to poolside pampering, complete with sunglasses cleaning services, and elaborate sunset dinners served by a personal butler, resorts will stop at nothing to ensure a memorable honeymoon experience.
For more hot trends, check out TheKnot.com and pick up your Fall 2009/Winter 2010 copy of The Knot weddings magazine on newsstands now. To speak with an editor and receive camera-ready images to illustrate your wedding trend stories, contact PR Director Melissa Bauer at (212) 219-8555 x1020 or email her at mbauer@theknot.com.
NEW RELEASE! THE KNOT BOOK OF WEDDING LISTS
By Carley Roney and the editors of TheKnot.com
Before "I do," there are over 500 to-dos in need of attention -- from the rehearsal dinner to the reception -- and don’t forget the postwedding brunch! With all the to-dos -- and expenses -- that go into planning a wedding, it should come as no surprise that today’s brides and grooms face big challenges and even bigger pressures to plan the perfect day. Enter The Knot Book of Wedding Lists: The Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Day, Down to the Smallest Detail (Clarkson Potter, January 8, 2008), an easy-to-carry compilation of all the timelines, tools, and checklists that have made TheKnot.com an indispensable guide for millions of brides, grooms, mothers, and maids-of-honor with:
- Timelines for every step of the process, down to the day itself
- A budget breakdown
- Questions to ask and contract points to push with professionals
- Lists of duties expected of each member of the wedding party
- Steps necessary for extra considerations, such as a calligrapher or a wedding web page
- Best flowers by color
- Gown silhouettes and the shapes that work best with each body type
- Beauty preparations, including a wedding day beauty kit, trial runs, and a day-of timeline
- Registry checklist
- Tipping guidelines for everyone from the reception manager to coatroom attendants to the limo driver
- A to-do list if for brides who’ve decided to change their name
To contact an editor at The Knot, click here.
WILL YOU BE MY BRIDESMAN? WEDDINGCHANNEL.COM ANNOUNCES NEW WEDDING TRADITIONS
Here are the WeddingChannel.com wedding traditions for the twenty-first century:
Gender-Bending Rituals
Man of honor? Best woman? Brides and grooms are no longer dismissing their best friends of the opposite sex when it comes to their wedding. In fact, according to a WeddingChannel.com poll, an overwhelming 63 percent of brides would ask their best friend to be a bridesman or man of honor if they were a guy.
WeddingChannel.com Tip: Kleinfeld Bridal co-owner and WeddingChannel.com fashion expert Mara Urshel suggests, “When it comes to what to wear, a bridesman should wear a tie, pocket kerchief, and boutonniere to match the bridesmaid dresses and bouquets. As for the groomswoman, it’s best if she wears the same color as the bridesmaids, but not the same dress, and doesn't carry the same flowers.”
Friends as Officiants
According to a WeddingChannel.com poll, 59 percent of couples would be interested in having a friend or family member officiate. After all, who better to help you tie the knot than a close childhood friend or a favorite relative? Whether it’s an interfaith ceremony or in the great outdoors, there’s nothing more intimate than opting for a friend or relative to help you say “I do.”
WeddingChannel.com Tip: “Make sure whoever you choose to officiate your wedding understands the style of the ceremony and their responsibilities, and is up to the challenge,” says Yifat Oren, WeddingChannel.com style expert and celebrity wedding planner. “An ideal officiant is not only someone who is important to the bride and groom, but is articulate and capable of handling such an important event. Couples should offer to help write the ceremony content to ensure there won’t be any last-minute surprises.”
The Name Game
Don’t make any assumptions when it comes to a bride’s last name. According to the Real Weddings Survey 2007 by The Knot Wedding Network, 12 percent of brides don’t plan on taking their spouse’s name upon marriage. Whether it’s for professional reasons or the bride just likes her maiden name more, wedding guests shouldn’t expect to hear “I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs.” at the next wedding they attend. For those who aren’t taking a spouse’s last name, there’s also the option of blending it -- combining both last names to create a brand-new one. A recent WeddingChannel.com poll found that 15 percent of brides would consider blending their last names.
WeddingChannel.com Tip: To help couples come up with a blended last name, WeddingChannel.com has launched “The Name Game” tool (www.weddingchannel.com/thenamegame.html) where all they have to do is enter their last names and new blended options will come up.
Alternative Registries
What do horseback riding lessons, a hi-def plasma-screen TV, and $100 for the Humane Society have in common? They’re all things that couples are registering for these days. With engaged couples typically registering at two to three different retailers, don’t be surprised if one of them is at a retailer like Amazon.com, Cloud 9 Living, or Traveler’s Joy.
WeddingChannel.com Tip: “It is perfectly okay to register for nontraditional gifts. These days, couples often own the items they would receive in a registry, and they may want to save for a honeymoon or give to a charity,” says WeddingChannel.com etiquette expert Peggy Post. “Keep in mind that some guests may not be comfortable giving in a nontraditional fashion, so couples should graciously accept more traditional gifts.”
WEDDINGCHANNEL.COM WELCOMES AMAZON.COM AS NEWEST PREMIER RETAILER TO ITS COMPREHENSIVE REGISTRY SERVICE
WeddingChannel.com, the #1 wedding and gift registry website and creator of the largest gift registry services system, announced that Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) is the newest addition to its unmatched roster of premier registry retailers. This collaboration enables engaged couples to create, manage, and monitor their wedding registry from leading online retailer Amazon.com via a patented multiregistry system on WeddingChannel.com, which makes it easy for millions of wedding guests to find and purchase a gift from 20 different retailers all on one site.
Adding to its already extensive list of top-name retailers, such as Macy’s, Tiffany & Co., and Pottery Barn, registrants on WeddingChannel.com will now have access to the millions of products available in over 40 categories at Amazon.com. Amazon.com Wedding Registries offer everything from traditional registry items, such as kitchen appliances and bedding, to lifestyle-oriented offerings, such as electronics, sporting goods, and apparel, with millions of products available for free Super Saver Shipping and Amazon Prime.* Customers looking for Amazon.com Wedding Registries will be able to find them on both WeddingChannel.com and Amazon.com.
To make finding a couple’s registry even easier, when guests search Amazon.com Wedding Registries, they can also continue their search for the perfect gift through the use of a unique WeddingChannel.com registry search tool. Wedding guests can then easily find gifts that couples may have registered for at other exclusive WeddingChannel.com retailer partners. This service-oriented experience fulfills Amazon.com’s commitment to meet customer needs and provide the greatest selection and convenience possible.
For more information on the registry programs available at WeddingChannel.com, visit the WeddingChannel.com Registry Center at www.weddingchannel.com/registry.
To speak with an editor or registry expert at WeddingChannel.com, click here.
THREE MONEY MUST-DOS
It’s easy to focus all of your financial attention on holiday spending, but some important financial loose ends must be tied up before the year’s end. TheNest.com tapped its Money Expert (TheNest.com/money) Robert Pagliarini to help narrow down the essential money must-dos to tackle before January 1. After all, finances are one of the top stresses for today’s newlywed couples!
Max Out Your 401(k)
It’s imperative to check in regarding your 401(k) plan before the end of the year, and ask if you can make a one-time contribution or increase your per-check deduction if you haven’t yet reached the contribution limit. If you’re in a situation where you can afford to contribute the maximum amount of $15,500, this will give you the greatest tax benefit. But really, any contribution is beneficial because it will reduce the amount of income you are taxed on for 2007. Have extra vacation days? See if your employer offers the option to contribute the value of those days toward your 401(k)!
Use Your Flex Spending Before You Lose It
If you take part in a flexible spending program for medical or child care costs through your employer, it’s important to check in and see how much money you still have in your account. Most plans are “use it or lose it,” meaning that if you don’t use the remainder of money in your account by the end of the year, it’s gone! Find out what expenses are allowed under the plan and use up your balance by December 31.
Paper Cleanup 2008
Before you start sorting and pitching all of your 2007 paperwork, you need to decide whether you’ll be taking the standard deduction or if you’ll be itemizing. Here’s a tip: If your eligible itemized deductions exceed your standard deduction, it’s in your best interest to itemize. Don’t start pitching receipts and other important papers until you know exactly what you need to keep and what’s okay to throw out. Once you know what you need, make a folder for all of these important documents so you’re ready to go when tax time rolls around.
DUAL PURPOSE VACATIONS FOR COUPLES
Key West, Florida
His idea of a great time is hitting the ocean in a 30-foot Mako boat for the thrills of deep-sea fishing; she’s a bit of a bookworm and history buff -- who also likes time in the sun! The perfect trip for this duo is Key West, Florida. Fresh from a $37 million renovation, The Reach Resort (www.reachresort.com) -- located right off of Duval Street -- is the ideal spot for exploring the sites of Old Town, while still staying within a private retreat. Guests can also relax on The Reach’s 450 feet of pristine, private beach -- the only private natural beach in Key West. He’ll be able to charter the beautiful waters of Key West where fishing legends, like Ernest Hemingway, were born. While he’s at sea, she can tour the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum or the Harry S. Truman Little White House. From $149 per night
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
He wants to practice his Tiger swing while she relaxes like a star. The perfect trip for the golf-lover and spa fanatic -- Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a luxurious getaway nestled in the Teton Range. Stay at the recently renovated, Snake River Lodge & Spa (snakeriverlodge.rockresorts.com), one of Jackson Hole's finest full-service, award winning resorts. Located at the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Snake River Lodge & Spa enjoys spectacular views of the adjacent Gros Ventre Mountain Range. He’ll test his swing at one of the leading golf destinations in the country -- the nearby Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club. She’ll enjoy the resort's 17,000-square-foot spa, complete with a spectacular indoor/outdoor pool, hot tubs, sauna, treatment rooms, private men's and women's floors, and an extensive range of fitness and exercise equipment. From $250 per night
Turks and Caicos
She's a foodie, he's an adventurer. Head to the Grace Bay Club (www.gracebayclub.com) in Turks and Caicos. Perched on 11 acres of immaculate beachfront, the Grace Bay Club was the first luxury, all-suite hotel in Turks and Caicos offering guests a quiet haven for uninterrupted relaxation. He’ll definitely keep busy with the wide range of activities available, including windsurfing, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, waterskiing, parasailing, deep-sea fishing, jet-skiing, and more! For her, the hotel offers guests the opportunity to enjoy the Conch Package. Included in the experience is a visit to the world’s only conch farm and a private conch cooking lesson with the Grace Bay Club executive chef or sous chef to master the art of conch salad, conch fritters, and more. From $500 per night
To speak with an editor at The Nest, click here.
THE BUMP ANNOUNCES THE ARRIVAL OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST BABY REGISTRY SEARCH TOOL
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the most-coveted baby carriage. That’s right. For new parents, registering for super-stylish and extra-safe baby products is just as exciting as choosing their baby’s name. In response to the nation’s baby boom and increasing use of online shopping sites, The Bump (www.thebump.com), a website for hip, first-time parents from The Knot Inc., announced the launch of The Bump Baby Registry Service (www.thebump.com/registry/home.aspx), the world’s largest baby registry search tool.
The Bump Baby Registry Service enables future parents to create and monitor their baby registry from the hottest baby retailers at once. Through this patented multiregistry search system, gift-givers can easily locate and purchase a baby gift off a registry from a variety of retailers, including Pottery Barn Kids, Right Start, Land of Nod, giggle, and BabyUniverse.com, all on TheBump.com.
In honor of the engine’s launch, The Bump editors asked their registry partners what’s hot -- and what’s absolutely essential -- for baby registries in 2008:
MOST-COVETED BABY PRODUCTS
Quinny Buzz Stroller (BabyUniverse.com, $550)
Superb form meets superior function in the stylish Quinny Buzz stroller, which offers a unique, automatic fold-out system, ergonomic seat, and futuristic design. Thanks to a revolutionary gas spring technique, the stroller automatically unfolds itself fully (no more wrestling to open it).
Fresco High Chair by bloom (The Land of Nod, $400)
In this modern high chair, fashionable babies can eat without sacrificing style for substance and safety. It features an adjustable, removable, dishwasher-safe feeding tray and second play tray, 360-degree swivel seat, and a five-point safety harness with height-adjustment shoulder straps. Plus, new parents will love its versatility: It can be used as a cradle seat for your newborn, a feeding chair for baby, or toddler play seat.
Coco Stylewood Baby Lounger (giggle, $200)
Finally, a bouncer that’s as beautiful as it is functional. The Coco Stylewood baby lounger from bloom is a modern take on the classic bouncer with a sleek design that looks right at home in any contemporary decor. Its beautiful bentwood construction gives the lounger a gentle rock -- while its soft seat and five-point harness nestle little ones safely and comfortably. Except for its small size, you’d never guess this was baby furniture!
BABY REGISTRY ESSENTIALS
Thinkbaby BPA-Free Bottle Set (giggle, $18)
With bisphenol-A (BPA) making news and raising so many concerns, parents can feel really confident about choosing Thinkbaby. These bottles are completely free of BPA, PVC, phthalates, nitrosamines, and lead, helping to minimize the health considerations of plastic. Not only that, parents will appreciate how Thinkbaby bottles also sport no-spill travel caps and an innovative nipple ventilation system that helps minimize colic.
Boppy Feeding and Infant Support Pillow (BabyUniverse.com, $25)
The Boppy feeding and infant support pillow has been voted America's favorite baby product by moms for five years in a row, according to BabyUniverse.com. The beloved product is even better this year with the addition of a Miracle Middle stretch panel to fit every waist size. Mom and Dad can feed their baby in an ergonomically correct position, with support for tired arms and necks. Use the Boppy beyond feedings for babies to lay, play, and learn to sit.
Penelope Nursery Bedding (Pottery Barn Kids, $144)
This cheerful crib bedding set is ideal for a preppy nursery. Artfully sewn with jacquard-woven fabrics, this set (which includes a bumper, crib sheet, and bed skirt) provides a fresh design featuring rows of appliqued birds and polka dots and a bumper that reverses to solid chamois. Made out of 100 percent cotton percale, this super-soft bedding option is machine-washable (an absolute baby must).
Maxi Cosi Mico Infant Car Seat (Right Start, $170)
The right infant car seat is a priority -- you can’t leave the hospital without one! The Maxi Cosi Mico infant car seat offers European style while providing the ultimate in comfortable transportation. Compatible with the Quinny Buzz and the Quinny Zapp strollers, the car seat comes with EPP foam for energy absorption, a plush infant insert, and a stay-in car base that’s weighted and installs in a rear-facing configuration with LATCH connectors.
To speak with an editor at The Bump, click here.