Blog archive
- 2016
WHAT HAS SOCIAL MEDIA DONE TO THE WEDDING INDUSTRY?
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
From Youtube, Pinterest, Lover.ly, to Instagram and Facebook -– social media has dramatically changed how brides explore and discover ideas for wedding planning. In addition, brides are connecting with communities of similar women to share their experiences. It is ever more critical for wedding vendors and businesses that are active in the wedding industry to understand this trend and become engaged in communicating with these women on popular social networks and communities.
Brides are glued to their tablets or other mobile devices scrolling through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds. Gone are the days of brides carrying a heavy wedding magazine with lots of post-it notes plastered throughout the pages, which was the norm not too long ago. Social media and interactions within the wedding community have become very visual based. For comic relief, brides can type ‘wedding meme’ into Google Images for instant laughs. In addition, Pinterest has rocked the wedding industry. Florists and wedding planners get direct links to their brides' wedding Pinterest boards. Much of the creativity and vision that the wedding planner once had seems to have shifted onto the Pinterest boards of brides-to-be.
Social media is also a great way to include family members and friends scattered around the world in your wedding plans. Brides are often using Skype and other online formats with family friends to help with selecting a wedding dress. Couples can create specific hashtags for their wedding photos captured by friends to share during and after the wedding day. Beautiful moments are captured and rapidly spread across social networks. Don’t be surprised to see brides creating “social media rules” for their weddings. Brides and grooms may want to be the first to post any pictures of their wedding onto social networks.
As much as social media has enhanced the wedding planning process and made it much more easy to explore and discover brands, venues, makeup artists, hair stylists, and wedding dress designers, it has also put more pressure on brides, mothers of brides, and mothers of grooms to demand perfection on the wedding day. There are now over 20 reality TV wedding shows focusing on how wedding planners create elaborate weddings and how brides are determined to find the perfect wedding dress.
Like all tools, social media in wedding planning should be used in moderation. It's a great way to connect scattered friends and family and include so many in the planning process. Brides should just keep their perspectives in check and hold realistic expectations when it comes to working with their vendors. Pinterest boards are a great jumping off place to set ideas in motion and when accompanied by an experiences team of local vendors, brides will have a great time seeing their plans come to fruition.
SUMMER 2014 WEDDING COLOR TRENDS
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
When choosing a color palette for your wedding, there are several parameters to keep in mind. The colors will set the mood for the entire event. For example, if you choose soft muted colors, you will convey elegance and sophistication, whereas bold bright hues will suggest a lighter, more fun mood for your event.
Summer 2014 color trends offer something for everyone. Blue seems to be the super color of the year. Navy blue especially is being paired with everything from traditional white to bolds like canary yellow and lime green. Other than blue, the major color trends for summer weddings are bright and fun or soft and serene.
If your venue is more casual and light, the bright and fun colors may be a great way to create the kind of atmosphere you're after. Teals, Fuchsias, Yellows and Oranges can be used in fabrics and florals to enhance the special day you have planned.
If your venue is more traditional and you have elegance in mind, then soft and serene may be the way to go. This palette uses creams and grays as a backdrop for mint greens and light pinks and peaches. Table linens and florals done in these soft tones will create a classic refined look that you'll cherish in photos for yours to come.
Whether you're bold and bright or soft and serene, 2014 has color trends to compliment your plans for a perfect day. Happy Planning
POPULAR ACCESSORIES FOR GROOMS AND GROOMSMEN
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Accessories are a great way to express personality through clothing. And they aren't just for the ladies on wedding day anymore. Guys can let everyone know who they really are and have fun with accessories while still keeping style in the forefront.
Ties:
While black tie isn't a must anymore, most wedding attire for men usually still includes a tie, and with all the options available now, no one will feel stuffy when sporting this dressy accessory. Tuxedos and suits can be accessorized with traditional long ties that either coordinate with the suit, or make a bold statement with color or pattern. Bow ties have also made a large comeback in recent years. Some wedding parties even represent their own personal style by choosing their own ties in a coordinating color or length but are slightly different from one another to celebrate the individual.
Pocket Squares:
The pocket square is another accessory that has made a recent comeback. The pocket square is a great way to add a pop of color. Guys can sport these accessories in the most traditional sense coordinating with one another and the overall color scheme of the wedding, or totally break away calling attention to each guy in their own unique way.
Fun Extras:
Accessories like cuff links, sunglasses, and splashy socks are a great way to get guys who aren't always on board with being dressed to the nines to relax into formal wear. These also make for the most fun photo ops. So, if you can assign a favorite super hero, sports team, color or pattern to each of the special guys that make up your wedding party, these fun choices are the way to go.
Above all, have it your way when selecting which style, color and type of accessories are right for your guy group.
BRIDESMAID DRESSES: NO RULES APPLY
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
WHAT NOT TO WEAR: PROM EDITION
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
VALENTINE'S DAY OUTSIDE THE BOX
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
- Tell them you Love them. Sounds like a cop-out, right? Well it isn't. It's what Valentine's Day is really all about. Love. Tell your special someone you love them in a whole new way. Call and leave a million messages of love while they are at work, or put it on post-its all over the bathroom mirror. Anything that makes your Valentine feel loved all day is a big win.
- Make Something. Maybe your Valentine would love a handmade card decorated with artwork and language only you could create. Maybe he or she loves sushi and you could impress them with a handmade roll. If your sweetie has a sweet tooth, bake a cake or cokkies yourself rather than depending on your local chocolatier.
- Make Peace. All couples have hot button issues that rear their ugly heads over and over. This Valentine's Day, make peace with your special someone over your dreaded issue. Promise to have an open mind to his or her way of thinking and let them know that you'll do your part to keep the peace.
- Give your time. Don't just schedule your mate in between work and social commitments, really make time for him or her. Whether you curl up on the couch for a favorite movie or help them with a project they've been meaning to get started on, undivided attention and time is a priceless gift that is bound to fill the love bank.
HONEYMOON DESTINATIONS
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
THE WEDDING RING
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
- Shop around. Each jeweler offers different designers and each has its own style. A special event and special occasion in your life should be celebrated with your wedding band as a symbol. Jewelers carry the classics plus a majority of the alternative metals. Discover which material speaks to you and works with your lifestyle.
- The size of your fingers fluctuates during the day, so have someone qualified measure your ring finger. The proper way for a ring to fit is to have to work to get it on and off over your knuckle. Along these lines, the band width tends to match the size of your finger. A man with a smaller finger may have a preference for a 4-millimeter width over the more popular 6-millimeter.
- Plan ahead! On average, give 4 to 6 weeks before you get the ring you ordered. Keep in mind that this is a lasting symbol of not only your wedding day but of your lives. Put the time and energy into choosing something that will last the rest of your lives.
ACCESSORIES: VEILS, JEWELRY, AND WRAPS, OH MY!
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
LOOK GREAT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE: PART ONE
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
- A light blue or purple dressy shirt. Open up the two top buttons for a slick and more confident image.
- If you're aiming for a more polished look, top your shirt off with a classy leather blazer. Great brands that have leather apparel are: Hugo Boss, The Gap, Andrew Marc, DKNY, and Prada.
- This year, it's all about leather, so get yourself a nice pair of leather pants. Unless you're attending Fetish Night , don't buy plastic looking leather pants (pleather); opt for a jean-cut pair of leather trousers offered at stores like The Gap, Banana Republic or J. Crew.
- Whether or not you decide to use one of the aforementioned suggestions, make sure you have great looking shoes, and that your ensemble's colors match perfectly.
- Leather is also a winner when it comes to winter jackets. Try a -length leather trench coat — preferably made out of nice, shiny leather. Black, brown and tan colors all look great when properly matched. Check out Armani, Andrew Marc and The Gap.
- A rich-looking sheepskin jacket is always a classic amongst top designers. It's always a perfect fit for the more mature, classy gentleman who has achieved a certain status and wants to show it. Sheepskin jackets are guaranteed to keep you warm throughout the whole winter season. These are available by Armani, Prada and John Varvatos.
- For those of you who can't afford leather, opt for a dark gray mohair trench coat (single-breasted). These can be found at Sisley/Benetton, Armani, Banana Republic, and J. Crew.
- For a sportier look, get a quilted jacket with a fake fur hood and cuffs. The furry and fuzzy added touch is extremely hot this winter. Don't worry if you look like an Eskimo; at least you'll be toasty, not to mention very fashionable. You can find them at DKNY, and most trendy department stores.
This blog was originally posted on Ask Men and written by Chris Rovny