If you are planning a wedding in 2008 then you might be interested in some of the 2008 trends revealed recently by experts at The Knot from the The Knot Magazine Spring 2008 issue (on newsstands January 28, 2008). The Knot's experts are forecasting increased luxury rentals, wardrobe changes, green weddings, viral proposal videos, destination weddings and honeymoons on steroids. If you might be attending a wedding in 2008 you might also want to skim over the list of trends as there are many changes taking place. For example, at some weddings nowadays you might find a disposable video camera at your table. Here are some highlights from The Knot's analysis.
Beauty and Fashion
Steal the Look (..We Mean Rent It!): Brides in lust with the luxury labels have found salvation at sites like bagborrowandsteal.com; for less than $100, you can rent a $2,600 pair of Vera Wang diamond and pearl-studded earrings or a Judith Leiber jeweled-encrusted clutch worth over $3,500.
Split-Personality Brides: Brides are doing a double take during the wedding: doing presto-changos with their gowns (sometimes up to three wardrobe changes) and sneaking away during cocktail hour for a whole new hairdo (classic updos for the ceremony, then sexy tousled tresses on the dance floor!).
Heirloom Engagement & Wedding Rings: Jennifer Love Hewitt just got a bauble that's been in fiancé Ross McCall's family for over 100 years. Alicia Silverstone wed Chris Jarecki wearing a ring crafted from his great-great-grandmother's ring. Passing down a time-honored piece of jewelry adds another layer of sentimentality that can't be bought in a store.
Reception Redux
The "Marie Antoinette" Wedding: We bet that Sofia Coppola had no idea that her fashionable blockbuster would inspire a whole new class of bourgeoisie brides! Lush floral centerpieces, rich gilded colors, big gowns, brocade, and decadent receptions are fit for royalty, complete with hand-painted invitations, champagne tasting bars, seven courses, and extravagant dessert displays!
'80's Cover Bands: Oh L'Amour! Couples are going beyond the classic wedding band and hiring '80s cover bands to play their favorite tunes from Men at Work, Madonna, and Michael Jackson. Other genre bands for hire: classic rock, college frat-house bands, swing orchestras, and Latin ensembles-along with hired dancers to get the party moving.
Green Weddings: Couples continue to be earth-conscious in 2008: from email invites for weddings and festivities to serving up locally grown, free-range fare and donning bio-friendly wedding gowns made of 100 percent silk and cottons. They're also honeymooning at eco-resorts and gathering friends for charitable showers at soup kitchens and local park events.
Going Hi-Tech
The Social Network Wedding: From viral proposal videos posted on YouTube to enhanced wedding web pages and Facebook-friend polling on first dance
songs and menu options, weddings have become public planning ventures. Look for couples to log online, use blogs as "communication central," and,
with new mobile technology, post on-the-road photos to get immediate feedback on decisions from their bridesmaids, friends, and family.
The Real World: Your Wedding: Couples will get celebrity exposure with major video footage of their wedding days, from "day in the life of" documentary-style videos to "same day edits" where ceremony photos and footage are highlighted at the reception. Guests become paparazzi with
disposable video cameras on the tables (check out The Knot Shop).
Travel
Daring Destination Weddings: The destination wedding trend will continue to evolve as new spots emerge. From taking guests on African safaris
to skiing the slopes of Sundance, fly-fishing in Big Sky, Montana, and jetting off to Barcelona and Scottish castles!
Honeymoons on Steroids: Twice as long, twice as far, twice as memorable: Couples are going the distance for their deluxe vacations. Some of the
types of honeymoon destinations The Knot listed for 200 include the Italian Coast, cruising the Nile, the Panama, East Asian excursion and private villa.
