Wedding Trends For Spring 2001

by Janice Murray, Ask Ginka - Your Guide to a Personalized Wedding

Ah spring ... what a delightful time of the year to get married in! The return of spring blossoms, birds, bright, cheerful colours and warmer temperatures. Want to know what's in for Spring 2001 weddings? Here are some ideas to get you inspired when planning your spring wedding.

Colours: The colours of spring flowers always seem to influence the colour trends. This year will be no different, as lilac/lavender, daisy or light yellow, lime green, ivory & white, celadon, icy blue/periwinkle, light pink and gold are hot colours for weddings and for bridesmaids dresses. Metallic shine continues to be popular; especially since most bridesmaid dresses are already satin. Some designers are also getting bolder; using the bright sherbet colours of mango and raspberry, which should carry right through into Summer 2001.

Cosmetics: Foundation is all-day wear, but application with ease. 2 in 1 foundation and powder or foundation sticks are quick and easy to apply and touch up. Red continues to be the hot colour for nails, but pink is also making a comeback. Nail polish that changes colour under exposure to heat or sunlight. Also, look for nails appliquéd with glitter designs or glitter in the form of funky little stick-on tattoos on the upper arm. Lips are bright and eyes are dark and smoky. In keeping with the spring colours, greys and mauves are shown on eyes.

Hair: Long hair is back in as evidenced by celebrity hairstyles. This gives you many options including updos, weaves or crimped. Jennie Garth had a messy, bedhead style for her wedding. We are also moving away from the formal, perfect hairdos of last year, into a looser, more relaxed and romantic style (Debra Messing). Bright hair highlights are still popular as is the tiara. New trend: jewelers who will restring your wedding tiara into a necklace you can wear again later.

Gowns: First trend, "The Fairytale Princess". Big, full skirted, ball gown type of dresses in satin or with layers of chiffon and tulle. Gently structured corsets, especially with detailed appliqués of flowers. In fact, flowers are showing up everywhere-on bodices, shoes, purses, invitations and bridal jewelry. After 2 seasons of next-to-no sleeves, some types of sheer, or shawl-like sleeves are being seen again or even detachable sleeves. Second trend, the 30's influenced strapless and halter-top styles are still popular; particularly sleek and comfortable for brides. Choker pearl necklaces are shown with strapless gowns. For the bridesmaids: the evening fashion look (and actually reusable!). The gowns are floor length, usually a collarbone neckline with all the emphasis on the back. The backs are interesting with halter-tops, crisscrossing straps or more intricate tiebacks. Still fashionable are cover-up wraps in a contrasting weight of fabric; like a chiffon scarf with a satin dress or vice versa. Asymmetric necklines are a new trend, baring one shoulder. Many brides are choosing to pick the colour for their bridesmaid's dresses and then let them choose which style they like best. This way everyone gets a dress they are comfortable wearing and takes into consideration different body types.

Celebrities: Madonna's wedding is guaranteed to influence trends this year. The best information on her "secret" ceremony is that she wore a strapless ivory gown with a long train, tartan sash, and a diamond tiara. Her veil was of antique lace and she wore a huge diamond cross necklace. Of course, the theme was Scottish, with the men in kilts and the Scottish castle location. Catherine Zeta-Jones also wore an very classic ivory satin dress with a long lace train, diamond tiara and floor length antique lace veil. Jennifer Aniston wore a simple, white silk halter-style dress with veil.

Flowers: Spring blooming flowers such as: rainbow tulips, yellow, white or peach daffodils, blue or white irises, narcissus, lily-of-the-valley, pussy willows, dark purple or pink hyacinths, crocus, yellow forsythia, pink, yellow or white daisies, Easter lilies, lilacs, pink or yellow roses. New trends for flowers: floral balls instead of bouquets for bridesmaids or flower girls. Bouquets are small, compact with simple elegance, all one type of flower, and tied loosely with a beautiful ribbon or two different shades of ribbon.

Themes: Spring or Easter 2001 decorating style: Easter-egg feather tree centrepieces, fabulous floral (3-5 tiers) wedding cakes, Zen-like table settings (various shades of green mosses, votive candles and low succulent plants). Butterflies-either live releases after ceremony-or seen as a decorative element on purses, on hair jewelry, as table decorations (made of feathers), or printed on wedding invitations. Designer, heart-shaped wedding rice is biodegradable, safe for animals and not slippery or staining like fresh rose petals. Divide it into tiny organza bags and pass out to guests as they leave the ceremony. Jazz up reception tables by sewing or hot-gluing on, flat silk flowers in wedding theme colours onto tablecloths or on the ring bearer's pillow. Or make an inexpensive purse for the bridesmaids by gluing on silk roses or daisies onto a plain white purse. Scatter spring-coloured jellybeans or pastel mints on each table instead of the typical metallic confetti. Hot new trends: individually themed reception tables (taking favorite places from the bride & grooms lives or hobbies) and themed bars (such as dessert or champagne bars). For an evening reception, light the way for guests with wedding luminaries.

Favours: Sparks.com is carrying plantable cards (handmade paper cards with imbedded seeds in the paper) for spring wedding favours. They also have scented cards in sage, wild rose or citrus. Other neat favour ideas include: Easter egg or duck candles, pastel-coloured fortune cookies, bunny egg candle holders, mini china teacups, egg mini chocolates nestled in miniature grapevine nests, rose and rosebud floating candles, origami birds or animals, miniature hand painted birdhouses, homemade decorated eggs, pastel Jordan almonds (in blue, pink, mauve or yellow), grow real grass in tiny frosted votives or silver metal buckets, chocolate tulips, spring-scented mini votive candles (in lilac, hyacinth, lavender or honeydew), milk or white chocolate bunnies, personalized CD's, daisy-shaped sugar cookies, homemade gem or botanical soaps in wicker/straw baskets. Glue overlapping variegated silk rose petals (or just leaves) onto a mini terracotta favour pot and top with a single white rose. Give away a single, beautiful tulip as a wedding favour, hiding the water pick inside of the folded dinner napkin and write the guests' name on the leaf. Drape white mini-lights with a floral shade on your head table. Always check local dollar store for inexpensive small Spring/Easter cello bags or mini baskets to use for favours or table decorating.

Food: Wedding reception or bridal shower food ideas: use seasonal spring produce or incorporate the colours of spring. Try these vegetables and appetizers; dilled shrimp with cucumber ribbons, artichoke bruschetta, poppyseed breadsticks, oven-roasted asparagus & leeks, arugula-mushroom-parmesan salad, sushi squares, melon & seafood salad, seviche or hot spinach salad. Try edible flower garnishes or an organic mesclun green salad. For your entrée, rack of spring lamb with mint salsa, grilled chicken breast (with asparagus, lemon & cream sauce), salmon with pesto crust, roasted duck a l'orange, new red potatoes with dill-cream sauce, baked ham with Dijon-honey glaze, pasta with spring vegetables and prosciutto (or pancetta), lemon & rosemary chicken, salmon & parmesan crepes, grilled scallops or tuna (served on citrus orzo or lemon rice). For dessert, why not have: strawberry brule, poppyseed orange chiffon cake, frozen white chocolate mousse, lemon swirl cheesecake with strawberry sauce, kiwi ice cream, lemon meringue crepes, strawberry cream puffs, or hot lemon soufflés. Lively spring-coloured drink ideas: pink mimosas, lemon (vodka) or melon (Midori) martinis, Campari cocktails, champagne with cassis liqueur (Kir Royale), or frozen honeydew margaritas.

Spring is the rebirth of the year, and there are many inspiring ideas you can feature in your wedding to make it extraordinary for you and your guests. Take your inspiration from nature, and you will be surprised how easily all your wedding planning is when you build it around a theme.

CREDITS

Author: Janice "Ginka" Murray of: Ask Ginka-Your Guide to a Personalized Wedding

The Ask Ginka wedding directory contains over 3000 links to help you plan your own unique ethnic, religious or theme wedding. Includes info for all nationalities and religions, expert advice, tools, honeymoon or destination wedding planning, over 170 theme ideas and shopping for essentials in Ginka's Wedding Store.

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