Colorful Confections

From sea-foam blues to ethereal grays and billowy black tulle, color was all over the glamorous gowns on the fall 2012 bridal runways, almost tempting brides to break the rules, saying: You don’t have to wear white. Likewise, more couples are also questioning whether classic white is right for their …

Let the Games Begin!

Looking for that little something to make your impending celebration feel more interactive and help your guests connect? Try a little friendly competition. Games are both a great ice-breaker and a fun way for couples to show off their personality and style, says Brooke Sheldon, owner of Lilybrooke Events in …

Ready to Rent

Savvy car buyers often avoid buying a brand-new because of the immediate depreciation. The same principle can apply to wedding gowns. If you buy a gently used bridal frock, you can easily save 20 percent or more. Even better, if you can simply borrow it, you may save more than …

Dessert You Can Drink

If there’s been a recent trend in spirits, it’s the confectionary-flavored vodka, everything from whipped cream to marshmallow. Now we can add to that list of flavors perhaps the most iconic dessert of all: wedding cake. Yeah, yeah, we know … you can drink it, too! Wedding Cake is newest …

86

Percentage of U.S. adults who say couples spend too much money on their weddings Source: Gallup telephone poll of 1,000 U.S. adults

She’s Got the Look

Chicago wedding stylist Tara Price once had a bride who wanted all the grand accessories: big earrings, a flashy necklace and an intricate hairpiece. Price, of Unveil Your Look, a wedding styling service, appreciated the idea that the bride wanted to dazzle on her wedding day, she also knew the …

Runway Report: Isaac Mizrahi for Kleinfeld

Wedding gown retailer Kleinfeld Bridal recently announced the launch of Isaac Mizrahi’s new bridal collection tailored exclusively for sale at its flagship store in Manhattan. The collection debuted on the runway April 18 and was available in-store the following day. Mizrahi’s collection features 18 gowns, including bold ball gowns and …

62

Percentage of U.S. adults surveyed who say couples should spend the most on guests’ wedding meals Source: Echo Research online survey of 1,500 consumers

$8.6 billion

Total online spending for the wedding industry in 2011, up 43 percent over 2010. Source: The Wedding Report

I Thee Claim

Rain on your wedding day isn’t the worst that could happen. Unless, of course, your venue is outdoors. According to Hartford, Conn.-based Travelers Insurance, 10 percent of its wedding insurance claims in 2011 were weather-related, such as rain making an outdoor venue untenable; snow/ice making a venue inaccessible or tornado/hurricane …