On Mike and Carrie’s Wedding Website they posted an article on hot ring trends for 2010. Check it out:

Wedding is the event that binds two hearts, body and souls together for a lifetime. The wedding is sealed and stamped with exchange of rings by bride and the groom.

Wedding rings are not ordinary rings. It should reflect your individuality and style. Traditionally, the bride and the groom wore rings of the aforementioned design. Stylish bands in different metals, colors and designs now replace this trend.

So, what are the hot wedding trends for 2010?

Diamond Rings: Diamonds are women’s prizewinning friends. Diamonds module rest trendy eternally. Some of the most favourite trend in parcel rings is 14k Two Tone Diamond Wedding Band. These rings become in white and metallic colors.

14k White Gold Diamond Wedding Bands: White metallic and parcel is a superb combination, again which module always rest trendy. Based on your budget, you can either hit diamonds fixed all over the ring, or you haw hit just 2 or 3 diamonds. The cost of the anulus module depend on the weight and clarity of the diamond. You can expect to spend over $500 and more for a beautiful parcel ring.

Gold Wedding Rings are just as favourite and module continue to be so in 2010. Buying rings in metallic is an investment, as the value of metallic module always increase. Some of the hot trends in 2010 in metallic anulus would be 14K Gold Tri-Color wedding bands in comfort fit, 14k Gold Designer Wedding Bands and 14k Gold European Comfort Fit Wedding Bands.

Celtic wedding bands are currently hot favorite amongst young brides and groom. These rings are handcrafted and are considered as piece of art.

Tungsten Carbide Wedding Bands: There is an upcoming trend of using high school metals in wedding rings. This trend part rose cod to very high prices of metallic and parcel rings and part cod to the stylish revilement and design acquirable in these rings. As against the price of $1000 and more for a parcel wedding ring, tungsten carbide anulus is acquirable for around $100.

Hence for people, who want to revilement cost, yet rest trendy, opt for tungsten carbide rings,
Rings made in tungsten carbide & zirconiums are also considered hot as these become in superb finish.

Titanium Wedding Rings: Titanium is a lightweight metal and is one of the upcoming trends in designer jewelry. Additionally, these rings become in economy range. For people not wanting to splurge hard on wedding bands, titanium rings offer the prizewinning solution.

Reference: http://www.mikelovescarrie.com/hot-wedding-ring-trends-for-2010/

Great article if you need some ideas for gifts for you best man and ushers. Enjoy!

A List of Traditional and Unique Wedding Presents for Men

Finding the perfect Best Man Gift can be tricky as it needs to be something personal while useful and fit for the occasion. This list of gift ideas has something suitable for any best man, usher or father of the bride. Don’t leave it too close to the wedding day to get the right gift for you guys, use this guide to find something perfect.

Classic Mondaine Swiss Watch for all the Men

Mondaine is the official watch of the Swiss Railway, and each timepiece is beautifully crafted, stylish with a simplistic design on the face and leather strap and they all run perfectly, like the Swiss Railway. Mondaine Watches make the perfect gift for the men at any wedding as the minimalist design goes well with wedding suits, they have space on the back for engraving a special message and they start at around £100 and go up to over £400 so there is one for most budgets.

If there is nothing all the men will want to keep why not take them all to a Premiership Football match, a Rugby League match or to watch International Cricket. The day out will be memorable and could even be the start of a stag weekend or just a nice way to relax with friends before the big day. Depending on the venue tickets can start as low as £10 and go up to over £100 per person. Spending the day with your best man and ushers will not only be a good gift for them but a great day out for the groom as well.

Fun and Funky Alessi Pop Up Bottle Opener

Alessi is well known for its kitchen ware with a beautiful range of products from coffee makers to dental floss holders, but one item that is perfect for the best man, ushers and even father of the groom and bride, is the pop-up bottle opener. This stainless steel dome looks futuristic and opens beer bottles by simply pushing it on and of the top in a quick motion. This gift is practical, especially with the world cup coming up, and is a fun and quirky novelty. This gift is guaranteed to put a smile on the faces of all the guys.

Traditional Hip Flask for Best Man and Ushers

Hip Flasks are probably one of the most traditional gifts given out by the groom to the best man and ushers. A simple stainless steel hip flask can be made more touching and personal with an engraving on the back and it is a gift that they may be unlikely to get on any other occasion. A hip flask may not be used every day but it is a nice keepsake that can be brought out on special occasions and with a message on the back it will become a lovely, personal and meaningful wedding gift.

Read more at Suite101: Wedding Gift Ideas for the Best Man and Ushers: A List of Traditional and Unique Wedding Presents for Men http://wedding-planning.suite101.com/article.cfm/top-wedding-gifts-for-the-best-man-and-ushers#ixzz0jPAQDQlg

Breast Cancer is a subject close to every woman’s heart. That is why when I ran across this press release I had to repost it. This allows you to feed two birds with one seed. You can have unique wedding favors will supporting a noble cause. Take some time to read this if you can…

Blushing brides needed to help beat breast cancer

Blushing brides needed to help beat breast cancer
If you want your big day to be extra special (and sparkly!) then why not treat your guests to a wedding favour with a difference.

Breast Cancer Campaign is encouraging all brides to be to help beat breast cancer by treating their guests to one of its pink ribbon pin badges. Not only will they add a unique touch to your wedding, but using them as favours means you’ll also be helping the charity continue funding vital breast cancer research.

There are three types of pins available; either choose from the charity’s enamel pink ribbon or jigsaw pins (£1 each) or the elegant pink ribbon diamante pin (£5 each). Also, when you order the pins to use as favours Campaign will be able to provide small place cards to inform your guests of your charitable donation.

Don’t forget you can also support the charity by asking for donations in lieu of gifts. Campaign has a simple donation form for you to send out to guests with your invitations to make things as easy as possible and we can also help to ‘pink up’ your day by supplying balloons, banners, invitation cards and any other materials you may need.

For more information or to purchase any of the charity’s merchandise, please call 020 7749 3709, email akelly@breastcancercampaign.org or visitwww.breastcancercampaign.org

Sugar and Spice, a super cute blog, has some great ideas about candy buffets. Check it out:

http://thegirlyengineer.blogspot.com/2010/03/candy-buffet.html

This is a great article I found from OneWed.com. It is a cheat sheet of the Top 10 Wedding Trends for Grooms. Enjoy!

Last month over at OneWed.com we released our Top 10 Wedding Trends. We know that grooms generally don’t want all the detail, so here is your cheat sheet:

1.    Personalization is in
What you need to know: You have a good tool for fighting any “must haves” or “cant dos”

2.    Bright colors are in
What you need to know: The bridesmaids dresses may be very brightly colored

3.    Green is in
What you need to know: Practice saying words like “sustainable” and “eco-friendly.”

4.    Grooms are in
What you need to know: Yeah, this is the big one for you. You need to be involved in the planning process. The upside – your opinion matters!

5.    Vintage is in
What you need to know: You may be asked to dress like a character from Mad Men. Sweet, yes?

6.    Backyard rustic chic is in
What you need to know: Your wedding may take place outside, it may have a small guest list. The color “burnt orange” may be mentioned.

7.    Spending more time with your guests is in
What you need to know: Longer cocktail hours, Hooray!

8.    Return to romance is in
What you need to know: This is about lace and tulle, nothing you need to know, move along.

9.    Food you can eat is in
What you need to know: Donuts, sliders, pizzas, French-fry bars, they’re all on the table to be on the table!

10.    Being tech savvy is in
What you need to know: Get a website, or better yet, a Wedding Pre-Party.

Reference: http://groomsadvice.com/2010/03/01/top-ten-wedding-trends-for-grooms/

Ran across this article about the top four wedding trends for 2010. Enjoy!

POSTED BY SARAH, ON MARCH 1ST, 2010

Getting married this year? We’ve sourced the top five wedding trends for the year of 2010, guaranteed to make your wedding stand out, stay trendy, and be a day to remember!

BLACK AND BOLD

Step away from whites and pastels. This year, stick with the only white as your wedding dress, then top it off with black accents and bright colours. Flowers, dresses, accessories and adornments will produce a vibrant background against simple blacks and whites.

ECO-FRIENDLY WEDDINGS

Keep it sustainable by choosing to be planet friendly. From vintage wedding dressed to recycled invitations, we’re going a little greener for our big days. Read more in our post Eco-friendly Wedding Ideas.

RETHINK YOUR VENUE

Along with saving the environment, think about saving a little more in your bank account. Consider having a backyard wedding, either at your own home, a family member or friends, or even a local park or beach. Rustic, casual and money conscious, it’s a private, intimate way to really bring the ceremony home.

FEEL GOOD FOOD

Yes, we all love salmon with reduced potato emulsion atop crisp shallot croutons with a side of green bean slivers with almond redux. But really, wouldn’t you rather just have some pizza and macaroni and cheese? More weddings are choosing casual buffets over pricey sit downs, and even opting for making their own menu. You can even easily make your own Coconut Cream Wedding Cupcakes.

Reference: http://arbutusphotography.com/top-four-wedding-trends-for-2010/

The wedding reception is the time to celebrate the wedding vows. It is a chance for the new couple to share their joy with family and friends. To make the reception a unique celebration, plan it with your guests in mind to provide them with the time of their lives.

Avoid making the reception a stiff, formal affair. Make a point of planning a fun event to entertain everyone so they will have a great time. Depending on the location of the reception you have many options for planning a reception that everyone will always remember.

The setup of the reception should be easy and simple. If you are going to have decorations make them in places out of the way of the guests and their views of the room or area. It is frustrating for a guest to miss a special moment like the cutting of the cake or a decoration or a pillar in the reception hall blocks the wedding toast since their view.

To make your reception truly unique, select a location that will be different from other receptions. This then creates the memorable time for the guests and the bridal party.
If you are having a country theme or a beach wedding, have the reception in the areas of the farm for the country wedding and for the beach wedding have it on the beachfront. Have a corn roast or pig roast for a better effect and fun for the reception.

Remember to change into a different dress so you will not ruin your wedding gown. By changing your dress, you will tell your friends and family you are ready to have a good time. There are plenty of nice white dresses that will still allow you to wear white but not ruin the beautiful dress of your dreams.
Think about different locations such as a park where the guests can play horseshoes, volleyball, and maybe a game of baseball. Let your guests know before the wedding to bring a change of clothes so they will be dressed appropriately.

For the sports fan, add sports party favors to the theme of the reception. Have a baseball or football shaped punch bowl or small cakes or party treats. Golf is a sport many enjoy, use a golf tee for the poker on the treats.

A skyscraper is another unique location for the reception. This is a nice place especially at night with the lights of city under the feet of the guests resembling fireflies. That location screams “romance” and will be a very impressive place for your reception.

Have your reception in the local gardens for a nice daytime reception with the continued romantic feeling you are trying to have for your wedding. With all the different possibilities for locations, only you imagination is stopping you from having your reception in a unique location.

Weddings usually serve an alcoholic beverage. Serving wine has become something many couples add to the  list since it is a classy beverage that is enjoyed by all age groups and crowds. Add to the appearance of the wine bottle by using some unique methods  making a lasting impression on the guests.

Wine stoppers in the theme of the wedding are a nice touch. The stoppers are available in hearts, starfish, wedding bells, and so many other designs to match any wedding theme. The stoppers add personality to every bottle especially if the bottles at set on the individual tables in a basket filled with ice.

Use wine charms with the bottles. The charms added to either the bottles or the wine glasses. They are available in the same cute and classy designs of hearts, wedding bells, bows, as well as custom designs to match your wedding theme including boots for the country wedding for example.

Elegant little bottles of wine are a nice touch to the wine lovers on the guest list. The bottles do not have to be wine since they are also available in sparkling cider for the younger guests. They are also great keepsakes that provide lasting memories.

Another classy touch is having your own wine in a bottle with the names of the bride and groom with the wedding date on the labels. Add a nice picture to the label for more personal touch to the customized wine bottle.

Create your own champagne jelly, which is fast and easy. It is will go with any meal you are serving as well as the wedding cake. To make the jelly offers the tastes of champagne as part of the dessert you serve with the meal.

Use champagne flutes as a wedding favor for the reception. This is a nice gift for all the guests. Fill the flutes with candy in the colors of the wedding theme and sit them on the tables for added decoration. The guests always love little personalized touches at receptions and this will be a nice gift they can take home with them.

There are other wine favors you can use at the reception such as grape coasters and wine bottle serving platters you set the bottles of wine on for the wine lovers on the guest list. They will find this touch classy and stylish. Wine bottle shaped candles can be placed on the tables for an evening wedding to provide the candlelit reception adding the atmosphere of romance centered around the wine theme of the reception.

For the wine lovers that are getting married or the guests of the reception, using the wine favors and decorations will make a lasting impression on everyone sharing your special day.

Most brides have an idea of what they want to do for their wedding theme while others have a harder time deciding. The average weddings will take place in the hometowns or in the United States. Here are the standard month-by-month wedding themes and colors to help decide the right colors for your wedding.

March and April is a wonderful time for the spring wedding with the new spring colors and flowers. Lilies of the Valley and Shasta daisies, daffodils, and tulips are the spring flowers. Pastel colors of purple, yellow, pink, and light blue are the colors used including light greens and peach colors.

Some of the popular themes include Cherry Blossom, butterfly, and dragonflies. Light and springy items of the springtime are the general type of themes. Other themes include St. Patrick’s Day or something Irish.

May, June, and July are the summer wedding associated with the gardens, beaches, and countrysides or parks. The colors are brighter using fuchsia, hot pink, orange, green with contrasts of black, chocolate, gray, or aqua.
The themes include Gardens, Daisies, Victorian Gardens, beaches, starfish, Hawaiian Luau, Nautical, Poolside, Patriot, fairy tales, country, and south of the border.
The color themes incorporate all shades of green, cornflower blue, orange, fuchsia, aqua blue, teal green, and aubergine.

August, September, and October are the fall weddings. The darker colors such as pumpkin orange, cinnamon, dark purple, dark blue, hunter green, burgundy, mocha, chocolate brown, rust, and gold.
The themes include Harvest time, Halloween, Tuscan, and Labor Day celebrations.

November is colors include gold, creams, browns, dark orange, dark blues, dark greens, and darker reds. The use of black with red or hunter greens are a favorite as well. The themes are around the harvest and Thanksgiving themes.

December, January, and February are the winter months associated with the bright vibrant winter colors of red, gold, green, white, silver, and blue as anything metallic or shiny. Adding the black color to any of the main colors create a wonder and attractive style for the wedding.

The themes are associated with the holidays of Christmas, New Years,  Valentine’s Day, Winter Wonderland, as well as crystal and diamond themes. Adding the dark purples, the combination of black and white, white and red, and blue and gold are also associated with this time of the year.

As with all suggested colors and themes for weddings, the final decision for the themes and colors are up to the wedding couple. They can make any theme and colors look just beautiful for their wedding during any month they are getting married. The concept of this list is to offer assistance for wedding color and theme ideas. The true test of the right colors and themes is how comfortable the bridal pair is with their decision.

To use centerpieces for the wedding tables is to create a romantic feeling for the guests. Bowls of water with floating flowers or candles lit provide the romantic mood while being easy and affordable for the bridal couple. Incorporate the wedding colors for the candles and flower to carry the theme onto the centerpieces. Place the bowl in the center of the table so all the guests can feel the atmosphere the floating sensation produces.

Some money saving centerpieces for the wedding tables include plastic punch bowls etched in frosted glass or plastic. Place flowers in the bowl and around the bottom edges for a custom effect. Decorate it with doves, hearts, bells, and tulle.

Paper mache boxes in the colors of the wedding in different shapes make a classical touch. Use heart shaped boxes with tulle and white flowers to add to the charm of the boxes.
Clay potted flowers draped with pearls and tulle. Set the flowers in the middle of the table in a color doily enhancing the flowers and drawing the eyes to the center of the table. Use flowers matching the colors of the wedding flowers. The flowers do not have to be the same flowers as the rest of the wedding since the purpose of the centerpiece flowers is to continue the colors of the wedding theme.

Candles set in pillars decorated with a chain of pearls gently wrapped around the base of the pillar. Add tulle to the lower part of the pillar for a romantic effect.
Candles in the shapes of hearts, bells, or doves gently floating in a low bowl with confetti placed on the bottom of the bowl set in the middle of the table creates a beautiful addition. As the evening advances, light the candles setting a romantic mood for the evening.

All of the table centerpieces can be purchased inexpensively from dollar stores, craft stores, and department stores months prior to the big day for a less expensive method to decorate the tables with style, elegance, and grace.

To add to the selections for the centerpieces use the online discount stores that has so many more accessories for decorating the reception. Visit the sites to see the discounted items you can use for the centerpieces for the tables. Many sites will even have clearance items that will be inexpensive to add to your centerpieces.

Craft stores have discount areas where you can find great items to use for the centerpieces. There are floral pieces , pearls, lace, and ribbons that will be parts of the centerpieces for the tables at a discounted price saving you money with each attractive creation you make. You can save a lot of money when using the discounted items for your centerpieces.