HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR WEDDING FAVORS

WHAT HAS SOCIAL MEDIA DONE TO THE WEDDING INDUSTRY?

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

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

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

PROM MUSIC 2014

Prom season is here.  Girls are shopping for dresses and boys are renting tuxedos.  Plans are underway for the big night.  You're sure to have fun at your highschool prom and hear a few familiar songs.   Here are 10 songs that are certain to be on playlist.

Swedish House Mafia:  Don't You Worry Child

Justin Timberlake:  Suit & Tie

One Republic:  Counting Stars

Pitbull with Christina Aguilera:  Feel This Moment

Pharrell:  Happy

AVICII:  Wake Me Up

Pitbull with Kesha:  Timber

Lorde:  Royals

American Authors:  Best Day of My Life

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis:  Can't Hold Us

8 REASONS TO GO TO PROM

Prom.  So what's the big deal?  Is all the fuss really worth it?  In a word, YES!  There aren't dozens of movies made lamenting missing prom because no one cares.  While there are many excuses you can use to justify not going, here are a few reasons we believe you should attend.

Never Been Kissed

1.  Great reason to buy an expensive dress:  Most girls only get to splurge on a fancy dress for their wedding. Unless you attend paegents, prom is a great reason to buy an amazing dress.

2.  Formal pictures:  When was the last time you had a formal portrait made (not in pajamas with Santa)? You'll be dressed to kill and surrounded by friends.  Embrace your inner super model and get out there.

10 Things I Hate About You

3.  The last formal dance:  Unless you are in a sorority, the prom will be your last chance to attend a formal dance.  If you do attend a sorority, prom will be good practice for the dances to come.

4.  You will miss out:  Everyone will be talking about what happened Monday morning.  You won't know who danced with whom or who won best dressed if you don't attend.

5.  Regret not going:  You will always regret not going.  Face it - hundreds of movies are based on the regret of missing prom.  Do you want to be able to identify with all of them?

Pretty In Pink

6.  Lenient parents:  This will be the one night your parent's extend your curfew and let you bend the rules.  Enjoy staying out a little later with your friends.

7.  Your boyfriend will be dressed up:  Have you ever seen your boyfriend all decked out with his hair cut, clean shaven and in a a tuxedo?  You won't regret this rare opportunity.

8.  The memories:  You will have memories of prom to last the rest of your life.  Good, bad or ugly you won't regret the stories you collect while attending your prom.

Twilight

RECYCLING YOUR PROM DRESS

WHAT NOT TO WEAR: PROM EDITION

PROM TUXEDO RENTAL

Prom Season 2014 is here!  You've asked the girl,  planned dinner and secured transportation.  Now what about your tuxedo?  Mr Burch offers hundreds of different colors and styles of suits and tuxedos.  Come see us and let us help you find the perfect fit for the right price for your big event.  

Print the coupon below and save $50 on your tuxedo rental for prom.