If you’re deep into planning your upcoming wedding, we know you've probably already read that the number one rule is to set a realistic budget and stick to it. Choosing where to spend your hard-earned money isn’t always easy though. There are so many venues to explore, vendors to interview, dresses to consider… the list can seem endless! But continually checking in on your budget and expenses is key in your decision making process, otherwise costs can easily spiral out of

Corsets are certainly nothing new. These articles of clothing have been worn by women (and men, too) for centuries, their popularity dating back at least to the 16th century in Europe. They were designed to firmly cinch the waistline, support good posture and create a desired silhouette, evolving in structure and shape with the shifting trends in fashion. Corsets remained in style as a utilitarian item until sometime around 1920 when they were replaced by the girdle, passi

After quite a few years of seeing unique dessert offerings such as doughnuts, cupcakes and pies substituted for the wedding cake (which we also love, of course!), the traditional tall and classic cake is back in! Cakes stacked in four or more tiers, mainly in classic white buttercream with just the right amount of refined embellishment, are what this year’s brides and grooms are requesting most. And it’s easy to see why… these wedding cakes are time-honored and appreciated b

Once again, ruffles, puffs and fluffy tiers are expected to be a big fashion trend in bridal gowns this wedding season. Their popularity really took center stage about five years ago and wedding professionals are seeing brides choosing gowns with big, fluffy ruffles for their special day in 2025. While corseted, slim silhouetted dresses, drop waists, antique lace and gowns with 3D florals are all slated to be the biggest trends in bridal fashion this year, gowns with full ru

Just as in years past, personalization is still paramount in weddings even more now than ever before. Brides and grooms are enjoying the freedom to create an event that matches their personalities and lifestyle and truly reflects the custom wedding of their dreams. Today, many couples aren’t feeling the need to include all of their family traditions and customs and they don’t want to have essentially the same wedding event as everyone else. Unique is in, and full personaliz

Happy New Year! We're so thankful for the wonderful year we just had filming weddings for our couples, and are really looking forward to the weddings to come in 2025. And each year about this time, we're curious to see what's in store for us in wedding themes, décor and fashion. The first trend to point out, ironically, is that following wedding trends is no longer a trend! But even so, we know there still will be wedding decorations, clothing, ideas and themes that every

There are two main options for dinner seating arrangements for the newlyweds at their reception: the head table and the sweetheart table. With a reception that has a head table, the entire wedding party is seated together in a long table at the front of the dining space. And a sweetheart table is quite the opposite. For weddings being planned for 2025, the most popular option for couples is once again expected to be the sweetheart table. Let's a look at this fantastic cho

It's hard to believe that it's almost November and 2024 is wrapping up. And so, of course, we're already wondering what weddings will look like in the new year! We've been gathering ideas for what to expect from wedding professionals and as for reception spaces, we're reading all over that for weddings in 2025, more couples will be choosing to seat their guests at elegant, long tables for dinner. This arrangement is also often called banquet seating. Each guest is encoura

Brides with a desire to be just a little bold and daring on their wedding day are loving this current trend! Wedding gowns with thigh-high leg slits are taking weddings by storm, and we know they're not going anywhere next year! Wedding dresses with a high-slit are definitely not a conservative option, but they certainly are still a very glamorous and elegant choice. These beautiful and sexy dresses also have some versatility. With most high-slit gowns, brides can easily c

A live event painting is a custom work of art painted by an artist right there at the special event, all as the action is unfolding. The most captured events include large birthday parties, bar/bat mitzvahs, family reunions, corporate events and of course, weddings! While hiring a live event painter to capture a special wedding scene is really popular with couples right now, you don't need to feel like you're just following the trend if you choose to have a live event pain

Drop waist bridal gowns have returned for weddings in 2024 and will remain in 2025! These are those gorgeous wedding dresses with a waistline set below the natural waist, and often very subtle and barely defined. Traditionally, the dress hugs close to the body and flares out at the hips. Lovely drop waist bridal gowns can also be similar to trumpet fit and flare silhouetted gowns. They've always been popular, but this year, they're one of the hottest wedding dresses aroun

If you’ve ever been to any traditional wedding, you know what the first dance is. Not surprisingly, it’s the very first, formal dance at the reception, performed alone by the newlyweds. Usually, it takes place right after they’ve arrived and been announced to everyone. And guests all stand by to watch and admire the couple as their well-rehearsed dance is performed on the dance floor. First Dance Trends According to the results of The Knot Research and Insights Team’s 2023

We were so excited to read recently that another favorite wedding dress accessory that’s been very popular in recent years is going to be found on even more bridal gowns in 2024. And this time, they’ll be bigger than ever! Along with super thin spaghetti straps and 3D appliques, in 2024, we expect to see even more statement bows! According to The Knot, “A bow adds a timeless feminine touch and a festive flourish to any look. While they previously played a supporting role in

You may have read that Marseille Bleu is Minted.com and Brides.com's wedding color of the year for 2024. The two wedding industry powerhouses got together again, this time not to design goods that reflect current wedding trends, but instead to help shape the look and feel of weddings to come and create those trends that would excite couples planning their dream weddings. And a great place to start is with a Color of the Year. Minted + Brides chose the name to honor the beau

When you’re planning your wedding day, a decision that might be more important than you think is the selection of your wedding officiant. Not only does this person perform your ceremony and lead you in reciting your vows, he or she will most likely help you in planning the kind of ceremony you want, and often provide some form of counseling in the months leading to the wedding day. For some, the decision is easy: their officiant will be the religious leader with whom they’r

As the wedding season kicks off, a big 2024 bridal gown trend we're looking forward to is pin-thin spaghetti straps, wedding gowns with ultra thin shoulder straps. With 'barely there' ties, many of these gowns come pretty close to the always-popular strapless dress in appearance. But they have the added bonus of increased comfort and absolute security, the wedding gown held up and in place with very tiny, very lovely shoulder straps. Wedding gowns with delicate spaghetti s

As we endure the bitter cold and bleakness of another winter season here in the mid-Atlantic, we can’t help but think back and pine for those sunny, summer weddings and all the lovely summery wedding themes. And as we're fairly close to the shore here in New Jersey, one of the biggest themes we see often and love so much is the nautical or beach theme. Really, the nautical theme can be used for weddings taking place in all seasons and in all locations. But a wedding on an

Seeing your spouse-to-be before the start of the ceremony was once considered taboo, thought of as bad luck or just simply wrong. But over the last few decades, more and more couples are choosing to ignore the old beliefs, and meet up before the ceremony to see each other in their fancy wedding garb. Each year, the this trend gets bigger... and we love it! It almost seems now that the first look before the walk down the aisle is becoming the tradition, the new wedding norm

On the day of your wedding, you’ll definitely be spending most of your post-ceremony time celebrating and dancing the night away. But as you know, every newly married couple has certain responsibilities to fulfill during the wedding event as well. And although wedding customs and etiquette change over time, there are a few standards of polite behavior that aren't going anywhere anytime soon. The one we're looking at today is your duty to greet and thank all of your guests

You’ve chosen the date and now it’s time to pick your wedding venue. But a wedding event in a glamorous ballroom or fancy hotel was never in your dreams. You’ve always imagined holding your wedding right at home in your own backyard. Wedding events held at home, whether it be for only the ceremony, just the reception or both, have some really terrific advantages over weddings held at an established wedding locale. But honestly, it usually necessitates earlier and more care