Trends in 2013: Mint

When it comes to color, I think mint green will be popular in 2013’s weddings. I can’t say exactly why, but I’ve seen it at a couple of weddings this year, and it makes me think that as a color, it will just continue to grow in popularity next year.

In terms of flowers and decorations, mint green (or light green, if that’s your preference), its an easy color to work with. Probably the flower most closely matching mint green is the green cymbidium orchid, like the one in the little silver cup at the base of this tall arrangement. When choosing flowers for a mint green wedding, you really just need lots of greens and lots of white flowers. And you can mix in a few green cymbidiums and green mums, too.

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Trends In 2013: Flying Wish Lanterns

I remember seeing flying wish lanterns in the animated film “Tangled.” I’ve never seen flying wish lanterns in person, but the film was so great, I felt like I’d seen them close up. Then I saw someone had pinned a flying wish lantern on Pinterest, and it was over. It’s my wish that they become one of 2013’s hot wedding trends.

Flickr photo by elizaIO

Flying wish lanterns, also known as sky lanterns, are Chinese in origin, according to Wikipedia. They work kind of like mini hot air balloons, with the hot air from the flame lifting up the entire lantern to the sky, like a balloon. When used singly, it is quick to disappear. But when you light dozens into a dark sky, the effect is breathtaking.

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Trends in 2013: Garlands

I worked with garlands very early on in my “career” decorating weddings with my mom. In fact, I’d say that garlands were the first thing I draped. For us at the time, garlands were silk flowers and leaves that I would use on pretty much anything — church pews, reception tables, gazebos. This was back in, gosh, 1994, 1995? So it doesn’t surprise me that garlands are making a comeback, with a modern twist.

Fresh garland as aisle decorations

This garland, which my mom had made, for a friend’s wedding in Pasadena, was made of fresh greens — lemon leaves and another green leaf that is thorny and itchy — for the aisle decorations. It’s very traditional. But I think 2013’s wedding garlands will be very DIY.

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Trends In 2013: Wine bottle centerpieces

Prognostication is a more of an art than a science in any topic — sports, politics, even weddings. Last month, as I surfed Pinterest, I got to thinking — what will be the hot trends when it comes to decorating weddings in 2013? Mason jars have been everywhere for a long time now, but I think their time has passed. I think the time has come for the wine bottle flower arrangement.

Flickr photo by gwacie

When you think about it, its simple. It can look classy. And its upcycling. That’s three good reasons to do it.

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What wedding decoration trends will we see in 2013?

I’ve been busy looking over Pinterest to get an idea of what brides are planning for their weddings in 2013.

 

I know its only September, but before you know it, it’ll be the holidays and couples will be getting engaged left and right. Then, all of a sudden, it’s 2013, and what are people going to be doing to decorate their weddings? More burlap? More peacock themes? I’ve seen some predictions so far, namely from 3D Memoirs (which has some great ideas and examples). But based on what’s getting pinned, I have a few of my own ideas.

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Centerpiece trends

I’ve never been into trends — I mostly like what I like — but its a good gauge for where you should go. I was browing TheKnot.com’s flowers section recently and found this article about what’s hot for centerpieces.

A lot of it is what I expected, but I was sort of disappointed when they didn’t provide pictures. C’mon guys! Anyway, you know I’ll hook it up, thanks to a little bit of surfing on Flickr.

By the way, this arrangement above, from Whittier’s Friendly Hills Country Club, fits the article because it keeps the view.

It’s hard to have a conversation with the person across the table when there’s a big centerpiece blocking your view. To mitigate this, designers are making increased use of glass and Lucite containers, which add height to the table, but don’t entirely restrict sight lines. Consider using short square and tall rectangular glass vases spaced evenly apart down a banquet table. The look is spatially interesting and still functional.

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Unusual wedding practices

A feel-good story in the Washington Post tells us about a couple getting married who decided on an unusual mode of transportation from ceremony to reception — the subway.

Photos by Washington Post‘s Nikki Kahn

In this era of matrimonial excess, many couples spare no expense to create lavish, traffic-stopping celebrations. They arrive in stretch limos, Hummer stretch limos, even horse-drawn carriages.

But newlyweds Anneliesa Clump and Scott Alprin found a way to turn heads yesterday for $1.65 a guest: They took the Metro, at the height of rush hour, to their reception.

“Weddings get so kind of out of hand,” said Clump, 35, a project coordinator at Georgetown University who lives in Cleveland Park. “We’re city people, we take Metro everywhere. It just kinda made sense. . . . You know, no fuss.”

I love this story! It sort of continues my post from last week about going green, wasting less — having everyone walk (thus, everyone gets some exercise before chowing down), using public transportation (saving fuel AND money!), and having fun all at the same time, since who doesn’t enjoy going places with a big group of people? Plus, what a great ice breaker!

Fresh out of the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue in Chinatown, the couple, along with dozens of wedding guests in suits and spring dresses, hoofed it a couple blocks about 5:30 and entered the teeming Gallery Place Station, which was flooded with weekend-bound commuters and Washington Wizards fans arriving for last night’s playoff game.

Clump handled the first obstacle — the escalator — with poise. Her veil flapping in the breeze, she hiked up the skirt of her white gown a bit and stepped onto the contraption with her tuxedo-clad groom.

The two began the slow ride underground, the wedding photographer’s flash firing while confused and bemused strap-hangers, including work-weary commuters and tourists, looked on with grins. Some yelled “Congratulations!” as the newlyweds passed.

Seriously, what a great idea.

It just makes me think — what else can a couple do to make their ceremony stand out, yet save money and be environmentally conscious? I can’t think of any off the top of my head, but please, if you think of any, leave it in the comments!
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