2010 American Wedding Trends
According to theknot.com, 2010 wedding styles will be “intimate” and “comfortable,” and we’ll be seeing more small weddings with a lot of personal touches. Tea-length dresses made of light flowing materials will replace strict bodiced ball gowns as soon as the weather permits. Retro/Vintage style is still going strong, carried over from 2009, which is probably related to the economic situation of the past few years – In rough times, we want feel-good events. We want to be reassured, surrounded by our loved ones, and be reminded of easy, happy times. What a marvelous ambiance for a wedding.
It’s interesting to note that the French weddings I’ve been to tend to be a lot less “orchestrated” though rather traditional, and most are very DIY. Often, couples plan their wedding within their family, craft their own decorations and devise the day-of itinerary themselves. Though the table is set, and the meal is served with proper etiquette in due French form, the rest of the evening is neither perfectly timed, nor meticulously executed, but relaxed and enjoyable.
As I’ve said in previous posts, the professionalization of wedding planning and coordination is still relatively new to France.
A big wedding trend for 2010 in France is the outdoor wedding! They are just starting to adopt this concept, and French Ministers are just starting to accept leaving their echo-y, chilly (yet historic and beautiful) églises, for simple garden ceremonies!
(Mas de la Rose)
One of the main reasons the French have been slow to adopt the outdoor wedding is probably because of the marriage laws in France. A couple has to be civilly married in a Mairie (City Hall) before any religious ceremony can take place. And the Mairie are often so beautiful, many couples don’t need another wedding location!
Two big 2010 trends in the US that the French haven’t yet taken to, are themed engagement shoots (actually the French don’t generally do engagement shoots at all), and the hiring (or creating) of photo booths for their receptions (though I do have a contact for a company that has launched this service in Paris!).
They do however have beautiful floral arrangements and fantastic DJ’s that keep the party going until at least 4am! They also have a tradition that I haven’t seen at too many American weddings… Slide shows & comical videos to accompany the many, many speeches! Instead of just the Best-Man and Maid of Honor or the Father of the Bride giving a speech, the numerous different groups of friends and family pick up the mike, turn down the lights and do tribute after tribute to the couple!
Whatever the trends, and traditions, the goal of a wedding year after year, and in any country, is to join two people, and two familles. And the best weddings anywhere in the world, and anywhere in time, are filled with l’AMOUR!
For fabulous French weddings visit www.rendezvous-inparis.com.
