Wedding season descends upon us as summer quickly approaches! Rather than the sometimes cookie-cutter festivities one may have come to dread, today’s weddings are increasingly unique, fun and often show the couple’s personality.
“One of the biggest trends is brides are really wanting to personalize their weddings, so there’s always a lot of DIY” said Darcy Miller, editorial director for Martha Stewart Weddings, using the acronym for “Do-It-Yourself.” Miller however, refers to DIY as “design-it-yourself.”
“DIY for us is more about putting your own personal stamp on your wedding and we’re not expecting you to sew your own wedding dress, but maybe add silk flowers to a pair of gloves-something to put your own personal stamp on it.”
Weddings increasingly have become a special and intimate affair for not just the bride, but for the couple celebrating their love. Though tradition still reigns high on list of importance, many want to make sure the day reflects their personalities while making it special for guests as well. It’s the epitome of permission to be selfish, where taking care of yourself results in a better experience for everyone around you.
Miller notes that this summer’s issue of Martha Stewart Weddings marks their 15th year of publication. She points out that the signature style increasingly being shown by today’s bride and groom is right in line with the evolution of weddings. “It’s a combination of where weddings are going anyway. You’re seeing the bridesmaids no longer put every girl in the same dress, in the same color. If you like pie, do pie; have cupcakes. Cookie cutter is only being used for cookies-cookies of course in the shape of your initials,” she chuckled.
“When we started 15 years ago we wanted to make everything personal. Couples [now] have their own web pages, Facebook pages-young people are kind of all about them. People are branding themselves-I say the word branding-but I think through their own web pages, they’re creating your own style,” she emphasized.
Keeping in stride with the 21st Century bride and groom, the Internet offers many ways for couples to find tips and tools to make their wedding their own. From blogs like The Bride’s Café (www.thebridescafe.com) to Design-your-own invitations, favors and accessories at crafts stores like Michaels; Martha Stewart Weddings even has gotten into the action with a blog where brides can ask questions, an interactive Facebook page, even a handle on Twitter (twitter.com/marthaweddings).
Martha Stewart herself has gone the direction of celebrity wedding designers, working with all-inclusive resorts to provide an all-in-one package for destination weddings. Exotic locations like The Bahamas, Mexico, Bali and Hawaii increasingly have become a way to reduce the stress all-too-often associated with wedding planning. Stewart has partnered with Sandals to create Caribbean wedding packages offered by the chain of beach resorts. Brides now can choose themes that suit their style, without breaking the bank.
“A wedding is obviously so steeped in tradition and it’s not that that has gone out the window,” she said, making note of one caveat: “The pressure to do what you feel like you have to do is lessening.”
For more information on inexpensive ways to personalize a wedding and make it your own, visit www.marthastewartweddings.com
Lifestyle expert Doni Luckutt believes by increasing interpersonal connection, we can stop simply living, and become Simply Alive! If you have a suggestion on what brings you to life, connect with her on Twitter @SimplyAlive, via email Doni@SimplyAliveWorld.com or on her blog: www.SimplyAliveWorld.com/Blog.
