What’s hot from New York!

New York International Bridal Week wrapped up earlier this month, and while some of the featured designers went a little crazy, others kept with a more traditional look and feel. Expect many of these trends to make their way to a bridal salon near you!

What’s old is new again, again: Still on point for fall 2014 is the vintage look, whether it involves feathers, floral details or gold accents. For brides wanting to be trendy without being too edgy, this is the way to go.

Show off those shoes: Shorter dresses were everywhere, from mini to tea length.

Dresses in Caroline Herrera’s collection were some of the styles designed to show off your dancing feet. While tea length and shorter dresses still signify a more casual wedding, many brides prefer this option.

Think pink: From bold peony at Vera Wang

to a subdued blush from Monique Lhuillier, pink was the color to be seen in. While most traditional brides still prefer white, be prepared to see many pink accent options.

Great Kate: The influence of the Duchess of Cambridge, the former Kate Middleton, is still being felt with lace accents, especially on shoulders and three-quarter length sleeves. Lace also found its way onto many jackets and cover-ups for fall.

From Monique Lhuillier's Fall 2014 collection

With fall weather being so unpredictable, the option of a cover-up or longer sleeves is a great option.

What do you think of what the designers presented? Could you wear a bright pink wedding dress? Tell us what you look for in a dress!

Did you Fall in love with an autumn wedding?

Did you Fall in love with an autumn wedding? Fall is a beautiful time for a wedding. Here in New England, the changing of the leaves makes for spectacular backdrops that simply can’t be beat. But fall weddings have their own challenges and joys. Unpredictable weather: Fall means 80 degrees and sunny one day, rainy and biting cold the next. Prepare for the unexpected. Give the wedding party layered options for suits and dresses. Groomsmen may want a vest and jacket combination, so that they still look put-together, even if they take the jackets off on an unseasonably warm day. Bridesmaids, on the other hand, may want the option of a wrap for an unexpectedly chilly evening. Changeable weather also means you need to have a backup for any outdoor wedding plans. Make sure your venue can accommodate your ceremony inside, if necessary. Great picture opportunities: Autumn is full of color and movement, so help your photographer capture it. Maybe have your wedding party toss leaves at the two of you for an “action” shot. Or simply pick a location that shows off all of fall’s splendor. Warm color palettes: Fall lends itself to warm colors; your wedding can, too. Reds, purples, chocolates and oranges look great this time of year. Everything from the wedding party’s clothes to the centerpieces can reflect those warm tones. Easy themes: If you don’t want to go full Halloween – everyone in costume –simply use pumpkins of all sizes as decorations. Little ones in bouquets and place cards, larger ones to decorate your reception. Fall also is a great backdrop for a rustic or country-themed wedding. Great food: Fall itself has great food choices. Warm or cold apple cider, pumpkin pie, and other comfort foods just feel like fall. Embrace your seasonal choices while making your menu.

The long walk

The wedding party processional order usually follows very strict traditions, with family and wedding party members walking down the aisle in a very specific order, followed by the bride being given away by her father.

For many couples, those traditions can be difficult to follow. Those with complicated family situations, non-traditional couples, or brides or grooms who simply don’t like the thought of being “given away” may wonder exactly how to handle the procession. The good news is that you can change these traditional rules and make them work for your personal situation.

A stand-in: If you still want the feel of having an escort to walk with you down the aisle, choose another family member or friend to escort you. I’ve seen brides be escorted by brothers, uncles, mothers, sisters, or even Jon Bon Jovi.

Congratulations @branksd! May you & Gonzalo have a lifetime of happiness, love & memories together - ALWAYS! pic.twitter.com/JuN8eNKfdi

— Bon Jovi (@BonJovi) October 13, 2013

There’s no wrong answer for a special person to take that walk with you.

Walk yourself: You don’t absolutely have to have someone escort you down the aisle. If you want to enter by yourself, go for it! I’d recommend that you wear shoes you can walk easily in -- you don’t want to stumble down the aisle. Or, if you enter towards the front of the ceremony location, you can simply meet in front of your officiant and avoid a long walk altogether.

Enter as a couple: A favorite of same-sex couples as well as brides and grooms who want to show they’re entering into a marriage as equals -- you certainly can walk each other down the aisle.

As long as you work with your wedding planner and your officiant during the rehearsal so that everyone knows what to expect, you can make the procession yours!

Do I have to have a theme for my wedding?

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon had a Disney theme, Katy Perry and Russell Brand went to India and Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz had an Alice in Wonderland themed wedding. Sure, celebrities can spare no expense when it comes to wedding themes, but everyday couples pick themes all the time for the wedding. But do you have to? Of course not!

If you’re having a fall or winter wedding, the season itself makes for a spectacular theme. Pumpkins, leaves and warm colors all say “fall,” while venues that are already decorated for winter holidays mean you can spend you budget on more important things, like the open bar!

You can find little ways to express your personality, without going into a full-blown wedding theme. Maybe your table numbers feature your favorite Beatles albums or your wedding cake is decorated with butterflies; you don’t have to have every single element of your wedding covered with them. That also makes it easier for both of you to have different elements that reflect who you are.

You also can just pick a color scheme. While things don’t have to be matchy-matchy like at your parents’ wedding, using a color family throughout brings all the pieces together without being a uniform theme.

If you do want a theme, don’t get too caught up in your guests’ taking part in it. If you want to have a Game of Thrones wedding, it may be too much to expect your guests to all dress in medieval-style clothing. Even every guest at a Halloween wedding may not want to dress up. Some people may get into the fun of it, others may not, but they all want to help you celebrate.

No matter what you choose, don’t let your theme overwhelm the most important part: the two of you and your commitment to each other!

The dreaded wedding toast

Most of the time, this blog is aimed at the couples getting married. This time, we’re putting the focus a little off center: to the people making the wedding toasts. Nothing says “YouTube viral hit” like an awful, embarrassing wedding toast, but that’s probably not the gift you want to give to the two people getting married. So, how do you survive the wedding toast, be memorable and not offend anyone in the audience?

Don’t overdo the liquid courage. Sure, if public speaking terrifies you, you might need a little something before you stand up in front of a crowd. But if you give the toast completely intoxicated, you will embarrass yourself as well as everyone else. Wait till after the speeches to belly up to the bar.

Write it down. Unless you’re a fantastic off-the-cuff speaker, plan out what you’re going to say ahead of time. It’s okay to read from a card, but try not to read it word-for-word. Look up at the happy couple as you mention their names, or out towards the guests if you’re talking about family or friends in attendance. It will look and feel more natural.

Practice. Stand in front of a mirror and say the speech out loud. Sure, you think you’ll sound silly, but it will help you make sure there are no tricky words or tongue twisters you didn’t plan on. Practice in front of someone else, too. Let them give you feedback.

Keep it:

• Brief: no more than five minutes
• Positive: make sure it’s appropriate for ages 2-102
• Simple:  unless you’re an actor, comedian or singer, keeping to the standard speech format is your best bet. Leave the line dancing, rapping and over-the-top theatrics to the professionals.

Be yourself. Are you naturally funny? Then tell the funny stories and make the jokes –keep ‘em clean! But if you’re not, don’t force yourself into a role you’re not comfortable with. It’s okay to give a short and sweet toast if that’s how you feel.

The bottom line is you want your toast to be memorable… for the right reasons. With a little planning ahead, it will be.