This weekend marks Independence Day in America, and while we’ll be chowing down on burgers and watching fireworks light up the night sky we know that there are a few brides walking down the aisle, too. Lots of couples decide to tie the knot on holiday weekends. Halloween weddings are tons of fun to plan and attend, and Christmas decorations make it easy for brides to find inspiration. What about a Fourth of July celebration? We think a rehearsal dinner and reception would be tons of fun, with everything all decked out in red, white and blue. But it’s possible to bring Independence Day into the ceremony, too, without making the décor look too hokey. There are a few things to remember when you’re planning a wedding around a holiday theme. (Find all source links at the end of this post. These amazing vendors may be available in your area!)

1) Keep it simple. Crisp, white linens and plates are the perfect backdrop for a patriotic wedding. You don’t want to go overboard with the red and blue. Plus, food always looks best on bright white plates. Shiny silver utensils are the perfect accompaniment to the white dishes. If you want to add red and blue to the tables, consider using white linen napkins, with navy or bright red trim. (Polka-dot ribbon would be adorable used this way.) Consider using red flowers in the centerpieces, mixed with greenery, but we wouldn’t suggest mixing in blue and white flowers. Small boxes of blue M&Ms would be cute favors, sitting on each plate. Another favor option would be a jar of strawberry jam, covered and tied with gingham fabric and ribbon.

2. Classic bunting is a gorgeous piece of decor when used right. At a church? No. At a barn reception in July? Definitely. Make sure to use it, along with a large, rustic American flag, in some of the photos. But don’t go overboard! A bit of red, white and blue goes a loooong way.

3. Brides who plan their weddings around Independence Day are bound to be fun-lovers. If you want to incoporate some whimsy into the wedding, consider these options. Have the ring bearer wear a top hat! Let the flower girl ride in a classic Red Flyer wagon. Serve red, white and blue cocktails during the cocktail hour. Give out packs of sparklers as favors, with a personalized matchbox. Guests will love playing with them; the photographs will be amazing; and they make a great sendoff for the bride and groom!

4. For entertainment consider finding a bluegrass band to play classic American songs. A jazz band playing classic Ella Fitzgerald and Louie Armstrong would be perfection, too. Use a fiddler during the ceremony - its music is both fun and classic Americana.

5. As for the food? Go picnic-style with fried chicken and potato salad. Grill out fancy steaks and spicy corn on the cob. An ice-cream sundae bar would be a thing to remember if it’s a hot July day. Just go classic whatever you do! And while a red, white and blue cake may sound garish it doesn’t have to be. Just edit the details, but use the classic American colors. And if cake isn’t their thing? You can never go wrong with apple pie and vanilla ice cream!

6. And we think it goes without saying that a patriotic wedding has to go out with a bang - literally! Fireworks are the piece de resistance for a Fourth of July wedding. (Make sure you hire someone with the right permits to carry out the fun, though. Check with your local fire department before making any plans.) The photos of a bride and groom standing beneath a dark sky lit up with red, white and blue will be a memory they’ll carry with them forever!

If in 2011 you find yourself the certified wedding coordinator of a Fourth of July bride you’ll have tons of ideas to share with them! The sky is the limit when it comes to holiday weddings, but it’s always a good idea to go classy at the same time. Have fun with it! Make it a wedding the bride will always remember.

For more on the photos above, or to see if these vendors are available in your area, visit the following photo sources: 1 - color table settings; 2 - a simple lds wedding; 3 - life love lipstick; 4 - the vegas wedding planner; 5 - the knot; 6 - shoot style; 7 - life love lipstick; 8 - pretty bride; 9 - whipped bakeshop on flickr; 10 - about the cake inc.; 11 - jacque’s fine european pastries; 12 - taylor’d cakes.

Long, loose ponytail. Courtesy of bridalhairpictures.com

When it comes to bridal fashion there are more decisions to make than simply choosing The Dress - although the dress does guide a lot of a bride’s choices! A close look at bridal fashion for the 2010 Fall/Winter season shows that romance is ruling the runways.

Many brides are showing their softer, princess side this year with lavish, embellished gowns, and stylists say that the perfect hairstyles to complement such gowns are soft, feminine ones that highlight a bride’s shoulders and put the focus on the gown - think long, low ponytails with loose curls or waves.

Low, loose bun. Photo courtesy of James White International Hair Stylist.

Another simple style to consider is a take on the classic bun. In this case it becomes looser and romantic, sitting lower on the head, with pieces of hair falling in just the right places.

And for the bride who wants a bit more form while still keeping the romantic feeling? Stylists suggests such styles as the classic French pleat - a la Audrey Hepburn - but looser and softer to help the bride’s look stay ethereal.

With these gorgeous styles in mind we can easily picture a romantic, fall wedding filled with candles and warm colors and a bride with a flowing, off-white gown with tons of lace details. Natural elements and colors - warm reds and golds - would be perfectly accented by a bride with loose, flowing hair.

French Pleat. Photo courtesy of Amsale.

Or perhaps as a bride’s certified wedding and event planner you would offer the perfect winter dream wedding, filled with a bride in a crystal-embellished gown, with a soft, low bun, accented with more crystals, standing at the altar. Any of these suggestions make up the perfect, romantic wedding day.

So remember to, yes, help your bride plan her wedding from top to bottom, but also help her set her own personal style from head to toe. She’s expecting you to create the perfect package, and the small details - such as the perfect hair style - are the bow on top!

Photo courtesy of IFEMA

Every bride - and certified wedding and event coordinator - knows about the importance of attending local bridal shows to meet vendors and check out the newest wedding trends. But the International Bridal Fashion Exhibition takes the world of bridal shows to a whole other level. The exhibition was recently held in Spain, and the four-day wedding-fashion fair brought together 132 companies and brands to represent the best ideas in bridal gowns, groomwear and formal attire for the upcoming 2011 season. We may be just now entering wedding season in America, but the international market is already looking ahead. And when it comes to running your own business - like so many of LWPI’s graduates are - looking ahead is always a good thing.

About 3,600 hundred people attended the event, and 28 designers presented their collections. The companies that participated are already reporting favorable business results, saying they have expanded their portfolios and are already building relationship with potential new buyers. This all means that the 2011 wedding season is already looking up, which is good news for wedding professionals all across the world.

The collections shown at the international event indicate that organza, gauzy fabrics and exquisite lacework are some of the trends that will dominate wedding fashion in 2011. Textured fabric is also expected to be hot, with silk garza and satin leading the way. Bright whites appear to be less popular for 2011, while natural shades - bone whites and light beiges - will lead the way.

The event also put a focus on the whole wedding, showing that weddings are no longer a one-day event. “Weddings have moved beyond the basics. These days families with good spending power look forward to a wedding that’s truly memorable, extravagant and encompasses the luxuries of life,” said Qatar Expo CEO Mr. Karim Zarka. “IWED 2010 brings together all the options that make a wedding complete. Be it wedding designers, honeymoon destinations, gifts, chocolates, beauty or wedding venues, IWED 2010 offers everything to organize your dream wedding with ease.”

It’s no surprise that wedding magazines never seem to go out of style - everybody loves to flip through them and see the latest trends! They’re filled with eye candy for brides-to-be and maybe even a few already-been-brides. (We admit it. We’re kind of obsessed with weddings. But how can we not be? They’re so fun and pretty and frilly and colorful and yes, okay, we’re addicts!) Here are a few of our favorite finds this week from etsy, which may be even better than our beloved magazines. (And yes - etsy is another one of our addictions!) All of you certified wedding and event coordinators are bound to have a few favorite finds of your own to share. Tell us about them in the comments!

1. Eco-friendly dress; 2. Custom-painted heels; 3. Hand-made shawl

1. Pearl and rhinestone necklace; 2. Mr. and Mrs. seat signs; 3. Vintage diamond ring

1. Bird-cage veil; 2. Hydrangea hair pins; 3. Hydrangea bouquet

And on that note, Happy Weekend to all of Lovegevity’s certified wedding and event coordinators. Wedding season is in full swing this month. We wish you weekends filled with brides, sunny skies and timely vendors!

Finding the perfect wedding cake is no easy feat: It’s impossible to even begin narrowing down the choices of style, color, flavor, size … the list goes on and on. There are several things for certified wedding and event planners to keep in mind as they begin to help couples narrow down their choices for choosing and ordering their cake. First things first: Do some research. (That is a requirement for you and the bridal couple!)

Photo courtesy of Sweet Things Blog (Click to visit their amazing bakery!)

First: Have your bridal couples prepare for the Cake Talk. It’s a good idea for them to have an idea of what they want, and encouraging them to keep a folder of clips is a great way to get a feel for what they’re going for. But be sure that you also have a folder of suggestions for them to flip through. Who knows? That one cake they’ve been trying to find but can’t might be just the clip you’ve collected for them.

Second: Make sure that they have gone into this together. The cake should be a reflection of them and what they like to eat. You don’t want the groom scrunching his nose as he eats a piece of cake with rose-water-flavored petals on top! (Pictures do speak louder than words, you know.) Suggest cakes with different flavored layers. Or maybe they would consider cupcakes: one for him, one for her, so they each take a bite of exactly what they like!

Third: Make sure the cake fits into the overall design. It’s very likely that you have already discussed with the couple their colors and style for the wedding. Elegant? An all-white cake would be gorgeous. Vintage? Pound cakes made with family recipes, lightly dusted with powdered sugar, would be perfect. Colorful and funky? Topsy-turvy cakes are popular right now and can set a fun tone to the reception.

Fourth: Know the budget. This goes without saying, really, but knowing how much the couple is willing to spend on the cake will guide a lot of the decisions. Don’t let them get their heart set on a five-foot, gold-dusted cake with hand-made lilies if they can’t afford it. (No one likes to see a bride with a broken heart!)

There are lots of other things to consider when buying a wedding cake, but these suggestions are a great way to start. What questions do you ask your couples when you begin helping them design and choose their wedding cake?

The average bride will spend $1,038 on her wedding gown in 2010, according to The Wedding Report. This is of course down a bit from a few years ago, but it’s slightly up over 2009, which is a very good thing for the wedding industry. The average price of a gown is projected to increase a bit a year for the next several years, albeit slowly. This is probably because while brides are beginning to open their wallets a little wider this year they’re still a bit gun-shy because of what many of them still see as a shaky economy. This is exactly where a certified wedding and event planner steps in. It goes without saying that the most important part of planning a wedding is working out the budget, and said budget should be set in stone before a bride goes gown shopping. It’s a lot easier to fall in love with a gown that’s in her price range if she only tries on gowns in her set price range. It may sound obvious, but I think we at the Lovegevity Wedding Planning Institute can all agree that brides get stars in their eyes mighty quickly when it comes to their dream gowns!

According to online surveys of bridal couples, bridal attire accounts for 8 to 10 percent of the wedding budget. While the gown is important most brides also want to purchase shoes, jewelry and other accessories along with it, which eats into the budget even further. If you find yourself with a frugal bride who still wants to walk down the aisle in style consider these tips:

* At bridal salons every bride is likely to make a bee-line for the wedding-gown department. But many bridesmaid gowns come in white and ivory, and they’re offered for sale for a much lower price than a traditional gown - we’re talking hundreds of dollars less in many cases! No, this tip won’t work for every bride, but for the ones who are trying to get more bang for their buck this is a great idea.

* Experts all agree that brides should buy their gowns at least six months before the big day (if they have six months to spare!) This time needs to be allowed for a few reasons: mistakes, alterations, weight fluctuations and lost shipments. A portion of the budget should be set aside for these things that occur after the gown comes in. You don’t want your bride to be shocked when she gets an alterations bill that she didn’t budget for.

* Remind your bride that it’s the shape of the gown that flatters her, not the beading and lace, which can significantly push up the price. A simple gown can look gorgeous with a more intricate veil and beautiful jewelry!

* Sure, it’s fun to go to the top designer boutiques and try on everything they have to offer. And if it fits your bride’s budget that’s great. But if she’s trying to save money consider these shopping ideas:

- Thrift stores and consignment shops: You’d be amazed at what you can find at a top-quality thrift stores these days.

- eBay: Lots of brides are selling their once-worn, fabulous gowns at ridiculous discounts in an effort to recoup some of the money they spent on their weddings.

- Sample sales: If you have a bride who won’t settle for anything less than a designer gown but doesn’t have the cash for it make sure you introduce her to The Great Sample Sale. Especially take her to off-season sales. The earlier the better for the gown, like we said before, and getting an off-season piece will be even better for her pocketbook.

- Chains: Shops like David’s Bridal are always a good option for the bride who wants lots of choices but doesn’t want to spend a fortune. In addition brides may want to consider asking shops if they rent gowns, which can be a super-affordable option.

- Online retailers: If your brides has an easy-to-fit figure an online retailer may have the perfect dress, and deal, for her. And be sure to check out such sites as Craigslist, preownedweddingdresses.com and sellyourweddingdress.com.

* And last but not least see if your bride is willing to borrow a gown. We all know that wedding gowns are easily one of the most pricey keepsakes women ever buy. But in our opinion sharing a gown - even if it’s altered to suit the newest bride’s taste - is a very special thing. We love the idea of daughters wearing their mother’s - or even grandmother’s - gowns!

Photo courtesy of weddingchicks.com and Fantasy Floral Designs

The bridal bouquet has a long and storied past. A quick Internet search will show that no one knows exactly where and when the tradition started, but many stories have a similar beginning. Regardless it’s a tradition that has stood the test of time and is beloved by brides all over the world no matter their budget or style. Researchers say that wedding bouquets were originally made of herbs and spices and were used to keep away evil spirits that could plague the future, but others suggest that the bouquets were a way to show love to the couples’ friends and family. As time went on the bridal couple began to share flowers with their guests, which may reveal the history of the bridesmaid bouquet and groomsmens’ boutonnieres. The first record of wedding flowers dates to the ancient Greeks, who used fresh flowers to make a crown and garland, which represented new life and fertility for the bride and groom.

Photo courtesy of Rue 42 on Etsy

The story goes that when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert the traditional herbs and spices were replaced with fresh flowers (but often edible flowers, especially marigolds.) Throughout the Victorian age specific flowers took on specific meanings, and in the 19th Century floriography - the study of flower meanings - was established. Roses, for example mean love; freesia means trust; ivy means fidelity; violets mean hope; and ferns mean sincerity. Dill was often included, and later eaten by the bridal couple, because it was said to increase lust. In modern times, of course, flowers are chosen mostly because of style and color and are used to complement the bride’s choice of bridesmaid gowns and decor.

Tips for choosing a bridal bouquet:

* A bridal bouquet should not be so large that it competes with the details of the bridal gown.

* Weight of the bouquet should be considered because some brides like to hold their bouquet throughout the evening.

* If the bride has allergies you may want to discuss flower smells with the florist.

* The price and availability of flowers depends on season (unless, of course, the budget has no limits.) If your bride has her heart set on a bouquet of certain flowers it would be wise to discuss her wedding date first!

Photo courtesy of realbadkitty on Etsy

* Some photographers suggest avoiding blue flowers in winter because the season’s dull light will also dull the color of the flowers in photographs.

* Brides are often choosing silk flowers for their bouquets because they are obviously long-lasting. Another good suggestion is to make a silk bouquet for bridal portraits, which the bride can keep, and use fresh flowers for the wedding so the bride has a bouquet she won’t mind throwing at the end of the reception.

Wedding and event planners have to do a lot of research to stay on top of trends, especially in the wedding industry. Bouquets made of buttons and brooches are popular because they’re not only unique keepsakes, but they’re also “green” choices. What trends are you seeing in bouquets? What are some of the favorite choices you’ve run across as you’ve worked with brides?

Ah, spring. Everything is green, and there is a feeling of newness in the air. The flowers and trees are loaded with blossoms, and color is everywhere. It’s no wonder that this is the most sought-after time of the year for weddings. Brides have more inspiration than they can handle! The same goes for Lovegevity’s certified wedding and event planners. Everywhere you look there is a new idea to jot down. Here are some of our favorite ways to inject spring into your weddings.

* The most obvious inspiration is color. The cherry trees are in bloom everywhere you look so consider the ways you can create a pink, cherry-blossom motif. Invitations are an obvious choice. Aren’t these beautiful? The invitation sets the tone from the get-go, and from there you can take the cherry-blossom theme into programs, bridesmaid gowns, decor and especially the cake!

* Add green as a color. Green means new and fresh, which is exactly the thing many brides are going for. Consider green hydrangeas or hints of green in the reception flowers. Grasses can be very dramatic in centerpieces, and the bonus is since they’re usually considered “filler” they’re less expensive! Green bridesmaid gowns can even be gorgeous, especially when paired with beautiful pink or blue flowers.

* When it comes to food at a spring wedding think fresh! Think picnic! Think whimsical! Pink and yellow lemonade in big, glass pitchers would be a cute addition to any table. While everyone thinks of eggs in the spring you don’t want the choice to be too obvious. Use them within appetizers, such as deviled eggs with smoke salmon on top, which would be an elegant but spring-like choice. Salads are an obvious choice, but don’t go the usual green or Caesar route. Consider adding springtime berries, such as strawberries and blueberries, to the plate. A good caterer will know what’s fresh and in season for the spring - pick their brain for advice! Consider asparagus wrapped with prosciutto; custard-filled phyllo cups; or mousse with sliced strawberries on top. Fresh is best in the spring!

* As for favors consider candied bird nests filled with jellybeans, colored to match the wedding theme, or Easter egg candies, which won’t be hard to find in the spring! You can also go with tiny flower pots with packets of seeds, tied with gorgeous grosgrain ribbon to match the bridesmaid gowns. Or if your bride is in fact getting married near Easter weekend just go traditional: Chocolate Easter bunnies for everyone!

There is little doubt that as a certified wedding and event planner you’ll be planning a lot of spring weddings. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year in the wedding business. Follow the trends, and incorporate the most spring-like ideas into your weddings. Keeping things fresh will keep the brides coming. And with everything new springing up around you this won’t be a problem!

He’s one part basketball coach one part … wedding planner? Chris Mooney’s duties as the men’s basketball coach at Beaver College were only part of his duties. He was also known to take a timeout from practice to talk to brides! Mooney had to talk with any bride whose wedding was going to take place in the Grey Towers Castle on the campus of Beaver College, now Arcadia University, in the Philadelphia suburb of Glenside, Pa. His coaching job was part-time, but as professional, certified wedding and event planners you know that planning any wedding is a full-time job!

* Fashion alert! Urban Outfitters, the brand of young, hipster clothing loved the world over, is planning to dip its toes into the world of wedding fashion. The new line is expected to launch around Valentine’s Day 2011, just in time for all the newly engaged couples of next year. We’re not sure what this line will look like, but we expect it to be heavy on color and funk. Full lines of bridesmaid dresses and wedding jewelry are expected, too, and the entire line will be designed with the help of Anthropolgie.

Princess Diana

* It was truly a fairytale wedding. When Princess Diana wed Prince Charles all the eyes of the world were on them … and on her dress. While it was indeed a showstopper it was also a dress that very few other brides could pull off. While the marriage didn’t end up as all had planned the gown has gone down in history. Now it’s Di’s brother’s turn to wed (yes, for a third time), and he’ll be saying vows with Lady Bianca Eliot. What kind of gown do you expect for this royal wedding? What kind of gown would you suggest, considering the circumstances?

* Move over Bridezilla because this Groomzilla may give you a run for your money! In our experience brides have the opposite trouble when it comes to wedding planning: Getting their grooms to participate in the planning at all is like pulling teeth! This U.K. groom, however, took the reins and took care of all the details, much to the delight of his bride. Well, almost. The bride did choose her own gown!

As certified wedding and event planners you may think you’ve seen it all, but as stories as these prove: Think again! Do you have any stories to share? Every wedding experience is one to learn from!

One of the key attributes every certified wedding and event coordinator should have is being at ease with conversation. When it comes to working with bridal couples you want to be personable and show your fun side. Here are some great stories we’ve found this week to help you break the ice!

Image courtesy of weddingwhirlwind.wordpress.com

* You catch more flies with honey: One bride recently went berserk in a bridal-gown salon when her request for alterations was turned down because, the shop owners say, of her bad attitude. Not only did she trash the store, but she also brought in her family members who helped make a huge mess. If you look up “bridezilla” in the dictionary, this is whose picture you’ll find! Yikes.

* An old wive’s tale: Have you ever been told to avoid throwing rice at a wedding couple because, horror of horrors, the rice will expand and burst open the birds that eat it? Scary story, right? Even those of us who aren’t card-carrying members of PETA want to avoid, you know, murdering the birdies. But good news! This tradition can begin again because surprise (or not) - it’s an old wives’ tale. Rice is a grain just like bird seed, experts say, and it won’t hurt our feathered friends. So while birds everywhere have been fattening up on showers of birdseed it may be time for a change of diet!

* We all know that a great way to Go Green at our weddings is to go vintage. But another way is to get in on the action and, perhaps, bid on a celebrity wedding gown! In this case it was Christie Brinkley, who seems eager to rid her house of all signs of her former husband as she moves on to her new life and new loves. Brinkley recently donated her old gown, a white Armani suit, to clothesoffourback.org and offered all the proceeeds to the American Red Cross.

* And finally, in these times of economic difficulty weddings can be an expense for which many people just can’t spare the cash. What to do? Why, try to get the attention of a celebrity, of course. A woman from Michigan was recently found on Twitter by Conan O’Brien when he decided to follow a random, regular person. She instantly became a cyber celebrity, and with the help of Conan she’s now getting custom shoes and a wedding gown, as well as a limo and wine for her reception. “My fiancé wants Conan to be his best man,” she added. “That would be really cool. And hey, if he wants us to come on his show, we’d get married on there. That would be fantastic,” she said.

Have you heard any fun wedding stories this week? A laugh is a great way to ease the tension that bridal couples are bound to have as they work out their budget. Calm their nerves with stories like these, and show them what a fun and personable wedding planner you can be!