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 People.

* We’ve talked a lot recently about creative weddings and how it’s important for certified wedding and event coordinators to incorporate the couple and their personalities into the wedding details. Well, this is one way to do it! Shrek is a fairytale after all, right? Actually becoming Shrek and Fiona was this couple’s version of a fairytale, anyway.

* While there hasn’t been an actual White House wedding in a long time there are first daughters tying the knot these days. (Jenna Bush, who just celebrated her second anniversary, comes to mind.) Now it’s Chelsea’s turn, and all eyes are on her. While a lot of the details are being kept under wraps there are a few things out there. Here’s a link to give you all the information you want - or all the information you can get at this time.

* There is no denying the allure of Twilight. Women of all ages swoon every time Edward comes on the screen. (Unless you’re Team Jacob, of course.) And now they can have a little piece of Bella - Twilight Engagement Rings have arrived.

* Planning a wedding? (Of course you are you’re professional wedding and event planners!) Well, there’s an app for that! (Well, again, of course there is. Isn’t there an ap for everything these days?) Regardless this ap is something you definitely want to check out if you have a Smartphone. iBride is a personal wedding planner and directory that lets brides (or wedding planners!) plan their wedding on the go.

So, as always: Tell us your favorite wedding stories of the week, or share the links with us! You never know what you’re going to run across in this industry.

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!

Wedding trends don’t stop at fashion, you know. There is all the food to be considered! And to be honest it’s the food that guests really remember: Was there enough? Was there a good variety? Was it really, really tasty? Every bridal couple wants to offer their guests a fabulous time, and near the top of their to-do list will be Find The Perfect Caterer. That’s where you come in. Certified wedding and event planners are the go-to people in town when it comes to finding the best caterer for the best price. So while you’ve filled your files with the names of the top vendors in your area it’s also a good idea to start a catering trends folder. Here are some of our favorite food finds for 2010:

1) Going Local! Bridal couples - and caterers - across the country are all about local food finds this year. Being a “locavore” is really an outgrowth of Going Green. Serving foods that are fresh and in-season can be cheaper because they’re plentiful at shops and farmers markets. They’re also going to taste best! Consider what the area is known for and the ethnic backgrounds of your couples. Talking about these options with a caterer will be a sure way to make reception food not only fresh and tasty but also representative of the couple. It’s just one of those details that wedding and event coordinators are expected to bring about!

2) Eating Family Style. Couples are all about the familial aspect of weddings right now, as we all know. A lot of them are falling in love with the idea of their guests crowding around tables and eating family-style. This means passing the food to each other and sharing in the breaking of bread. It’s a time-honored tradition in our own homes so why not introduce it to a wedding reception? While it’s not a great idea for huge weddings it is a great idea for smaller, intimate receptions.

3) It’s All About Organic. And maybe vegetarian! Just like being a locavore is about Going Green, couples are very interested in knowing how their food is grown and where it comes from. They want to treat their guests as VIPs - and they want their food offerings to show it! Going organic can be expensive when it comes to meat options so couples are also looking at vegetarian ideas. Having one meat option, along with a few vegetarian ones, makes it possible to serve fabulous dishes with fabulous and organic ingredients.

4) Food Stations. They’re still hot. (And still a bit expensive so be sure to consider the budget before you offer this suggestion!) Setting the food out in groups, separated by cuisines, is a great way to insure that first, the decor of the room is going to be incredible and two, guests are going to get up and mingle. Who wants to sit in a chair all night? We think a Food From Around the World reception would be amazing!

5) Custom cocktails. While this trend has been around a few years we think it’s here to stay. Couples are asking for cocktails in their signature wedding colors. They want cocktails reminiscent of the areas where they grew up - think mint juleps for Kentuckians; cosmos for New Yorkers; and mojitos for couples from Miami.

6) Dessert Buffets. Dessert tables are all the rage right now - and with good reason! Bridal couples want to leave their guests with sweet dreams, and what better way is there to do so than offer up a ton of dessert? Amy Atlas-inspired tables are cropping up at receptions all across the U.S. Macarons in the wedding colors are pouring out of bakeries. And candy buffets are being set up at weddings of every budget. Sugar is fun! And you’re unlikely to encounter a couple who isn’t willing to set the bar a little higher for their sweets budget!

Catering trends ebb and flow from year to year, with the exception of a few, lasting ideas. What are your couples requesting? What fabulous ideas are your caterers offering?

We know that as graduates of Lovegevity’s Wedding Planning Institute you dream of having a successful wedding and event-planning business of your own. Just like in any part of life it’s helpful to gather hints and learn from people who are living the dream! We welcome today’s guest writer, Nadia Digilov, a celebrated wedding and event planner in New York City. She has great insight into the trends for 2010, which you can pass on to your brides and clients this year as you plan their festivities!

Top 10 Wedding Trends for 2010
By Nadia Digilov, the founder and CEO of NYC event-production firm Celebrating in Style

Whether you are planning an ultra classic or a super modern wedding you can implement some elements of the trends that are happening this year in to your wedding day. Here are some of the latest styles in catering, decorations, flowers and much more!

1-Reception Venue: Transform a restaurant dining room into an ultra chic reception with the creative use of the right lighting. No longer do you need a family country club or a local catering hall that has already been used over and over again by friends and family!

2-The After Party: The after party is a great marriage of the old and new at one significant event. During the reception you will have traditional wedding customs such as your first dance and in some cases some religious traditions. The after party is pure music and dance and is usually held at a separate room that is transformed into an ultra chic lounge.

3-The Decor: The natural trend is still going strong this year, with the use of trees being a unique way to replace the traditional flower decorations. Candles hanging from the trees are a wedding classic, however, this year why not get creative and mix in a feeling of whimsy by add in ribbons and wind chimes.

4-Seated Dinner Twist: Consider serving some dishes family style and having your caterer arrange the platters on a couple of different levels. Serve your guests food rich in color, which adds a feeling of abundance, color and life to your wedding tables.

5-Late Night Surprise: Your guests will love you for some late night snacks after they dance up a storm and a hefty appetite. Just when the guests thought the food, was done have the caterer bring out some late night snacks like mini hotdogs, cheese and crackers!

6-The Bar: Last year we saw a whiskey and bourbon trend, the year before it was champagne, and the 2010 trend is tequila! Margaritas anyone? Impress your guests with non-traditional cocktails like cool refreshing blackberry mint or grapefruit basil martinis.

7-Cake Top: The classic bride & groom cake top has some competition this year. The trend of the year is to substitute the good ol’ cake top with gorgeous symbolic flowers, custom made by your florist at the cake top of your wedding cake.

8-The Wedding Dress: Add some color to your wedding dress with the use of flowers, head-pieces or jewelry. Check out the line of unique jewelry from Marie-Lise Lachapelle which incorporates real flowers such as orchids, pansies, and roses covered in gold, silver and lacquer to preserve the shape and color of the actual flower. These unique pieces can be worn as necklaces, earrings, or even pinned into the hair for a boho-chic look: http://marieliselachapelle.com

9-The First Dance: Many of brides are going back in time to the 1940’s for the music and are choosing the romantic classics such as “I’ll Be Seeing You Again” and “Moonlight Becomes You.”

10-Dessert Table: A candy table in place of a full Viennese table is a very hot trend for 2010. The traditional Viennese table is filled with heavy cakes, while a candy table is fun and arouses a feeling of adventure and youth in your guests! Who wouldn’t like that?

Nadia Digilov is New York’s premier luxury wedding expert and the founder and CEO of NYC event production firm Celebrating in Style, www.celebrating-instyle.com. After seven years on the trading floors of the largest investment banks on Wall Street, her passion for production led her to begin creating luxury events that leave a lasting impression. Since 2002 Nadia has created weddings, corporate events, concerts, trade shows, and marketing events in major cities around the world; including New York, Miami, Moscow, Tel Aviv and St. Petersburg.

Being a certified wedding and event planner means that you’re up on all the trends, and you can guide couples in any direction they want to go. As the wedding industry expands on television and the Internet there are literally hundreds of thousands of ideas out there. Sifting through all of this information can be overwhelming for couples - especially those whose idea of the perfect wedding may be less formal and/or less traditional. This is where a wedding coordinator comes in: It’s your job to help them form their idea of the perfect day then make it a reality.

According to the Wedding Report, traditional, formal weddings continue to be on the decline. Surveys of real couples in 2008 and 2009 found that brides and grooms are looking for less opulence and more focus on the family. Sure, crystals and sparkles are fabulous, but in today’s economy couples are putting more focus on their vows, their families and each other on their special day. Some wedding planners disagree with these findings, saying, “I’m getting my price, planning the right wedding for the budget. It’s all about knowing your market and providing the right service– and caring,” according to eWedNews. But that’s where we think experts are right: Being a wedding planner doesn’t mean you only work with couples who have huge budgets and big dreams. Being a wedding planner means you help all brides, regardless of budget, bring their fairytale to life. If this means a more intimate ceremony and a smaller reception that’s okay because all brides need help with the details.

Brooch Bouquet

Among the more popular low-key wedding ideas are ceremonies on the beach or at other outdoor locations and those with DIY touches. Some other ideas for low-key weddings may be receptions with more home-style food and personal touches during the ceremony such as a bouquet made of brooches that belonged to the bride’s family members.

What are other ways a certified wedding and event planner can help a bride and groom have the wedding of their dreams but make it a more simple day? The idea isn’t to cut their budget; it’s to make their budget work better for them. That’s where you come in. Start a folder of ideas for simple weddings. Show brides with smaller budgets that a wedding planner can still be their best friend. A good planner makes every wedding special, no matter the cost. And we all know that if you do a good job and make a great impression the referrals will start to flow in!