Hot wedding trends of 2009

Wedding trends for 2009:

Cake trends:

1. Dessert bars are replacing the traditional cake. Candy bars, pie bars, and cupcake bars are getting to be as popular as a multi-tiered cake. Also popular: personalized chocolates.
   
   
2. Exotic flavors, such as orange blossom, banana truffle, and pumpkin spice are more common.
   
   
3. Childhood favorites, such as red velvet cake, updated with an elegant twist.

Budget savings: Many brides are choosing to cut down on the size of the wedding but maintain the quality. The less food you have to serve, the more money you save.

Floral trends:

1. Organic, natural bouquets.
2. Bouquets making use of California bounty-figs, persimmons, oranges, grapes-especially popular in wine country weddings.
   
   
3. Bouquets using crystals for sparkle.

Budget savings: You can save money by sticking to seasonal, local flowers. Imported blossoms are always more expensive. Some brides have been known to make individual cakes the centerpieces, which cuts the floral budget.

Jewelry trends:

1. Green and socially responsible metals and stones. This could also be vintage jewelry.
   
   
2. Traditional, timeless design-almost vintage looking. Tradition never dates.
   
   
3. Platinum is waning, gold is becoming more popular.

Budget savings: Find a company that allows you to rent bling for the day.

Items used in this segment:

Van Craeynest, traditional ring
657 Mission St., Ste 404, SF
415.362.1025
Website: vancraeynest.com

Manika, eco-ring
11 Maiden Lane, SF
415.399.1990
Website: manikajewelry.com

Kathleen Deery Design, natural bouquet
45 Lusk St., SF
415.422.5010
Website: kathleendeerydesign.com

Floramor Studios, crystal bouquet
731 Bryant St.,SF
415.975.2020
Website: floramor.com

Gerhard Michler Fine European Desserts, exotic cake flavors
950 Illinois St., SF
415.255.1128
Website: gerhardmichler.com

Adorn Brides
800.892.1345
Website: adornbrides.com

True Confections, cupcake
510.665.9836

Bridal Galleria
3 Embarcadero Center, Lobby Level, SF
415-362-2277
Website: www.bridalgalleria.com

Event information:
SF Brides Magazine is hosting An Evening of Bridal Luxury, featuring an exclusive Vera Wang fashion show, music, champagne, cocktails, and hors d'oeuvres at Bently

Reserve on Wednesday, February 25, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Bently Reserve
301 Battery Street
SF, CA 94111
To get the tickets, check out: www.modernluxurybrides.com/sanfrancisco
$10 off promo code: SFBRIDES

Vera Wang information:
The Vera Wang Fall 2009 Bridal Collection captures all of the whimsy, romance, and ethereal beauty of "fairytale princesses." Dresses tinged with color, all lightness and froth, provide a fresh new vision of artful femininity with tiny embellishments of twinkling stars, sparkling leaves, giant delicate cut-blossoms, blankets of frilly petticoats and sashes of pastel hues, or tightly-cinched black stretch obis.Silhouettes range from "deconstructed," sensual mermaids to "full-on" fantasia ballgowns, many without crinolines for a light airy feel. Adornment in the form of colorful Swarovski crystals, either strung like pearls or delicately free-formed, dangle from the wrist or neck or drape the bosom. Wreaths of English ivy in the hair and colorful nosegays of hyacinth and cosmos add a natural organic counterpoint to all the magic. These are clothes meant to seduce with innocence, charm and theatricality!

About Mary Jo Bowling, editor of San Francisco Brides:
Mary Jo has covered weddings for San Francisco Brides and Sunset Weddings. She has also written about interior design, architecture, and entertaining for Sunset, Better Homes & Gardens, Family Circle, Chicago, Indianapolis Monthly and many other publications and television programs.