2010 Wedding Trends Cheat Sheet

Guest Blogger Profile: OneWed.com

Last month over at OneWed.com we released our Top 10 Wedding Trends. We know that grooms generally don’t want all the detail, so here is your cheat sheet:

1.    Personalization is in
What you need to know: You have a good tool for fighting any “must haves” or “cant dos”

2.    Bright colors are in
What you need to know: The bridesmaids dresses may be very brightly colored

3.    Green is in
What you need to know: Practice saying words like “sustainable” and “eco-friendly.”

4.    Grooms are in
What you need to know: Yeah, this is the big one for you. You need to be involved in the planning process. The upside – your opinion matters!

5.    Vintage is in
What you need to know: You may be asked to dress like a character from Mad Men. Sweet, yes?

6.    Backyard rustic chic is in
What you need to know: Your wedding may take place outside, it may have a small guest list. The color “burnt orange” may be mentioned.

7.    Spending more time with your guests is in
What you need to know: Longer cocktail hours, Hooray!

8.    Return to romance is in
What you need to know: This is about lace and tulle, nothing you need to know, move along.

9.    Food you can eat is in
What you need to know: Donuts, sliders, pizzas, French-fry bars, they’re all on the table to be on the table!

10.    Being tech savvy is in
What you need to know: Get a website, or better yet, a Wedding Pre-Party.

Guest Blogger Profile: OneWed.com

When looking at your wedding budget it’s tempting to say, “Hell, I can do that myself and save a few hundred dollars.” If your fiancée is crafty, it may be even more tempting for her to say, “That would be fun to make myself, and save a few hundred dollars.” Remember though, what you save in money you usually lose in time.

Every bride and groom has to make their own decisions about what they can do on their own and what requires a professional but a few general guidelines about when to hire a professional always hold true. (1) If it’s something you or your fiancée has always dreamed about having, hire a professional. (2) If it’s an integral part of having a kick-ass party, hire a professional. (3) If it requires anyone involved in the wedding to work the day of the wedding, hire a professional.

Guest Blogger Profile: Jennifer Napier of OneWed.com

The groom's growing involvement in wedding planning is a 2010 wedding trend.

Over at OneWed we recently released our list of Top Ten Wedding Trends for 2010. We wanted to make sure that you, the men in our lives, knew about one of the biggest trends: It’s the rise of the groom. Fight it all you want, but today’s groom is expected to stand up and make his opinions known (editor’s note – just ask The Groom Says & Ben the Groom). Of course, that also goes along with standing up and pitching in with the work. The pay-off is totally worth it though, a wedding day that revolves around the two of you, not old-fashioned opinions about what is and isn’t appropriate. So enjoy, you are officially trendy!

Guest Blogger Profile: Jennifer Napier of OneWed.com

"Off to the bridal show"

It’s bridal show season out there. I’m sure the one big question on your mind is, “How do I get out of going?” The answer is, maybe you don’t want to get out of it. Despite the name “bridal show” these events aren’t necessarily just for brides. Depending on the show, it can be a great way to get a jump-start on your wedding planning, let you see a bunch of vendors all at once, and possibly win some great prizes or discounts. Going with your fiancée will give you extra chances to win raffle prizes, and ensure that you have a chance to see all the possible vendors. Plus, there’s almost always free cake and going gets you a free pass to spend the next weekend watching football.

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*Editor’s note – The Man Registry sets up a groom’s corner at every bridal show we attend. We mix a little wedding talk with Nintendo Wii, ping pong and man-food. Doesn’t sound that bad, eh?

The ladies of OneWed know what women want.. and what they DON’T want. Take their advice and avoid these items when it comes to your Valentine’s Day shopping.

Power Tools (unless she’s into woodworking):

You think that you’re saying, “I’m here to take care of all your needs.” She thinks you’re saying, “I really wanted this drill, so I gave it to you.”

Wait, these are tacky?

Kitchen Items (blender, mixer, etc):
You think you’re saying, “I know you really want a new blender.” She thinks you’re saying “Now that we’re getting married the romance is over, get in the kitchen woman.”

Clothing (unless you absolutely 100% know her size):
Buy it too large or too small and you’re asking for trouble.

Tacky Lingerie (think edible or crotch-less):
If she thinks that stuff is sexy, she’ll buy it herself.

Gym Membership or Exercise Equipment:
Really, do you need an explanation?

Today’s expert advice comes from DeeDee Meininger of FreshRosePetals.com

If you are like some grooms, you may want to throw in the element of surprise on your wedding day but not disturb the carefully laid out plans of the wedding.  If that is the case with you, consider using fresh rose petals to surprise your bride.  Rose petals are one of the most romantic items to be used on a wedding day and you have a great opportunity to use them to privately surprise her. Editor’s note: rose petals = huge turn on for the ladies.

Fresh Rose Petals are one of the easiest products to use because they take absolutely no special skill.  All you do is scatter or toss the petals how and where you want them.  Grooms can create a luxurious setting in their wedding suite all by themselves without letting their bride even know what they are up to.  It is easy to order rose petals on line and have them delivered a day or two before your wedding without telling anyone about your secret plans.  They arrive via overnight carrier and can be kept discreetly in the refrigerator.

Sometime before the wedding, it would be fun to sneak away and decorate your suite to your hearts content.  You could also ask a friend to do this for you, if you just can’t find the time to do it yourself.  It is very easy to create a path to something special like a piece of chocolate or some candles and champagne.  It is also very sexy to place the rose petals in the shape of a heart on the center of the bed.  You can choose red for true love or choose a color that matches your wedding theme. Who wouldn’t want to have a bed of roses on their wedding day?

If you are reading this and not yet engaged, following the plan above for your proposal is really great too.  In fact, if you have already used fresh rose petals for a special day like when you proposed or maybe even Valentines Day, using them on your wedding day will be especially romantic for the two of you.  If you lay fresh rose petals in your own romantic way, I think your bride will truly love you forever.

For more info, contact DeeDee Meininger at FreshRosePetals.com (866-738-2573) or follow her on Twitter

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disclosure: fresh rose petals is a sponsor of the man registry’s groomsadvice blog

Guest Blogger Profile: Jennifer Napier

The last thing you want your wedding remembered for is being the night your friend got a DUI! When looking into transportation for you and your bride on your wedding day, don’t forget to check out the possibilities of shuttles, buses, or trolleys for your guests.

If the majority of your guests are staying at a nearby hotel, you can arrange to have shuttles come at various times throughout the night to take guests safely back to their rooms. If it seems like arranging for transportation is out of your budget, ask the hotel if their airport shuttle is available for rent. At the very least you should ask the venue to make sure taxis are available toward the end of the evening.

Guest Blogger Profile: Jennifer Napier of OneWed.com

At OneWed we feature a lot of engagement photo shoots. Some are romantic and schmoopy, others clever and irreverent. They can also be a great way for you to get to know the photographer before your wedding day. If you’re planning on making Save the Date cards, or putting an announcement in the local newspaper, then having professional photos can make these things easier.

On the other hand, if you’re on a tight budget, taking engagement photos may cause you to skimp on wedding day photos. If you’re not particularly comfortable in front of a camera, having an engagement shoot can either make you more comfortable, or create more stress.  Whatever you and your fiancée decide about engagement shoots, make sure it’s a decision you like, not one that others talk you into.

Guest Blogger Profile: Jennifer Napier of OneWed.com

One of the most stressful aspects of wedding planning (the dreaded wedding etiquette) is often one of the last things you do, assigning people to tables at the reception. If you’re a guy who knows his way around a spreadsheet, this task may fall to you. So, it’s a good idea to know what the stressors are.

The first thing that you’ll want to do is talk to your parents and your bride’s parents and find out if there are any sensitivities you should know about. For example, will Great Uncle Morton be offended if he isn’t seated with your parents? Will Aunt Gertrude and Aunt Rosie start throwing plates if they sit next to each other? Keep in mind your own friends’ dramas as well. While groups of friends do not necessarily have to sit together, you should avoid leaving one friend out in the cold while everyone else is together.

Hey, I didn’t say it was going to be easy, I just said you should be prepared!

Guest Blogger Profile: Jennifer Napier of OneWed.com

Like grilling? A backyard BBQ rehearsal dinner can be the perfect low key event.

In the middle of wedding planning, planning one more event can seem like a slow death by water torture. But, the rehearsal dinner, can be a great outlet for you, the groom, to let your personality shine.

Typically, the dinner is held at someone’s house or a restaurant and is a more casual event than the wedding. If your suggestions for barbeque or pizza were rejected for the wedding itself, you can feel free to bring them out for the rehearsal dinner. This is also a great time for a sports-themed or funny groom’s cake.

Most importantly though, the rehearsal dinner is a more intimate event than the wedding. You’ll be surrounded only by your nearest and dearest, so feel free to let your friends get a little emotional and personal with their toasts, and feel free to do the same yourself—you big softy.