The Little White Dress offers a fresh and unique approach to wedding planning!

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Can I Have This Dance? Choosing the Perfect First Dance Song For Your Wedding!

Posted in Entertain Guests, Inspired Bride, Wedding Planning Tip

Music is one of the most important things at a wedding. Other than food, many guests rely on good music to keep them entertained and make their experience fun and enjoyable. While it is important to put thought into the music you want your guests to dance to all night long, I think it’s also important to take time and carefully choose your first dance song.

There really aren’t any rules to follow for this part of your wedding. Your first dance song should reflect you as a couple and hold a special place in your hearts. It can be easy to brush off this part of your planning and just go with a song that everyone knows, but then that makes your first dance typical, run of the mill, and maybe even a bit cheesy. It’s just as easy to avoid this problem by simply taking some time to sit down with each other to pick a song that has meaning to both of you. It doesn’t even have to be a typical slow song! It can literally be any song, any genre, any tempo, there are no rules when it comes to your first dance. You can make your choice stand out even more by having a close friend or family member, or a live band or string quartet perform the song. Not only would this be special in the moment, but it would also make the song uniquely yours forever.

Here are some of our favourite first dance song possibilities. Some of them we have heard at weddings, and they stuck out in our minds as original and perfectly matched to each couple. Others are songs that we just love and think they would make perfect first dance numbers.

Tonight and the Rest of My Life – Nina Gordon (The Notebook Soundtrack)

Dare You to Move – Switchfoot

Dancing in the Moonlight – King Harvest/ Toploader

Something Stupid – Frank & Nancy Sinatra/ Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman/ Glee Cast

Songbird – Fleetwood Mac/ Glee Cast

Dream Girl – Dave Matthews Band

Brighter Than Sunshine – Aqualung

Your Song – Elton John/ Ellie Goulding

Over the Rainbow – Judy Garland/ Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley

Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley

Hawaiian Wedding Song – Elvis Presley

I Wanna Grow Old With You – Adam Sandler (The Wedding Singer Soundtrack)

Cosmic Love – Florence & The Machine

More Than Anyone – Gavin DeGraw

I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz

Faithfully – Journey/ Glee Cast

Make You Feel My Love – Adele

Into the Mystic – Van Morrison/ Colin James

Marry You – Bruno Mars/ Glee Cast

All You Need Is Love – The Beatles/ Dana Fuchs & Jim Sturgess (Across the Universe Soundtrack)

The Girl – City & Colour

We Found Each Other In the Dark – City & Colour

Marry Me – Train

What was your first dance song? What is your favourite first dance song choice that you’ve heard at a wedding?

For more Inspired Bride articles that will go right to your inbox, sign up for your FREE eReport “How to Get the Most Bang for Your Wedding Budget”!

I hope this article has helped make you an Inspired Bride!

Article written by Katie Dennison – Assistant Planner at The Little White Dress

Want to use this article in your Blog, E-zine or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement:

Wedding Planning expert Kate Vanderlugt publishes the “Inspired Bride” weekly e-zine. Get your FREE eReport: “How to Get the Most Bang for Your Wedding Budget” at www.thelittlewhitedress.ca/freeereport

5 comments

Monday, February 3, 2014

Part 2: Hello 2014! Wedding Trends To Watch For In The New Year!

Posted in Inspired Bride, Trend Alert, Wedding Dress, Wedding Favours, Wedding Planning Tip

As promised, here is part 2 of our lovely 2014 Bridal Trends blog! We already covered some key elements to watch for this upcoming season, including the GORGEOUS Colour of the Year: Radiant Orchid. Now we’re moving on to what’s hot in food, attire, and themes!

Food

According to our research, spicy is the way to go for food in 2014! With things like Sriracha and chili oil becoming popular in every day cuisine, it’s no surprise that this trend is hitting the wedding scene. But please remember that not everyone likes/ can handle spice (even if you don’t find it “that spicy”), so make sure that if you have a lot of spicy items on your menu, to balance it out with a few non-spicy options.

Another trend we noticed popping up, was the increasing popularity of family style service. It creates a higher level of interaction and intimacy between guests that they may not have if food is served in a more traditional way, like full serve or buffet style. We know that some wedding guests may not initially like this type of service, but it’s something different, and you may have to get used to it if it takes off in 2014!

A few other trends that we found aren’t actually new. They have been around for a number of seasons, and aren’t showing signs of going anywhere anytime soon. Paying homage to childhood favourites, like mac and cheese or milk and cookies, is going to continue to be popular with 2014 couples.

Also, we will see a continued appreciation for the Brits! The Royal Family (more specifically, Kate and William), have had a HUGE impact on the wedding industry! Passed hors d’oeuvres, consisting of small newspaper cones of fish and chips, finger sandwiches, and scones are sure to be a hit at your wedding, and will be something to watch for again this season.

And lastly, cookies are still standing strong as popular dessert bar treats or guest favours!

Attire

It’s by far one of the most important pieces of clothing you will ever purchase and wear in your life. A wedding dress has turned into more than a simple white gown, it’s a statement of who you are as a woman, and is the perfect way of expressing your personality on your special day. If you’re on the hunt for the perfect gown, keep some of these trends in mind for the upcoming season.

Romantic colours, like soft pinks, are becoming more and more popular. Celebrities, like Kaley Cuoco, have brought this trend into the spotlight and catapulted it into the wedding world. Vera Wang is one of the biggest designers of colourful gowns, so keep your eye on the runway for inspiration from some of the worlds’ top wedding vendors.

Another trend that was popular last season, and will continue to be popular for years to come, are lace sleeves! Kate Middleton set the standard for royal, vintage romance with her gorgeous gown back in 2011. Since then, she’s been one of the biggest inspirations for designers and future brides.

Kate also had a very traditional veil, which is another trend that you will see a lot more of in 2014, more specifically, cathedral veils. They are traditional, but have been taking a back seat to birdcage and blusher styles. They can be plain and simple, or jacked up with lace trim, crystals, and many other accents!

Lastly, my favourite trend that I cannot wait to see this year is DRAMA! Show-stopping features, like low-cut backs, boleros, wraps, trains, and layers are becoming extremely popular with brides! If you’re looking to wed in cooler months, you can jack up your look with a beautiful faux-fur wrap, or even a cape. Spring and summer brides can sport open-back keyholes or low-cut backs. Layered, sheer tulle is another trend that is taking the industry by storm, along with contemporary, out-of-the-box trains that we’re not used to seeing!

Basically, anything that captures vintage elegance or romance is what will take top spot in 2014 bridal fashion!

Themes

Dramatic

Like bridal fashion, dramatic wedding themes will be prominent in 2014. Bold colours that make a statement, theatrical entertainment, and unique venues are what it takes to create this theme. Go big, or go home can be the motto for any bride looking to have a dramatic wedding! Try thinking outside the box, and focus on creating the “wow factor” for your guests.

Quirky

Because of Pinterest, more brides are incorporating quirky, novelty concepts into their weddings. Instead of looking for the “wow factor”, quirky brides are wanting more unusual things. Whether you have your wedding at a zoo, or renting a big, red double-decker bus instead of a limo, couples will want to look for ways to incorporate everything about themselves into their decor, attire, and entertainment in unique, DIY ways. You can wear a pair of crazy shoes, a cardigan, or even create a custom cake topper. With this theme, the uniqueness is more subtle than the over-the-top , in your face elements of a dramatic wedding.

Organic

“Being green” is HUGE in every aspect of life, and weddings are no exception! Rustic country is one of the biggest themes right now, and will continue to be through 2014. This theme can be accomplished with an outdoor venue, like a garden or barn. You can also use organic materials for things like linens, clothing, food, and transportation. Think “eco-friendly” with all aspects of your wedding if you’re wanting to achieve an organic concept.

There you have it! Our hottest trends for the 2014 season are not complete! Be sure to keep an eye out for all of these trends, and let us know what you think!

For more Inspired Bride articles that will go right to your inbox, sign up for your FREE eReport “How to Get the Most Bang for Your Wedding Budget”!

I hope this article has helped make you an Inspired Bride!

Article written by Kate Vanderlugt & Katie Dennison – Owner & Intern at The Little White Dress

Want to use this article in your Blog, E-zine or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement:

no comments

Monday, December 23, 2013

Hello 2014! Wedding Trends To Watch For In The New Year!

Posted in Inspired Bride, Trend Alert, Wedding Planning Tip

Congratulations! You’re engaged! Now that you have come down from cloud nine a little bit and things are sinking in, you are starting to realize that you actually have to plan an ENTIRE wedding! AH! But do not fret, The Little White Dress is here to not only give you some great tips for this big day with our blog, but also to help you through the entire process with our planning and coordinating services. To find out more about us, and what we can do for you, click here! To find some fun and gorgeous inspiration, keep reading!

While this blog will not be able to alleviate all of your wedding planning stresses, it will give you the inside scoop on what to expect for the upcoming bridal season. This week, we are going to cover flowers, colour palettes, and stationary and invitations. Stay tuned though! In the new year, we will be sharing even more inspiration for 2014!

Flowers

I think it is pretty safe to say that peonies aren’t going anywhere for 2014. These soft and lush flowers give a romantic feel to any bouquet or floral décor! These sought after flowers are available in an array of colours, but they do have a very specific season. So, if you are hoping to incorporate these elegant beauties into your florals, be sure to inquire with your florist as to whether they will be available at the time of your wedding. They tend to be in season in June (you can also usually get them late May/early July) – but if you’re having a wedding anywhere outside of that time frame, you might be out of luck.

However if you’re not able to get your hands on peonies, there are a couple of other flowers that have a longer blooming season and would be spectacular in the place of a peony. Garden roses and Ranunculus are both fluffy and airy flowers and lend themselves very well to a lush and romantic style. I also think that we will see a more abstract use of the peony in combination with other whimsical flowers in 2014, giving a fresh picked garden feel to bouquets and décor.

Stationery and Invitations

Invitations are extremely important and play a huge role in setting the tone for your wedding. They are the first thing your guests receive and they should not only set the stage for the event, but also give hints into the colour scheme, style, formality, etc. Invitations, in my opinion, are often not given enough thought. You want them to give insight into your wedding without giving too much away. They need to be personal and fit the vibe of the wedding, but they should also stand out amongst the masses. You want them to be informative, but at the same time, not overwhelming.

2014 will bring about tons of bright colours, playful patterns and less formal stationery. Patterns, such as chevron, honeycomb, and even some Moroccan inspirations, are expected to be in high demand.

Colour Palettes:

Having trouble deciding what colour palette you want for your wedding? Well, let’s start things off by presenting the 2014 Pantone Colour of the Year! I truly think everyone is going to LOVE Radiant Orchid – a fun, bright, yet elegant hue that will go with a variety of colour palettes. This colour will certainly add that element of “pretty” that most brides planning a wedding are looking for, and it pairs perfectly with the other hot colours for next year!

Blue is expected to be another hot colour for 2014. Imagine a combination of Radiant Orchid and a bold blue – stunning!

Other colours to watch out for include shades of pink, grey, and aqua. And, as in previous years, neutrals are still hot on the wedding scene. And if none of these speak to you, no worries, it is your wedding, and you need to choose colours that you and your fiancé love now, and will love in 20 years when you look back at your wedding photos!

That brings us to the end of part 1 of our Top Wedding Trends for 2014! Be sure to check back as we welcome the new year and all of the wonderful bridal inspiration it has to offer! We hope you enjoyed this week’s blog! See you in 2014, and happy planning!

For more Inspired Bride articles that will go right to your inbox, sign up for your FREE eReport “How to Get the Most Bang for Your Wedding Budget”!

I hope this article has helped make you an Inspired Bride!

Article written by Kate Vanderlugt & Katie Dennison – Owner & Intern at The Little White Dress

Research and contributions from Vicki Quach

Want to use this article in your Blog, E-zine or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement:

2 comments