2014 WEDDING TRENDS
Woodland weddings: Blame it on tech billionaire Sean Parker, but his $10 million "Game of Thrones"-themed wedding sparked a big trend. "Lots of couples are incorporating rustic elements," says Jamie Miles, editor of TheKnot.com. Ethereal gowns. Animal motifs. Green and white color palettes. It's all in there.
Brights: Gone is the stark all-white wedding, Miles says. "People are getting more playful with their weddings. They are not afraid to personalize it and make it their own," she says. Expect to see bright colors such as poppy red, tangerine and indigo blue on everything from invitations to cake decorations.
Flowers: Here's a trend that trendsetters Kim and Kanye West followed — a backdrop of flowers as they exchanged their vows. Flowers are a big trend overall with flower canopies, fresh flower walls and more.
Social media: There are two camps here — first, the oversocialized wedding in which couples encourage guests to take to Instagram during the wedding. Then there are the Luddites who make you drop your smartphone in a basket at the door to avoid ceremony pix on social media. Instagram is very popular with couples creating a wedding hashtag with their names or an inside joke with friends and family.
Fashion trends: The '90s are back in a big way. Crop top wedding dresses. Jeweled necklines. Go there if you dare.
This year, couples will spend an average of almost $30,000 on their weddings. And their guests will spend an average of almost $600 to attend.
While couples are spending more money to provide their guests with an unforgettable experience and paying more for some services, guests are spending more to enjoy it, thanks to price increases for travel and accommodations.
Here are a few ways you can save during wedding season, whether you are planning the wedding or attending one.
Tips for the bride and groom
The dress: Obviously, this is the most important outfit, and it requires the most care and planning. Many national retailers have jumped into the affordable wedding dress market. Ann Taylor, Anthropologie/Urban Outfitters (BHLDN), J. Crew, Target and H&M all have wedding dresses with prices as low as $99. David's Bridal offers gowns by Vera Wang ($728-$1,898), Zac Posen ($750-$1,400) and Oleg Cassini ($800-$1,750).
The guests: While the guest spend has gone up, the number of guests has gone down. Save on your overall wedding costs by reducing your head count. "Before you plan anything, outline who want at your wedding," says Jamie Miles, editor of TheKnot.com. Create an A list and B list so you have a backup. Just don't let your guests know which list they are on.
The flowers: People may be spending more on flowers, but how much you spend may depend on the venue. A venue with built-in decor — a garden, a vineyard — requires fewer floral elements, Miles says. Also think of ways your flowers can do double duty. Can bridal party bouquets become table centerpieces? For bouquets, use larger blooms such as giant peonies. Peonies aren't cheap but using just four or five of them may cost less than 10-12 smaller flowers.
The cake: Order half a cake. If you have 150 guests, get cake for 75 and do half servings, Miles says. Have a smaller cake as a display cake, but secretly serve sheet cake from the back. It is more cost effective to have a sheet cake than a five-tier wedding cake, she says.
The food: Cut out a course. Instead of four or five courses, have just three courses along with dessert. Serve a signature cocktail instead of unlimited open bar. Offer beer and wine and two to three signature cocktails that you personalize.
The season: Summer is still the most popular wedding season with 35 percent of couples opting for a summer wedding, Miles says. But in recent years, fall is becoming more popular. Avoiding peak months and planning a ceremony for winter or spring may save you some money. "Venues and vendors as a whole are more willing to make a deal with you," Miles says. They may have off-season packages or you can ask them for off-season pricing.
Tips for wedding guests
The travel: You don't have a lot of flexibility here since you have to be there for the wedding, which isn't likely to be held on an affordable travel day. What you can do is try to book at the right time to save money. Here's a handy guide from KAYAK on when to book depending on where you are headed:
Domestic: Book between three and seven weeks out.
Europe: Book eight to 10 weeks out.
Asia: Book nine to 10 months out or at least three to four months out.
South America: Book six months out.
Central America: Book six to eight weeks out.
Africa: Book three to five weeks out.
Caribbean: Book two to three weeks out.
The hotel: Don't assume staying at the hotel where the couple has blocked rooms means you're getting a discount. You may be able to find more affordable accommodations if you are willing to do some research and stay at a different hotel. If the wedding is in a city where you have friends or family, cut your costs by staying with them and renting a car to get you to and from the wedding festivities. If you're part of the bridal party, determine if it may be cheaper to rent a house with everyone than to book separate hotel rooms.
The gift: Most guests will spend an average of $109 per gift this year, and if the recipient is a close family member, the average cost of a gift doubles to $200. One-third of guests will give money, which more than half of couples say they want. If you prefer to give a gift, you can give them what they want and still save by checking out the registry, then looking for similar items off-registry at a lower cost, says Trae Bodge, senior editor at RetailMeNot.
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