coral wedding flowers

A new year is upon us, and with it comes a new wedding season. Each year, the trends and directions of weddings change, and 2010 is no exception. Whether you are a bride, a bridesmaid, or simply love weddings, take a look at what is "in" and "out" for 2010 weddings.

In: Coral, turquoise, charcoal, silver, shades of purple, and pale buttercup yellow. These are the colors which are hot for everything from bridesmaid dresses to invitations to reception decorations to wedding flowers.

Out: Pink and brown together are passe for 2010 (if you love pink, choose charcoal as the neutral accent color). An all Tiffany blue wedding, complete with the wedding cake designed to look like gift boxes from Tiffany. Blue is always pretty for weddings, just not done in such a heavily thematic way. Try a soft robin's egg blue and apricot color palette for a fresh look.

In: Allowing bridesmaids to look like individuals. Choose one general color and let each woman select a dress that actually flatters her. Your bridal party can look coordinated without matching exactly. Another trend in bridesmaid dresses is for non-shiny fabrics; think chiffon or polished cotton instead of satin.

Out: With each passing year, it becomes more dated looking to line up your attendants like the Rockettes in matching dresses, shoes, hairstyles, and makeup. Not only is forcing every woman into the same dress old school, but so is giving them all the same bridesmaid jewelry gifts. A more modern approach is to select bridesmaid jewelry as gifts which is unique and specially selected for individual tastes.

In: Family style wedding meals. This trend can be seen in the long tables which are so popular as an alternative to numerous round tables for the reception. Family style service, in which large platters of food are passed is also a very hot idea. Brides and grooms love the idea of their wedding being all about the gathering of their loved ones, and treating their wedding reception more like a great big family dinner helps to create this atmosphere.

Out: Separating the newlyweds from the other dinner guests. This makes the isolationist sweetheart table a definite no-no. After all, these people have come a long way to celebrate your wedding with you; why set yourselves apart from them? The sweetheart table is one trend that I personally am glad to see go, as I have always believed it made the bride and groom too unapproachable. Many couples are also eschewing the traditional head table for the newlyweds and bridal party, instead opting to seat everyone together at long family style tables.

In: Hospitality. This means putting the comfort and enjoyment of your guests first. Simply put: no cash bars allowed! Another trend is towards hosting a wedding welcome party the night before the main event to which all guests are invited, rather than the more exclusive rehearsal dinner. Given that most wedding guests these days will have to travel to attend your wedding, this can be a really nice gesture.

Out: Over-personalization. I love a monogram as much as the next girl (more, actually!), but it is not necessary to emblazon your name on absolutely everything. When the bride and groom have their initials on the invitations, the aisle runner, the programs, the wedding cake, and even projected onto the dance floor, after a while, it is altogether too much. It starts to scream, "It's all about us!", which is not a gracious attitude. Reserve your monogram for a few key areas where it will have the most impact, such as the invitations, cocktail coasters, and best of all, discreetly stitched in light blue thread with the wedding date on the inside of the bride's train. Now that is personal.