6 Trends Inspired By The Royal Wedding
Royal Wedding Trend #1: The Dress! One of the most anticipated fashion moments in recent history was the unveiling of Kate Middleton’s wedding gown. While we’ve seen the trend in recent years towards strapless, we may see a trend towards a little more coverage, especially for cooler weather weddings (which is a good part of the year here in Massachusetts!). Long lace sleeves are elegant and traditional but Kate’s v-neckline gave it a modern look….a modern day Grace Kelly. For brides that loved Kate’s look but don’t want the long sleeves, consider a romantic lace bodice or other lace details. While designers are rushing to create copycat royal wedding gowns (such as Alfred Angelo and Jasmine Bridals), check out these designs that incorporate Kate’s timeless look:
Watters Brides “Escalante”
Priscilla of Boston “4615″
Modern Trousseau “Kennedy”
David’s Bridal “LSLace” Long Sleeved Lace Jacket
Where to shop in Massachusetts:
Watters Brides – Platinum retailer – Occasions in Wayland
Priscilla of Boston – Signature salon – Boston
Modern Trousseau – Meredith’s Bridal Boutique in Scituate
David’s Bridal – Danvers, Dedham, Natick, North Attleboro, North Dartmouth, West Springfield
Royal Wedding Trend #2: Horse Drawn Carriages! What says “fairy tale wedding” more than a horse drawn carriage? You don’t have to be royalty to enjoy this luxury! A horse drawn carriage ride is a memorable way to add a touch of charm and elegance to your wedding day. Here are some local Massachusetts businesses that offer horse and carriage services:
Elegant Touch Carriage – Boston
Coachman’s Legacy – Upton
Boston Bridal Carriage – Hanover
Paradise Stables - Cape Cod
Friendship Carriage Tours – Salem/Rockport
Royal Wedding Trend #3: Eco-Friendly Flowers! William and Catherine hired Shane Connolly, a London-based, eco-friendly florist, to create the floral displays for their wedding in Westminster Abbey. All of the flowers and plants were locally grown and in season, instead of shipping in exotic blooms from afar. Eight live trees, including English Field Maples and Hornbeams, were also brought in to line the aisle and they were re-planted after they were removed from the Abbey. So, what can you do to reduce your wedding’s carbon footprint?
1. Work with a florist who is committed to eco-friendly practices.
2. Use flowers that are locally grown and in season. Consider using organically grown blooms without chemical preservatives and pesticides.
3. Avoid floral foam because it’s not biodegradable.
4. Use live, potted plants and flowers for your centerpieces or other design elements.
Massachusetts eco-friendly florists:
Faxon Green – Boston
Green Stem Designs – Boston
Geraniums Red, Delphiniums Blue – Waltham
Royal Wedding Trend #4: White Bridesmaid Dresses!
Who says bridesmaids can’t wear white? Although it’s common for bridesmaids to wear white or cream in the UK, it’s not as popular in the US…although that trend might just change in the wake of the royal wedding. Brides worry that if their maids wear white that there won’t be enough distinction between her and her bridal party. However, bridesmaids in white look fresh and elegant and make for stunning bridal party photos. You can make sure that your maids’ dresses are different enough from yours by choosing white bridesmaid dresses that are cocktail length or that incorporate a colorful sash or other embellishments that provide a “pop” of color.
We’ve rounded up some white bridesmaid dresses that we love to give you a little inspiration:
Alfred Angelo Style 2076 Cocktail length with a colored sash (lots of colors to choose from) and rhinestone pin.
Dessy Group Lela Rose One shoulder cocktail length duchess dress with gathered fold detail.
After Six Style 6585 Cocktail length strapless nu-georgette tiered dress.
Lilly Pulitzer’s Little White Dresses Your bridesmaids can wear these versatile white dresses after your wedding too!
Royal Wedding Trend #5: Hair Jewels!
Kate’s gorgeous Cartier halo tiara has undoubtedly inspired many future brides to incorporate some bling into their wedding hairstyles. Tiaras aren’t the only way to make you look and feel like a princess on your wedding day. Consider jeweled headbands or rhinestone embellished clips to add some sparkle to your wedding day glow.
Here are some websites with lots of bridal bling to browse:
Anna Bellagio Bridal Hair Accessories
Wedding Mountain Tiaras and Headbands
Orange Blossom Tiaras
Also, here’s a great article from Princess Bride Tiaras on how to select the perfect tiara.
Royal Wedding Trend #6: Charity Registries!
William and Kate requested donations to their favorite charitable organizations in lieu of wedding gifts. This is a trend that’s becoming more and more popular, especially since today’s brides and grooms marry later in life and often already have all the home goods they need. Even if you’d still like to register at your favorite department store, you can start a charity registration as an option for your guests. Choose a cause (or two!) that is significant to the both of you. Maybe you would like to honor a loved one or support an organization for which you volunteer. Alternatively, you could also opt to make a donation to your favorite cause instead of giving favors to your guests. Either way, these are thoughtful ways to give back to your community!
For more information, check out the I Do Foundation.
This website provides tools to help couples set up charitable wedding registries. Plus, if you set up a registry with one of their partner stores (Macy’s, Target, and more), a percentage of your guests’ purchases will be donated to your chosen charity!
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