8 Wedding Trends That Are Still Going Strong

2013 weddings were full of amazing trends, from metallic details to family-style tables to Gatsby glamour. We're getting excited to see what the next year will hold, so we asked wedding professionals from all around the country to predict which ideas will be even more popular in 2014. Check out the growing requests that they're receiving from brides!

1. Camp-style weddings: Lindsey Norton of L. Brook Events says that "weddings at summer camps are popping up more and more because there is ample space to accommodate overnight guests but also multiple venues (all conveniently located on one property) to host different pre- and post-wedding celebrations." Rider Strong of Boy Meets World fame recently got hitched in a camp-style wedding, and so did Matthew McConaughey.

camp wedding
Photography by Emily Delamater // Event planning by L. Brook Events

2. The English garden look: Michelle Hoffner of Paper Antler photography is seeing a switch to more "locally grown wildflower bouquets" than traditional florist bouquets. Some brides are even including bouquet-making as a wedding weekend event!

8 Ways to Use Leftover Wedding Cake

Guest blogger: Sharon Naylor, bestselling author of over 35 wedding books, including The Bride’s Guide to Freebies. Visit sharonnaylor.net for more great tips and advice.

Kate Middleton has a knack for creating new wedding trends; first, she brought back lace for wedding gowns, and now she’s done something very sentimental with the top tier of her wedding cake.

A Kick-Butt "Girl Power" Workout

Girl power! This weekend was all about the ladies. On Sunday, I trained with Bonne Marcus and had an awesome workout. I trained alone because Rene didn’t want to miss football Sunday for the third week in a row (insert eye roll here). I was upset I had to go alone, but it ended up being amazing — Bonne taught me special workouts to focus on my lady parts (exercises she would not give to Rene) and the parts that are going to show while I'm wearing my wedding dress.

We started with what Bonne calls "The Wedding March" — aka walking lunges — where you start with your feet together, step with one foot into a lunge, step up, and then lunge with the other foot. These were not easy. We also did side kicks, where you rest one arm on the top of a chair, balance on one leg, and kick the other leg out to the side in slow motion, so you really feel it in both legs.

wedding march workoutside kicks workout
Left: The Wedding March. Right: Side Kicks

October 22nd

Photo by: Megan Ann Photography on The Wedding Chicks via Lover.ly

Tip of the Day: Feathers are a budget-friendly way to enhance your centerpieces, ceremony décor, bouts and more! Reserve oversized feathers for just one or two statement pieces, like the origami-style fold cake featured above, for maximum impact. This look lends itself well to a glamorous Old Hollywood or vintage-inspired wedding theme.

Check out more wedding ideas featuring feathers:

feather decoration for wedding
Photo by: Birds of a Feather Photography on Wedding Chicks via Lover.ly

feather wedding bouquet
Photo by: Elizabeth Messina on Wedding Chicks via Lover.ly

feather wedding chandelier
Photo by: Weddings By Two on TINSEL & TWINE via Lover.ly

feather decoration
Photo by: Tara Francis Photography via Society Bride on Lover.ly

feather chair covers
Photo by: Leslee Mitchell on Historic Cedarwood via Lover.ly

feather bridal hairpiece
Photo by: Jen Huang on hushedCOMMOTION via Lover.ly

feather wedding dress
Photo by: Marie Labbancz Photography on Polka Dot Bride via Lover.ly

feather wedding invitations
Photo by: Amy & Stuart on Snippet and Ink via Lover.ly

diy gold feathers
Photo by: The Daylight on Bridal Musings via Lover.ly

Plus, check out The Most Popular Wedding Theme Ideas. Visit sharonnaylor.net for more tips and advice.

October 21st

Photo by: Meaghan Elliott Photography via Lover.ly

Tip of the Day: Pies are in for fall and winter weddings, especially if you arrange for your caterer to serve them warm at a station. According to bakers, a big buffet of pies will cost less than a grand, traditional wedding cake. Plus, guests will love picking their favorite flavor, whether it's apple, caramel, pecan, chocolate or more. Servers can cut slices to order so that your loved ones can sample two or three different kinds of pie.

Plus, check out 101 Amazing Wedding Cakes. Visit sharonnaylor.net for more tips and advice.

How to Look Your Best in Your Wedding Photos

I truly want everyone to look their best on their wedding day and get the most out of their wedding photos. While I am unable to be at every wedding (the laws of physics being what they are), I am happy to share some of my knowledge and experience with you. Todaym I am going to focus on what you can do to actually look your best. I am not telling you to do anything that makes you feel unnatural or uncomfortable. These are just pointers. And this is not just for the bride or groom; everyone who might have their picture taken on the day of the wedding should take note — so listen up bridesmaids and groomsmen!

casey fatchett looking your best in wedding photos bridal guide

1. Stand Up Straight

Yes, I probably sound like your mother, but people underestimate the power of good posture. Many of us spend so much time hunched over at our desks all day that we have developed a sloped shoulder look that is far from elegant. You do not have to be a ballerina to take some tips from them and imagine a string pulling at the top of your head — your body elongates, your shoulders naturally start to fall back, and you look ten times better in a matter of a few seconds.

2. Chin Up

Double chins can plague even the slimmest among us if their chin is nearly touching their chest. So keep your chin up! It elongates your neck. But remember, everything in moderation — you don’t want to look like a giraffe. If it feels awkward, you have gone too far.

3. Lay Off the Booze!

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