Catharine Kendall tmeraid
Bridal gowns and accessories took center stage at the lane County Fairgrounds Jan. 22 and 23. Experts on
hand agree that the ‘Martha Stewart’ style is very popular these days, simple and very elegant.
Wedding trends changing,
moving toward simplicity
■ The traditional ceremony has
been modified slightly throughout
the decades, making way for 2000
By Yael Menahem
Oregon Daily Emerald
Simplicity is what engaged couples are
searching for in today’s busy world.
The task of finding the perfect dress,
flower arrangements, a wedding theme, the
cake and, not to mention, the right bride or
groom, can be tedious.
Yet simplicity is key, maintains Seph
Reese, producer of the Emerald City Bridal
Show 2000, which took place Jan. 22 and
23 at the Lane County Fairgrounds.
Reese has been producing bridal shows
for 15 years, and he’s seen wedding themes
change, technology improve and couples
elope or try to find alternatives to a tradi
tional wedding. Yet he finds that couples
are by and large still taking that customary
walk down the aisle.
“Nationwide, there’s a return to the tradi
tional wedding where the bride has the
white gown, the groom is in the tuxedo,”
Reese says. “They have anywhere from two
to six attendants, and dad goes out and
spends $50,000 on the wedding.”
Bridal gowns have also changed over the
years.
Toni Davis, who has worked at Bridal Etc.
in Corvallis for 10 years, says a bride now has
a greater chance of finding a dress that stands
out on the big day. Many of the gowns
looked alike and the selection was sparse a
decade ago, but today’s bride can find a
gown that doesn’t look like every other.
“It’s a lot easier for a bride to find a gown
Planning
continued from page 2
“Getting organized early helps to ensure
things will go smoothly,” she says.
According to the Web site www.wed
ding411.com, an early decision a couple
makes is what kind of wedding they want.
Will it be formal or informal? Religious or
civil? If a couple wants a religious ceremo
ny, they need to know the requirements of a
wedding in their faith.
Once the couple decides what kind of
wedding they want and how much they will
spend, die next step is to figure out elements
such as working out a schedule for ceremony
rehearsals and reserving a honeymoon suite,
says Tracy Delperdang, a coordinator for the
wedding shop Reed and Cross.
“A big thing is choosing the colors which
will then determine flowers, bridesmaid
dresses and the like,” she says.
Experts advise couples to start planning
far in advance. Most couples in Eugene de
sire a summer wedding, Fergason says, but
photographers, bands for the reception and
Cover photo by Catharine Kendall Emerald
that will fit her personality,” Davis says.
Brides who opt for a traditional ceremo
ny but desire a simpler gown, sometimes
choose an ivory-colored bridesmaid dress
that doesn’t have a 10-foot long train behind
it but at the same time still garners “oohs
and ahhs,” Davis says.
Luckily for bridesmaids, their once noto
riously tacky dresses have also received a
face-lift.
“They are a lot more wearable after the
fact now, which is nice, [so] you can get a
little more value out of the money you
spent,” Davis says.
Floral arrangements have also gone
through some changes.
“It used to be acceptable to go in Mom’s
garden and cut some flowers, but now
brides are expected to see more sophisticat
ed bouquets,” Reese remarks.
Sandy Whinmer, owner of Oakway
Flowers and Gifts in Eugene, is aware of the
changing trends in floral arrangements over
the past 30 years.
“The Martha Stewart style is very popu
lar; it’s simple and very elegant,” Whinmer
says.
Finally, what would a wedding bash be
with hungry guests? The Oregon Electric
Station in downtown Eugene has catered
weddings for the past eight years, says em
ployee Theresa Pawson, and a major trend
has been serving less alcohol at the recep
tion. She says people are more aware and
want to prevent the dangers of drinking and
driving after the celebrations.
Whatever form your dream wedding
takes, all of the experts say there are plenty
of styles and selections out there to fit your
personal needs.
caterers fill their schedules fast. Reception
sites and churches also get booked months
in advance for the summertime weekends.
This year is unusually busy because many
couples want to marry in 2000, Delperdang
says. Kathee Lavine, owner of Holy Cow
catering services, also reports an increase in
business.
“We have more on the calendar now than
we usually do in March,” she says.
To minimize the stress of preparation, cou
ples should begin clipping and saving photos
they find in bridal magazines early, says Joy
Tsunka, a floral designer for Chase Flowers.
This way they will be able to show examples
when they meet with professionals.
The Web site also recommends that cou
ples allow plenty of time to order invitations
and mail them in a timely fashion. A few
weeks prior to the big day, couples should
confirm reservations and finalize details.
Lavine says if couples plan early, they
will be able to feel more relaxed as the big
day approaches.
“Six months is probably a good time line
to get all your ducks in a row and be com
fortable,” she says.
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