June is one of Iowa’s most popular months for weddings and if you’ve gotten an invitation to attend someone’s nuptials in a few weeks, you can expect the unexpected.
Wedding planner Adelaide Polk-Bauman says many Iowa couples are mixing things up.
“When you look at the trends for 2012 there is certainly a theme,” Polk-Bauman. “There are modern twists on the very traditional, classic wedding ideas.”
The location is one big change. Many Iowans aren’t getting hitched in churches but instead, they’re tying the knots in mansions and country clubs — or in backyard gardens of their own homes.
“Brides are pushing the envelope,” she says. “They’re getting married in modern art museums and refurbished barns that kind of capture that vintage, old world feel but maybe with more of a contemporary look.”
Polk-Bauman says one tradition has returned — in the wedding dress itself.
“The royal wedding really influenced a lot of brides’ decisions for their dress,” she says. “Everybody saw Kate Middleton choosing a very classic, traditional white wedding dress, long lace sleeves, with the train and the veil, the works, but she made a point of going with a very contemporary designer. Alexander McQueen is known for really mixing things up in the fashion space.”
Polk-Bauman says the traditional hand-tied wedding bouquet is also making a comeback.
“Brides we’re seeing are choosing white flowers, the traditional but smaller bouquets,” she says. “If you have a particular flower in mind, you may want to try to plan you wedding in season of the flower so your budget doesn’t go through the roof.”
Polk-Bauman says many brides are jazzing the flowers up by adding sparkling ribbons or gemstones.
When it comes to the reception, some Iowa brides are skipping the three-tier wedding cakes for cupcakes. Also, instead of a sit-down dinner, some are opting for a specialty buffet like a taco bar.