When Nick Gay marries Amy Smoyer in May, there will be no playing of the song "Shout," no throwing of the bouquet and no wedding cakes. "I've never eaten a cake at a wedding," said Smoyer, who is shopping for other desserts. "And they say to eat a piece of the cake a year later, but I think that's kind of gross."
Wedding trends can change faster than you can say "I do," according to vendors showcasing their wares Sunday at the Norfolk Botanical Garden's third annual bridal open house. Smoyer and Gay, who is from Virginia Beach, are getting married at the botanical garden. They reflect the standard refrain from couples: They want to feel their wedding day is, well, theirs.
"It's not about trying to outdo their friends," said Susan Byrne of Catering Concepts in Virginia Beach. "It's about them and their own relationships."The florists, caterers and event planners at the event cited a litany of trends expected to be big in Hampton Roads this year, including:
- Alternative invitations: The standard wedding invitation is out, and saving paper is in, said Sharon Campbell of Live, Love, Paper in Norfolk. She's seeing more "green brides" ask for recycled paper and single-layer envelopes. They're also using more flourishes, patterns and colored ribbon. "The traditional invitation is going by the wayside," she said.
- Ball gowns: The traditional wedding dress, on the other hand, is making a comeback.Pointing to a white ball gown with a sparkly bodice, Betsy Palaschak of Silk Bridal Consignment in Virginia Beach said the years of hip-hugging mermaid cuts are over. Instead, she said she's seeing "a lot of lace, a lot of romance."
- Comfort food: Jodi Moore of Sweetwater Cuisine in Virginia Beach said she's getting lots of requests for "comfort food with a twist." Popular dishes include deconstructed chicken pot pie - pulled apart and arranged across a plate - and macaroni and cheese topped with crab, bacon or chicken.
- Late-night snacks: After dinner ends and the dancing is well under way, younger couples are asking for late-night snacks, said Marcy Telfer of Chef By Design in Virginia Beach. Their taste tends toward tacos, sliders, french fries and candy.
"You know, when you're drinking, you get the munchies," Telfer said. - Colors and flowers Bright colors are also making a comeback. One bride recently wanted her wedding done in fuchsia and bright green, Palaschak said.
Why? For the same reason people like getting married in a garden, she said. "I can stand among all these blooming flowers and be so happy," she said. "There's so much strife right now, we need a little happiness."