by Jennifer

As 2009 draws to a close, it time to start looking ahead to 2010. 2010 will feel familiar to us on several fronts because several of the top trends of 2009 will be sticking around. As always, great wedding themes are timeless and classy. Happy new year, everyone!

Outdoor Weddings: This trend from 2009 looks like it might stay awhile. Outdoor weddings range from beach weddings to homey, backyard ceremonies. Not only is an outdoor wedding fun, it brings an intimate and personal touch to your special day. Combined with smaller guest lists, weddings are becoming more memorable even with a limited budget.

Nearby Honeymoon Destinations: Though times are tough, couples are still enjoying their honeymoons with smaller budgets. There are so many great places a stone's throw away. Just take a look around and you'll find that perfect getaway spot.

Focus on Memorable Experiences: Lots of brides are deciding to tone down wedding decor to focus on the wedding experience. Weddings are incorporating fun activities such as photo booths or non-traditional dance-down-the-aisle walks. Couples are providing their guests with candy bars reminiscent of favorite childhood moments or mini snacks like popcorn and hot dogs as fuel to keep the dance party going into the wee hours of the morning. With a little bit of creativity, the sky is the limit. Don't forget to hire a great photographer and/or videographer to capture the moments!

Feathers: I'm amazed at how often feathers have been featured of late. There are feathers in veils and invitations (PerfectWeddingGuide) and even entire wedding themes (WeddingPaperDivas) based on the gorgeous colors of peacock feathers! We've also seen peacock feathers taking center stage when we found turquoise inspiration boards.

Green Wedding: There's also a strong trend to make weddings better for the environment. This can range from using recycled materials for wedding invitations to serving only locally grown food. Many couples also decide to forgo the party favors and instead opt to donate the money to a nonprofit foundation giving the wedding a touch of philanthropy and good will. In fact, Elizabeth and Curt decided to put their party favor budget in kiva.org.

Different Bridesmaid Dresses: Finally, another major trend we're seeing is more flexibility with bridesmaid dresses. People are now looking for bridesmaid dresses that can be worn again for another special occasion. Brides are allowing their bridesmaids to wear "non-traditional" dresses and even different bridesmaid dress styles from each other. These days, bridesmaids will also look good and feel comfortable on their friend's big day.

Image by Jason Hutchens