As a reporter of top trends in the wedding industry, it’s always interesting to look back at the previous year to see how things matched up with what was predicted.  Did brides really go retro?  How many actually had a candy buffet?  What was the most popular color?  These are the types of questions The Knot and The Wedding Channel answered in their 2010 recap that gives us a glimpse at the wedding market for last year.  It’s like a reality show—only in reverse!  This is how brides actually made their wedding dreams a reality.

Full of some interesting facts about weddings last year, here are the highlights from the Knot and The Wedding Channel 2010 Real Weddings Survey:

Where are the most expensive and least expensive places to tie the knot?

New York City (Manhattan) has the highest average wedding budget ($70,730), and Utah has the lowest average wedding budget ($13,214), excluding honeymoon only.

In what month do most couples get engaged?

December has the highest number of proposals at 16%, with most brides getting the ring around the Christmas holiday.

What is the average age of brides?

New York City (Manhattan and Outer Boroughs) has the oldest brides (32 years), whereas West Texas has the youngest brides (24 years), on average.

Inside vs. Outside:  Where did most brides get married?

Outside venues win this face-off hands down.  Ceremonies held in churches, synagogues and mosques dropped off by 10% as more couples opted to hold their wedding ceremonies outdoors. In 2010, 43% of ceremonies were held outdoors, compared with 39% in 2009 – an increase of 10%.  In addition, destination weddings rose the past two years, with an increase of 20% since 2008. Approximately 1 in 4 couples considered their wedding a destination wedding in 2010.

What’s the number one way brides save money on their big day?

When it comes to lowering the wedding budget, one successful cost-cutting tactic used by brides is to trim the number of wedding guests – 141 was the average in 2010, compared with 149 in 2009.  Brides are holding true to their vision and not sacrificing the main elements of their day; they’re just inviting less people.

White and ivory are always top wedding colors, but after that, what was the most popular color last year?

Purple was the new “it” color, with 1 out of 5 brides (21%) choosing it for their wedding – a 50% increase since 2008.

Candy buffets were all the rage last year.  How many brides chose alternative desserts for their reception?

A majority of brides (68%) had a traditional tiered wedding cake; however, other desserts like a groom’s cake (20%), candy buffets (14%) and cupcakes (13%) were also served.

Well, there you have it!  How did your wedding stack up with the real weddings from last year?  It will be interesting to see how many of these trends will carry over into 2011.  But, one thing’s for sure.  The Real Wedding Survey shows a spectrum of results as diverse as the brides.  Whether you’re on the high end or the low-end of that spectrum, you’ll be glad to know that Kate Aspen wedding favors are versatile enough to accommodate a wide range of choices, desires and personalities.  I guess the next question should be “How many brides should accent their wedding with Kate Aspen Favors?“ Answer:  All of them!

Happy Planning!

Did you know one in four women hated their proposal? That’s what we’ve learned from a survey by Men’s Health magazine and TheKnot.com. We didn’t think a proposal—in any form—would be a negative thing, unless he throws you a ring and says, “We’ve been together four years, and everyone says I should do this, so, even though I’m not really sure about it, here.” Were you happy with your proposal? What characterizes a “bad” proposal?

Two Wildly Different Proposals

Both of these are absolutely true proposal stories.

The first story begins with a couple merely discussing marriage one Thanksgiving evening. Nothing else was mentioned beyond that—not even a time frame.  A month later, there she was, up to her elbows in sudsy dishwater, finishing the last of the pots and pans used to create a wonderfully romantic Christmas eve dinner for her and the love of her life. Suddenly, a hand holding a sparkling diamond ring hovered over the suds. Long story short, they both wound up sudsy and happy.  We’re pretty sure this would fall under the category of the “Most Unromantic Marriage Proposals Ever”, but she says she wouldn’t change it for the world. (They were married the following Valentine’s Day!)

Our second couple had been dating for quite a while. They were in the car, headed to a party on a Sunday afternoon, when police sirens began blaring. A couple of police cruisers surrounded them and signaled them to stop. (We should tell you now this was all pre-arranged by the future groom, who had some friends in the local police department.) The officer demanded he step out of the car, cuffed him, and took him out of her view behind the police car, ostensibly to pat him down. All the while, he’s asking “What did I do? What’s the problem?”  Next, an officer took her, shocked and shaking, out of the car, cuffed her and took her where he was waiting. When she arrived, he had already been uncuffed, but his hands were still behind his back. As she stood there, bewildered and more than a little freaked out, he dropped to one knee, brought his arm with ring in hand from behind his back and popped the question.

Both couples have been happily married for many years.

The Moral of These Stories

If you truly love someone and want to be his wife, it shouldn’t matter how he proposes. The proposal survey tells us that 25% of men are clueless when it comes to creative proposals. If you take the risk of telling him you were disappointed at his lack of imagination, don’t be surprised if he thinks twice about marrying a woman who will find fault with the way he asks her to marry him. He can’t help but wonder what he’ll be up against down the road.

The Ring’s the Thing!

We know how much that ring on your finger means to you, regardless of how it got there! Kate Aspen’s favor collection includes several bling-inspired wedding favors and bridal shower favors that “rock” the rock! Check out the “With This Ring” Chrome Diamond Ring Bottle Stopper, the “With This Ring” Engagement Ring Keychain, and the “With This Ring” Unique Stackable Glass Coasters!



Happy Planning!

Be the star of your own wedding favors and personalize them without a single name or date! It begins with favors fashioned for picture-perfection—place card holders and frames.

Wait a minute. Place card holders?

Two-for-One Practicality!

Most place card holders are designed to have an afterlife when your wedding is over. When guests take them home, they’ll have, along with all the memories, a meaningful way to display a photo—the one you give them or their own.

A photo frame can start out as a place card holder and end its journey in the home of a guest, showcasing a favorite family photo. Of course, you always have the option of starting them out as photo holders, too. Today, we’re going to take a look at a few of our top picks for favors totally made for smiling faces!

Posing for the Elegant Event…

Put a photo of you and your groom—smiling and happy—in one of these gorgeous frames, and we guarantee your guests will smile right back. We’re particularly fond of the Black Baroque and White Baroque photo frames. Depending on your color scheme, you might take a shine to the “Silver Pearls” frame, the “Golden Brocade” coasters or the “Elegant Arc” frame.

Earth-Friendly Frame Work

Save the planet and look sensational while you’re at it with the smartly styled “Breezy Bamboo” frame or “Shells by the Sea”—authentic seashells with a slot for a shot—or a place card. (Outstanding table décor for your beach wedding, too!)

Perfectly Seasoned

We’re just going to show you photos of four photo-friendly favors—you can match the favor with the season. (Hint: The Topiary favor is unbelievably popular for the season right around the corner.)

Going Out on a Whim

Want a bit of whimsy on your reception tables? Get in the game with the ultra-cool, ridiculously regal “Check Mate!” Chess King and Queen, make beautiful music together with silvery “Love Songs” or take it nice and easy with the “Beach Memories” Miniature Adirondack Chair Place Card/Photo Frame.

With all the new, digital techniques to take photos (tablet computers, palm pilots, phones, etc.), people are up to their gigabytes in snapshots, so you’d be doing your guests a great service by providing a snappy, decorative way to display even one! And you’re getting married—you should be smiling all the time these days! Click!

Happy Planning!

So glad to see you back! We’re still having the time of our lives giving you the low-down on high times—Cosmo-style. Let’s jump right into it—

Mushy Movie Night
Here’s another get-together that can take place at home or away. The only rule is that it has to be a mushy movie—no horror, action or war movies. Two-tissues or more movies only! Order pizza for delivery, have everyone bring a dish or, after the movie, head to a favorite restaurant to eat and enjoy—what else? Cosmos! Wrap up the evening by giving your guests a girls’ night out favor that keeps the party going when they get home—“Bottoms Up!” Cosmopolitan Cocktail Mix. All they’ll need is a mushy movie and a box of tissues.

“Vive la France” Night
Hey, if you’ve got the money to transport your party to Paris, don’t let us stop you. In fact, we’d love an invitation! If you’re like us, you’ll have to bring the Eiffel Tower to your own town. It’s easy! Wear berets. Eat at a French restaurant—go for the snails, the frog legs and the croissants. (French fries are not an option.) See a French movie. You might even want to treat yourselves to a bottle French champagne at dinner (and end the night with Cosmos at a good ol’ American bar or night club.) Oh, and French-themed favors are perfectly acceptable as a reminder for your tres magnifque soiree (totally magnificent evening!) Yes, we’ve got those, too!

“Far Out” Food-Tasting Night
Well, we find ourselves with another night that can be just as much fun home or away. And we’re talking really far-out food—exotic foods you’ve never tasted before. This might sound a little like “Vive la France” night, with the snails and frog legs. Look for a Peruvian restaurant, an Ethiopian restaurant, a Bulgarian restaurant or a place equally as different from your typical girls’ night out fare. If you host the night at home, ask each guest to make an unusual (but yummy-sounding) dish from another country. (Tacos and lasagna don’t count.) Add a few interesting side dishes of your own, and don’t forget the Cosmos—which go with foods of all nations!

Having fun, ladies? Welcome to the club!

Happy Planning!