OR…

Despite the fact I created an “Inspiration to Reality” photo shoot for Style Me Pretty last year with some 30′s Return to Desert Glamor “vintage” elements and style, no old typewriters were harmed in the process!! Likewise no bride or groom lost their heads or their wedding shoes and were forced to wear precious rubber boots and hold a red balloon.

Although the venue and images looked vintage (thanks to the ingenious creativity of Chelsea and Jayse of Chelsea Nicole Photography), it was deliberately done from inspiration board WE CHOSE and “back story” based on the movie “The Aviator”. The shoot style and story also allowed us to showcase a unique venue, Springs Preserve, most Las Vegas visitors might overlook for weddings.

It was a fun challenge for me and all my creative partners channeling and bringing that “timeless” era’s moment to life. We certainly weren’t the first but I hope the trend doesn’t last because I do believe this “vintage” moment has had it’s share of enough moments in the sun (see top picture for proof). Oh, and the same goes for you too “Rustic Chic” and “Woodsy Whimsical”.

I know it’s not just me.

Many of my planner and wedding professional colleagues are perplexed this “trend” has lasted as long as it has. In a bride’s over-exerted effort to achieve these looks, the images become “dated”, not “timeless” as they had hoped for.

Read my photographer friends, Natasha and Chris from WriteShot Photography Blog who shared their own take on this very topic. We talk about this very subject CONSTANTLY.

Brides, you can only know what you see and is “fed” to you as you, newly engaged, venture out into the information-overloaded world of weddings in print, websites and blogs, blogs, BLOGS. (I don’t know why, but I have an image of The Grinch being bombarded with red balloons right now).

What you, me, the wedding industry is over-exposed to are over-used, safe trends many unimaginative bloggers with their own style agendas perpetuate. That is fine for them. It’s their blog to showcase whatever they like but are you really being inspired to express YOUR style by what’s out there?

To my Diary reading brides, colleagues and interested readers, I would like to think that those of you attracted to this blog crave to discover something new. Or, more importantly, desire permission to really be authentic to who you are and not be afraid to tell YOUR STORY! Do you know even where and how to begin?

As a wedding planner, and this goes for other wedding creative professionals too-including photographers, I believe to stay relevant, we need to find our own courage and self-confidence in our abilities and talents to help our clients find their self-confidence. To help guide them to create a celebration about what’s really in their hearts and not follow the crowd just because “the popular kids are all doing the latest thing”.

It’s why they seek us out isn’t it?

In retrospect, I bet if asked, most couples who followed some of these trends would look at their pictures and wonder “who are those people and why are they wearing our wedding clothes?” As a matter of fact, I recently heard a story from a friend of a colleague that complained about how upset they were with their images one year later. Not because they were of poor quality as they had “one of the top photographers”, but because they didn’t look like themselves in the pictures.

And if you will allow me to pose another “hmmmm” question? With the wedding industry still preaching the importance of “personalizing your wedding”, why are you settling to have your wedding and wedding images look like they belong to everyone else?

This is why I enjoy watching David Tutera‘s show, My Fair Wedding. Whether you can love it or leave the show, I personally find it compelling to watch. The brides on his show have some CRAZY THEME ideas to be sure and he doesn’t hide the fact that he thinks some are off their rocker. BUT, he finds a way to honor their essence and brings THEIR stories to life in ways they couldn’t even imagine with his unique flair. I have seen a “Monopoly Bride”, a “Mini-Truck Bride and even a “Swamp Bride”. I did not see one headless, galosh wearing, sepia-bleached, balloon holding couple all season .

So, to my brides, readers and colleagues, be brave, be true, be timeless in your own way…BE YOU!

I would love to hear your comments from both brides and wedding professionals. Are you swept up in the trend or staying true to your story? Any challenges?

Celebrating Love, Life and STYLE Today and Everyday

Tracey