Bridal couples choose personal touches

H ere comes the bridal season!

That's right, January is when summer weddings - still the most popular - start to take shape.

And nowadays, weddings have real personality and are real personal. Couples create events that reflect their spirit. So there are Yellow Submarine groom's cakes, bright red shoes under snow white dresses and those YouTube-ready wedding party dances.

We talked to a few of those who work in the local wedding trade about the hottest trends and asked them to offer a few tips:

The dress

The strapless dress is still the pick, says Sheena Johnson of A Bridal World. "They can work for anyone," she says. There's plenty of variety too. Sweetheart necklines, asymmetrical one-shoulder versions, mermaid shapes. Manu Gujral, who owns Bridal Boutique of Raleigh and Bridal Gallery at MacGregor Village in Cary says brides shopping for lower-priced gowns - under $1,000 - look for more embellishments on the dress. But she's selling more gowns this year at and above $2,000.

The Louboutin Carnaval peeptoe in ivory crepe satin with a 4-inch heel from Saks Fifth Avenue, right, is a cute take on a traditional wedding shoe style.

The pictures

The documentary approach is still strong, says photographer Shane Snider. "People want real emotions and storytelling." But if you want to be ahead of the curve, go for fashion-style images, says Neil Boyd of Neil Boyd Photography, above. "People want images that are very stylized." That trend goes for video too, Boyd says. Rather than just a straight video record of events, people are asking for cinematography, a more stylized approach.

The cake

Color is a big deal, says Lorie Murray of Simply Cakes in Apex. "We did a black, white and red cake. People want cakes that match their dress or their invitations." Wayne Steinkopf of Swank Cake Design, right, in Raleigh is seeing colors like lime green, aqua and chocolate, and bling. "People ask for jewelry, real or edible." Stenciling and geometric shapes are big. Steinkopf says all those cake reality shows are fueling the trends. "Men come in with the brides and talk about fondant," he says. Cupcakes are big too. "They're cost-effective," says Marissa Jones of Sugarland in Chapel Hill, which also offers cake shooters, alternating layers of cake and cake filling with a bit of icing on top, served in shot glasses.

The invitations

Letterpress - old-fashioned handset type - is back. "It seems to be replacing engraving," says Brian Allen, a Raleigh artisan and printer who has a Web site officinabriani.com. "People want that tactile quality of paper and printing. They're craving dimension." Stacey Knox Motley of Paper Café in Raleigh, which provided the examples below, says it bridges the gap between brides. "It's traditional, but you can add flair that makes it contemporary." Motley says she's seeing more high-end and more intricate detail. Even save-the-date cards have gotten luxe. But letterpress doesn't have to be pricey, she says. Think about the weight of the paper (it can add up to 25 percent to the price), and the number of colors you want to use.

The groom

Suits of brown are popular paired with blue or pink accessories, says Aaron Gilmore of Cape Fear Formal Wear in Raleigh's Cameron Village. . The notch lapel is the most common; shawl collars have faded. For those who go traditionally formal, tails aren't on the agenda, although in the Cameron Village store, a lot of bowties and cummerbunds are sold.

The rings

When it comes to the engagement ring, the desire for four- and six-prong settings has dissipated, says Frank Ragsdale of Jolly's Jewelers in North Hills. "People want more diamonds and elaborate mounting," he says. Vintage settings, in particular, are all the rage. Custom or DYI designs are growing too, he says, as people show signs of fatigue at cookie-cutter looks. As for the diamonds themselves, princess cuts are fading; more women are getting cushion and radiant cuts. Men's bands are expanding from platinum and gold to include titanium and tungsten carbide rings or stainless steel. The allure is that they have bright finishes that won't dull. But Ragsdale says be careful: Titanium can be cut, but it can't be sized. And tungsten rings are so hard they can't be cut off; they must be crushed. Whatever you choose: Know the country of origin, be sure the inside is properly stamped with the manufacturers' name and the type of metal, and watch Internet sales - they have no standards for ring weights. Ragsdale says, "If you can't get your hands on it first, don't buy it."

The bridesmaids

Forget about chocolate and Tiffany blue, says Alexia Joyce, co-owner of Cary's Lana Addison Bridal and Alexia's Bridal Boutique. "Chocolate was big for so long that I think people are sick of it. Green is kind of played out too." Instead, she says brides now are choosing purples and navy. Yellow is big too. And going into 2011, the colors get more vibrant. "We're selling fuchsias, oranges, bright green." For the past few years, too, brides have been sensitive to what they ask their attendants to buy. Joyce says. So they're choosing dresses they think their friends will be able to wear again (who does?) and allowing them to choose their own styles. Joyce says she likes the trend but cautions that brides should be specific about designers, color and fabric. "That way you can make sure the look is cohesive enough."

The flowers

Purple petals are the most desired, says Lyn Graves of Fresh Affairs in Raleigh. Brandi Dennison of Brandi's Botanicals agrees. "Eggplant, lavender. I've done lavender roses, potted orchids, calla lilies." She says, too, that her budget-conscious customers are looking for multipurpose arrangements. The bridesmaids' flowers may end up on the table. Or those potted orchids may become wedding favors.

The music

"People want more of a show, they want lighting," says Randal Calloway of Eighty-Seven Sounds & Entertainment. With more choreographed dances and video presentations at weddings, Calloway says he's more often working closely with the couple earlier in the process to create the right sounds. His tip: Put together a list, taking into consideration the music you want during each part of the reception and what your guests like so that everyone feels included in the fun.

The fun feature

Photo booths! Brad Krehnbrink of Carolina Photo Booths, in Mooresville and Chapel Hill, says most of the calls he gets for his vintage-style booth stocked with digital technology, come from those who've seen them at weddings. In 15 seconds, guests can get a six-strip image; there are even props to play with. "People can get funny and silly and the guest can keep them," he says. And the bride and groom get a disc of all the images taken. "One of the funnest part of my job is I get to download all the pictures. A lot of funny things happen when they close the curtains."

The shoes

For a pop of color, many brides add brightly colored shoes like these coral Louboutin slingbacks. Even more traditional choices are getting a kick. These Louboutin glitter peeptoes with a five-inch heel make for a high-fashion fairy tale ending. Both are available at Saks Fifth Avenue at Triangle Town Center mall.