By Jeff Kear, My Wedding Workbook & My Wedding Workbook Pro

First, the bad news (you’re always supposed to start with the bad news so that you can end with good news, right?). 2009 was a tough year all around, and it wasn’t any easier for engaged couples. We conducted a year-end survey of brides who use our online wedding software (of which there are more than 13,000) to find out their opinions on lots of wedding-related topics, and the economy is certainly on their minds. In fact, it’s so much on their minds that it’s affecting their wedding plans.

Of the brides who responded to our surveys, 62.3% said that the recession has influenced their wedding plans and impacted their wedding budget, and they are cutting back in many areas, especially on the honeymoon (58.4%), flowers and decor (57.9%), reception food and drink (54.5%), wedding day transportation (51.0%), and photography and videography (47.5%). So if you are finding yourself scaling back your plans, don’t worry, you’re not alone.

And even if you are scaling back on certain things, that doesn’t mean you have to settle for a wedding that isn’t what you envisioned. Many 2010 brides are making their own decorations, favors, invitations and more to personalize their wedding and save on money at the same time. We found that a large majority of brides – 73.6%, to be exact – are implementing handmade or homemade items into their weddings. Those items that are DIY favorites among brides are invitations (67.1%), reception table cards/place cards (65.8%), wedding favors (65.1%), reception centerpieces (62.5%), reception decorations (53.8%), save-the-date cards (51.2%) and floral arrangements (46.8%). Such handcrafted items give your wedding a warmth and personal flavor that you often just can’t get from store-bought items. And, in case you need a hand, you can even organize an activity at your bridesmaids’ luncheon or bridal shower around everyone creating such items.

Now the good news. There are more and more high-tech tools for engaged couples to help you plan your wedding, and most brides are taking advantage of them.  Engagement photos are hugely popular right now, and more brides are turning to eco-friendly, “green” and organic products and services. And the average wedding size is still between 100-150 guests … so the celebrations are still big and festive.

As for colors, many brides are going with a darker color as their main color. Of our respondents, 13.2% picked navy blue or deep blue as their main color, with another 9.7% opting for black, 8.3% deep red, 7.9% brown/chocolate, 7.9% dark green/hunter and purple/plum 6.9%. But they did choose lighter, vibrant colors like orange, yellow, peach or pink as their secondary or accent color. In 2010, weddings will continue along this trend as couples choose their favorite darker color as an anchor and accent it with fresh, fun colors.

Finally, it seems that weddings are getting slightly more casual. 66.9% of our respondents say that their weddings will feature semi-formal attire for their guests such as suits and cocktail dresses, and 17.6% are going the relaxed route with unbuttoned collars, slacks and skirts. With only 14.6% choosing formal attire like black ties and gowns, it looks like 2010 will be the year of the more casual and laid-back wedding, and that’s a good thing as we all take a deep breath and focus on the real joy of weddings as a celebration of love and commitment.

Happy planning in 2010 – Jeff

Jeff Kear is co-owner of My Wedding Workbook, the the next-generation online wedding planner with free planning tools for engaged couples, My Wedding Workbook Professional Edition, the online business and event management software for wedding consultants.

Amanda Heer of FANTASY FLORAL DESIGNS, could have never imagined that ten years after her first creative spark to turn her vintage brooch collection into a bouquet, would lead her to where she is at now…handcrafting and selling vintage brooch flower bouquets to BRIDES AROUND THE WORLD!

If you are looking for a bouquet that will last forever, then stop searching, because these beautiful, handmade-vintage flower brooch bouquets are an absolute treasure! They would especially make a perfect bouquet for sentimental and eco-conscious brides.

I would say that Amanda has found a way to turn her fantasy for making brooch bouquets into a reality! To learn more about her services and to see more of her sparkly bouquet designs, visit her brooch blog at Fantasy Floral Designs Blog. WAIT! There is more…I stopped in to OmniBride and searched the wedding blogosphere to find other bloggers who have found and raved about Amanda’s brooch bouquet creations. Visit these other fabulous wedding blogs and read what they had to say about this very “broochable” topic…Ruffled Blog, and Memoirs of a Wedding Planner

Nov 16: The poor groomsmen. Destined to spend the day in a rented tux, rented shoes, and all they get to show for it is the usual cufflinks or a money clip. Along comes…The Recycled Cassette Tape Necktie, perfect for the creative bride and groom trying to go green for their ceremony. Jenny from WEDDINGISTAS.COM found these and posted them. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Sept 18: Speaking of groomsmen’s gifts, Sarah of MYWEDDING.COM posted all sorts of ideas in Give Your Groomsmen VIP Gifts in a posting in mid-September. Again, some are traditional, like monogrammed keychains and flasks, but some show a modern twist, like the keychain that’s actually a memory stick. Do I have to wait for a wedding to get one of these? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Nov 19: Enough about the boys. JUNEBUG WEDDINGS posts some really great ideas for Bridal Shower Themes, How-Tos and Recipes, including this one playing off the colors of orchids. Or what about this one, with sunny oranges? This would chase away the blahs in January or February… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Nov 17: Taking color cues from the season—and the fact that glitter and metallics are everywhere—THE PERFECT PALETTE suggested gold and white for a wedding inspiration board this week in Walking in a Winter Wonderland: Gold & White. Aren’t the gold bridesmaids’ dresses beautiful? So elegant, and a beautiful way to dress for the season. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Nov 19: The doctor is IN: Sad to say, some brides and grooms make it all the way to the altar (and beyond!) without answering some fundamental questions about why they’re getting married and what’s important to them as a couple. Something as simple as the name-change question can bring out all sorts of issues between two people. DIVASANDWEDDINGS.COM has a starter-list of 11 Questions to Ask before you get Married. I say starter, because entire Greek tragedies have been written about something as simple as who is in the wedding party. Working down the list with honest answers will probably resolve a lot more than just the color palette. Good Luck! ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Nov 19: The DIY project for this week: Snow White Dove cake toppers. Katie Hatch, Style Director for MARTHASTEWART.COM blogged about these easy-to-do cake toppers, and included a link to the directions. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… I’ve got Stars in my Eyes… Nov 19: Tom Brady dishes about his wedding to Gisele Bundchen in the December issue of GQ, noted by a posting in CELEBRITYWEDDINGBUZZ.COM. For someone who’s an NFL superstar, he’s nicely down-to-earth: “The thing about it is, the day’s for you. It’s nothing personal against anybody, but it’s not about them. It’s about what you and your wife need for that day.” Recite that quote to your in-laws, or turn it into your new mantra. BTW, check out Gisele’s gown. Daring, yes? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… At last…the CONTESTS + GIVEAWAYS!! Nov 20: SNIPPET & INK has enthusiastically posted Discounts, Giveaways, Etc. that lists some very interesting opportunities. Give it a look… And be sure to take a moment to click on the OmniBride CONTESTS + GIVEAWAYS link to keep up to date on more opportunities: She who hesitates has lost…out!