Alfred Angelo has a wonderful collection of rental gowns and dresses to choose from

Something old, new, borrowed and blue ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú that is the wedding tradition - but this wedding season getting something new may be a struggle. According to industry research firm IBISWorld, spending on rented bridal gowns is expected to grow 7.5 percent to $43 million - up from $40 million in 2008.

With brides renting dresses, sales of new wedding gowns are expected to decrease 2.8 percent this year, reaching just $973 million. While the decline is not as steep as the 4.2 percent drop experienced in 2008, the industry has seen declines since 2001. Brides who do purchase a dress will more likely buy their garments in high-end department stores, formal clothing stores, or online ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú like PreOwnedWedddingDress.com ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú opposed to a bridal store.

The one thing couples will not be renting this year is wedding planners. Compared to 2008, the amount spent on wedding planners is expected to drop 4.2 percent to $785 million. In fact, the average cost of a wedding is expected to drop eight percent in 2009 to just $20,000 ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú in 2007 the average was $30,000.

?¢‚Ǩ?ìThe recession is expected to exacerbate the already declining marriage rate, as couples put off the ?¢‚ǨÀúbig day?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ until the time is right financially,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù explained Toon van Beeck, senior analyst with IBISWorld. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìSpending will undoubtedly be impacted by such postponements, and these cost cutting measures will start from the purchase of an engagement ring, all the way to the end of the honeymoon.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù

Even here in Florida, Jack Frost is in the air and my thoughts can’t help but turn to winter. If you’ve recently become engaged, then I’m sure that your thoughts are on nothing but the wedding. But if you are still stumped on color scheme, location and even your date, then maybe a traditional wedding isn’t for you. Set yourself apart from traditional crowd and opt instead for a Winter Wedding!

A White Wedding can be fun and elegant if done correctly. If Christmas has always been your favorite holiday, then this may be the perfect option for you. And it’s all so much easier than you think. Read on for some great inspiration on how to turn your wedding into a white winter extravaganza!

Color Scheme

A bride’s color scheme is super personal, but a winter wedding can help you narrow down your color choices. If you want to go with an icy wedding, then choose shades of blue, white and silver. If your winter wedding is going to be more of a Christmas theme, then red and green are obvious accent choices. Or you could go the uber chic route and make everything a crisp white with hints of silver and gold.

Gown

Top off any traditional wedding dress with a white fur capelet, stole or hooded coat to create a romantic wintery look. Add accent colors of red or silver in your hair or choose a dress with your corresponding colors.

Cake

Choosing the theme of your cake could be the most fun and challenging part of your wedding planning. Depending on how far you want to go, you can use poinsettias, candy canes, snowflakes, white doves, gift box shapes, bows, sprigs of pine and more on your cake. A gingerbread house shaped cake is a fun option for a Christmas themed wedding.

Decor

Red roses and poinsettias are obvious flower choices for a winter bride, but you can think outside the box based on your theme. Build your bouquet and floral decor with pinecones, sprigs of pine and other winter foliage to create a warm winter look. Snowflake garlands, fake white doves, silver and gold candles, and of course, decorated Christmas trees, wrapped gift boxes and other traditional Christmas decor is also a great option. White lights, ornaments and candy cane accents are also ideal.

Invitations

You can have a lot of fun with this too…icy themes can use a die cut snowflake design for their invitations, or a gingerbread man for a Christmas theme. Christmas cards with winter scenes or simple silver and gold accents on a traditional invitation are also elegant.

Whatever you do, if you decide that a Winter Wedding is for you and your fiancee, have lots of fun with it. Your guests will be sure to talk about it for years to come, and it will make this time of year even more special. Be sure to bank on after Christmas sales this year (or the year before your wedding) to get some great deals.

Have you ever had a White Wedding? If you were a December bride, leave a comment and let us know some of the “cool” things you did!