Trends 2000-Beauty and style  
By Gretchen Maurer (ForeverWed Beauty & Hair Expert)
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Uniqueness, creativity, self-expression, and personal identity are some buzzwords of the 90's following couples right into the new Millennium. As couples seek to weave together a wedding experience that represents who they are, what they wish to express and impress on their family and friends, the trend toward personalized weddings will continue. Whether the theme is a simple modest out door ceremony, or a lavish wedding held in a museum among the dinosaurs, couples wish to make it there own. All the elements of the day, such as the flowers, food, and music represent their style. For the bride, nothing represents her own person style more than the wedding gown of her DREAMS.

Wedding gowns are represented in more styles than one can imagine.  Color in the gowns, color details on the gown and entirely colored gowns are being offered. Embroidery, subtle embellishments, and ornamentation are exhibited on the simplest of designs. The unadorned gown, a 90's de jour, even if it remains unadorned, presents some hint of texture, something for the eye to feast upon. A beautiful bride becomes a living sculpture, the gown; wearable art. An investment, worthy to be passed down to the next generation

The arts are expressing themselves on more levels than ever before. Cultural and ethnic influences are blending, museums are on-line, music events and theater draw entire families. Special effects lure us to the newest movie, and even celebrity fashion designers are known by all. As the arts are embraced, artists are venerated. Wedding gown designers share this spotlight.

 Brides are embracing the designers and showing a creative side to themselves. Not only is this evident in their choice of gown but it is also reflected in their accessories. Jewelry is worn but not necessarily in matching sets, nail polish is worn but not essentially "bridal" in its hue. Matching a headpiece to the gown is becoming replaced buy what I call "convertible" headpieces. For the last 8 years, if I could consult with a bride about her wedding hair appointment before she purchased her headpiece I would create for her a convertible headpiece. A beautiful hairstyle adorned by stems of crystals and pearls, silk or fresh flowers with a removable veil lends a unique flavor to her "total bridal look."  With so many hair clips, headbands and adorning tiaras available more emphasis is placed on the hairstyle and make-up than ever before.

A new make-up line seems to come out monthly, all attached to some artist or trend or new shopping experience. And we buy, buy, and still look the same. Find a good make-up artist well before your wedding! Not a sales person, but a professional you can relate to, someone willing to listen to who you are. Some work in salons, some are independent. You should be the focus of attention not the products for sale. 

A recent trip into New York City's bridal district summed it up for me. Silver is a big trend fueled by the millennium but used in the gowns and headpieces with European old word flair. The millennium causes us to look ahead but we are still finding comfort in the past. The period movies of the last decade are sparking in our hearts to return to romance and splendor. It is certainly not an 80's comeback and a far cry from the stoic styles of the recession led nineties. New trends and technology, art and history, fueled by expression of style are taking the bride and her groom into the new millennium.