'The Knot' Gala: Monique Lhuillier, Marcy Blum, Sylvia Weinstock Talk Wedding Trends

On Monday night, all-things-wedding website The Knot hosted a gala to close out New York's Bridal Fashion Week. HuffPost Weddings stopped by the event at the New York Public Library to ooh and ahh over the gorgeous gowns on display, and to catch up with some of the industry's biggest talents: designer Monique Lhuillier, cake diva Sylvia Weinstock and event planner Marcy Blum.

Below, the experts dish on wedding trends they love, and others they wish would disappear.

Comments

[syllcurie]

06:01 AM on 10/21/2011

The best advice is to save your money and use it for a down payment on a starter house. Period!

[pupmobile]

03:39 AM on 10/21/2011

They don't last long enough to spend much money. I have been to a lot of weddings but a new twist might be better. Get married and if it lasts repeat your vows and then have the party. Just a thought! There are to many people that go to the weddings just to get drunk on someone elses dime. Just a party..

[yathome]

12:48 AM on 10/21/2011

When I get married, its Vegas all the way. Little White Chapel sounds amazing...lol

[sjones30943]

11:58 PM on 10/20/2011

Thank you, Sylvia. TOTALLY agree that fondant is disgusting. You can't eat it, and it takes the artistry out of cake decorating.

[Maria Li]

10:00 PM on 10/20/2011

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[sls38411]

09:19 PM on 10/20/2011

Ahhh weddings! Love to go to them. They should be a reflection of the couple. My daughter got married on Halloween. That's not for everyone but it was just perfect for them. We didn't have people come in costume, just touches of the holiday. Ushers had black socks with candy corn embroidered on them. They were introduced to the music of Monster Mash and the ushers wore black silk masks. My daughter and son in law were introduced to the music from Phantom of the Opera and Ed had a phantom mask. Bridesmaid dresses were black and white with white and peach nosegays. We had bags of candy for the children that came. We all look back on that day as just perfect and they have been married 19 years. The memories are what a wedding is all about and it is nice to have one day in your life that you think of as just perfect. (Yes, I know it doesn't always turn out that way but sometimes it does.)

[syds180turn]

08:58 PM on 10/20/2011

My husband and got hitched in Vegas and had a rockin' party afterwards. We clubbed all night until morning, went to the breakfast buffet at the hotel with our family and friends. What a wedding/honeymoon/party/vacation all in one. Spending thousands and thousands of dollars on a wedding, dress, reception, etc....is just plain dumb. Who are you doing this for....you...your family...your friends...who? A big extravagant wedding does not guarantee a long and lasting marriage. If you've got money to spend, have at it, but that's kind of ridiculous. I was lucky, I could have had any type of wedding I wanted and I did. One long fun-filled party and we have been together over 20 plus years and married 17. It's not how much money you spend, but who it is you're marrying. Hopefully he's a good guy and you can coast off into the sunset.

[lindamom]

12:13 AM on 10/21/2011

I so agree with you syds. My first marriage I had a huge wedding for my mother. She cried when I told her I wanted to go to Reno. Afterall, it's the marriage that's important, but not to her! I hated it all and let her do all too, guess that's what she really wanted. Yuck, no part of it I liked, don't like to be the center of attention. That lasted 7 years. My late great marriage of 26 years was perfect like yours - Las Vegas, but we eloped. No one knew and we had a blast! It was a grand marriage until my sweet man died, way too soon. I think the brides of today are so selfish from what I can see. Me me me me. LOL, all for ONE day - ridiculous IMO...F&F.

[pupmobile]

03:45 AM on 10/21/2011

Good for you!! I am happy for you that it was a good one and it lasted and most important he is a good guy!! Hope you have many more years of happiness. To bad most of the kids today don't stay married.

[syds180turn]

11:54 AM on 10/21/2011

Wow, you've got that right. I'm not saying someone should stay with their spouse if it's just dead and over, but some of these people don't even try. They just say...oops...you're not texting, sexting, Facebooking, and focusing on ME 24 hrs a day, lavishing expensive gifts and fancy vacations on ME, so you don't love ME and BYE!

[lmitijrnts7x]

07:30 PM on 10/20/2011

This cracks me up. I just got married 3 months ago and we had an awesome wedding with 85 people for about 3000. The venue was beautiful and half price because we knew the owners, the food we did ourselves (husband is a restaurant manager and can cook up a storm), everyone raved about the food and how beautiful everything was. We were looking at having to spend 3500 on just a very SIMPLE dinner for 85 people, not to mention what a florist wanted ($150 for a bridal bouquet?) I learned to make my own bouquets and with wholesale roses for 100 dollars I made mine, my bridesmaid's, and put some in some simple vases as part of the centerpieces. It's ridiculous what vendors charge for weddings. There is nothing reasonable about it, and this article makes it seem like it's a foolish choice to "do it yourself". We could have easily taken out a loan and had a ridiculous wedding, but instead we chose to live within our means knowing that we didn't need to impress the people that were coming to our wedding, they came and enjoyed it because they love us. That's what a wedding is supposed to be.

[no1gum]

08:58 PM on 10/20/2011

I totally agree. Weddings should not put you in debt for a lifetime. My friend just got married for the first time at almost 60. Venue was beautiful. She only invited about 25 people. Everyone enjoyed themselves. She looked lovely and she and her friends made the floral decorations. She was relaxed and spoke individually to all the guests. She didn't want gifts but some people brought some anyway. Unfortunately, the food was aweful and the servers were rude so I would say even if you are going diy you should try to have good food. On the other hand, they had an open bar.

[lindamom]

12:16 AM on 10/21/2011

LOL about the open bar - cool! Sounds like a lovely time for all.

[dogluvr65]

09:01 PM on 10/20/2011

Well said!

[ohwhen]

06:28 PM on 10/20/2011

Did anyone get as far as the cake trend pictures? I emphatically agree with Weinstock that fondant is horrible and has no place on real cake meant for people to eat.

Maybe they can still use it for the silly show cakes on TV. Who wants that disgusting "edible" playdough?

[Savine]

08:39 PM on 10/20/2011

Thank You! Fondant is gross. Nothing like buttercream!

[BamaRainbow]

11:53 PM on 10/20/2011

Oh, please. Buttercream is so old-hat.

[BamaRainbow]

11:51 PM on 10/20/2011

Unfortunately, Ms Weinstock seems to have forgotten that SHE is working for the CLIENT--not the other way round. If her client wants HER (or, if the groom is taking part--or it's a same-sex couple--THEIR) cake to include fondant, she'd better be ready to do as the "boss" wants done, or lose the job.

And why exactly do you think fondant is horrible? I see no difference between using fondant to decorate a cake and making roses out of frosting or dipping flowers in a candy syrup and coating with sugar to put on a cake.

[Joe Menor]

06:22 PM on 10/20/2011

If you're following a "trend" for your Wedding Day, you'll regret it in about five years when you look at the pictures. And forever after. Just sayin'.

[MotherLodeBeth]

05:38 PM on 10/20/2011

Sadly I see people putting more money and effort into producing a show but little effort into the marriage itself. Have watched the shows on tv a few times where they show brides out of control, or going for a honeymoon up against 4 brides or the wedding dress shows. None seem to even discuss the marriage that comes after the wedding and in the states results 50% of the time in divorce. Those who have done the smallest most sincere weddings seem to have the longest marriages. Maybe because their priorities were in the right place?

[pupmobile]

03:50 AM on 10/21/2011

You are right!

[BillyBlueSky]

05:14 PM on 10/20/2011

One of the things that still shocks me the most is the "K-Mart" mentality most brides have when selecting vendors for their wedding. It's the biggest day of their lives, they're spending thousands of dollars yet will get their Photo, Video, Entertainment, and more all at one place because it is easier. Many of these places and companies use sub-contractors. The Photographers farm out your video contract to the lowest bidder to pad their gross profit. I strongly recommend dealing with the professionals who specialize in one particular area. Do NOT get Photography from a DJ, do NOT get Video from a Photographr, etc. Do NOT get your entertainment through a Limousine Company. You will get better service and quality by dealing with professionals in their individual fields.

[jacrociani]

09:19 PM on 10/20/2011

My daughter got married a year ago. Her photographer was over 5,000 dollars and the pictures were terrible. Either I or the groom's mother bought any pictures. Very very sad.

[lindamom]

12:20 AM on 10/21/2011

Yep you got screwed alright and really, how many pics does one couple need?

[JimsObie]

04:51 PM on 10/20/2011

Been married going on 40 years. I didn'thave a wedding of dreams. Whole thing cost us about $80. Now I think that we've made it this long when so many don't I SHOULD have that big expensive wedding. If we all waited to make sure it works out that is when we should get the big buck party. Now how to get that $200,000 for that enormous shindig. LOL Calling Kim Kardasian for a hand out maybe? :)

[lesaltatum]

05:30 PM on 10/20/2011

Jim I put this on another blog about marriage. America believes you have to spend this much because they see this stuff on TV. A girlfriend of mine bought a new designer dress online for $100.00. The grandmas and aunt catered the wedding. She had the reception at church and our Elder doesn't get a salary so the groom slipped him some money. A buddy of ours is a millionaire and the honeymoon was at his mountain house on a resort, his gift was to let them stay there free. I don't think they spent $ 1000.00 bucks and the wedding was beautiful. America needs to relearn what the word frugal means.

[Tanya OaksBrooks]

02:36 AM on 10/21/2011

After 40 years, you deserve a big party! Congrats!

[baydolphins]

04:32 PM on 10/20/2011

what's pound foolish is spending a college education amount of money on a wedding. While I am as hooked as the rest of us on say yes to the dress and cake decorators shows, I think the amount of money spent on weddings is absolutely crazy

[A George]

03:51 PM on 10/20/2011

Get married in Reno and save a ton of money, and you'll have more fun!

[pupmobile]

03:53 AM on 10/21/2011

Reno is always fun!!